Day #4...seven months

Today is our seven month "familyversary".

Seven months ago today we received the gift of Audra.  We had held her in our hearts for months leading up to that day...but, finally, we were able to hold her in our arms. 

Six months ago today we celebrated our one month "familyversary" here at the very same hospital. 

Audra has been through so much since coming home in April.  Sure, we knew that she had "special needs" and we are continuing to work through her malnutrition and developmental issues.  But both of these hospitalizations were unexpected. 

We are so thankful for the wonderful medical care that she has access to here at CHOP, and for the blessings of good medical insurance, supportive extended family members who help fill in the gaps while I am here at the hospital with Audra, and friends who are willing to help in any and every way possible. 

I have said this before...but the thoughts and feelings still keep creeping in.  And they keep me up at night.  I pray that Audra can somehow understand that all of these medical procedures/treatments/surgeries/hospitalizations will benefit her...it's a good thing in the long run...and it's necessary.  However, I fear that she wonders why we would take her away from all she ever knew...a place where she hardly ever experienced this kind of medical treatment (which isn't necessarily a good thing...and most likely part of why there is so much we need to do for her now) and bring her here...to somewhere completely new and foreign to her...a place where she is repeatedly going to doctors and hospitals and having procedures and surgeries. 

My mind knows the truth...
but my heart hurts for her. 

Once we get through this chapter, there is still more to be done.  She is already scheduled for day surgery on November 18th for the ENT doctor to examine her ears, put tubes in and have the sedated hearing test done.  After that, there is the tympanoplasty (repair of her rupture ear drum) that needs to be done sometime in the next few months.  And, of course, we still have a lot to do regarding her malnutrition. 

Please hold Audra close to your heart and pray that her heart doesn't hurt. 

She is a sweet, smart, happy, rambunctious little one and we are so thankful for every single day of the last seven months that we have had her with us.

She is a blessing.