(This is our youngest child, known online as Cupcake.  This was her first birthday portrait.  I have yet to make her second birthday portraits.)

Cupcake is crossing a big hurdle today.  She has been out of our sight and arms for two hours and thirty minutes now.  She is doing well.  We will be with her again in another hour or so.

We didn't sleep well last night.  We have dreaded today so much.  We dread the next four to six weeks also.  Once she has recovered from this, she will be unstoppable. 

She is such a tough little kid.  She is so smart, determined, independent, resilient, loving, easy-going, opinionated, funny and amazing.  She will do great things in her life.  Her life, alone, is a great thing.

Today...

We are so very thankful for the tender care given to her by her nurses and doctors and technicians.  They clearly love their work. 

We are so very thankful for the access we have to a world-class medical team and a facility designed to meet the needs of their sweet, little patients and families.

We are so very thankful for the friends and family that have, without fail, sent their love to us and their prayers to the Father for us.

We are so very thankful for the honor of being parents to this little girl who shouldn't have survived but is beating every odd stacked against her.

We are so very thankful for the future she faces. 

So, today is hard.  Very hard.  But today holds many bright promises.