Eleven

Today was Ellie's eleventh birthday.

I am truly amazed and humbled by this.

We were told before she was born that she could be #1)stillborn or #2)die in the first year or #3)if she lived she would be severely disabled or #4)there was the possibility she could live a normal life.  We were given the option of aborting.  (Which we never considered for a moment).

I cannot believe what she and we have accomplished in 11 years.

The HARDEST and MOST REWARDING 11 years of my life to date.

I always say that I would not wish having a child with disabilities on my worst enemy and yet I would not trade it for anything in the world.  I know that sounds terrible.  But guess what...it's hard.  And guess what else...I love Ellie and I love the things I have learned from her and the experiences which have been literally forced upon me.

This was a really hard birthday for me because one time when Ellie was little Jason and I tried to guess how long we thought she would  "make it" before we lost her.  We thought either 8 or 11.  And it still could happen of course, but it was really hard to accept her turning 11.  (I know silly...from some silly postulating with no basis for fact...but life and feelings don't always make sense.)

I call this her medical blog, but I probably need to brag a bit about her accomplishments...

She can do many signs (with her arms, fingers, legs, head, eyes, facial expressions)
She knows her name
She knows familiar people and places
She can request more or finished
She can use a switch to control toys or her environment
She can control a computer mouse with her eyes
She can make choices with objects or pictures or the computer
She knows her colors by color, or written word
She knows her body parts
She can read a few words...FOR REAL!
She can love unconditionally
She has the patience of a SAINT
She is so trusting
She is a fighter
She makes the best of every situation
She is so positive
She loves people
She has preferences
She has feelings
She is a child of God