Happy Birthday Abby!!!

My sweet Abby Grace turned three years old yesterday. Three years ago... wow. Every birthday of Abby's brings back sort of bitter-sweet memories for me. On one hand that was one of the worst nights of my life... being given what was devastating news to me at the time, having my other baby in the ER with 105 fever and not a thing in the world I could do about it, and feeling SO lost and helpless in so many ways. On the other hand, that was the night that my angel entered the world and changed my life forever. I can hardly even type this through the tears of love for my baby. She IS my sunshine. Abby is sunshine to everyone around her. Even in her spunky 2 (now 3) year old attitude... she can throw a tantrum and then in seconds pull you close, suck her thumb and with the other hand stroke your face. I'm so in love with that little girl and I could not be more thankful that God chose me to be her mommy.

As I type this she is down the street at her first day of school. For those that are unfamiliar with the system, TN has paid for all of Abby's therapies, evaluations, orthotics (foot braces), walkers, etc. But when children turn three, they are transferred over to the public school system to receive therapies and services there as a part of pre-school. Abby is in a class of 6 other 3 year olds with varying special needs.

At her last day of therapy (at the nursing home where she's been going for 2 1/2 years now... they have a pediatric therapy room there), they threw her a huge birthday/going away party. It was the sweetest thing and I was on the brink of tears through the whole thing. All of her therapists were there along with most of the staff. They decorated a big room and we all had cake and snacks and watched Abby open gifts that everyone had bought her. They even wheeled in a few of the patients who've come to fall in love with Abby over the last couple years. :) I couldn't believe it looking around the room at all of these lives that this special little girl had touched. We left with half a cake, two trash bags full of toys, and almost three years of memories. I'll never ever forget it.

And this morning I dropped my big girl off at pre-school... she went right in yelling a big "Hiiiiii" to everyone as she entered the room. :) I really think she'll do great but the over-protective mommy in me is going to have the harder time I think. :) But she's a go-getter. I'm sure she'll have a blast. My mind keeps going back to that Dr. Seuss book "Oh the places you'll go"...

I love you sweet Abigail Grace. I love you... so... much. Happy Birthday.