El turns FIVE!

Today is Eloise's 5th Birthday!

I can hardly believe it!

It's gone so fast!

We had an enjoyable day, though under sad circumstances.

I haven't posted here lately with updates about my father-in-law.

If you have kept up with my sporadic postings over the years, 

you would know he's been battling cancer.  Last Sunday he

took a turn for the worse and had to be flown to a major

hospital.  They sent him home this past week on hospice.

The doctor said 1-3 months... the hospice nurse said that

she will be surprised if he lives through next weekend.

She can just see signs he is exhibiting that point

toward that conclusion.

It's definitely sad.

My husband is grieving.

Though, honestly, he has been grieving for five years in

his own way(s).  We have tried to look at the situation 

with a positive outlook.  The doctors didn't think he'd 

live to see Eloise's first birthday... and here we are at

her fifth birthday.  He wasn't able to be up and around

to enjoy the celebration... but he was there.  He mostly

slept as his body is just so worn down and the medications

keep him drowsy.  But we celebrated around him and

I am sure he could hear the girls in their excitement as

Eloise opened some presents and ate her special

homemade strawberry ice cream (while watching the

Frozen movie with my MIL).  Pappy even smiled and

cooed at Audra and gave her a kiss before we left.

We appreciate all prayers... even just one that you may

have offered on our behalf over the years.  We know that

God hears every prayer.  He has answered ours in ways

we never expected.  Though the "miracle of healing"

never came, we saw 4+ years worth of miracles as

Gene was able to wake up each day.  Some days better

than others.  But some days GREAT.  Like the days

our girls were born.  He was hoping to live for just 

ONE granddaughter... and he ended up with THREE!

That sure is a blessing!  He had several treatments that

we believe helped to prolong his life... but unfortunately

the last treatment (which would've helped him to walk

with a cane again - as he had been confined to a wheel

chair and walker for awhile), was a gamble.  His health

was just too frail and his body couldn't handle it.  We 

didn't get the outcome we had hoped for... and while

we are sad that his time is coming to a close here on

earth, we are grateful for the time we've had.  We are

grateful he lived to see one more birthday for Eloise...

he was always so proud of her.

I was talking to my neighbor this morning when she

called to wish El a Happy Birthday.  I was filling her

in on Gene's condition... and she said she would never

forget answering the phone the night I had Eloise.

Gene was so excited and said, "We got us a girl!!

We got us a girl!!"  He was so proud.  And though he 

won't be around to see her graduate from high school

or dance with her at her wedding... she has some

great memories of her Pappy.... and we won't ever

let her forget.

So.  Happy 5th Birthday to our Sweet Eloise.

A blessing to so many... especially her Pappy.

 (Cory and his dad with Eloise the night she was born)