Dear God

Dear God,

He is so little. I will never understand why some people are born with broken bodies while the rest of us enjoy the freedom of properly functioning ones. It hurts so much to see him suffer. How do I trade places? Why can't I take on the broken body for him? The pain of watching him struggle is unbearable at times but what is worse is knowing I am helpless in taking it from him.

When does our mountain move, our storm stop raging, and the sails fill with wind again? I know you are there and I know you are good, but this doesn't feel good. I believe you can speak a single word from your lips and make this all go away. I trust your ways are pure and I know you hold our future but what about today. 

Today hurts.  

Patiently, we wait for your plan to be revealed and your work to be made clear. I know that greatness waits for him on the other side of this journey but right now I can't see it through the raging storm.

Where are your angel armies? We have surrendered all to you and we humbly wait.
You are God, even the wind obeys your command. Yet you choose to let it swirl.

And somehow in the midst of this place I find peace, the peace needed to wait on your timing because I know you are never late.

With all of my pain and with all of my desires I still speak through the storm and say, 

Not my will but yours be done. 

Words that cannot yet leave my lips but are spoken to you through the voice of my heart. I don't know how to face tomorrow without you and I accept the peace that comes with knowing you are already there. 

This is my child whom you created. Although, it is hard to conceive I know you love him deeper than I ever could and that his suffering must bring you great pain.

We are ready Lord and we eagerly await you. 

Sincerely,
Your Child

Sixteen Years Ago I Found My Calling

It didn't go the way I imagined it would. I had spent months... no years, envisioning the day that I would become a mother. He was the first grandchild on both sides and the anticipation for his arrival was immeasurable. We had been doing all of the typical planning and preparation that couples do prior to the big day. There was the usual building up of excitement for the pending debut of this little buddle of joy, but this child had some added pressure.


His paternal grandmother had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and began her aggressive treatment two days before he decided to make his grand entrance. This would be the much needed distraction and blessing we had needed in the midst of that difficult time. But as if that wasn't enough... he also decided to arrive on a very special day, the birthday of my sister, Theresa.

Theresa, was a special blessing herself, but one that we only got to hold on to for a very short time. My sweet little sister was born with a congenital heart condition which limited her life to only eighteen short months here on earth with us. It was a special gift to have my first little one share her birthday but we soon found out that they would share more than just a special day,

It was a long difficult delivery but that all instantly disappeared the moment I held him for the first time. My joy must have cast a shadow over any looming concerns that the medical staff may have had upon his arrival. This sweet boy, named after his father, was perfect... at least through the focus of my eyes.

It wasn't long before we were made aware of the medical teams concerns, "His heart isn't pumping fast enough and we aren't sure why." Those words came across my mind in slow motion as I looked at the caring hand of my nurse, now resting on mine. Suddenly, the reality of my current moment and my parents' past journey with my little sister, came colliding together.

This child was supposed to be the bridge between the pain of the past and the healing of today. Born on her birthday. A tribute of her life in the form of a beautiful gift of this brand new life.

 Her heart. His heart?

There couldn't have been a more difficult statement to hear in that moment.

Those first days of his birth were not the ones I had envisioned. I wasn't supposed to see somber faces looking at my child, I wasn't supposed to be crying tears of fear for his life, and I wasn't supposed to leave the hospital without a newborn. For the first time in my life I understood the depths of a parent's heart and the extent of what they would go to in order to protect their child.

But what I remember most from that time of uncertainty was the comfort I found in my husband and his words of faith which carried me through those days. His reassurance that we could do hard things with the hope of our God and His promise to lead us through the valleys.

It was the first time in my life when my faith was tested to the core. God did not leave us nor forsake us during that time.

In all of the confusion of those days one things stood true and unclouded, this child was mine. The love that poured out of me was something I didn't even know was possible. The instinct to care, love and protect this little child was the driving force for every breath I took from the moment he was born.

This is not the beginning that I would have chosen for him, but it is the one we were given. Although, I can't say the fearful memories of those days have faded, I can say that my clearest memories are of the faith, hope and love that surround us during those days.

That same heart that was once deemed broken now holds more love and compassion than I have ever seen in someone so young. His generosity and concern for others is contagious, you can't think of him and not smile. His spunk, humor, and sheer presences leaves you feeling better for having spent time with him. I am so blessed to have been chosen to be his mother and have a front row seat to watch him grow and bloom into the incredible young man he is today.

