Hands-on House and Reflections

Today was above all, relaxing. My good friend, Karen, took Sydnie and Kayli for the day, and I kept her youngest, Gracie, here with Jordyn. We had planned, our two families, to spend the day at the "castle park" and picnicing. Both Jordy and Gracelyn woke up sick this morning - and the weather wasn't on our side either. Karen came up with the idea of taking the "big kids" to the Hands-on House in Lancaster, a children's museum instead. I agreed, but Jordyn didn't really seem up to it. Since Gracie wasn't feeling well either, I told Karen I'd keep both babies. Sydnie has been to the Hands-on House before, but it was Kayli's first time. According to Karen, all six of them - Karen and the five kids, had a ball. Pictures to follow.
Since both Gracie and Jordyn spent much of the afternoon sleeping, I found time to relax - a nice change for me! I caught up on my reading and my Grey's Anatomy (I've been Tivoing the episodes. :) And since our picnic got rained out, I made dinner - mexican lasagna, a favorite with all of our kids. It's hard to believe I've only known them - first via caringbridge, then in person, for only two years. Karen has truly become my dearest friend and I can scarcely remember a time before we knew each other!
All three girls are soundly sleeping. Jordy has a slight fever, but I called the doctor and he seems to think it is just a little cold. Even so, I've been keeping her and Sydnie apart. "Little colds" have a tendency to turn into much more then that with Syddibug. We've gotten through the spring with out one (unscheduled) hospital trip. Sydnie seems to be tolerating the IVIG well. I believe this is the first spring since she was a year old that we have not found ourselves with an overnight hospital stay.
April, May and early June are peciluar months for me. 2 years ago they were months spent in a hospital room with a child who doctors insisted would be dead shortly. They were by far the scariest months of my life - when Sydnie lay in a drug-induced coma battling the evil disease known as ards. It's on this day, 2 years ago, that the doctors insisted she would be dead within a week if there were no improvements in a few days. They told me to start planning a funeral. They wanted me to sign a DNR.
I didn't. I refused. And then, a few days later, Sydnie started to get better. Slowly. They told me she'd have permanent cognitive damage. That her CP might have been made worse. They told me she might never breathe without oxygen again. They told me she probably wouldn't be able to walk for months. That she would most likely be doing Kindergarten again.
I again didn't listen. Did Sydnie see setbacks? yes. Does she still require oxygen at night? yes. But here she is, nearing 8 years old, free of physical therapy, in the second grade's gifted program. She is by far living proof of what prayer can do. She is my miracle times 2. She is my hero, my inspiration and I could not be any more proud of her then I am.

By His Grace,
Hope