What is Normal?

With Zoe needing to be in the hospital from time to time, Gavin and I try to minimize the stress of being in hospital on Zoe and Ailsa. Both Gavin and I do this in our work so it comes a little more naturally for us. We wish that being critically ill was not part of who Zoe is, but as time has gone on we have accepted that this is indeed a part of her life and therefore, part of our family's life. Photo albums have pictures of Zoe with tubes, Zoe hooked up to a breathing machine, Zoe in equipment, etc. This has become our normal in a way that we did not expect. For all of Zoe's life we knew we had a child with special needs. We saw the impact on her development. We saw our house fill with equipment. We cheered as Zoe reached any new step in development, no matter how small. Accepting that Zoe is critically ill at times was harder for us to accept as our "normal." We love Zoe and can not imagine life without her. And hopefully we will never know what that is like. So for now, we celebrate our life as it is. We celebrate our normal.

Zoe having fun with the music therapist. We seek out people like this to help Zoe have fun and make good memories in the hospital.

Having a silly sister clinging to your arm definitely helps to lift Zoe's spirits. Can you imagine these two on a rollar coaster? What are they looking at? Daddy was trying to make them smile for the picture.

Daddy succeeded in making one of the girls smile!

Thank you to all of our friends and family who are there to celebrate the steps along the way. Zoe really is an amazing little girl and it is a joy to watch her grow.