For the Love of Ivey

I have a very bad habit of comparing where we are today to where we were last year at the same time. I don't know why I do this. I am not proud that I have this nasty little habit. It's not that I am reliving the past or hanging out in our past. I think I do it so that the past is the past and I can wallow in how great our present is. Undoubtedly, I have compared this past week to the same week last year. All I can say is - paperwork was being prepared by our nearest mental ward for my admitance. Ivey went to her trach clinic last Friday, just one day shy of her 1 year anniversary with her trach. (It was also one day shy of Georgia's awesome victory over Florida...Go DAWGS.) As I told Cammie on our way to Atlanta to Scottish Rite, we were praying for good news. That is exactly what we got!! Come this Spring Ivey might get her trach out! Now it is great news, but it will require a lot of hard work on Ivey's part. In the next three months, she must accomplish wearing her ...

and we did too, we will show you some pictures. No they are not round like marbles, they are shaped more like a shell, concave. The conformers were too, but it was almost impossible to take a picture of them since they are clear. Ivey's eyes come out. I take them out with a little blue suction cup or she can pop them out herself. She has not attempted to take them out yet. I wash them with soap and water and put them back in. We don't mind sharing these pictures because we have all been curious about Ivey's conformers and prosthetics at some point. My favorite part of Ivey's new prosthetic, she sleeps so peacefully. She can sleep with her eyes completely closed for the first time since she left the NICU many moons ago. No more little knobs sticking out. Pictures courtesy of Lowery :)

Get ready this is a long post……but I have so many things to say….. I have to admit that I am amazed to read so many responses left for Ivey. I am even more astonished at how far across the world she has traveled via the internet. It is humbling and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share my sweet girl with you all. She is a miracle – literally. As Ivey’s mom, it has been exhilarating to share the excitement of Ivey’s ‘new’ eyes with everyone. Her beautiful green eyes have come at one of the best possible times. I know that everyone is happy for her; however, I have done a poor job of explaining ‘why’ we are so excited about her eyes. You see, if you are new to Ivey’s life, eighteen months ago when she was born, she had a pretty rough start. And for the past year or so, she has diligently battled several medical complications and hospital stays. This past April, Ivey turned one and we had a HUGE celebration. We celebrated her life because medical opinion suggested that our Ive...

I added four slideshows Daddy's Girl My Sweetpea

Thank you all so much for taking time to share this milestone with our family. It is so great that you all are a part of our lives just as Ivey is a part of yours. And yes, I will give our reason for going with green. As soon as I get all of the pictures downloaded I will post more. There are only 300 or so to choose from! If you haven't left Ivey a comment, please do. Someday when she is older she will marvel at the love and prayer that surrounds her - in all the moments of her life. gwen

She got them!!! Be back soon.. gwen

What would you do? How long can you smile and turn the other cheek? Why does it have to be so hard at times? Why can’t we be left alone – at least part of the time? Why did I let my guard down? Why didn’t I put my game face on? Why can’t we have one day – just one day – to our selves? Will her life outside of our fortress always be a stage? Wow. I started this entry last night. It was late. I was tired. Luckily, I shut off my computer not too long after our nurse arrived and stared at the TV for a little while trying to regroup. Finally I went to bed. The top paragraph is proof that all things are better dealt with after sleep. I do keep a journal. Some things make to Ivey’s blog if they predominantly concern her, but most of my thoughts stay tucked away. Lately when it comes to our little world around here things have been average. Like any family we have the good days, the yucky days, the irritable days, the fun days, the busy days, but mainly they are just ‘normal’ days for life wit...

I am so excited that I don’t know where to start or what to say. After all these months Ivey is almost there – just a few more days. Well, I guess I should backtrack for a second because you have no idea what is going on. This morning Ivey visited her ocularist. And yes, she has now been fitted for her prosthetics which is one amazing process and such a gift that someone out there enjoys making little eyes for people. Back to the point, Ivey’s molds have been made. Now we wait for the prosthetics. All things going as planned and her ocularist, Mr. Herndon, will mail them to us Friday. That’s right, mail them! There’s something incredibly funny about that. So keep checking back. This is a big day. They change her appearance so much. A milestone is fast approaching and this will be a big page in her book – so once she has them, I would like for everyone to leave her a comment so that I can read her the names of all the amazing people who love her and keep up with special moments in her l...

I guess you have noticed that I have been posting a lot of pictures and videos lately. There's a good reason. Ivey has her own story to tell; she doesn't need me to do it for her. She is quite an amazing little girl accomplishing feat after feat. Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Up on all fours. It is now only a matter of time before she crawls. The fair 07' - The boys on the Dragon Ivey's first ride on a pony. And now for our newest videos. Ivey is diligently trying to sit on her own. This morning Dee and Walker were doing their best to encourage her. This is the battle we are trying to win. Ivey loves to fall backward. She thinks it is a game, once she gets this under control she will be sitting on her own. If anyone with a blind child or experience with a blind child has a suggestion that will help us tame this little habit she has, I would love to hear from you.

This past weekend we took the boys to 'The Game' . Of course ya'll know what I'm talkn' about..... Here is a link to a picture taken of Walker at 'The Game' . Walker at 'The Game' .