Wow it has been a LONG time since I have been on here! Lots have happened since the last post, we celebrated Halloween, Thanksgiving and soon it will be Christmas! We also found the time to move despite the Craziness life can bring with holidays, kids, work, etc.! It was a bitter sweet moment in the Merrill families life. We left a home that was ours for 5 years, that had many memories both good and bad, but in the end we realized how truly happy and blessed we were to able to move and start a new. Sometimes a clean slate is the best slate!!!!! That is what we have and we are excited to see what new adventures come with it!
Payten had a lovely Halloween! She went as a butterfly and boy was she cute! We went to a couple of parties and on Halloween she helped her Daddy pass out candy. It was so fun! I think she really enjoyed herself, even though she did not get to enjoy the CANDY that comes with Halloween! Thanksgiving was good as well, not much to report there, she watched us eat! How sad is that, she couldn't enjoy any of the yummy foods Thanksgiving has to offer! Oh well I still think she enjoyed being with family and getting all that attention! Boy does Payten LOVE attention!!!! She is kind of spoiled in that way, but hey at least we can spoil her someway right???!!!! Love and Attention, it doesn't get much better than that! So thus far the holiday's have been GREAT! Here's to hoping for a fabulous Christmas, that is Hospital FREE! I don't think that is too greedy of me, do you???!!!!
I am happy to announce that Payten is doing well! She is not sick, she is not on antibiotics, she has not been in the hospital since August and her last Doctors appointment was early November! Can we say AMAZING! I am so happy! I did not think this day would ever come! I hoped for it, but I did not think it would come! We are so blessed that she is stabilizing and getting stronger. Words can not express how it feels to not be in the hospital all the time or on medication or at doctors offices. It is a horrible thing when you have to endure those things all the time. So that is what I was most Thankful for this Thanksgiving, the gift of health for my little Payten and I think our families Christmas Wish will come true, Payten staying healthy, strong and away from the hospital! Greedy? I think not!!!!
I think not only is Payten getting stronger, but we are becoming more accustom to her and her complications. We are not worrying as much as we did in the beginning and that is huge for these types of situations. We have become more confident within ourselves and have gained the knowledge and confidence we need to do it on our own, so that we are not having to rely on the doctors or hospital as often! I have prayed and prayed that is would come and it has! I love seeing my prayers answered and the blessings that come with those answered prayers. It truly is amazing to see not only the changes in Payten but also the changes in myself and my husband!
We are finally starting to get settled into our new home and are enjoying not being so busy with appointments. We are closer into town, which is so nice, I don't feel like I am driving all the time! I did not realize how much time I was wasting driving! I truly am savoring all the extra time I have living closer to places that I go everyday! What blessing that has been for me! We love our new home! We love that it is a one story home, we are not having to carry the ventilator and other medical equipment, along with Payten up and down the stairs two to three times a day and the kids have an awesome backyard that they love playing in! We could not have asked for a better home! Let's hope we can stay here for a few years, til we can buy a home of our own again!
I want to Wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I do not know when I will be on here again and so I want to say that before it is too late! Thank you all for your love and support and I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and that you enjoy the rest of this beautiful holiday season. Always remember the reason for the season! God bless!
