Giving Thanks

This year, once again, I have so many reasons to be thankful. Last Thanksgiving seems like a long, long time ago -- a lot has happened in just a year. At this time last year, Molly wasn't even a twinkle in her daddy's eye -- we had no idea that we were about to set off on another difficult pregnancy and early delivery adventure. It wasn't the easiest twelve months, but even with all the worry and all the hardship, there were so many wonderful and joyful things for which to give thanks.

Max learned to walk and then run. He said his first word and then many others. He laughed and played and threw fits and gave kisses like any other toddler. He is funny and frustrating and amazing and sweet and I'm so very thankful to have him in my life. Like Harry Potter, he's "the boy who lived" and I can never stop being thankful for that.

We found out we were expecting another baby and later discovered that we were having a little girl. We were less thrilled to learn that the pregnancy that was classified as "high risk" by default, since we'd already had a preemie, was truly high risk in its own right. I was fortunate to have received such great medical care and I'm very grateful to all the wonderful L&D doctors and nurses who helped me stay pregnant as long as possible. I'm thankful for each and every day I spent on bedrest -- it was tiresome and difficult and maddening, but it was so very worth every second. I'm thankful that we were able to keep Molly in as long as we did and that she had such a short and uneventful NICU stay. Thanks again to all the incredible NICU doctors and nurses who, once again, took such good care of my baby. I'm blessed to have such a happy, healthy little girl.

I'm also thankful for all of our friends and family who helped us through our difficult times. I'm grateful for all my preemie friends, who were there to lend support when I needed it -- you all helped me out more than you could ever know. I'm grateful for my work friends and my "old" friends -- for all the phone calls and emails and dinners and visits and assistance that you so generously offered and gave. I'm so proud of the big kids, who were such troopers while I was on bedrest and really pitched in around the house. And I'm very thankful for my wonderful family -- when we desperately needed help, you all were there for us. You cooked and cleaned and shopped and changed diapers. You mowed the lawn and trimmed the bushes. You washed and folded laundry and did the dishes. You said prayers and offered encouragement and believed in a happy outcome.

I'm thankful for my wonderful husband, who was right there with me on that crazy rollercoaster pregnancy. He is always my strength and my calm and is always there for me when I need him. He's a good man and a wonderful father and the heart of my heart.

We wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving!