Life is Good

I have mixed emotions as I write this. We feel overwhelmingly blessed. People have been so kind to us. Everyone has been so generous, and we needed it. It has helped emotionally to have such good friends and to have so many people concerned with our welfare and needs. I know Carol has mentioned this before, but it really makes us want to give back. There is another couple from the Brigham City area that had a baby born at 24 weeks and weighed 14 ounces. Their little child is fighting like crazy. They have some brothers that play in the alumni tournament and we sent them a little of what we were given from the tournament. We received the nicest thank you email from them. As difficult as our situation is, I would take it any day over having a preemie still in the hospital. Perspective is good. We wish them the best.

We also found out about someone else who has an 8 year old grandchild with a similar tumor to Lizzie who is getting his surgery this Thursday. There isn't a better place to be than Primary Children's, but it was so hard to go through and I hope everything goes well for their family.

I don't think I was a total jerk before all of this happened. But it makes me wish I had been a little more generous when I had heard of people going through difficult times. It makes me wish I had written letters, made phone calls, stopped to kneel and say a prayer in someones behalf who was struggling or done something else to serve others. There were certainly times when I know I have done these things, but not enough, and probably not with enough sincerity or dedication.

I can tell you that I know things will be different going forward though. Our lives have changed for the better. There has been so much good that has happened as a result of Lizzie's situation. There are too many things to name. There will never be adequate enough thanks for us to give and there are MANY people who need to be thanked that we aren't aware of because of their anonymous gifts.

I mentioned that I had mixed emotions, gratitude is the overwhelming emotion we feel. The difficult time we are having now is with Calli and her attitude. We can't seem to get her to calm down. She has been extremely difficult. We can't leave her with family without her having absolute meltdown. She doesn't sleep at night. It takes an hour or more to get her to bed. She climbs into our bed in the middle of the night EVERY night(I admit, I always like to snuggle with her for a little bit). She can be mean to Lizzie and slap her. She won't share. She won't say sorry. She is possessive of toys. Trust me when I say the list goes on............ She can be so sweet and yet such a little stink too. Tonight I gave her some one-on-one time when she wouldn't go to bed. She watched part of a movie with me and then I read to her and sang her some songs at bedtime. Her newest thing is asking me to sing a totally random song and she wants me to make it up. I have come to enjoy it. Tonight she asked me to sing about her toes for one song and Patrick for the second (I have no idea who Patrick is!). I think she just needs more attention, but it is hard because Lizzie still is very much in need.

Anyhow, Lizzie continues to make slow progress. It seems very slow. But slow is better than none or backtracking. We are truly grateful that things have gone so well. We have much to be thankful for. We haven't had to spend another night in the hospital. It seems like they have Lizzie's medicine dosages right. We haven't had to worry about finances yet(thanks to the generosity of family and friends). We're able to all sleep under the same roof. There weren't any complications after the surgeries. The list definitely goes on here. Anyhow, I am wrapping this up. Thanks again for all the support we have been shown. I hope you think about some of the things I wrote. I am going to try to make an effort to be more genuinely concerned with the needs of others and be less selfish. I hope you'll join me. Thanks again for the kindness and prayers. We are truly grateful!