The topic for this month is wide open! Share about anything that has been on your heart or has mattered to your family over the past month. I can’t wait to hear about it…

(For carnival rules and information click here.)

This year has been a rough year for illnesses at our house, but this past month I’ve been thinking … and the contemplation has turned my thoughts to gratitude.

While there have been sniffles and sneezes, rounds with Jacqui’s cyclic vomiting syndrome, and more than our fair share of ear infections and pneumonia, some things around here have been conspicuously and most welcomely absent.

There have been no surgeries, no rushing of children to the emergency room. No midnight apnea alarms, and no trachs to suction.

On most nights, Jacqui’s room has been silent except for the peaceful sound of her slumber and no IV pole looms over her bedside.

We have heard doctors say things like, “See you in five years” and have known the joy of watching our first born eat an entire meal without assistance from a feeding tube.

We have experienced months without visits to the pediatrician and have gone places as a family just for fun — like the beach, out to dinner, or to visit friends.

I have watched my children laugh and play in our backyard — happy, healthy and full of the joy of life, and I am left with the realization of how good God has been to our family, how very blessed we are. Even during those early years when things were so much harder, we had so much to be grateful for. We had each other. We still do. And really, what more could we ask for?

I know that many families reading this are going though some of the darkest, most difficult struggles as they strive to care for their children. It is my hope that you will find encouragement in knowing that my family prays for yours. That your heartache matters. That your children, like my own, are precious in my prayers.

What About You? What Matters To You This Month?

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This week I’m trying something a little different… a new Wednesday photo meme over at 5MFSN….

Each Wednesday we gather at 5MFSN and share a photo from our lives … a sharing of visual inspiration to encourage one another, perhaps coax a smile or even a tear. We share photos of our children, places or things our children love, that we love … the moments of struggle, the moments of triumph … any photograph which calls up memories or emotions in you as a parent.

Want to know what I love about these photos of Jacqui? I love that even though they were taken just a few short days after a major 8-hour surgery to remove her lymphatic malformation, she was already playful and just being Jacqui.

I love that she charmed her nurses into giving her gloves and insisted on being referred to as “Dr. Jacqui”, and that somehow, she even managed to con a spare stethoscope off of someone which we had to repeatedly wrestle her over so she would quit trying to wear it around her shoulders “jess like a real doctor” (the stethoscope and her trach didn’t get along so well together).

I love that every few minutes, all throughout the day, she would check on her buddy, Cosmo, the floppy lavender puppy, to make sure his heart was “still boomin’ right.”

I love that she tried to smile, even though she couldn’t. She had just received a facial nerve graft and it was another five months before we saw glimmers of her magical smile once more.

I love that as I look at this picture now, I know she’s upstairs — tucked away in her fairy princess bed. That no doctors or nurses or monitors are needed to stand by as sentinels over her every breath. Just her, a purple puppy, and the scent of lavender bubble bath. A long time in coming, but oh, so worth the wait.

I’m off to kiss her and her baby brother goodnight just one last time, whisper a prayer of gratitude over each of them as they are sleeping and an extra little prayer for Jen from Unique But Not Alone and her beautiful little Grace who is facing surgery today. I know it would mean a lot to Jen, if you remembered them in your thoughts and prayers — especially if you stop by to let her know. Hang on, Jen — Grace will soon be back home cuddled up in her very own bed too. I’ll be praying.

For More Special Exposure Wednesday, click here.

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“Why,” you ask, “does your family room look like the aftermath of a Toys ‘R’ Us fire sale?” Well I’ll tell you… I tried to call in sick, but they laughed at me. I pleaded with them. I begged. But they just laughed, then laughed some more.

They laughed at my feeble threats — they knew I didn’t have it in me to follow through on them. They giggled with glee, knowing today was a day for rule breaking, toy squabbling and cartoon immersion.

They threw toys. They smashed goldfish crackers into the carpet. They monopolized the TV remote and drove toy trains across my face as I begged for silence. Then they laughed some more.

They refused to eat healthy lunches. They boycotted naps altogether. They pried open my exhausted eyelids to ask me insane questions. Questions like, “Why do chinchillas have such very big eyes, Mommy?” or “Mommy, what happens if a mosquito bites a mouse-eared bat instead of a mouse-eared bat eating a mosquito? What then, Mommy, what then??”

And paragon of parenting that I am, I did what was warranted in the interest of sanity…

… I gave them cookies, stuffed them in laundry baskets in front of the TV, put in the longest Disney movie I could find, and set it to play on a continuous loop.

