Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Reid meeting Megan...

Ellie and Reid's mom here. I have decided that I am going to change the format of the blog a bit. When I started blogging, I thought it would be cute to talk about our family adventures through the eyes and words of Ellie. It worked for awhile, but now I feel the need to post to "big people", too....and that doesn't always work through a four year old, and I am quite tired of always having to post when it's me talking...and not Ellie. So, from here on out...it's me talking....not Ellie. I will still share her "funnies"....but would like the blog to grow up a bit, so here goes nothing!


I took the kids last night to the nursing home that my grandma is in. They had trick or treating through the halls and the residents were passing out candy to all the little ones. It was really nice. I always want to expose Ellie and Reid to the many different people in our world...young and old...and I don't want them to ever fear going to visit their great-grandma. I don't think I ever had a great amount of going to nursing homes as a young child, and when I was exposed to them, I was a bit freaked out by the whole situation. Ellie is really good about going to see Grandma Mimi...and I want to keep it that way! Well, while we were there...something so neat happened. One of the directors of the facility grew up in my hometown and was just a bit older than me going through school. My parents know her family quite well. She was there last night and we got to talking and so on.....and here....her daughter, Megan, who is nine, was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. She has been through 8 surgeries including 3 revisions on her palate and bone grafting and the list goes on and on. What a little trouper she is...and Reid loved her from the minute he saw her. They both just looked at each other when I held him out to her...and he opened his arms up as if to say, "Let me give this little lady a big ole' hug", and so I asked Megan if she would be ok allowing me to take their picture together. She was excited...and as you can see, Reid was loving her!


Megan's care is provided by a hospital fairly close to us, but it isn't the same hospital that we go to. It was interesting to swap stories and hear all the dentistry work that she is now in the midst of at age nine. These kids share a tight bond that only they truly understand. I feel blessed that we were able to meet Megan. I have a feeling that she and Reid will meet again sometime soon. What a great night we had together. I am in awe of the strength of "our kids". We are surely the lucky ones to know such amazing little ones.

4 comments:

Krissy said...

What a pretty girl!!! Sounds like a fun night!

Anonymous said...

Janeen,

I hate to tell you how much I was freaked out by going to a nursing home.....and we were around one and went to one all the time, since my grandfather was there for a long time. As much as I was there with my family or with our church, who often sang there, I never felt comfortable! More power to you for going, but it doesn't mean they will understand or feel comfortable with going. I still don't enjoy it to be honest! People who looked so different frightened me, and I felt that way for a very long time. This is in all honesty how I felt as a child. I never expressed that feeling to my parents. Maybe they could have done something to make me feel more comfortable with it, but I doubt it.

From your mother

Allison said...

That is so cool! What a beautiful little girl, she and Reid look so sweet together! Just last week we met a little two year old girl at the pumpkin patch with a bilateral cleft lip and palate . . . maybe I already told you this? Anyway, I plan on posting about it soon!

Darcy said...

Hi Ellie's Mom, glad you're talking to us big people. :)

Megan is absolutely beautiful. 8 surgeries?? 8??? Oh my. That's a lot. It makes me sad, stressed, anxious, to think that Rachel could need that many surgeries. Ya know??

Hello, and welcome to my page! I am so glad you are here. I am going to try and show you the average life of a 5 year old from my perspective. Mommy and Daddy will help me along the way if I get stuck.

Let me first introduce my family to you. I am Ellie. I am a 6 year old. I live in Ohio with my Mommy, Daddy, little brother Reid, and dog, Sophie. My mommy is a teacher. She teaches nine and ten year olds and loves it. She has been teaching for twelve years. My daddy works with computers. He works hard everyday.

We all love spending time together. I have wonderful grandparents and a terrific extended family. I am a very lucky girl. Thank you for visiting my page. Write to me any time. I love getting mail!!!

Many blessing to you all.

Love,
Little Ski (Ellie)

Mommy and me having cuddle time at Hocking Hills.

Told ya, my hair can be wild! And you thought I was kidding!

Hmmm, Blue's Brother's perhaps?