Thank you

I say it over and over - I'm so grateful for everyone's support and love. Jeremy's and my immediate families in New York and Cleveland are ready to fly out here at a moment's notice to help. Maria has been wonderful with taking more time with Jack and providing him with a normal daily routine (and he's thriving). My girlfriends are wonderful - some of the BFFs stopped by last night with flowers, fun shower gels, chocolate chip muffins and a baby book (I was lamenting that I wasn't prepared for this baby girl - I don't even own a baby book for her, which is only a ridiculous statement I would make). Everyone's offered to watch Jack, including my friend Alissa in Columbus who is willing to take him for a few days if we're here longer. I've heard from friends and family far and wide - thank you. I particularly appreciate other people's stories about being in the hospital and their experiences in the NICU - and all of the wonderfully strong children who were once preemies. Coworkers and board members from Openlands are planning visits, for which I'm extremely grateful. 


Jeremy and I are in this together as a team, and I'm so thankful for our relationship - he's taking good care of Jack at home, trying to do a bit of work, visiting me daily and bringing me things and managing our renovation project at home.


I pulled this quote from one of my favorite blogs this morning; completely different context from what she beautifully wrote but it resonates with this week's experiences:


Sometimes grace manifests as synchronicity-its energy brings together people or events in a soothing, helpful, or dramatic way when you most need it and least expect it. At other times grace is the energy that suddenly illuminates us with understanding, allowing us to see what we had not been able to grasp before. Grace can also lift us into an altered state of consciousness in which we feel suffused by an unfamiliar energy -an indescribable combination of love, hope, and fearlessness.

Caroline Myss, Why People Don't Heal and How They Can

And I'm keeping close a Bible verse that my sister Laura shared with me at the beginning of this week:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11