As Noelle's first birthday is quickly approaching it has caused me to reflect on everything she has accomplished in a year. One year ago I was honestly terrified to have Noelle. I secretly wanted to stay pregnant forever, if anyone has been around me when I'm pregnant knows that pregnancy is not something I do well, I typically count down the days...with Noelle's pregnancy I was kinda wanting time to go backward or at least stand still.
When we were first given the wolf-hirschhorn diagnosis we were told that when she was born anything could happen. She might be fine and go home after a few days, she may stay several months in NICU or a Mom's worst nightmare... She may not be born alive. We tried to go into this with a positive outlook and assured ourselves that God was in control and whatever was supposed to happen would. I silently prayed all would go well and we would be able to enjoy a sweet miracle child.
Well God heard our prayers and honored our wishes. Noelle has accomplished so much. She is still working on her head control, but she is rolling occasionally from tummy to back and back to tummy. She smiles. Has laughed (although it was only once we are hopeful it will happen again and be more of a regular occurrence). She is finding her own ways of communicating with us and it is so much fun to watch her and learn all her different cues. We continue to enjoy each day with her and pray her time with us will be lengthy. She is such a sweet, happy, social, and cute kid.
The 1 year mark is a HUGE milestone. We have survived as a family on our own without family living close by to help out (it has not been easy at all, it may have been filled with some fits and tears but we did it!) We pray Noelle will
make it through this next year, many (35%) 4p- kids pass by their 2nd birthday and we hope Noelle isn't among that 35%, we just need to keep her healthy and keep the seizures under control and hope nothing new or complicated pops up.
