Day 1014

We met with Compassionet from Univera today. They are thankfully keeping us on their plan until the cold & flu season is over as well as Ava's surgery in the Spring. They have helped our family so much the past 2 years with art therapy for the girls, massages for Anthony and I, and much more. The nurse practitioner mentioned that Ava looked exactly like another little girl in Rochester who has Arnold Chiari Malformation. I have looked it up and I don't know how you can diagnose someone with that nor does Ava have any of these symptoms. I know that Ava does look like a child that has been on steroids but our eyes have an almond shape appearance almost like a child with Down's Syndrome has. I don't know if that is why people in the medical community like to diagnose Ava as having some sort of syndrome? It is hard to believe that Ava has come out of being a 24 weeker without any sort of issues, heck, I find it hard to believe. It's quite amazing. But then again, isn't our God quite Amazing? I can't explain it. I can't explain how I have looked at my daughter with investigating and open eyes, and not finding anything wrong with her. The gossip while we were in both of the hospitals was that "mom doesn't get it". I get it. But I knew (and know). I know that she is perfectly and wonderfully made. The only thing abnormal about Ava is how unbelievably happy, loving and smart she is. She is an absolute riot. I looked into her eyes a few weeks after she was born to see such a pure intelligence behind them and I felt peace. To live and be with Ava every day is such pure joy that is hard to describe. Our family is finally complete and at peace. And now we can breathe.

Saturday is World Prematurity Day and March of Dimes asks for people to wear purple in honor of that day. 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely. And speaking of which, a couple from our Taste of Buffalo family had twins born at 25 weeks. Please pray that they too may know the peace that has been given to us and that the babies grow strong and healthy.

Also Saturday is the day that the Hand to Hold organization announces the "Preemie Power" award winner. We got email saying we were in the running for the trip to Disneyland. What a blessing that would be for our family. Ava is the smallest preemie that is in the running as well as had the longest stay in the hospital. All our preemies are little miracles...

Thank you God for our delightful family and praying for continued peace...