I hate to waste a sick day, but I would be miserable trying to sit up and listen in a workshop. I'll be much more productive here, and maybe I can get a nap, too. Sleeping helps get through anything, doesn't it?
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Let's get started on this report. Turn your clock back to October.
I think it is appropriate that the first picture on the card is of this little girl.
To be such a little thing, she had caused quite a commotion in our lives! Her arrival was joyous, but what she did to Mommy in the process of getting here was not very nice.
We went from bliss to disbelief in a matter of a few short hours. It was good that I had my hands full taking care of Brooklynn, Bella, and a newborn baby - and Ben Dog. I was also sending back 'directives' to school via my grade level teachers to help them guide my sub along, and I was fielding questions and concerns from all over about Jill's health. All of this kept me busy enough that I did not have many minutes to really let it soak in that if all of the things these doctors were doing didn't end up working, I could lose my daughter, my friend, my Disney buddy. I held up pretty well, I think, but I will tell you that letting that thought have time to soak in even for a few minutes is a sickening shock that you never want to feel. Outside, I was assuring everyone around me that these smart doctors would resolve things quickly, and we would be back to the 'crazy' that is our normal. Inside, I was having midnight conversations with God about how I really hoped His plan and mine were the same this time. My plan was for those three little girls to be raised by their Mommy. I shed a few tears during middle of the night Sophie feedings. I talked to her and told her how loved she was and how lucky she was to have a Daddy who would provide a good material life for her and a Mommy who would provide a fun and nurturing environment. I will admit that it was hard to put her down, as holding her warm body on my chest brought me such happiness and made me feel close to Jill, who was laying in a hospital bed hooked up to tubes and monitors with no family around her. For Jill's sake, though, I didn't hold Sophie as long as I wanted to. I didn't want Mommy to come home to a spoiled baby to have to deal with. 
I remember those days as both a blur and in moments of great detail - a mix of both, depending on how sleep deprived I was at any given time. The most vivid memory I have throughout the entire ordeal is when we were allowed to sneak the girls into ICU for a few minutes. Jill was the amazing person she always is, and she played down all of the tubes she had in her and talked to Brooklynn and Bella as if nothing was wrong at all. At first, she ignored the baby I was holding and focused on the big girls, as that was the most important thing. After a few minutes of time with the girls, and after getting them involved in a TV show she put on for them, she finally looked toward Sophie. I put Sophie into her arms, and Jill pulled her close and fell into quiet tears. I have a picture of them, and the look on her face is heartwrenching. We both held back tears, since we had spent so much effort downplaying all of this to the big girls. To them, it was just a matter of 'Mommy has to stay in the hospital until they get the right medicine to make her feel good', and that was all they really ever knew. We could not put any doubt into that by becoming blubbering fools and making them wonder if there was more to it, right?
As Jill said, after an emergency gall bladder surgery, she took a major turn for the better, and with much help from her dear friends there in Alabama who promised to make her go slowly even after I left, she was on the road to complete recovery. It took a while, and she was still moving slowly even when we went to Disney World. She did a good job of taking it easy when she needed to. She says that truthfully, much of this trip was a bit of a blur, as she was still recovering and she had a baby to attend to. Still, she was where she needed to be to help her get back to normal and to have some of her greatest possibilities of smiles and laughter. She was in Disney World with her girls, and we certainly know the happiness that comes from
WDW + those we love
don't we?
And during this whole ordeal, by way of phone, Facebook, and the DIS, we had the support and encouragement of people not in Alabama, too -church, school, and DIS friends from all over were constantly showing love and concern for our situation. It was much needed and much appreciated.
On this memorable October trip day, John could have been a single dad, and oh what a wild idea that would have been, and I could have been having to figure out how to keep their Mommy's memory very much alive for three very small girls. Again, I feel sick when I even write that.
BUT, we had our Sophie and we had our Jill, and we were all feeling incredibly blessed! We were heading to our Happy Place, Jill was sharing it with friends, and we would be having cousin time, too, as Brandy, Sloan, Carson, and Parker would be there, as well. The dark days were bright again, and I couldn't be more grateful and happy!
To show that life was normal again, I took this picture of the morning hair rituals.
Jill had decided it would be good for us to stay in a hotel near the airport and have a short getting ready and travel time in the a.m., so we had done our traveling the night before.
Happy girls, ready to roll!
Crazy Bella, her snack, and a traveling companion.
Across the aisle.
The sky was full of many cloud formations on this flight.
Off the plane, we take the usual mosaic tile picture.
On the first unofficial ride of any Disney trip.
You know what it feels like to be right here, don't you?
We are really here! Pretty exciting stuff!
for the elusive MeMom picture posting........ 
She'll be making her second trip in a couple of months. Wonder how many cast members will say something about it being her first trip? 
And she's excited about many Disney trips ahead with three awesome little girlies! 
