It has been five years.
Five years since I heard, "6:00 a.m.", five years since I was told that there was "a problem", five years since the first time that I held my precious baby in my arms and promised to love her forever.
It has been five years since our lives were changed forever.
We have changed in every imaginable way - and all for the better.
patience, determination
than I could have learned on my own in my entire lifetime.
Each year that has passed has taught me more about myself, this world and the sweet Baby Girl I hold in my arms each day.
I will always believe that the first year was the hardest year of our lives and when we hit that one year mark, I allowed myself to breathe.
I knew then that we really would be ok.
and grace
than I could have learned on my own in my entire lifetime.
Each year that has passed has taught me more about myself, this world and the sweet Baby Girl I hold in my arms each day.
I will always believe that the first year was the hardest year of our lives and when we hit that one year mark, I allowed myself to breathe.
I knew then that we really would be ok.
...and with each passing year, our lives that were so full of fear, turned into lives of comfort.
As we celebrate today - Addie's 5th Birthday - my mind drifts back to those first few seconds of her life and I look to where we are today and realize that I wouldn't trade a moment of the experience and the honor.
I thank each one of you for standing by us through these last five years.
We need your continued support and love each day.
