"Memories, like the corners of my mind..." Maybe for Hannah, the stars have finally aligned

Tuesday Hannah hit a huge milestone in the world of transplant.  We celebrated her 3 month post transplant anniversary with out any hospital stays since we left.  We have heard for a while now, getting 3 months out was a huge deal, but was never really sure what that meant or entailed.  I figured that out today!!

Today Hannah got her routine lab work and had her followup clinic appointment.  It was hard for me walking into this appointment, because I was so scared how I was going to walk out of it.  Hannah has been doing so well lately, all I could think about was our luck is going to start running dry here soon.  We got labs drawn and headed off to clinic.  First off, I am happy to report that she has hit 15 pounds 1 ounce and is indeed growing in length (and head circumference)!  They were so pleased with how she was doing that we don't need to see them back for 3 months!!  I couldn't believe it when they said it!  I asked them, "What is Hannah going to do now that she doesn't have to come here so often, better yet what am I going to do?!?!"  The response I got from the nurse practitioner couldn't be any better, "LIVE, your life!"  She is so right!  For the first time in a long time, I walked out of there with my head held high.  I still new the labs needed to come back but I enjoyed the moment.

As the day proceeded on, I went with the great news, and the kids and me enjoyed our afternoon. Around 4 pm, I received a call from the nurse practitioner with Hannah's lab results.  Her labs were awesome!  Everything looked great and she proceeded to tell me in two weeks we can start weaning her off another immunosuppressant!   And if you can believe it the conversation got better.  We don't need to come back for labs until the first week of September.  This is huge to us.  The fact that we can go a full month without heading to the hospital means we are moving up!  Hannah will need lab work done monthly as that is their normal protocol for their transplant patients.  To think that we have made it this far has blown my mind.  For the first time, in a very LONG time, I finally feel like I can breathe.  I hung up the phone and tears of joy just ran down my face.  Our lives have been put on hold for so long, so I love the fact I can finally say we feel like our life is finally starting to come back.  Our lives will never be totally normal again, but really whose life is??  Everybody has "stuff" going on.  But the best part is we went out to dinner tonight and felt like everybody else for once.  I could eat my food and not have to worry (at least to much!) about not staying to long because of germs!

 For so long, I felt like our family was just getting beat down.  Even after transplant, when my grandma started to slip away from us. I didn't know if it was possible we could turn around from all of this.   Finally for once I feel like we won!  I know Grandma Rose is watching over her Hannah Rose closely.  She proved that to us when she passed and is continuing to prove that to us.  I can feel Grandma watching over us and smiling because this is the way she wanted and intended it to be.

Hannah was given to us for a reason, and now everyday I see why she is here and what she is meant to do for all of us.  As I have said time and time again, it is truly amazing what this little girl has taught me about life.   Hannah's recovery process this far is what these doctors hope, pray, and want for these kids.  The stars have aligned for our beautiful little girl.  Now we will celebrate this moment and ride the wave for as long as life lets us.  We will continue to pray things will stay this way, but we know after all we have been through this year, if things fall out of place, we WILL get those stars back in line again!!

Hooray for Hannah:)