Thank yous

Sorry I have been MIA again... Sophia had her second surgery in Dallas last week. And everything went PERFECTLY. Enough of her nevus was removed that she will not have to have tissue expanders again (major YAY!), she had no pain or other issues like in the past, her nurses were terrific, and we came home Friday evening with a happy, healthy girl. She has not been on any pain medicine since then, and she's been running around and playing like nothing ever happened. She had her drains removed yesterday, so now we are officially DONE. She will continue to have some minor surgeries in the coming years, but nothing for a couple of years, and nothing as major as we've had in the last two years.

In the hospital, and after we got home, our wonderful friends and family send us lots of sweet things - balloons and stuffed animals, cards and email, cookies and coloring books, gift certificates for take-out food, and LOTS of prayers. Sophia and I have been writing thank you cards to all of our sweet friends for their kindness.

But there is one thank you card I haven't been able to put into words. We got Sophia a special new baby doll, wrapped in a shiny gold package, after her surgery (this baby doll was almost impossible to find, because, I discovered, she is the same baby doll little Shiloh Jolie-Pitt has been toting around!) Sophia named her Baby Emily, and Sophia's first postoperative smile can be attributed to her. At about 3 a.m., the night following her surgery, Sophia became lucid enough for some conversation, and it went like this...

Sophia: Mommy, why did you and Daddy get me Baby Emily? Is it for Christmas or something?
Me: We got Baby Emily for you, because you have been SO brave, and we are SO proud of you!

She smiled and thought for a minute. And then...

Sophia: Thank you, but... let's say a little prayer to God, and say thank you for helping me be brave.

My sweet three year old reminded me that God was still here. He heard my prayers when I was sitting in the waiting room for four hours, waiting for Sophia to come out of surgery. Now He was listening for my new prayer - my prayer of thanksgiving. It is so easy to have Sophia draw a picture and write "thank you for the cookies" on a card. But how do you thank the one Who allowed your child's skin to stretch more, Who gave her the strength to feel brave and safe, Who comforted us when we were anxious, Who gave us.... everything... why is it that the greater the gratitude, the harder it is to put into words?

I'm still working on it.



In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18