Good Luck, Bad Luck - Who's Really Counting?

Any friend or family member could tell you that I have had my share of ups and downs. One might say I've had a touch of bad luck..and they may be right. Today, however, as I sit and ponder about the last year I find myself smiling. Smiling a sheepish grin as I realize just how fortunate I have become. I can not think of a single BAD moment that hasn't resulted in a peaceful ending. Not one!! Its not that I am an optimist or up beat, lemonade from lemons type of person. In fact when I am down my 'give a sh!t' meter is pretty busted. It takes a lot for my husband to convince me that everything will turn out for the best. Its funny how that works out when you think that Murphy invented a law just for you...things seem a little bit brighter.

My beautiful daughter turns 9 years old this Sunday and I couldn't imagine my life with out her witty comebacks, sensitive nature and loving personality. It is awe inspiring to watch her grow before my very eyes knowing that just hours after her birth our world was turned upside down. On November 21st, 2001 my daughter was born with a subarachnoid hemorrhage from a traumatic delivery. In the hours that followed she had 3 seizures, one lasting over 15 minutes. Her pediatrician told me to expect the worse as they loaded her little isolette onto a medivac plane. Even if she survived they anticipated permanent brain damage, blindness, or slow to no motor skills. She spent 7 days in the NICU hooked up to a ventilator and numerous monitors. Her doctor did one last CT scan. He wanted to check the degree of hemorrhage and discuss the possibility of surgery. The news we got was nothing short of a miracle. There was no blood...no signs of damage... her body had reabsorbed the blood and healed itself....and in his exact words. "I have never in my life seen this happen". A day later she was taken off the ventilator and a day after that we took her home!

Today the most she has to show for her ordeal is asthma and pretty blue glasses. I am thankful for every snarky comment, every preteen scoff, every dorky laugh.....and every time she looks at me and smiles I know just how lucky I am!!