Sixteen years of having the privilege of being on this amazing journey with my sweet boy.


Todd Christopher, thank you for making my dreams come true by giving me the name, mommy. I am so amazed by the wonder of your incredible imagination, your ability to create joy where there was none, and your deep compassion for the forgotten. You are smart, kind and energetic. I know you will someday move mountains. I can't wait to see what God does with the beautiful light that shines through you. Happy 16th birthday sweet boy, I love you to the moon and back.


Happy Birthday to you as well little sister. One day will be untied again in paradise.

"Don't worry, you can't catch what I have."

"This is my little brother, he has an illness where he can't eat and has to go into the hospital all the time because he gets sick a lot."

I listened from the other room as an introduction took place between my seven-year-old daughter and her new friend. My heart had become terribly used to a lot of jabs but it wasn't quite prepared for the pain that would come from the next few words spoken.

On the floor in front of them, sat a sweet little five-year-old boy who had become very adjusted to his medical isolation, and apparently, without me knowing had become extremely aware of his own medical condition.

This new friend looked curiously at my son and without missing a beat, he replied, 

"Don't worry, you can't catch what I have."

In that single moment, I was whisked back in time to a scene of me rushing a vomiting toddler out of a children's museum. I could vividly see the gawking parents in the play area, their faces, resembling that of the child which then stood in my living room. That day in the museum had been etched into my memory. I carried my young child in one arm while using the other free hand to catch vomit. As I made my way towards the exit I could feel the piercing eyes of concern from the parents around me. In my need to defend our presence in the children's play area, I defensively began to repeat, 

"You can't catch what he has, please don't worry, you can't catch what he has!"

My instinct at that moment was to free the onlookers of their fear of catching a virus from another child. I have come a long way from that moment in the museum, yet suddenly I found myself transported back to the insecurity of those feelings.

My heart broke knowing my child felt the need to make that same distinction to others. 

"You can't catch what I have!" 

No child should have to make that kind of clarification to someone. No child should have to feel the need to defend their existence that way.

His words broke me... but not him. 
To him, it was just a simple reassurance which he sensed this new person needed.

When did he become so aware? I still see him as a young baby that has no knowledge of his differences. Yet, here he sits trying to comfort others with the news of his illness.

Daily he watches others consume food, something he has never been able to do.

Daily he watches others run and play outside, something his body just doesn't have the stamina to do.

Daily he misses out on bathing even though he would love to indulge in the water that he covets.

Frequently he watches others swim, something he can't be apart of because of his central line and risk of infection.

Often he misses out on life while stuck in a hospital, enduring procedures and fighting infections and fevers.

Yet, he feels the need to reassure others, bringing them comfort in coming to an understanding of his situation. These circumstances have just become his way of life and he has an incredible ability to make the best of it. Never asking,

"Why me?"

Yet, no one would blame him if he did.

Instead he,

...pretends to eat food when everyone else sits down to eat a meal.

...watches through a window shouting funny activities for others to act out while he giggles at their silliness.

...splashes his hands in a sink full of water, while others submerge in a bath.

...drives a motorboat and shoots water guns at the others while they play in a swimming pool.

...turns a hospital room into an imaginary world filled with pirates and dinosaurs, while others continue on with their lives on the outside of the hospital.

How can one little boy endure so much and still find joy in each day? He teaches us that we are so much more than our circumstances. He reminds us that all life has value and purpose, modeling how each of us must choose to find the good and allow it to cast a shadow over the struggles we endure.

Once again this little child has taught me a valuable life lesson. My instincts often lean towards sitting and licking my wounds, dwelling in the sadness of such moments. 

His, however... is to address the concerns of others by giving them comfort and reassurance.

 "It's the best day ever mama."

Words that often follow days filled with pokes, procedures, and tests. 

Words that my perspective would not have allowed me to utter, yet somehow he freely offers them as an attempt to comfort me.

"How's your day been?"  

A question I hear him frequently pose to those he encounters throughout his days. Leaving me to wonder, when's the last time I concerned myself with the goodness of someone else's day?

Perhaps if we all focused on a concern for others and less on the darkness of our own days, we too could redirect our perspective, guiding our own attitudes towards hope and joy.

It sure seems to be working for this amazing little five-year-old boy! 



Once again I am humbled by his young wisdom and pure heart.

