Kensley, We're Not in Lubbock Anymore

Kensley and I are here in the apartment. It is very strange to be here. I thought I had given up the apartment life when I graduated from Texas A&M. I guess not! Kensley is doing well. She gained 2 more ounces OVERNIGHT! AGAIN! She has been doing this for about a week now. I was a little nervous about the tremendous weight gain, but the doctors are OK with it and they desperately want her back on the growth chart. Well, growth chart here we come. If all goes well, Kensley will be 10 pounds by next week. She has already grown another inch and her head circumference is 39 and 1/2 cms. She has more energy, and she is playing and laughing. Her mental development seems to be right on track, but now the work begins. The goal of the IRP(intestinal Rehab Program) is to get Kensley self sufficient with out causing any additional harm to her liver or other organs. So we have to get off of the TPN(intravenous nutrition) and be able to orally take in enough nutrients and fluids to maintain growth and her daily needs. This is a long process. The month that we will be staying in Nebraska is only the first step in a process that will last for YEARS, but if we can be blessed with no infections or major complications, we will look at Kensley in her kindergarten class and not be able to tell the difference between her and all her classmates. Oh how I pray for that day. Kensley has been such a blessing to our life, as are Kaydee and Cooper, but as I listened to Sarah Palin last night as she said "special children bring special love to your family" I felt the special love she is talking about. It isn't that we love Kensley more. It is just that even with all of the complications of her short life my love is not diminished or compromised in any way. It is unconditional. I supposed that parents of teenager feel the same way when they deal with teenage angst. No matter how many headaches they give you, you love and cherish them anyway. I guess God has blessed me with this lesson sooner that I expected. I hope I remember that when Kensley is 16! I hope we get to see Kensley at 16. I know that all of the sacrifices we are making will be worth it. I have been rather bored today, so I watched TV and was blessed to see a special on the life of Mother Teresa. Wow! Any one who believes woman should not preach, is a person who does not know what preaching means. Everyday of this small woman's life was a sermon, she just never used words. She served and loved others well and so much. She was Jesus' hands and feet on earth. So be faithful and go out there and preach preach preach to everyone who meets you. Use words only as a last resort! I am here in Omaha, remaining faithful that God will heal little Kensley and every day I feel Jesus picking me up and carrying me through another day. I hope that preaches because I haven't any other words to say. I will keep each of you my prayers. Even though my prayer list is long, there is always room for more. Pray without ceasing!
Hugs from Heaven, Tana

Prayer requests:
Father God, please continue to lengthen Kensley's intestine and heal her system to absorb all the nutrients that she needs. Protect Kaydee and Cooper from evil and from harm. Give them strength to make the right choices and to always trust in You and carry Jesus with them in everything they do. Amen