Lydia's Journey

For awhile now I've been thinking about how I want to process all that Lydia went through in her first six months. Despite our early fears, Lydia is happy and healthy. I started a scrapbook but I am ready for closure  and it isn't coming along fast enough for my taste. So I'm going on a photo journey and you are invited to come along. 

This is the baby that stole my heart in only a moment's time.

This is the baby that my heart wept for when for a moment our journey changed course.

This is the baby that at 4 weeks of age the pediatrician said "I'm so sorry Mrs. Hale" and my heart broke as I held her close and wondered and waited.

This is the baby that friends and family and strangers interceded for.  Across states and countries  a cry went out for her health.  And God heard us.

This is the baby that endured blood draws week after week.  This is the baby that left that one month appointment with four referrals which generated more referrals and more blood draws. This is the baby that worked for every next milestone and grinned and giggled the whole way through.

This is my precious daughter. 

You are treasured...

...you are sacred...

...you are His..

...You're beautiful.

I'm honored to have been blessed with two beautiful girls who amaze me day by day with their ingenuity, intelligence, and joy. There will be more trials but I know now more than ever that as a family and with our God we will make it through together.

Vacation!

This post has been a long time in coming but we had such a good time in Marco Island that I wanted to go ahead and post. We went the beginning of August, I was more than a little worried about flying with two young children but overall the flight was ok. Lydia found a comfortable place for a nap.

Throughout the week I kept thinking how very blessed we were to be able to take a whole week to spend as a family in a beachfront condo. I loved spending all day, every day with my husband and children. The girls don't like the pool much at home but they took right to the water here. They couldn't get enough of it. Lydia would run right into the waves. Renee had a lot of fun in the sand but by the end of the week she was making real progress toward swimming.

The tidepools were a great place for Lydia to sit and play.

Renee doesn't hold still long for a picture but I got here below.

She also enjoyed visiting the gift store. Every time we went she would try on all of the hats and shoes. This one was too cute to put back.

This little face is irresistible!

We visited the Everglades Wonder Gardens (a zoo of native animals). Renee found those glasses in the gift store as well. She has style!

This is the view from the condo. We spent most of the week going back and forth between the beach, pool, and our room. 

Uncle Jason and Aunt Nancy were wonderful to have along. They made it possible for Jeff and I to have some time alone together and the girls adored them.

It was a week of wonderful memories. I'm ready to go back.