Fourteen

Fourteen years ago something amazing happened. My whole life changed. I had just turned 20, it was still 3 weeks away from our first wedding anniversary, and this beautiful little girl came screaming into our lives. From the moment she was born she was wide eyed and aware, curious and very vocal!

The first 24 hours were perfection. Then the walls kind of came crashing in. Ali had an arrhythmia and was flown by helicopter to a hospital with a NICU two hours away, while I was stuck waiting to be discharged until morning. We should have known then that life with this one was going to be a ride!

As a baby she met all of her milestones early (except talking, I thought she'd never talk) and brought so much joy to us all. She had both sets of grandparents wrapped around her tiny little fingers. She loved watching cartoons in the morning with her daddy, and cuddling with me. She loved to be rocked to sleep, though she never stayed in her crib or slept through the night. (She didn't do that until she was 9) I still loved her though.

Over time she grew into a beautiful little girl. She was smart and kind, funny and girly. She loved pink, and all things princess. She was shy, but once you got into her circle, you were there to stay. She loved to swim and play outside with her friends. When she was 8 gymnastics became the joy of her life. She worked hard at everything she did, and it showed in every aspect of her life.

Soon enough she was in middle school, changing and growing every day. She left pink in her past for a little while, eventually coming back around to it "in small doses." She quit gymnastics, retreating to her room to read and watch T.V. She focused on her school work more, and spent plenty of time chatting on the phone with friends. Funnily enough, it made transitioning into being nearly bed bound a LOT easier when she got sick!

That brings us to now.

Fourteen.

The last year and a half of being sick has given her a solid knowledge of who she is. She has a small circle and keeps them close. She loves Korean boy bands, and is teaching herself the language. She loves to sing, and rap, and dance. She is uniquely her own person. Her wit and sarcasm bring laughter to almost any conversation. She's the laziest hard worker I've ever met. Even though sometimes it's hard, she doesn't let her illnesses get her down. She keeps trying, even when she knows she's pushing her limitations. She isn't a girly girl anymore. She doesn't wear dresses or make-up, and usually wears her hair with it's natural wave or in a ponytail. Still, she's stunning.

She is fiercely loyal and accepting. She doesn't stand for any kind of hatred or discrimination. She knows how to stand up for herself, but even more so for those who can't stand up for themselves. She knows what she wants and she goes for it. She is the future. And I couldn't be more proud of her.