This morning's surprise

I was sleeping with the five big kids at the Ronald McDonald House, Eden was with Kelly and Peggers at the Hampton nearby when I received a text from Nicole informing me that she had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. They immediately changed her diet and removed all sweets and treats.  For a moment she pined with the loss of this one luxury from her hospital home, but she quickly found her smile and kept it through the day even after Kelly and Peggers took our six beloveds back to Chattanooga.  For some reason that text hit me hard.  Maybe harder than the news hit her because she and our boys have endured so much that I was just: "enough already" right?  Then the kids left and my heart somewhat sank as it is prone to do when I have to tell them goodbye.

Then I stumbled upon a luxurious lunch prepped by volunteers at the House and met a man named Walter.  I have met many who have been there months, some even over a year, but his story came at the time I needed to hear it.  His three year old was sent home on hospice after a fleet of issues and surgeries in her young life finally culminated in heart failure.  He did not give up.  He contacted Cincinnati Children's and they were immediately on their way where their little girl was put on a mechanical heart to keep her alive until they could find a heart and perform a transplant.  In that time she had three massive strokes, and lost mobility on her left side ... then her new heart came through and she has regained almost all her faculties other than her voice.  We have had some challenges, some major challenges, tears, tender hearts, day to day, but God has been good every step of the way and we have seen his blessings, we have seen His care, we have seen His love shining through it all.  So, a bit of cognitive reframing and bam, we are back on the bright side.

I am so thankful for all our little kids.  They received multiple compliments at the RMH as they unloaded dishwashers, did the dishes, and had fun but showed courtesy.  They are already excited about coming back for the next visit and they are holding their spirits so high remarkably all things considered though they are quite clingy when they are with me now.  The sunshine they bring far outshines the clouds that come after their departure.

But we have a big week coming up!  Growth charting in the ultrasound tomorrow (the boys should be around 3lbs. now), then another fetal Echo Cardiagram on Tuesday which is also our anniversary, then a consult with the team to discuss a plan for delivery, then Thomas's birthday Thursday (I hope to travel home Thursday morning to spend his birthday with him Thursday and toss him a party on Friday at Peggers before running back to Ohio).  Big week.  More will become clear.  But one thing did clarify itself in the past few days:  There will be no transfer from Cincinnati though there is still a very slight chance of a transfer to Boston, and this is where our boys will be born. I think accepting that, accepting this as our two to three month home was something we needed to come to.