Sausage Ankles

Sometimes, it takes a difficult day (like last Thursday) to really make me appreciate all of the blessings I have in my life: Great friends, a wonderful family, an incredible church, a sweet little girl on the way, and of course, Brad.

Since we learned of Claire's diagnosis five months ago (and really, even long before that), Brad has been an amazing husband. He has provided so much love and support and has done everything possible to make this pregnancy as easy as possible for me. He brought me crackers and ginger ale in bed every morning during my first trimester to help stave off morning sickness, he held my hand through many needle pricks (and apologized to nurses on my behalf for my foul language). When we found out about Claire's condition, he let me cry on his shoulder and reassured me that everything would be okay even though I knew he was struggling to believe it himself. He spent evenings and weekends researching ferverently and reaching out to other parents of children with hydrocephalus. And (though I am embarrassed to admit it), for the past three months, he has helped me put on my socks and shoes.

He never ceases to amaze me with the lengths he'll go to make sure his two girls are well taken care of. Case in point, a scene from tonight: A foot massage to help ease the discomfort in my swollen, "sausage-ankles."

I am truly the luckiest girl in the world.