our path of thanksgiving...

our journey in the past three weeks has been one that we certainly did not plan for. we did a lot of planning what with our books, classes, videos, doctors visits and the like but this was not what we expected. i would be lying if i said that we don't occasionally lay in bed wishing things had been different. that it had been easier. that we weren't having to go to the doctor every day and cry our eyes out scared to death of what might be. i would be lying to say we haven't wished for a different journey some days. but this is the path that our family has been given. for better or worse this is our life. and i don't know if i am totally ready to sit back and soak it all in yet but i can say with certainty that me, cheryl and our sweet little annabel are blessed. around every corner and on the other side of every bump we find another reason to give thanks. below are just a few of those reasons:

1. the doctors, nurses and staff of dublin methodist hospital and nationwide children's hospital: the care and concern that those nurses showed to our baby and to us every day and every night was unbelievable. starting at 529am on september 9 by saving our perfect little baby girl, continuing with words of encouragement and hope during some of the darkest and scariest moments, and leaving us with a lifetime of perspective on how to care for the smallest and weakest among us. thank you.
2. grandma dale: we sometimes meet people in our lives that amaze and awe us with their hearts of service. i am lucky enough to have a mother-in-law like that. and annabel is lucky that she's her grandma. her love and support throughout our first 17 days of parenthood kept us sane (flying out less than 6 hours after my "we're headed to the hospital" phone call and turning a week-long stay into 17 days makes us feel pretty special). thank you.
3. grandpa dale: you can tell from the video that he loves his granddaughter and she loves him. we thank him for being there for her in the middle of one of his busiest weeks of the year. "grandpa bob dale sir" is a really sweet guy. thank you.
   
4. lulu and pop robison: every phone call, email, text message and letter made us know that they loved us and annabel more than just about anything. i literally think that my mom organized half of the country to pray for us (and even an african city or two). and their helping hands here at the house have gotten us through some pretty exhausting days and nights. its a nice thing to feel loved and there is no doubt that we are. thank you.
5. the 6 million emails, text messages, phone calls, facebook posts and meals that we've received: words cannot express how special all the messages from our family, friends and strangers were. thank you.
6. the st. thomas more newman center (my job): we left texas about a year ago to move to ohio for the newman center. i know now that this was exactly where we are supposed to be. when you've got nine doctors appointments in a week, are not sleeping and don't really have a clue which end is up, its a neat thing to know that the place you work is behind you every step. not many people could say that. and then add in that they'll celebrate Masses for your family and cook a few meals a week and its pretty unbelievable. thank you.
7. grant christopher and his father: this one is a bit different. at one of our many eye doctor appointments we ended up waiting next to a young family with a baby in a stroller. we struck up a conversation and found out that young grant has pfeiffer syndrome. this tiny nine-month-old had already had 13 surgeries and required a full-time nurse to care for his needs. the part that makes us thankful for this meeting was simply the attitude of the father. in his words, "things didn't really go as we planned. he looks different to others but he's beautiful to his mom and me". what a way to get perspective. thank you.
8. each other: our union has been forged in these days and i cannot imagine being more in love with cheryl than i am now. she will always be my first and greatest love. there is no way i could have survived the last three weeks without andrew. he has been a constant source of strength for both me and annabel. his love and support got me through the scariest morning of my life and each day since. i could not be the mother i am to annabel without her amazing daddy. thank you.
   
9. our little annabel: how absolutely perfect in every way she is. from her tiny fingers and toes to the tip of her nose. god took the best from both of us and made our little angel. and made her a fighter. it is our privilege to be her parents. thank you.

these are just a few. there are many more things and many more people that we give thanks for. some we know and some we will never be aware of. god has led our family down this path for a reason. looking back after three looooooooooong weeks, we grow more and more thankful with every passing day. even for the challenges, heartaches and scary scary times. god tells us that our faith will be tested like gold is tested in fire. that testing hurts but we pray that we come out better people, parents and believers. thank you.