birthday girl.

Happy Birthday, sweet, sweet Sophie. I am amazed at how fast these past 5 years have gone. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital. You challenged us right away with your strong personality and your stubborn attitude. But you also have such a sweet and gentle spirit. That caring heart and sweet smile. You have been the source of some of my greatest frustrations and my greatest joys.

November 20, 2002. I'll never forget that night. A middle of the night trip to the ER. 104* fever. You were so tiny and pale. So lethargic. So quiet and still as they performed all those horrible tests on you. I remember Dr. Patron praying with us and praying for you before he did the spinal tap, then encouraging us to leave, saying if it were his child, he wouldn't want to watch. I remember when he first said meningitis and I remember him explaining it to us, saying that the bacteria travels up the spinal cord and eats away at the brain. I remember that awful feeling... realizing that if we had waited... if we would have let you cry a little longer... you would have gotten to that lethargic point and would have stayed that way all night. By morning, it could have been too late. We could have lost you so easily.

I look at these pictures and am amazed at the little girl you have become. Things could have gone so differently. God had His hand on you then and we pray that you will always want to walk with Him beside you. Our lives were forever changed the day that you arrived. May you always know how much we love you.