To Emily

I can't believe my baby is 3 today. It doesn't seem that long ago that you were a tiny baby in the NICU. Today is truly a celebration. There were many times during that first 6 months that I wasn't sure if you'd ever see 1 - not to mention 3. Just a few weeks after you were born was the worst day of our lives when you were diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. I can still see you laying in the bed with tubes and wires from head to toe. I remember being so scared for you, knowing that you did not deserve the amount of pain you were going to endure. You made it thru not 1 but 3 major surgeries - all with flying colors. You were the favorite of all the nurses because you always had a smile for them. In all of your 3 years you have blessed us each and every day with that smile that just lights up a room. To a stranger, you would never appear to have any health issues at all. You have such joy and energy all the time that one can't help but to smile when they are around you.
You don't know it yet, but you have a very long road ahead of you. To you, the medications and g-tube are just a way of life - all that you've known, but to us they are the necessities we need to keep you healthy and alive. I promise to do all that I can each and every day to make sure we have done all that we can to take care of you and give you the life you deserve to have. I pray each day that you live a very long healthy life and that maybe a cure for this horrible disease will be found.
You've come a long way from being the green little baby we brought home to the lively little girl you are today. Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter and little sister. We are so thankful to have you in our lives.

Happy Birthday my little girl!

Love,
Mommy

Happy New Year

2009. Wow where did 2008 go? It's true when they say having kids makes time go by faster. Many good things happened this past year. Just a few of the big things are...

Started a new job (the best EVER and I still love it!)
Another hospital free year for Emily
Abigail has completed the 1st half of Kindergarten
I became an Aunt to the oh so cute Zoe
Reconnected with many friends from the past

Probably the most important of all of those is keeping Emily out of the hospital. We know with the CF it's very easy for her to get sick and end up in the hospital but we do our best to make sure she stays healthy. The sinus surgery almost a year ago had made such a difference too - no more sinus infections and we are all happy about that. It's hard to believe she'll be 3 in less than a week. She's still the happy smiling little girl she was when she was born.

Kindergarten was such a big event. I'm happy to say that Abigail loves school. I thank her teacher for that. She loves her teacher and all of her new friends and said she was going to miss them all over Christmas break. I'm sure as she gets older she'll come to love the breaks even more though!

It's hard to believe I've been in my current job position for a year now - a year today was my official start date. I'm coming up on 7 years at MD Anderson and of those, my current position has been the best. It's amazing how different things can be just because you have a good boss. I finally feel like i'm being treated like the adult that I am. So refreshing!

While overall 2008 was a good year, it was definately not without it's low points. I won't go into things such as politics or the economy - we've all heard enough about that and have our own opinions. Heartache and tragedy has hit closer to home this year more than any. From job loss and illness to death - I've seen family and friends struggle with the reality that life is too short sometimes. I continue to keep these people in my prayers and hope that 2009 will be a nicer kinder year to them.

I want to wish you all a very Happy 2009. May this year bring you many happy times and be the best ever.