There is Always Hope!

Our sweet middle child, Mila....she is SUCH a love bug! Her name, Mila, means "miracle," and she has lived up to that name in her two years on this Earth! She had a rougher start than most in this life, but has continually fought through all the challenges that have been thrown at her! I often say that if all of Mila's medical diagnoses had been listed for us from the start, we never would have had the courage to choose her. Thankfully, the Lord chose her for us. I simply cannot imagine how colorless our lives would be without her.

Mila recently had an MRI and we found out that she has a difference in her brain that may make gross motor activities, such as walking, more challenging for her. She responded to the news by busting through the gate and climbing an entire flight of stairs (15 stairs to be exact) so quickly I didn't even know she went "missing!" And then when I found her upstairs in her old bedroom, she just giggled! Mila is decked out in some new sure step SMO orthotics and will soon be the owner of a brand-spankin' new bright pink gait trainer! Stay off the sidewalks people! She got to trial one today and she LOVED it! Don't let her face in this picture fool you! (She's been doing her scary face when she's excited and trying to be silly! She is our clown!) This one was a tad too small, so we'll have to wait a few weeks for her exact one to come in, but we are so excited! She loved being up and moving around! She was pretty speedy too!

We also got the results of her sleep study today, and while they weren't what we were hoping, we are not surprised at all. She has obstructive sleep apnea. This would explain why she falls asleep standing up, is tired only a few hours after waking, and has just never been a good sleeper! She also has Rhythmic Movement Disorder and/or Restless Leg Syndrome. They'll be drawing some labs to see if either of those are a result of low iron levels. The next obstacle for Miss Mila will be having her tonsils and adenoids out in hopes that this will eliminate the sleep apnea. She'll have the procedure done in Pittsburgh (date unknown) and we're guessing that we'll be there at least a few days with her history of airway issues. So if you have some room in your prayers, we'd appreciate some coming this way! 

Thankfully Mila is not a list of diagnoses. Thankfully she is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. Thankfully when we look at her, we don't see diagnoses or problems, we see a beautiful child that we have the privilege of calling our own! We see where she started and how far she's come. When I think of the 7 pound 7-month-old we met a year and a half ago, I stand in awe of all the Lord has done with her life. She is so deeply connected to my soul in a way I cannot explain. She is a mama's girl and seeks out snuggles and comfort and hugs constantly. She has an amazing sense of humor and is ALWAYS making people laugh! As we watch her grow up each day, we are so excited to watch her gifts unfold. Through each diagnosis and challenge that has come Mila's way, we take great pleasure in helping her overcome those obstacles. We are so thankful, even on the really tough days, that she has the opportunity to be loved, to give love, to grow, and to help others grow! There is always hope!