Small Miracles

I can't forget to share so many of the little wins that Giac has been having this summer.

Like today, he starts swimming lessons. Not only is he energetic enough, but he doesn't get blue and shiver like he used to, both of which make the pool a whole lot more fun.

Two weeks ago, he went back to Asbury Methodist preschool (just for 4 weeks this summer), and has been consistently SELF-feeding his entire lunch and so able to stay all day! He really surprised me with this one. And, all of this smack in the middle of a sinus infection and oral antibiotics course, which usually disrupts his eating.

About the same time, he cut out his nap. Although his father (who goes to work for 6 a.m. so that we can share Giac's care during the day) was enjoying the siesta, Giac had too much energy at night -- aggravating his tired brother to no end and staying up til 11 pm... Now, with no nap, he has both a reasonable bedtime and can stay at school til it's over at 2:30 p.m. Having him at school all day also makes my work at home much more focused and peaceful.

I was reminded of the need to comment on these small miracles last night when I checked our little heart sister Julianne's page and saw that she is progressing right along with her eating/GT to oral feeding transition. Also, last week, when we went in for the sinus infection and saw our back up to the back up pediatrician (our primary and secondary were on vacation). She was the doctor who was in the office the day that our then primary (and now secondary) pediatrician saw Giac at 6 days old and rushed us to the ICU. She remarked on what a miracle Giac is. I responded that I can't focus on that. I can't live always thinking about how unbelievable it is that he survived. It is too close to the flip side of how he could have died; how fragile life is. From there, we can't fully live. To live fully, I have to assume he is going to live and treat him like it. It means things like undoing the spoiling that came with his challenges at defying the odds, letting him take ordinary risks, and appreciating not only the miraculous gift of his life but of all of our lives. You have to always look at the big picture to keep things in perspective.