Happy 5th Birthday, Gracie Girl!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

You are a big girl of FIVE now!

We are so proud of you!

With all our love,

Mommy, Daddy and Preston

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Dearest Sweet Gracelyn,

I just can't believe that our Gracie Girl is five years old today. In some ways it seems like just yesterday that Daddy and I were a few minutes late to my induction appointment in order to shamelessly catch the last few minutes of American Idol!

Your birth certainly didn't go as planned... I was induced because your due date of April 2nd passed by and soon April 15th was upon us and you were showing no signs of wanting to leave your cozy place inside me! After hours and hours of labor, you were in distress and I had a fever, so it was off to the operating room for a c-section... and then you were here.

From the moment you entered this world and struggled to take your first breath, you defined "fighter" and continue to do so. Daddy went with you to the nursery and as I went off to recovery, I could see the worry in the faces of all our family.

I only caught a glimpse of you for a quick moment as the doctors worked feverishly to help you breath, so when Daddy came into the recovery room over an hour later, I asked him, "What does she look like?" While I was overcome with fear and sadness for the struggles you were facing and imagining tubes and machines helping you, your amazing Daddy said only this, "She looks like our daughter - - she is beautiful."

The next several hours, days and weeks were terrifying, overwhelming and exhausting - - constantly learning more about what this thing called CHARGE Syndrome was and how you were affected by it. The one thing that gave us peace was sitting in the NICU and looking into your beautiful blue eyes and seeing only love looking back. It's that same love, only now grown larger than life, that I see when I look into your eyes now, five years later.

Your struggles have been too many... your fights harder than many others... there have been more times than I care to remember that we feared we'd never see today. But it seems you, my brave girl, have never questioned those fights, and instead have only fought them.

You have never once ceased to amaze Daddy and me. Some say it's a testament to us as your parents that you have the spirit and disposition you do given all that you've been through... but we know that is just who you are. You came into this world like that and we've just been here to bear witness to the amazing things that you've accomplished in spite of all that you've endured.

You are, without question, the bravest, strongest and most resilient person I know. And, even though you are just five years old, you undoubtedly know more about "fight" and perseverance than people who have lived 80 years.

My card to you today reads, "Ask me what beauty is, and I will show you my daughter."
There are not words to describe how privileged, honored and humbled I am to be your mommy and to bear witness to the miracles that happen through you, around you and because of you. You are an inspiration, a teacher and a blessing - and I will forever wonder how I got so lucky to be your mommy.
Happy Birthday, Gracelyn Marie.
I love you with all my heart,
Mommy