Our tiny Gift

She is one of the best gifts we have ever received. She is one of the most beautiful gifts we have ever received. She is the tiniest gift we have ever received, but if you could see what is inside of this little one you would be amazed at just how big she really is.

Today Dave and I met with a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and transplant coordinators. Our goal was to try and figure out just what they "see" when they look at Ashley and the course of her transplant and recovery. Let me tell you that walking out of that meeting my heart was lighter. Our recovery has not been an easy course and it has not been a short course, but it has been a BLESSED course. We were able to all make sure we were on the same page when we look to Ashley's future. Knowing full well that God will be the one to decide what her future holds, we tried to form a plan. In the end one of the pieces of this recovery puzzle that I had really failed to add in was Ashley's size. When I look at my Ashley I sometimes forget that she is just so tiny. She is not and has not ever been a normal sized child. She was born at 28 weeks and weighed less than 3lbs. She remained at 12lbs from January of this year until August! At transplant in Sept. we had managed to add a pound and a half to make her a whopping 13 and half pounds. There is no mistaking it, my Ashley is tiny. After our meeting I realized that some of what Ash is struggling with is a result of her tiny little self. Everyone on her "team" feels that Ashley will make it. We are battling a round of sepsis. This is our 4th episode. Our list of goals include: Getting her off the vent (and staying off!), Getting her to full feeds (55ccs per hour), getting her off of TPN (for longer than 3 hours), and getting her central line pulled out! If we could get to the point where her line can be pulled then she has a great chance of avoiding the episodes of sepsis. Once she remains on full feeds and successfully avoids infections for a period of about 1-2 months then guess where we are going? HOME!!! This is my new prayer list. It is specific. It is what we need to happen so that we can bring our tiny gift back home. I do not feel as though this is impossible. I know that with God all things are possible. I know that if it falls within His will that she has what it takes to make it. She may be tiny, but on the inside her spirit is so BIG!!!

Please join me in praying for our "new" prayer list. If you could see my Ashley today and if you could have seen where He brought her from yesterday you would be encouraged. You would be amazed. You would never doubt the hugeness of our God.

Thank you guys for loving Him so much that you opened up your hearts to accept our tiny gift. She is tiny, but she is tough. I am grateful for your encouraging words, and for your prayers. I hope to share her with you all someday. I hope to give you the opportunity to see this tiny little girl who you helped to pray through. You are loved and you are appreciated! Trish