which was taken the day she was born. It weird to look at it and think that they are the same age. It got me thinking about a lot of things.
These last few weeks have been full of emotion. Jason and I were incredibly blessed to have 2 people give us money for a getaway. This time of the year is slow for the business so we decided to take off! It was the first time in over 6 years that we went on a real vacation, and by ourselves no less!!! We headed down south towards Austin and stayed for 3 days at a little Bed and Breakfast in Smithville. We traveled all over and got to see some fun stuff! (we used The Day Tripper with Chet Garner as our guide) Then we headed west to Fredericksburg for 2 more nights. It was so nice to go have fun and be kid free! I kept thinking about our Honeymoon (probably the last time we were gone that long and without kids) and laughing because I'm so glad we are not those 2 youngsters, and also because I'm so glad we have grown,as well as know and love each other more than we did back then.Towards the end of the trip I had an "I Miss Caleb Day" that was pretty rough. I was missing the girls by this point and thinking how I would get to see them and hug them in a day or two, but not Caleb. He won't be there when I come home. Most days it hurts to even look at pictures of him. He is just so stinking cute! And that smile, gagh! It just makes my heart ache and the tears flow that all I have are pictures and memories of that precious boy!!
Jason and I talked on the way home about how we felt about coming home, and what we were supposed to "get" from the trip. We finally settled on the idea that it was a wonderful escape for the "norm" and an opportunity for us just to go have fun. I hope it won't be another 6 years before we get to go again!
At church that weekend Worship was pretty powerful. Anytime we sing a song about singing "Hallelujah" I always think of Caleb. I know that he is singing right along with us, (except he has a front row seat!) and it always makes me cry. I can't even remember the song exactly, but I remember trying so hard to see Caleb. See him standing and worshiping. I never got to see that while he was with me. One of his teachers in the church nursery did tell me that during praise and worship he would raise his hands, while in Fred, his wheelchair. (we named his chairs, Fred was his normal chair with a tray and his name on it, and Henry was the kid walk, or gait trainer) I wanted so badly to see my little boy praising God in heaven while we were doing the same down here. But I couldn't see it, so I just decided it was happening and I didn't need to see it for it to be true. Little did I know a few chairs over Jason was seeing that very thing. (He has much better "Heavenly Eyes" than I do!) Later that night he mentioned that he saw Caleb. We talked about it a little and found out it was at the same time. (well, I was trying to see!) He said he didn't really hear much of what was said the rest of the service. A few days later while talking with my mom I found out my brother had a similar experience the next day when he went to the service. Pretty amazing.
This week has been pretty busy, getting back into the swing of normal life again. I was telling Jason that for me the out of the ordinary things are harder for me in regards to Caleb. I think about him more when we are doing something new or special. Or maybe I just let myself think about him more then. Most of the time during a regular day I'm doing too many things to stop and fall apart.
I was holding Jordyn today looking at Caleb's pictures on the mantle and she waved at them. I laughed, and then cried. For so many reasons. But as I have been thinking about Jordyn being the same age as Caleb and remember what was going on in our lives, it is so hard to even comprehend what was happening. By 16 months Caleb had been through a lot! (especially in the 4 months prior). He threw up more times than any person should have to in a lifetime. He had been to numerous doctors searching for an answer. He had eye tests, upper GI tests, multiple blood tests, an ER visit, more doctor visits, been fitted for his AFOs, and was about to have an MRI. I can't even fathom already having done all that with Jordyn by this point. I lived that life and it is just so hard to make sense of it all. I remember it, but like it was a bad dream. And it makes me cry with thankfulness for my beautiful, spunky, vivacious, healthy little girl. I thank God all the time when I am rocking her or holding her, it was only by His grace that she is even here. She was a surprise for us (we weren't trying, Caleb was only 8 months old when we found out!) but had it not happened that way, we would not have had another child. At our first Specialist visit with the Mito doctor after the MRI, one of the first things he told us was to take measures to prevent getting pregnant again. I'm so glad God has plans that are not our plans!
So as I sit here tonight with an aching heart, I thank God for my full arms. I have a wonderful husband who is committed to me, 2 wonderful girls that live here, and an amazing teenager that I have watched grow since she was Allison's age, and memories of a few years with the most precious boy any mom could ever hope to have. I will miss you until I hold you again Bubba.
Love,
Jessica
