Thankful

Hello dear ones-

Thank you for all of your kind thoughts, words, prayers, etc.  It appears that I made several of you cry!  :) Sorry about that!  However, I do want to make sure that you all don't think I'm miserable!
In spite of my frustrations over my physical limitations, I am very thankful for the abilities I do have and for those around me who sacrifice a lot every day just to help me be a mommy.  Being the list-maker that I am, I decided to make a list of those things I am thankful for (in no particular order):

1.  Aaron.  My amazing husband who is also a father, teacher, cook, chauffeur, housekeeper, handyman, gardner, nurse, musician, political commentator, jungle gym, sports analyst, photographer...I could go on!  He not only does all these things, but he does it with joy.  Ephesians 5.25 says,  "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."  Aaron demonstrates this every single day.  I'm really amazed by his attitude.  He's a total goof ball with a great sense of adventure...both of those being very important attributes in our unique situation!
  
2.  Grace.  My darling daughter.  Every moment I spend with her is joy.  Watching her grow and learn and interact.  We sing together and play peek-a-boo and do our special wave and play tug-of-war and read books and go for rides in my wheelchair and do butterfly kisses and eskimo kisses.  I was even able to breastfeed her for a full year.  Even though there are physical obstacles for me, we still interact in so many ways.  I can actually do WAY more than I thought I'd be able to...and have become very creative! :)

3.  Santina.  My faithful caregiver.  She is one of the most dependable, hardest-working people I've ever known.  She shows up every single day, never complains, and is so easy to have around.  Grace loves her.  Santina interacts really well with her.  Santina also gives me room to be Grace's mommy.  If Grace cries, Santina brings her to me.  She gives me room to make every decision- no matter how small.  It's nice.  She truly is my hands and feet.  I appreciate her so much.  She also has a great sense of humor and is a goof ball like me and Aaron.  :)  I love her!

I think I'm going to continue this thankful list in another blog.  I type one key at a time with a stick in my mouth so my neck and jaw get tired after I type a lot.

So with a tired jaw, but a thankful heart, I'm signing off for today!