Lessons Learned from Lizzy

Today we celebrate the birth of our Elizabeth Kate.  It's a day to rejoice---I've survived the first nine years of Lizzy's life.

I often wondered how I could feel so completely overwhelmed by one child, but at the same time, so fiercely protective of her?  I won't lie---It's been a hard nine years with my sweet girl.  But we've also had so much joy.  Her life has taught me so much about God, love, fear, surrender...and she is single-handedly responsible for all the grey hair on my head.

Lizzy's birth was the most complicated of all six kids. Nevermind that Jeremy passed out during my epidural (don't tell him I told you).... there were bigger issues to deal with.  Lizzy was sunny-side-up, which has pretty much been the theme of her life....she entered the world looking up, but it sure did cause me a lot of pain.  She also had the cord around her neck four times, which caused her heart rate to drop several times during delivery.  Shortly after she was born, we noticed her "little ear"...and from that moment on, my nurse-brain told me that something wasn't quite "right".  Just a few days after Lizzy was born, I remember telling a friend that I didn't think I had a "normal" child.  She reminded me that God had given us the child that He designed for us.

Lizzy is our kid with the medical record a mile long.  If there was a cover page that reviewed all that she's been through, it would say:  congenital hearing loss, malformed left ear, reconstructive ear surgery x2, epilepsy, ADHD, cognitive delay, motor development delay, Chairi malformation, chromosome anomaly.  She's been through more blood draws than the rest of our family combined. She has had 4 MRIs of her brain, multiple EEGs, dozens of hearing tests, and countless visits to specialists including neurologists, ENTs, audiologists, neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons, geneticists, and dermatologists.  She's been through about every therapy known to man, including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Vision Therapy, and Behavior Therapy.  She has had petit mal seizures since infancy, and suffered one grand mal seizure when she was three years old.  She has taken some kind of medication nearly every day for the past five years, whether it is her anticonvulsant, the patch that controls her attention issues, or melatonin so mommy can actually get some sleep.

Despite all this, and some that I'm sure I have forgotten, Lizzy has endured it all with such courage and grace.  She always has a smile on her face and makes friends with every medical professional that she knows.  She's my hero and the bravest person I know.

Lizzy is also our singer.  She sings...and she sings....and she sings... much to the rest of our family's annoyance.  But it's truly her gift.  She has sung in front of crowds of hundreds and wasn't fearful for a moment.  She has been able to record her singing in a recording studio, thanks to her Papaw and Mamaw.  It is her best way to worship Jesus.

She is classified as "special ed" in school.  She gets extra help with reading and writing, and all her teachers adore her.  This summer she will have a tutor for the first time.  With her silly sense of humor, she asked "is this the kind of teacher that teaches me how to toot?" (get it?  toot-or....hahahaha).  Sometimes Lizzy realizes that she has to work harder to learn than everyone else in our family, and this has been a real challenge for this mama's heart.  I want each of my children to know that they are special and wonderful and unique, and not get caught in the trap of comparison.  Despite it all, Lizzy never gives up, and (almost) always stays cheerful.  

Lizzy loves people.  She has a kind heart and compassion for people who are hurting.  Perhaps this is one thing that the Spirit has taught her through her challenges.  She also loves french fries, her stuffed raccoon named Chester, and her best friend in the whole wide world, her Papaw.  

When I am pregnant with each of my children, I pray a character trait for them.  For Lizzy, I prayed that she would have a hunger and a thirst for God's Word, and that she would be able to hear and obey His voice.  In my fear and concern during those first days of her life, primarily about her hearing and her "little ear", Jeremy said something that I'll never forget:  "maybe that's the ear that God is going to whisper in one day."  This is exactly what I had prayed for our child.  

And God has answered my prayer.  At a very young age, Lizzy asked Jesus to live in her heart.  God has SPOKEN to her--she can hear His voice audibly.  She told me that He says, "I love you Lizzy".  And last May, she obeyed Jesus' command to be baptized.  She truly has a special connection with her Creator.  

This kid has had more challenges in her nine years than many people face their entire life. She may struggle to read and write.  She may have a hard time paying attention.  She may not hear well and seizures may interfere with her brain function.  But in terms of eternity, Lizzy truly "gets it".  She loves God and she loves people.  And that's the greatest joy a mother can ever have. 

Happy Birthday my sweet Lizzy Kate.  

God has great plans for your life!  

I love you so much 

and am blessed to be your mommy.