Kesa's Prom

Rained Out

Our walk in the March for Babies was very short lived. Just as the walk was beginning, a down pour began followed by lightning. After trying to wait it out, we gave up and went through the drive-thru at McDonalds. Here a few pix:





And miracle baby, Hailey, being adventurous in the rain:

Trey Trey

Happy birthday little man!

Running for Grace & Meghan

I feel so blessed and honored that Gracie and Meghan have been matched again with Jen Davis, a runner in the Boston Marathon. Jen has been training hard and will run in the marathon while wearing Grace & Meghan's names on her back.

I'm so excited and honored that she is running for my girls. It makes me feel so good to know that an almost stranger can care so much, and do so much good for herself and others. Jen, we will be cheering for you tomorrow, April 20th. Thank you so much for your dedication to raising money for liver research. We appreciate it more than you'll ever know.

Please consider contributing to Jen's goal of raising funds for research, here is her online donation page: http://go.liverfoundation.org/site/TR/RunforResearch/RunforResearch?px=1026295&pg=personal&fr_id=1160

Party Time

Beautiful Butterfly

Day's light
I approach your slumber
You emerge from your cocoon
Blinking in confusion

I take notice of
The blues of you
How they caught my love
In their sights

The day I became a mom
Not knowing true love
Until
I knew you

Loving naturally
Generous of spirit
Unending love for all
Fragile yet amazingly strong

How can it be?
That you entered
Your seventh year
Growing quickly

Today
You amazed me
Reading all of your birthday cards
Aloud to your guests

Flashing back
To you
A top my lap as a toddler
Reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar

I proudly watched as you
Clumsily pushed the board book pages
As I said "Turn the page."
My pride beaming with your unusual feat

Now you read to me
Growing and changing
Expanding your horizons
Gleefully gaining knowledge

Evolving, maturing
Your transformation
Unfolding your beautiful wings
But always remaining Gracie

I can't wait to see
The evolution of you
As you spread your wings
Flying gracefully

Happy 7th

And, here is a shot of the un-birthday girl, who had a hard day. ;)

Hoppy Easter!

Gifts of Life

From the moment Grace was diagnosed with Alpha-1, I began a quest for knowledge. That journey to knowledge led me to a group of the most caring and supportive friends I've never met in person. My friends at Liver Families understood my worries, fears, and celebrated my girls' successes. They understand. They care. They know. They believe in cures and miracles. They do not turn away from Alpha-1. They do not have pity in their eyes for me, as the parent of two girls with a potentially life threatening disease. They know me as simply a parent...who loves her children. They know the greatest gift of life...time with loved ones when you have it. No life is taken for granted. No life is wasted. No love is wasted.

Two of my little Liver Families kiddos have left this life and flew on to be with the angels. Trenton, age 4, left yesterday, and Devin, age 2 1/2, left today. With profound sadness and tears in my eyes, I share their stories to encourage any of my readers to consider organ donation, especially during Organ Donation Awareness month.

I've followed Trenton's story for years...before, during, and after his liver transplant due to Alagille's Syndrome. An organ donor's gift gave him life and more time with his family. A head injury from a fall out of a window took his life, and now, his family is returning that gift by sharing his life with others in need.

I didn't know Devin as well, but his beautiful "sweet cheeks" nick name caught my attention. His gastroschisis caused intestinal atresia. He received a liver, pancreas, and intestinal transplant.

Please take a moment to appreciate your blessings in life, and please consider signing up to be an organ donor. Please do not forget to discuss your choice with your loved one. They ultimately make the decision for you after you are gone.

Oh and, please pray or send positive thoughts for Trenton and Devin's families.

Frohe Ostern

Tooth #3

Grace just lost baby tooth #3 as she was eating an apple.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

- Maya Angelou, "Touched by An Angel"