Happy Birthday Grapes!!

 In the midst of our injury craziness, we did manage to celebrate Grapes' 5th Birthday!  I can't believe I have a 5 year old.  It's fun how a few balloons and streamers can make a 5 year old's day! 

 She loved the heart locket from her Kacki and Poopaw as well as the dolphin bracelet from Mamma Nette and Papa Dan...which is a reminder of Mama Nette's promise to take her swimming with the dolphins when she's old enough.  Grandparents are the best. 

 She declared it was her "jewelry birthday"  when she opened the jewelry tree Andy and I got for her! 

Grapes, you are loved.  You are a jewel to us...unique and beautiful.  I love watching the Lord work in your life and I am thankful to be your Mom!  Happy Birthday to the oldest 5 year old I know!! 

Happy Father's Day (and I spy something pink)

 We love you Dad!  We're thankful for the hours of reading books,

 the pre-dinner games of Mario Cart, the countless games of UNO, bike rides, Daddy Dates to BoJangles,

the tender and gentle way you lead our family, your servanthood in cleaning and cleaning and cleaning,

 AND OF COURSE, OUR FAVORITE...TICKLE WRESTLE!!!!!!

 Happy Father's Day Andy!

And Happy Father's Day to the many Fathers in our lives.  We are grateful for you!!! 

This needs a picture

But I don't have one yet.  I am referring to EG's new cast. 

Emma Grace was scooting all over the place on her bottom and really adjusting well to her disability.  Then on Wednesday Andy took her to the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon for her follow-up and it was all good news!  The wound is healing well.  They don't think she'll need any physical therapy and best of all-they re-casted her foot.... and the new cast????  Well...fabulous!!!  First of all, it's hot pink.  SO HER.  And she can walk on it!  No more scooting around on her bottom mopping my floor.  (she actually got a rag and put it under her bottom one day and told me she was mopping!!)  And the icing on the cast....  She can swim in it.  Yep.  Swim in it.  I couldn't believe it myself, but we tried it out today and it's still hard as a rock and I think all the water has magically drained out.  Who knew they make swim casts?!!

The only bummer about the new cast is that it's not split like the first one was.  So we can't  take it off to scratch when needed.  I found myself up at 3:30 am using a chop stick to scratch her leg.  Poor thing.

But overall, this is a big improvement!  It looks like our summer is mostly back on track after our small/medium? detour.  We splurged for the season pass to the pool today since it looks like swimming is back in our life!!!  So grateful.  

Change in plans...parts 2-6

Well, our first change in plans happened when we flew to Cherry Grove to spend the week with Kathi and Tim.  And like I said in my last post, it was a delightful change in plans.  At the end of the week, I told Kathi I'm pretty sure it was my favorite trip to the beach house to date.  (Don't tell Andy that though...this was the only trip he hasn't been on)  Turns out we had a few more change in plans coming down the pike, they just CAN NOT be described as delightful. 

Change in Plans 2 happened when we got to the airport on Saturday to fly back to Orlando, only to realize our flights were booked for the wrong day.  We couldn't get on the flight for that day even though the flight wasn't full.  Dratts.  Back to the beach house.  Kathi had to head back to WV so Change in Plans 3 happened when Sheryl canceled her flight to Orlando and drove to the beach to stay with us there.  Seeing her was delightful for sure and she was a real servant to our family.  She cooked and cleaned and took EG on a birthday date.  I really don't deserve friends as great as her.   Change in plans 4 happened when a mirror fell on EG's foot Monday night, cutting her severely and severing three of the tendons in the top of her foot (that means no toe movement and A LOT OF BLOOD )  It was traumatic for everyone involved.  We headed to the ER and she had an emergency surgery a few hours later to repair the tendons, sew the laceration and put on a cast.  Sheryl continued to serve our family during this very stressful time.  She was really like an angel there with me through it all.  Change in plans 5 happened when my dear husband left his work trip a week early and got on a flight the next morning to be with us. I have never been so relieved to see his face.And Change in Plans 6 is basically our whole summer.  Our days of heading the pool and the park and bowling will be replaced by  doctor's appointments, physical therapy so EG can regain the use of her toes, a lot of couch time, crafts, board games and Netflix...yep, we signed up for Netflix as soon as we got back. 

To be very honest, the whole thing really shook me up.  The event itself was really traumatic and I've had trouble not thinking about it.  But I was also really shaken up by all the crazy, bizarre changes in plans that led to this event...a last minute decision to go to the beach, flights booked on the wrong day, canceled flights, etc.  I think it left me very aware that I am not the one in control of my life.  I honestly can't make sense of it all, and I have just had to come back to the truth that I preach to myself almost daily.  God loves me.  He is for me.  He does not treat me as I deserve.  He treats me based on his grace.  And he uses EVERYTHING that happens in my life for my good.  These truths were my comfort in the ER watching Emma Grace in extreme pain.  They were my comfort sitting alone in an empty lobby at 1 am while she underwent surgery.  And they have continued to be my comfort as we adjust to a more stationary life and I let go of all my summer plans. And I'm trusting that God will use this for good in HER LIFE as well. 

Andy has been a servant to us-cooking meals, letting me nap, cleaning, carrying Emma Grace to the potty every time she needs to go.  The pain seems to be getting better and today she actually got off the couch and scooted around the house on her bottom!

Tomorrow is her 5th birthday and we canceled our outdoor cook out/camp out and we're having a family camp out in the living room.  Should be fun.  Thanks for praying for her and for us.  We are really grateful.  Please pray for complete healing, as there is a chance that tendon repair can fail.  And pray  for us to have deep trust in the goodness of God in all things.  

Beach Days

Learning to Float

Lucy Love

Summer Happiness