The Glue that holds me Together......

I thought about my support system all week. I wish I would have made time to have my family submit their thoughts and feelings about our life ever since my sweet Madilyn was born. But, it was a fragile week emotionally for me and my mind was consumed with concern over changes happening to my little girl. So, instead of hearing the thoughts of my family and friends and I thought I would share with each of you what they mean to me in my every day life.

Lets start at the beginning.... I was teaching a summer program for the Theatre and was on a break when I went into the bathroom and took a pregnancy test. My "personal assistant" came to find me and I told her the news. We laughed and cried.... I had lost a baby on Thanksgiving Day the previous fall. I was worried and knew that I was in trouble cause my blood sugar went through the roof. She held me together and to this day I love Ms Emily.

I told my husband next..... he smiled. He knew that it would be hard and my life would get complicated. I had lost one body part with each of my previous pregnancies and I had no more expendable parts. He was concerned but held me together through sickness and insulin shots and everything else that came our way.

My family means the world to me. Telling them I was pregnant again did not go so well at first. They were very concerned about my health. After the shock wore off....the all rallied around me. I was determined to bring our little one into this world....safe and sound. I was able to share the experience closely with my Mom. I drove and hour to her house to pick her up to head to my appointments with me. She would finish the journey to the doctor with me and then it was a trip to the mall and a treat out. It was a special time for me. She held me together....my dad held me together as well as my sister, brother and the rest of the crew. My beautiful children held me together...

I remember the perfect morning that Madilyn was born. My pregnancy had gone better than I could have expected and my diabetes was under tight control. Dr. Gorrell held me together....when my world changed. He was full of faith and tenderness as he helped me process the unknown. We had no idea that Madilyn would be born with Spina Bifida. There was no indication from any ultrasounds or tests. I had them all. Maybe this was a tender mercy from above.

After Madilyn's birth, our lives changed. Our small town community rallied around us. Every church congregation and denomination offered prayers and support. My children were looked after when I was away. Meals were brought to my family and endless phone calls were taken. This scenario has been repeated each time we have faced a new obstacle. There have been so many endless acts of kindness that have been shown to my family. We no longer live in our small town in VA and we have experienced the same love here in Atlanta.

I could not have endured this path with Madilyn without these people in my life. I always say that when things are going well its time to prepare because crazy is always around the corner. The friends and family that make my life complete understand this and are always ready to hold me up and they ask nothing in return.

Faith precedes the Miracle...and when I am tired and my faith might be lacking...theirs is not...especially the faith of my husband. My life is blessed beyond measure....