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I have a very, very special someone to pass along the Singing in the Rain Award to for the month of June. A very special mommy that I share a very special bond with — because six years ago, my heart was praying the very same prayers that hers is praying now. If you haven’t med Kandy from Ramblings of a Redneck Woman, head on over and say howdy — she could use a little encouragement today. You see, Kandy has been through a lot. She’s a military veteran, a cancer survivor and a hero in more ways than I could possibly begin to name.

A couple short months ago, Kandy learned that she is expecting with a very special little miracle, a baby who will be born with some serious medical complications. I cannot even begin to describe the pain and heartache that surrounds a time like this — we learned about some of Jacqui’s medical problems on a 20 week ultrasound and we didn’t know even up to the day she was born whether she would survive the delivery or not. Worry over the life of your child is the most acute form of agony that can be inflicted on the soul of a mother. And Kandy is living this right now, with each and every heartbeat.

In spite of this, Kandy was able to write a post like this one: His Promise. Go read it — then read her post from today and drop her a note of encouragement.

Kandy, I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but you are a courageous, beautiful mommy — seeking to do everything in your power to protect the precious little life of your baby. Already demonstrating that heroic and selfless form of love that makes motherhood everything that it should be. And I know that this is one tough rainstorm to sing through, but you are sure giving it your all. On the days when you don’t have the strength to sing, know that I am singing with you — and lifting both you and your little one up in the most heartfelt prayers I am capable of praying.

I hope this little award reminds you of just how special you and your little one are, and that your beautiful song hasn’t been unheard. So keep singing, Kandy — and pass this award along the next time you hear someone else singing in the rain.

award blogging award In The Life of a Child Singing In The Rain Award In The Life of a Child’s Singing In The Rain Award .

Photographer Unknown

Pneumonia: 10 — Michelle: 0

Uncle already!!! I give! I give!

Bleh.

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I woke up this morning with something tickling my nose. Half awake, I swatted at it and immediately heard the crunch and crackle of paper followed by a little girl’s giggle. My eyes popped open in fear of who-knows-what sort of shenanigans being perpetrated against my person. Instead, I found myself pleasantly surprised by a macro-zoom view of brightly colored crayon doodles. Said paper was rattled before my eyes for extra emphasis as Jacqui chirped, “Happy I Love You Day, Mommy!”

My heart was instantly filled with warm fuzzies and I thanked my little artist profusely while we freed her baby brother from his crib and got him dressed for the day. Jacqui continued to wave her portrait about while prattling on about “Happy I Love You Day” and everything there was to know about her self-proclaimed holiday.

I began getting breakfast ready and turned towards the refrigerator to find Kyle, aqua blue crayon in hand, scribbling for all he was worth on the refrigerator door…

“Kyle! What are you doing?” I yelped.

Kyle turned to me, squinted, and wrinkled his nose as he grinned, “Appy Yigh-Yo Dee Mummy!”

Happy ‘I Love You Day’ Everybody — And Pass The Windex…

For More Wordless Wednesday Posts… CLICK HERE and HERE.

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For more Best Shot Monday photos, click button below…

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There’s a fun new children’s art meme at

5 Minutes For Special Needs called

Magic Marker Mondays — come see!

I’m hosting — It’ll be fun!

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Want to read it?

Well, I’m over at 5 Minutes for Special Needs today — come join me…

The Day She Was Different ~ by Michelle at In The Life Of A Child

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Well wonder no longer — the day has arrived!

Five Minutes For Mom has announced the launch of their new sister sites!

What does this have to do with me? Well, see this little button right here?

Well click on it! It is home to a brand new and exciting blog designed to bring parents of special needs children together. For the past several weeks, I have been collaborating with an amazing group of writers and today is the very first day that we are up and running.

Cool button, huh? Want one? Well, here’s the code:

<p align="center"><a href="http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com"><img src="http://www.5minutesforparenting.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/special-needs-125x125-1.png" alt="5 Minutes for Special Needs" title="5 Minutes for Special Needs" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-19" height="125" vspace="10" width="125"></a></p> <p>

Don’t worry, I’ll still be writing here, but now you have a great new place that you can come and visit with me — and with some other wonderful folks. I will be found writing at 5MFSN every Friday, each Monday for a fun new children’s art meme called Magic Marker Mondays, and on the first Thursday of every month for 5MFSN’s Beyond Ordinary Blog Carnival.

So what are you waiting for? Come and say hello, and don’t forget to come visit me on Friday! Oh, and spread the word!

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