Sorry, no Down syndrome post today. Very tired. But I wanted to use today's post to say how thankful I am for such supportive family, friends, and prayer warriors from our church. Our family has been through a lot since we moved here less than 3 years ago.
Micah had his last visit with his ophthalmologist in Madison yesterday. We went to say farewell to the staff at the NICU this morning (one of the nurses referred to chubby bubby as "cube baby" LOL). Micah had his last appointment at the feeding clinic in Milwaukee last Friday. I actually cried on my way home because we've spent a crazy amount of time there in Micah's 21 months of life (and a couple of days before that). They know him. They know what he's been through. They've seen the progress he's made. They feel a strong sense of "ownership" of his health and his progress.
What I realized after that is that one of the hardest parts of leaving is that we are leaving everyone who has walked through this entire journey with Micah with us (in person, anyway), from prenatal diagnosis to preterm labor to birth to NICU (here to Milwaukee to here to Milwaukee) to intestinal surgery to heart surgery to feeding tubes to oral aversion to another hospitalization to another surgery to many trips to MKE for tube changes... We're going to a place where no one knows. It takes a long time to build up community in a new place. Don't we all want to feel like we're known?
We're leaving on Saturday. I'm very much looking forward to being in the same city as Mark. And I'm looking forward to beginning the next chapter in our lives... mostly. But we're leaving Mark's parents. We'll be farther from my family too.
But I'm thankful for having the opportunity to be here for almost 3 years. I'm thankful for the dear friends we have made here. I'm thankful for the countless prayers that were offered up by our church family, most of whom had never met us before Micah was born (and some we were never blessed to meet). And I'm thankful that Micah was born here, or we wouldn't have met some of the wonderful families here who also have a child with designer genes.
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5 comments:
Awwww, I can competely understand your mixed emotions. Yes, you have had many many experiences here, ups and downs, in the past three years....wow! We will be keeping you all in prayer as you make this move. Looking forward to seeing your blog posts about settling into your new home. I'm sure God will plant you right where He wants you, and you will meet a whole new set of friends, neighbors and even medical staff (but not too much of the later!). And of course we here will follow along with you, at least thru cyber space :) God bless, Kris
I feel for you and I pray that God will give you peace about this move. It has to be hard to leave what you have become familiar with and start anew but God knows exactly what we need and he is sure to have many wonderful things in store for all of you. God Bless you and I'm glad I got to meet you through blogging. You are a wonderful family and Micah is sooo lucky!
"Bon demenagement" as they say in France. Hope the move goes smoothly. Will be thinking of you.
By the way, I stumbled across this article last week which you may be interested in: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/09/30/300000-nigerians-have-down-syndrome-group/
And I am thankful for you, Jennie. Your friendship is a treasure. I will miss you very much, but I know that God has great plans for you and your family, and I look forward to watching them unfold. Know you are loved!
Hope all goes well during the move...
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