May 1st

This is big huge gigantic monumental.  Today we removed Ellie's feeding tube from her stomach.

Just shy of three years in her body, that thing came out. It was pretty uneventful, done at the home thanks to some teaching we got in the hospital.  But what an important event it was.

She had a heart ultrasound today which was what we were waiting for to make sure she was doing well before we removed it.  This appointment followed a regular check up where her weight gain was outstanding - up several pounds from that rough start we had with the transition to eating.  The appoinment was set months ago for May 1st and I thought it my mind, "Ha, May 1st...the present".

The middle of December 2011 marked transition between "before knowledge" and "after knowledge.  After we gained the knowledge at that ultrasound, things didn't make any sense.  Being a very visual person, I searched to come up with something to let my brain "rest" on.  In the middle of wrapping presents later that day, I decided I was going to need a reminder that the baby was a gift.  A gift from God that he'd chosen especially for our family.  

I found an empty little box and wrapped it up and put a label on it.

Ellie's due date was May 1st and until that day came, I would have to trust God in his infinite wisdom with the gift he had willed for us.  That box sat in a prominent place in our house and spoke to me to wait, trust and let go.

Today as I took this picture Ellie swooped in and grabbed the box from the table.  Apparently she did not read the label and thought it was her birthday all over again.

Luckily I salvaged it.  If I had to list 10 material things that had the most meaning to me, this little box would be on that list.  

So here we are...three and a half years later.  We're taking her tube out on this day, so much to celebrate.  Inside that box there are many things to celebrate.  This is the kind of gift that just keeps on giving!!!