Pray for Kayleigh!!

Sweet little Kayleigh has been fighting for her life for the last 10 months - her entire life!! She has never seen the outside of the NICU walls. Kayleigh is a fighter, to say the very least!! We have been following her story for months now. The Freeman family have been hit not only with her daughter's illness, but by the economy. Both parents are real estate agents and we all know how bad the housing market is right now. Not only are they fighting for Kayleigh's life, but are being faced with foreclosure (date is next month)!

Kayleigh has now took a hard turn for the worse, doctors saying she is brain dead and not likely to recover. Please pray for this beautiful, strong, adorable, sweet, precious baby girl. And her parents - Adam and Aimee who have had to endure so much more than 2 parents ever should have in 10 lifetimes!! Also pray for her two siblings, Allyson and Brandon, who have had limited contact with Kayleigh since she's been born because of the NICU precautions.

Click on the link below to check out Kayleigh's site:

Before I was a "Special" Parent

Before I was a Special Parent...I actually had a savings account. I didn't know that I should have invested heavily in paper towels, hand sanitizer, velcro and tape.
Before I was a special parent...MOOD SWINGS came only with PMS. STATUS was something you earned, not dreaded. And when you got it, MOBILITY was usually upward. FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY was taking the car for a drive on a nice day and GROSS MOTOR MOVEMENT was the universal one-finger salute.

Before I was a special parent...I thought BUTTONS went on your blouse, not your belly. GENES were labeled Levi or Guess. And MUTATIONS were confined to the Incredible Hulk.

Before I was a special parent...GUILT came from something I did, not something I didn't do. COMMUNICATION was about saying all the right things. ADAPT ment telling someone to get over it already. And ASPIRATION meant Ambition.

BUT ALSO
I didn't know that SORROW never leaves you where you found it.
I didn't know unbridled JOY could come from heartbreak.
I didn't know my baby would be my TEACHER.
I didn't know the meaning of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
I didn't realize that the little stuff is really THE BIG STUFF.
I didn't realize how well someone can COMMUNICATE without words.
I didn't know that milestones are not as important as SMILESTONES.
I didn't know that my baby would TOUCH the world not from what he has done, but from what he cannot do.
I didn't know the POWER of his powerlessness.
I didn't know that I have so much to LEARN.

My son, my inspiration!!

I have learned so much from my beautiful baby boy in the last 18 months. Even though I should be calling him a toddler, not a baby. But he'll always be my baby. I admire the strength he has when we're pushing him in therapy and he's so tired and sore, but he keeps on working for us. I cherish his cute little smiles and giggles and especially the way he sticks out his little tongue when he's really happy!! It melts my heart the way he looks for recognition when he watches something funny on tv, "Mommy, did you see that, did you??" God has blessed me with such a wonderful gift, way beyond what I have earned and deserve and I'm so greatful for the opportunity to be the mommy to this amazing, loving and beautiful little boy named Aidan.



I came across this poem awhile ago and each time I read it I can't help but smile and realize how wonderful it is to have such a special little boy to call my own!!



"Sometimes I see you stuck for such a long time, a daily nothing new, pretend I don't mind, with lists of things you'll never do until somehow you do and you do, you shine.
The days and months and years, they run together. Is it just one day? Or is this forever? You've taught me in your lifetime more than I'd learn in mine, and you do, you do, you shine.
Shine your light on me, everyone will see, I'm so glad you are mine and you'll shine in your own time.
Well, maybe I'm too close to see you clearly, or is it now my role to simply believe? You're just one of those mysteries that may never be solved in time, but you do, you do, you shine.
And Sammy will do what Sammy will do when Sammy is ready to do it.
And Trevor will do what Trevor will do when Trevor is ready to do it.
And Lucy will do what Lucy will do when Lucy is ready to do it. And they'll do it in their own time.
Yeah, they'll shine, shine your light on me, and everyone will see. I'm so glad you are mine, and you'll shine, and you shine."
Music from Signing Time. Lyrics by Rachel de Azevedo Coleman.

The Luckiest Woman In The World!!

Yes, this is exactly how I feel when I think about my hubby, my baby and the road we are traveling down together. Yesterday, (April 2nd) Kip and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary!! He made the day so special for me! We woke up early (well, early for a day off work) and relaxed on the couch waiting for Aidan to get up - the sleepyhead!! Then we were going to take Aidan to the zoo because it was just so beautiful outside. But when we got to the zoo we remembered it was spring break for most of the schools in Louisville, plus the first really nice day in awhile. Needless to say, everyone was at the zoo. So we decided to take a walk down along the riverfront instead.


We saw a couple of ducks.


Watched some of the workers getting the lawns ready for Thunder!!


And a bunch of beautiful little play areas along the path. The flowers were just gorgeous!!


And Aidan napped while Kip and I enjoyed the scenery and sat on a swing.


Aren't they so cute?!?!

Later we dropped Aidan off and Grandpa and Grandma's house and we went for a nice dinner at the same restaurant were we had our wedding dinner. However, right before we decided to leave for dinner, Mother Nature decided we needed a nice, heavy rain. I know it's good luck if it rains on your wedding day, but what about your anniversary?? Luckily, it was over in a few minutes and we got a picture before it started back up and we got soaked!!



Happy anniversary Kippy!! Thank you for making me the luckiest woman in the world!!