Belly Laughs

If you are a parent I probably don't need to explain. You know it. You have heard it. If you are not a parent, just wait. It is one of the best parts of this job. You'll hear it. Someday for sure. Today was my day. Its the kind of laughter that comes from the deepest part of your child. Pure JOY! It just explodes in the form of a contagious laughter that in turn causes you to laugh just as hard. Sometimes it overtakes your children in the most inappropriate places (like the middle of a Sunday morning message, or in the stall in a rest room next to a particularly noisy one). Sometimes it can be over heard from the other room while you are busy doing ordinary tasks such as preparing dinner or folding laundry. It always makes me pause and say Thank you when I hear Blake and Allie overcome by it. Nothing I say can properly describe the way your heart feels as you listen to one of your children get caught up in an episode of belly laughter. My nephew Jake has one of the best ones you will ever hear. I love it when I visit with my sister on the phone and he falls into it.

Well today was Ashley's first experience with it. I can not tell you how wonderful it was to experience it with her. She smiled so big I thought her cheeks would surely pop! She laughed so hard it scared her. I got so tickled at her. I was turning her in circles. I would go one way, then the other, then back again. She laughed and laughed and laughed. It was priceless! I am so blessed by this little girl. She is truly wonderful.

Today has been a good day. We have rested and played. She looks really good right now(outside of those steroid cheeks!). I can tell she is feeling so much stronger. We will go down to procedures on Friday at 1:00. They will attempt our 5th tube placement. We are trying to figure out a way to have it placed without putting Ashley on the ventilator. She is breathing so well. Her lungs sound completely clear. I hate to jeopardize her breathing status, but it may not be avoidable. Once the tube is placed we should begin feeding her later that evening. I am not sure if our breast milk will be delivered before next week, but they are working on it. Our prayer is that somehow, some way, Ashley will not begin vomiting. We pray she will tolerate feeds and that all the struggles will be behind her allowing us to avoid a very dangerous and invasive operation. I know that God can do this. I believe He could. Please join us as we pray for solutions to her struggles.

What a gift her laughter is. God is the giver of good and perfect gifts and today I definitely received one. I am so blessed. Thanks for sharing in my joy. I pray your evening might contain a few belly laughs that make you pause and say Thank you for such perfect gifts. Love you guys, Trish.