Wow. He made it. We made it. It's been one heck of a year. We never could have made it through this year without YOU! The ways that people helped us over this past year are too many to count. Here are just of few of the highlights that we are thankful for:
1. Meals! Did you know I didn't cook until June?! That's seven months of meals. A huge thank you to our friends from the Ann Arbor Vineyard Church who brought us meals in the hospital everyday and everyone at Genesis the Church in Royal Oak and my Community Bible study group who delivered them when we arrived home.
2. Feeding specialists. Countless friends and family members that came over to feed Grant by syringe, medicine dropper, bottle while sleeping, tube in nose and other ways I've probably forgotten. They also sent us an accumulation of two giant storage tubs worth of fancy and bizarre looking bottles, straws, cups and pacifiers in an attempt to help Grant eat.
3. Babysitters. Grant had his first non-family babysitter on Christmas day last year when our friends sat by Grant's bed in the hospital so we could enjoy a meal at the local Chinese restaurant with my family. Since then I have had help from over 50 different women and several trusted men. Most often I was home (at least in the beginning), but they enabled me to get other things done around the house or take a much needed nap. I could not have made it without you.
4. House cleaners. Thank you to the anonymous group from Genesis the Church that bought us a cleaning service for 6 months saved Grant from lots of dirt and germs, and me from stressing out. Four people came to clean at once. I've never seen anything like it.
5. Laundry service. This was mostly my mom. Thank you for not only doing my laundry, but all the many other things you did along the way from babysitting to driving to the random stranger's house you met on the internet to get the Haberman bottle. :) I'm especially touched by you sitting by Grant's bedside early in the mornings in Ann Arbor when it was too painful for me to be there. You've played such a crucial role in caring for Grant this past year--thank you, thank you, thank you.
6. Body guards. These people accompanied me to Grant's many doctor appointments. Did you know he had at least one appointment per week for the first six months of life? More typically it was several. It was both physically hard (with the oxygen tank) and emotionally hard to go alone.
7. Mentors. This group of people saved me from making lots of silly mistakes. Jim's sisters were key in this; thank you! So were moms of other kids with special needs.
8. Therapists to Grant. Kia, Grant's Occupational Therapist and now our close friend, coordinated hours of therapy and training to keep Grant growing and developing despite his early set-backs. Thank you for going above and beyond your job to love us.
9. Therapists to Me (Shannon). My family, friends and especially my sister were consistently there for me. I have never felt so loved. So many of you gave, knowing I didn't have anything to give in return. Thank you for listening and for loving me so well.
10. The Jester. This is my Dad. He stops by every single morning while Grant is eating breakfast to make him laugh. Grant has come to expect him and it is the highlight of his morning. I can't imagine having started our days without it.
11. Errand runners. I never thought that one day I would miss going to the grocery store. I used to hate it. But, I have had so many people going to the grocery store, the pharmacy, Toys R Us etc., I actually think I'm starting to miss running errands. But this group of people has made my life so much easier!
12. The Prayer Warriors. Jim's parents not only prayed with and for us, but they know more praying folk than I can comprehend; they activated prayer chains that go from Florida to India and beyond. Thank you to every single person who prayed for us along the way.
Happy Birthday, Grant!
