Locks for Love

At least two years ago Abby began to pray for people with cancer at bedtime. I have no idea where this came from but she is consistent in praying for those with cancer. I would have thought that maybe she got if from me but we never really talk about what I do at home other than to tell her that, "I help sick people." I can only guess it is God that laid this on her heart and so she continues to pray. Last year in Sunday School she learned about putting "feet to her prayers", in other words not just praying for someone but also trying to help them. Enter Locks for Love.
Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. They meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. After Abby's first grade teacher, Mrs Schumacher, had her hair cut for Locks for Love Abby decided to do the same and to donate her hair to help these children, especially those with cancer. She has been growing her hair out for the last year and this past month it was finally time to cut it off. I took her to Kim, the wonderful lady that does my hair.
She was so excited and could hardly sit still. Kim told her what an honor it was to cut it for such a great reason. She did a wonderful job and Abby looks adorable. We are so proud of Abby.

New Job

Well, today I said yes to a new position in the hospital. I hope that I am not making a mistake. I am stepping away from oncology at the hospital and I am going to work as a charge nurse on a rehabilitation unit. Why the change? Well, the job that I was promised as a nurse navigator and what had actually materialized are light years apart. My job is actually more that of a secretary than of a nurse. The physicians really don't want us to "navigate" their patients and so I have been prevented I feel, from doing what I was hired to do and what I have wanted to do. I knew for sometime that things at work were changing and I was hoping desperately that they would once again resume their normal keel. However, this is not to be and so I am leaving and going back over to the hospital. The good news is that I will be working 6:30 until 3:00 so I will have much more time with my girls and with Bud. I also received a pay raise which is always nice and I think I am going to a place where I can make a difference and be appreciated.

The good news is that I am not walking away from oncology all together. Cindy (my wonderful nurse navigator friend) and I met with several people from our church today about starting a cancer care program. I am excited about the possibilites of helping those with cancer and their families in our church. They seem excited about the idea as well. It seems that sometimes God shuts one door only to open another one.

Remembering my Dad

I was offered a new position yesterday at the hospital. It would be more money and an increased set of responsibilites but it would move me away from oncology which has always been my first love. I felt so unsettled this morning as I stood in the shower and thought about whether I should take the position or not. I talked to Bud about it last night and my mom, my good friends Heather and Cindy but something felt missing. I realized what it was. I have never made a major decision in my life without talking to my Dad about it. He was always my sounding board for problems or concerns. He was great at it because he never felt the need to tell me what to do or what he would do, he would just let me talk it out and then reassure me that he knew that I would make the right decision. I miss him so much. It broke my heart to hear Maddie say something about Grandpa this morning knowing that she was talking about her Opa (Bud's dad). I gently reminded her that she was talking about Opa and she told Abby's little friend that was over "My Mama's daddy died and she really misses him." I would love just one more opportunity to wrap my arms around him and tell him how much I love him and what a great dad he always was.

Maddie and Grandpa right after his accident in July of 2005

Maddie and Grandpa in July of 2007.

Not flesh of my flesh

Three years ago this little girl came to us for what we assumed would be four months. Three years later and she is still here with us and just like Maddie, it is hard to remember when she wasn't a part of our lives. It hasn't been an easy road, not for any of us. Many hard fought battles, many frustrations and tears. There has been joy though in watching her grow and develop into a young lady. A satisfaction in knowing that this is a life saved, that one day we will watch her march down the aisle to her graduation, one day she will take someone's hand and join her life with theirs and that one day she will watch over her little ones sleeping just as I watch over her and the girls. I have heard this poem my whole life being an adopted child but it has truly taken on new meaning for me.

Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone
Never forget for a single minute
You didn’t grow under my heart
But in it

I hope that one day she will be able to look back and see who loved her so very, very much. We love you sweet girl.

Sweet Baby Sleeping

Will someone tell me where the time went? When did my sweet baby girl get so big? It seems like just yesterday that I was watching her sleep over the rail of her crib and now she looks like such a big girl tucked in. My, how I love this child. I can't imagine what our lives were like before she was a part of it. She looks so much like her daddy that it is unbelievable but her personality is 100% her mama. Now if we could just get her to stay in her bed every night.......

A tatoo where?

Abby is a girly-girl. She is concerned with fashion, looking good and the latest trends (she is so not my child). She likes to push the limits and do things that are not age appropriate yet but she usually will ask me first if something is okay or not. Last night Bud came into the bedroom and said, "Abby has a tatoo on her hip and you need to deal with it." Abby had asked me earlier in the day if she could put her Cheetah girl (girl band from the Disney Channel) tatoo on her arm. I told her that was fine. Apparently she didn't want anyone to see it, so she decided that her hip was a more appropriate place than her arm. The problem is that it looks like it was professionally placed by someone at Miami Ink. She assured me that she would not be showing it off to anyone and so we left it in place. I am just not sure that this bodes well for our teenage years with her. Seven going on seventeen.

Lost Tooth

Abby lost her first top tooth this week. She woke up telling me it was loose and when she got home from school it was in a baggie. I admit it is hard to watch those precious teeth fall out since it took so long for them to come in in the first place. She didn't get her first tooth until she was 10 months old. I thought she would be the only kid wearing false teeth to kindergarten. She looks adorable with her new short haircut and her missing front tooth.

The tooth fairy forgot to come night before last and it ensured tons of waterworks yesterday morning and a plea that "we please call the tooth fairy and remind her that the tooth needs to be picked up". The tooth fairy remembered to come last night and now she is the proud owner of 2 two dollar bills. Much better than the quarters that I received in my time!