In a week's time we have..........."moved twice".......traveled over 1300 miles.....and "added" baby #3. We are all exhausted and a little overwhelmed. (but in a good way) Our house is full of suitcases, bags, coolers, and boxes. However, my feelings today are different than from this time last week. I am excited and ready to tackle them all. I am not stressing over getting everything done....I know it won't for quite a while. But, little by little we will get settled again.
Caleb is still struggling with his "sickness." He has been on an antibiotic for several days now, but yesterday began coughing some and his little "voice" is all but gone. We decided to keep him home this morning. Plus, the other two were exhausted as well. I'm sure some much needed rest will be good for us all.
Saying that it was hard leaving Idalou yesterday is the understatement of the year! My parents have all but raised Caleb from day one. It's always difficult saying our goodbyes, but THIS TIME was very different. I can't even begin to go into the emotions that we all felt. Something that I cannot write about. Please just keep my parents and Todd's mom in your prayers. There is a void in their hearts that will take awhile to fill.
This entire ordeal (w/ Caleb) has so many dynamics that have truly been as difficult as some of the things we have gone through with Caed. A mommy that was still hurting from surgery had to give up her newborn to be with her son as he was fighting for his life. There was enormous peace in her heart knowing he was in the best of hands, however the pain of not being able to see him was almost too much at times. Would he even remember her? Then.....on the other side, there was a Nana & Grandaddy that put their own lives on hold, moved a crib into their bedroom and began having to parent a newborn baby. Midnight feedings, dr. appointments, teething, crawling.....all that comes during the first 10 months (alot!!) Then....the day arrived when that baby had to go back home with his Mommy and Daddy and brother and sister. The pain!!! This time the Nana & Grandaddy were having to "give up" their baby. The Mommy felt as though she was ripping their heart wide open. How she LONGED for this moment to finally get her baby back, but the guilt that went along with it. She had been away for so long. Did she even deserve to get him back? As the baby and his family drove away, the tears fell for miles. Why God? Why does the pain continue?
I know all will be ok. I know my parents will go on. Life will begin again for us all. I am eternally grateful for them (as well as my grandmother, Aunt Megan, Katie, Great Granny, MeMe, and Leann) for watching him. For loving him. For meeting every need. For filling the "void" of not having his Mommy or Daddy there for him. We will NEVER be able to express how much we love each of you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for what you have done for us during the most difficult time of our life (thus far).
enjoying some of his new toys
only the 2nd time he has been in his highchair
exploring his brother's room
exploring some more..........
playing together!!
6 comments:
I've waited so long to see pictures of your family at home together! It's good to see the answers to so many of our prayers! We'll continue to pray as you and the grandparents adjust to the new transition.
So thankful that you have such a great support system and that you did not have to raise that baby in a hospital. So glad that you are at home and have all your children with you. It is really a great ending to a long, hard road, but so worth it when you consider how many prayers have been answered. Caleb will benefit from all his time with you to come. So lucky to have so many that loved him! We will be praying for you as you get used to your new routine. Love you all and praying that Caed makes more and more progress!
We sang "Blessed Be Your Name" at church this morning...and of course, I thought of Caed and all of you. For this boy, for this mommy & daddy, for these grandparents, for this family, for the doctors & nurses, for this year, for the coming years, for this homecoming...blessed be His name!!!
Love you, Allison
Praising God and praying for His grace, peace, and joy for each of you. Your family and extended family truly epitomize what "family" truly is. Loving each other and be there for each other is what family is all about. What a blessing to see it all.
Sending my love, hugs, and prayers to you all.
In His great love,
YEA!!!I am sooo glad that you are all home together!!!
Lori, Todd, Reagan, Caed, and Caleb:
As Ty says on "Home Makeover," "Welcome home, Hollingsworth family, Welcome home!"
Nine months and one day ago you began a journey that I'm sure would have scared you witless had you known what you were facing. (God knows what He's doing when He doesn't let us know the future!) And yet, I was just thinking, since this started the day after Leap Day, and this is a Leap Year, can you see how much your faith has grown by LEAPS and bounds in this intervening time? I dare say (and I don't even know you personally), that this year has brought growth and change to your lives (not just in the physical realm for all that Caed has experienced), but in the spiritual realm, too.
And, by you sharing your story through this site, you have allowed many people to experience that growth - and yes, sometimes those questioning periods - with you. Thank you!
Truly, God is good! He has allowed the technology to be there not only for Caed and others with this syndrome to survive, but also to share the process with the entire world. Wow!
Father God, it has been a long 9 months and 1 day - many valleys, holes, and ruts - ah, but the mountain tops - what a view of Your magnificent work! Thank You that this family is home - all together - in this place they have grown to love. Thank You for this church family - and I mean, global church family - what a wonderful network of support You created!
Father, be with Todd, Lori, Reagan, Caed and Caleb, as they settle into their "new" routines. Thank You for being with them every step of the way. And thank You for their transparency through this process. They have shown that it is possible, even in questioning the bad things, to have a strong faith in You. What a witness!
In Jesus' precious Name,
Amen
Your prayer partner in Albuquerque,
Debbie
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