Miracles

Yesterday as we drove to Elie's doctors appointment my heart was flooded with emotions.  The last time I have had a really hard cry was back in February.  Those who know me, know I show my emotions and can tear up pretty easily.  During stressful times, a good hard cry always helps me to relieve the stress.  The reality of life came pouring down on me in February and once I started to cry, it was hard to stop.  And then the vomiting came and then that wouldn't stop.  For a season I asked God to help make my emotions strong.  But yesterday driving to Elie's appointment I began to wonder if the floodgates were going to open back up.

We have a local Christian radio station.  It often plays the same 10 songs over and over again and can sometimes be annoying.  But yesterday morning every song spoke right to my heart bringing peace and love from my Heavenly Father. The past few weeks leading up to this appointment my heart wondered if we were looking at surgery right now.  I didn't know how I was going to be able to do pregnancy/caring for a newborn and also have an emotional 5 year old in a hip spica cast for six weeks + intense therapy.   I had a plan of what I wanted this summer to look like and this was not it.  I told God the night before...."Okay, I get it, I can't do any of this on my own.  I will trust You to carry us through this next season.  I give you my plans and expectations for this year.  I surrender to Your will."  When Toby Mac's song "Steal My Show" played the words had a whole new meaning to my soul....

If You want to steal my show
I'll sit back and watch You go
If You have something to say
Don't want to get in Your way
Come on and take it away

We were ready.   We parked in the familiar garage.  We did our routine of taking turns with the elevator buttons.  Down the parking garage.  Across the walkway to Children's Hospital Offices. Up another elevator to floor number 5.  Check in.  Walk to the waiting room.... or as Faith calls it, "the toyroom".  Pull out our waiting room coloring books.  Back to the xray waiting room.  Play Brown Bear says while we wait.  Elie leaves to have her "picture" taken with the "big camera".  On to the patient room.  More Brown Bear says.  Reminders of doctors office behavior... answer questions, no being crazy monkeys, no saying i can't, no taking the doctors pens or id badges, no melting into complete silliness, no interrupting the doctor, be respectful.  They know the routine after 8 months of doing this over and over.  And the behavior HAS gotten so much better. Praise God!!!

Enter: Dr. Friend.  Isn't that an awesome name for a pediatric doctor?  Even better is the fact that he is always wearing a bowtie.  I love that.  The xrays go up on the screen.  To my own eye they look the same and I start to smile.  He measures her hips on the screen.  In November her right hip was out 50 and the left side 20.  Today the right hip was measuring 45 and the left side holding steady at 20!!!!  Woohoo!!!  We are on the track to delay this surgery.  We need her to make it to 8 years old before we have this procedure done.  This will greatly decrease her risk of having to have it done twice before puberty.  Dr. Friend thinks we will make it.  After today,  I do too.

Her physical therapist has recommended we cast her right foot to gain greater flexibility.  Dr. Friend agrees it would help.  We would appreciate your prayers as we figure out when would be the best time to do this for her... and also for the entire family.

The picture is from a card that our church gave to us when Elie came home.  I framed it and put it by my kitchen sink to look at everyday.  I believe her results are a miracle.  I believe God is answering our and your prayers.  I believe He has an incredible plan for Elie's life.  I believe that He will give us the strength for whatever is coming in the days ahead.  I do believe that everyday life is full of His miracles, no matter how small, because He loves us so very much.