A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

As many of you know, my daughter, Annabelle Lillian Faith Phillips, was born in July with a severe heart condition. Basically, she only had half of a functioning heart.

They had told us to anticipate at least 3 open heart surgeries, one within the first week of life, another at 4-6 months of age, and another at 2 years of age. We were to also anticipate 4 weeks to 2 months in the hospital to begin with.

Annabelle is 5 months old as of Monday... has had 2 open heart surguries, and now has at least 3 more to go. She has NEVER been home.

I'd asked God along time ago to PLEASE let her be home by CHristmas. Thanksgiving would have been nice, but when we found out that we wouldn't be leaving the hospital for a while due to her complications, I told him I would settle for Christmas.

Then we got some blowing news that it didn't look like Annabelle would be home for many weeks, if not months, right around Thanksgiving. God asked me to give Him EVERYTHING... including my dream of Christmas at home with my WHOLE family. I was crushed... but I gave it to Him anyway. I could be bitter and hold onto it for dear life, or I could let go and enjoy Christmas, regardless of where.

It still wasn't easy though. The month of December was the hardest month I've gone through in a really long time, except maybe the first month of Annabelle's life.

Then last Sunday... the doctor gave us some encouraging news. There was a CHANCE that we might go home by Christmas. Annabelle had to do PERFECT all week, all her O2 levels wonderful, no fevers, nothing wrong.

So we prayed. We asked EVERYONE we know to pray. I begged God to PLEASE let her have a great week.

Well, her O2 sats have been *almost* perfect. But she's had a fever at some point every day. She's had blood in her stool and a scare with that. As the week went on and fevers continued, my hope started to deflate a bit. Then yesterday, the doctor came in and said he was really worried about sending her home. He just wasn't sure it was a good idea, and didn't want to compromise her health. I, even though I wanted Christmas, agreed.

He said the answer wasn't no yet, but still a maybe.

Then on Thursday... they had a big meeting with all the cardiologists and the heart surgeon.

And despite a few of Annabelle's blips this week, they decided that she was indeed okay to go home for Christmas!

So, as I type, it is Thursday, and Annabelle is scheduled and ready to go home tomorrow, on Christmas Eve!

She is our Christmas Miracle!

Now, we still probably have to come back for another surgery in January, so we might only be home a few days, or a few weeks, but we will take however long God grants us at home and be thankful for each day, each hour, each minute.

My four girls!