Where we have been...

Sheridan has another surgery coming up this week...and several times over the last week I have been thinking about all that she has been through and how amazing she is.  I came across this quote:

YOU SHINE!  Like the brightest star! 

I immediately thought of her because she always shines, no matter what she is up against.  She is amazing!!!

We often keep our focus on what's in front of us.  It keeps us moving forward, it helps keep us from getting weighed down by our circumstances.  We also choose to focus on all the good all around us, because there is always good. 

When we look back we do see all the things that were hard, but what shines brighter than the hard times are the memories, smiles and sweet faces of Sheridan, Sam and Rory.  Our family and friends have been the most amazing support system for us over the years and we want to say thank you for that again, we could never thank you all enough. 

SO...where have we been?  We have been in NICUs and ERs and hospital rooms, in ORs and waiting rooms.  We have been in traffic, in doctor's offices, getting "just one stick" and then getting stickers and lollypops and prizes from the prize box.  We have been in ambulances, up all night, in an MRI machine, getting x-rays and infusions.  We have lived out of a hospital room and with fever protocols.  We have been discharged from the hospital only to return hours after we arrived home.  We have been through 3 open heart surgeries, a cardiac catheterization and seven other surgeries--the 8th is on Wednesday.  BUT, we have also had faith.  We have been to the park, to school, to work and to the beach.  We have played with friends, visited family and eaten LOTS of good food.  We have gone on an AMAZING Wish Trip to Disney World.  We have built forts and watched movies, gone sledding and made hot chocolate.  We have  gone trick or treating and eaten LOTS of candy.  We have had dance parties, baked cookies, had Easter Egg hunts and gone swimming.  We have played dress up, had game nights, eaten ice cream sundaes and cupcakes.  We have made new friends, gone on walks, rode bikes, looked for turtles and toads, planted flowers and read bedtime stories. 

We have been through a lot...but we have also had so many good times together.  We are always together and we are so grateful.  

Here is a little slide show that I put together.  It starts the day Sheridan was born.  It is only a few of the thousands of pictures I have taken since that day but they are reminders of some of the places she has been on her journey.  She wakes up every morning with a smile, sees the best in everything and is always excited for life.  It also shows Sam by her side since the day he was born.  He is such an awesome brother.  Now they are a team of three and seeing them together makes us so happy.   

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4445784e6a49784d7a4d3d0d0a&blogview=true

Details about Wednesday's surgery...she is having corrective surgery on her soft palate so she will be able to be more easily understood when speaking.  Her soft palate does not do what it is supposed to do when she is speaking and air escapes up and out her nose, making it difficult for her to clearly produce certain sounds and in turn be easily understood.  If everything goes well and the surgery is successful it should have amazing results for her, which is awesome!

We will update you after surgery but it may not be until the afternoon.  Prayers are always appreciated for a safe and smooth day for Sheridan.