Saturday, January 4, 2014

There's No Place Like Home

     For those of you who may not have seen the update on the Facebook page, Hazel was discharged from the hospital on Christmas Eve and we have been home ever since!  To say that we received the best Christmas gift of all is an understatement!  GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!  We were prepared for a 4-6week stay in the inpatient rehab and IT IS ONLY THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS AND HIS MIRACLE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GO HOME!  I am sure that you can all guess that we have spent little time on the computer, hence the lack of updates; but I assure you that life at home has been absolutely marvelous.  We still drive to the hospital every weekday morning for radiation (a post on that will come next), but we are usually back home in the 10:00 AM hour, so we get a full day at home and get to sleep in our own beds!  And our little Hazelnut has improved by leaps and bounds every day which has been wondrous to behold.   She seems to feel very well and is so unbelievably happy to be at home with her family.  She is singing, talking, playing and behaving exactly like her old, silly self, as if nothing happened.  But one difference we have noticed is how much more mature and grown up she seems.  She is still struggling physically and is working really hard at walking and moving around (mostly without the walker!), and being around her siblings has been motivating her tremendously.  Our youngest, Jonah, is just now beginning to walk; and every time he gets up to do it, Hazel yells, "My turn!", and follows suit.  There's nothing like a good bit of healthy competition, huh?!  Micah and Elizabeth, her other siblings, have shown such gratefulness at us being home.  Being separated for almost three months certainly took a toll on them, and they keep saying how great it is to feel "like normal" again.  And they have been extremely sweet with Hazel.  They want to take care of her most chances that they get and are very concerned with her well being.  Being four young children, they still have squabbles of course; however, it is these moments that I find being most thankful for.  The normal, mundane moments that we weren't even sure we would get again...
     Our Christmas was very blessed by the generosity of others who provided our whole family with gifts and stocking stuffers.  I was worried about being able to make this Christmas special, being in the hospital, but because of these wonderful people who have cared for our family, our kids had such a magical Christmas!  Here are a few photos from the morning:









     

36 comments:

  1. I'm soo glad she is doing well!!! She looks great & happy!! You have such adorable/beautiful kids!! I will always have you all in my thought and prayers. God Bless <3

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  2. So happy that your Christmas together was wonderful. Prayers continue for everyone in 2014.

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  3. I am so glad Hazel is home and you had an awesome Christmas! And the pictures are the sweetest! Happy and healthy new year! xxx Maaike (www.facebook.com/tiedtogetherbracelets - if you find any spot time, a picture of Hazel with bracelet would warm my heart :))

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  4. I'm so happy for you and glad hazel is feeling good

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  5. Thanks for sharing your Christmas miracle. God is so good:)

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  6. Welcome Home!!!! Wonderful pictures! Thank you for sharing!!! You are Always in our prayers and hearts. Eternal health and happiness to your beautiful family.
    Warmest Regards, The Kelly Family, VA

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  7. im so very happy hazel is doing so well, god bless her she is on the road to recovery

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  8. This is so wonderful news. So happy for all of you..

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  9. Aaron and Lauren I am so happy for your beautiful family to be whole again at this wonderful time of year! Everyone of your children are a blessing and so adorable! Hazel is truly a miracle in the making. All our prayers and wishes for her and the family are coming true.. hope rehab goes well and looking forward to the next update! :) Prayers n hugs n kisses....Julie

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  10. May the Lord continue to bless Hazel, and your family!!!!!

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  11. What a beautiful Christmas miracle! Thanks for sharing. God is good.

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  12. thank God for qnswered prayers! big hugs! xoxoxoxo <3

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  13. Always in our hearts and prayers. GOD is amazing, through his son Jesus Christ!

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  14. You are such a lovely family and seeing, Hazel, with you, is such a joy to see. My day is not done, till I see, Hazel on my cp. Lots of good wishes for, Hazel and her family.

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  15. God is amazing. So glad you little angel was blessed to be home with your family in time for Christmas. May God continue to lay his healing hands upon you Hazel. God bless you and your family.

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  16. God is amazing. So glad you little angel was blessed to be home with your family in time for Christmas. May God continue to lay his healing hands upon you Hazel. God bless you and your family.

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  17. like I said best Christmas ever. thanks for sharing

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  18. So many tears of happiness. So happy for your family to be home together.

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  19. I am so happy that you were able to be home for Christmas. God bless you all. Big hug and kiss to Hazel and the other kids.

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  20. What a blessing and a miracle. So glad y'all could enjoy such a wonderful moment!

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  21. What a wonderful way to spend Christmas! At home with your family. I am thrilled. This year Hazel will beat this terrible disease and all of 2014 will be Blessed. I am so happy for you all. This post made me very happy. God has been good. You'll forever be in my prayers.
    :) <3

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  22. There is nothing like being home with family and love that can help heal a person too! So glad she is doing so well and hope there are even more improvements for her and the family! God bless you all!

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  23. So happy you made it home for Christmas!!!! God is good! :)

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  24. I am so very happy that Hazel is now home! She, and your family, are often in my thoughts and prayers. May your family continue to be blessed in the days ahead. Hugs to you all.
    Judy

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  25. Your post just made my past Christmas the best! You made my new year one to be more than hopeful for since it just started out perfectly by knowing Hazel got home on Christmas Eve. How very beautiful God is to take care of your child then for her to come home for His birthday. What a wonderfully mighty, loving God we love and serve!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy for you all. God bless you, 2014 will be the BEST for you all!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for posting, I've been wondering :)

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  26. je suis si heureuse pour vous et votre petite princesse. Mille baisers et pensées de France.

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  27. Hazel's smile brings joy to my heart!! What a bountiful blessing from God!

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  28. Such great news! Praying for your family everyday! Your little one is so strong and such a fighter! What a blessing to be her parents! You all are incredible!

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  29. What a awesome answer to prayer! Miracles do happen and Hazel is one of those miracles! May God continue to bless Hazel and your family in this new year!

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  30. Hazel you bring so much joy to our hearts, Im praying for you little girl, always in my mind/jasmina

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  31. What a great Christmas. Nothing better. God bless hazel and the family.

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  32. GOD is awesome! I prayed for you Hazel and look at GOD!!! HE is so wonderful and I just thank him for allowing you to be able to be home for Christmas!!!! I calim it in the name of JESUS you are cancer free Hazel!!!!

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  33. I am Brazilian and I always read the news about little Hazel, I am really happy with this post. She is in my prayer. God bless your family!!!!

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  34. Beautiful pictures from a beautiful family, God bless you/Jasmina

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  35. So young and so brave....all of you! Love and prayers to your beautiful family. I pray God sends his angles to reinforce all the love being sent to you:)

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