DiRN's Journal

Once again, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! Just working 6 to 7 nights a week. But I got good news... either tonight or tomorrow I train the new relief nurse! So... I hope to go back to my 40 hours a week schedule. I actually have a 3 day weekend this weekend, and a 4 day one on the 13th and 14th of November! But I will still be busy.

This weekend is the big triple move! Ron, Aubrey and Kylie are moving into their own place! Bless Al for opening up his home to them over the past year but they all are moving out of the house he was renting. Al is moving in with his girlfriend (move #2) and his girlfriend is moving in with Al (move number 3). So All and Leslie are moving into another place and somehow between Sat and Tuesday we have to get all of them moved. It is going to be...interesting, to say the least. So, starting Sat 10 AM sharp, the great move begins! I hate moving! We do have lots of people coming to help us!

The following weekend, November 8, I am going to Kylie's for a sleep over. Ron and Aubrey are going to a wedding and I am babysitting over night at their place!! Just like a normal Grandma!!! It sounds like a lot of fun to me.

Then the following weekend, we have the big birthday bash for Kylie. November 14th 2 - 6 pm.

There is going to be a lot of people there and we hope to get a lot of stuff for the Child and Family Life Center up at Motts. It is more of a benefit for the hospital than a traditional birthday party, however, if anyone cares to give a gift to Kylie...I'm sure they wouldn't turn it down. So, Friday the 13th is the epic, marathon, bake in. Lot's and lots of cupcakes will be made by me, Aubrey and Beth. Then go decorate the church on Saturday and then...PARTYTIME!!!

It is so hard to believe that Kylie is almost a year old. Her birthday is Thanksgiving Day, November 26 but we wanted to celebrate a bit early to avoid the holiday. I don't know how many times we almost despaired of ever reaching this day.  The child has been under God's protection since the moment of her conception. Wonderfully Made, my book is now 250 pages long. Reading and editing all of the journals brings it all back in focus. Wow, what a long hard time that was. Yet, if you look at Kylie today, you would never know that she almost died all of those times. She is pink, and plump, and very playful. We had to turn her around and sit her down in church Sunday. She was standing on the pew, dancing and waving to all of her adoring fans during the sermon. She has a smile that lights up a room. We all feel truly thankful and very very blessed

Still working hard with Christian, just trying to get back to where he was before he got sick. These little breather kids have a hard time when the weather changes and it's hard to keep his lungs clear. Also his father, the amazing Dr. O, decided last week that the protection order doesn't apply to him any more and started a campaign of harassment, that climaxed in him making a false charge of negligence against Missy. What a JERK! The police are looking out for us, a lot of people have been very supportive. If everybody that wanted a piece of this jerk took one, all there would be left would be a pool of blood and a few tufts of hair! At least, with the Child protective services eval, we have a great tool to use against him during the custody hearing next month.

Do you remember Mei Ni? She ran into some problems this fall too, she has a clot in the wall of her heart. They are giving her Lovenox to try and dissolve it but... we won't know if it works until after the birthday party. I think they are coming up from Kentucky for the Birthday party weekend.

Brittney is doing great. She is very active, actually ran one mile in fifteen minutes! Better than I could do and I didn't have a heart transplant! She and her family probably are coming down for the birthday party. So are the Bonnings and Jessica and a whole lot of people. It will be a PICU heart family reunion. We don't know how many will be there, probably over 100! Wow.

I spent so much time trying to return to regularly scheduled life. The last day of my regularly scheduled life was July 30, 2004, the day before my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was a good life, that life before my mom's death, Ron's cancer, my stupid tumor, auto accidents and all of the rest of the catastrophes. Just recently I realized that I couldn't go back, I have changed too much, and I started moving forward. I know, it took me a while! But once I let go and followed the path that I believed God wanted me to follow, I found... Normalcy. It's not the life I left behind, in many ways it is better. It is a much simpler life, I am a lot more grateful and at peace now. Yeah, there are some scary things out there, what will happen to Kylie and Ron, The trial and my testimony, but I am actually joyous now. Just enjoying what each day brings.

It is much better than my old life... And I think if I ever get some spare time, the only thing missing is volunteering at the therapeutic riding center.

After all, I promised Kylie I would teach her to ride. :D

Love and Blessings, Diane