A Day In The Life 2.0

I can't believe how long it has been since I typed words on this page. It's been a tough year and honestly, I have struggled with finding words to write. The truth is, I want to stay positive and focus on the good... but the past year has been a doozie.


So I decided to do a fun update on our, "A Day In The Life".  I find it so funny that our old post lingers at the top of my, Most Frequently Read list and yet it is so far from being an accurate depiction of our current life.  Consider this A Day In The Life 2.0 an updated "Real" version.











January 18, 2018

7:00 am Wake up with a child crying that her throat hurt.

7:10 am Take her downstairs to get her some ibuprofen and make her some hot tea.

7:20 am Go back upstairs to get Cohen and change his g-tube drain (a.k.a. belly diaper), then head back downstairs.

7:30 am The rest of the gang begins to trickle down and begin to want to eat.

7:35 am Make breakfast for everyone.

8:00 am Remember that I had forgotten to make my coffee but managed to receive a compliment from my ten-year-old,  that despite me not having my coffee yet... I was actually still nice.

8:30 am Clean up dishes and referee a spontaneous Nerf battle that broke out all around me.

8:45 am Give morning medications.

9:00 am Morning devotions

9:30 am Get everyone started on school work.

10:00 am Give Cohen a bath.

10:20 am Prepare supplies and then change Cohen's dressing with Todd (who hadn't left for work yet because of snow delay).

11:00 am Work with the little kids on their school work and talk with medical supply company and nursing agency on the phone.

12:00 pm Prepare lunch for my crew.

12:30 pm More phone conversations with another nurse and insurance company.

1:00 pm Work with my high school kiddo on his research project.

2:00 pm Work with my middle schooler on her math review and go over her test.

2:30 pm Prepare supplies and set up Cohen's TPN infusion.

3:00 pm Prepare supplies and set up Cohen's steroid infusion.

3:15 pm Finish and flush of Cohen's steroids and speak to Cohen's medical supply deliverer.

3:30 pm Fix snacks sandwiches for my four oldest kiddos so they won't starve during their workouts.

3:45 pm  Fix three heads of beautiful hair for gymnastics practice.

4:00 pm Pack this crew into the car.

4:15 pm Run to the bank.

4:30 pm Drop the girls off at gymnastics and speak with the coaches briefly about their meet tomorrow.

4:50 pm Call from our amazing nurse in Cincinnati to touch base on the day.

5:00 pm Take oldest to meet daddy at the gym for their boys only workout.

5:20 pm Hurry home to meet our medical supply deliverer.

5:45 pm Unload all of Cohen's WEEKLY medication and supplies and put them away.

6:00 pm Prepare supplies for Cohen's medication infusion.

6:30 pm Make dinner and put it in the oven.

7:00 pm Flush off Cohen's medication.

7:15 pm Head out to get gas and then go to the girl's gym to watch them before practice ends.

8:00 pm Talk to the girls' coaches and then head home.

8:05 pm Remember that we have to get note cards for my oldest child, so we stop at the store... after leaving the store I remember I also needed bobby pins and hair gel for the girls gymnastic "meet hairdos"... so I run back into the store!

8:20 pm Finally arrive back home for some long overdue dinner, I'm starving!!

8:25 pm Remember to call and wish our cousin happy birthday, before its actually over (in our defense we did celebrate with him last weekend).

8:40 pm Dinner Time devotions, with daddy.

8:55 pm Clean up the kitchen and the girls get their baths.

9:15 pm Boys head to bed and girls line up to get their "meet hairdos" (we have to leave really early in the morning for their meet, two hours away, and getting 3 heads done that time of day just isn't in my skill set!)

10:00 pm Gymnastic hair completed and girls tucked into bed.

10:15 pm My turn to get showered.

11:00 pm Pack all of Cohen's medications that I will need for the next day and double check to make sure that the girls have all of their stuff for the gymnastics meet.

11:30 pm My exhausted head finally hits the pillow! Tomorrow will be the difficult day.... ALL day gymnastic meet with five kids and no available husband..... yup.... Just another day in the life and I wouldn't trade it for the world.












*Before I get the school question.... yes an hour of individual time can be enough per child when you work one on one. And yes my older kids work independently (for the most part) with the exception of some subjects and projects... that's the benefit of teaching your children to learn, "how to learn".

Don't get me wrong there are some days when I spend a lot more time with individual children and at any given time a child needs help with their school work. Today was actually a lighter school day because no one was learning new concepts, those days are more involved for me.