I've been thinking a lot about milestones lately. I am celebrating the fact that my husband has reached a really cool milestone - making the bed if I don't. Our sixth son, Levi is walking! My older son can now help "babysit" for short periods of time. It's amazing, the many blessings I've been given and what comes with being married for 13 years and sharing our precious children together.

And there are other milestones that keep "popping" up a lot lately. Mental reminders of what I've just recovered from, what I am still possibly recovering from. The other day I sat on the bottom step of our stairs and looked down at my nails that had been regrowing after my illness, and much to my delight, the last layer peeled off of the very last nail.....done. Before that, I had shed skin layers from various body parts, the most obvious being my hands and feet. One by one, as the strange side effects of illness and medicine went away, I would celebrate quietly. A small victory, a sign that I would really fully recover some day.

Approaching Levi's first birthday, I printed out a couple hundred pictures for his scrapbook - to mark the blissful first year of his life. Among the Christmas pictures was one of me holding him. I am very somber looking, almost as if I knew what was coming. Levi is happy as a lark, of course. The day that picture was taken was Christmas 2008, the last day that I would be able to nurse Levi without complication......just days before Toxic Shock would ravage my body.

So, here....on the flip side of that pic.....I am needing those great highlights in my hair again, but my smile is brighter than ever. I did get to live. I did get to stay here to be Levi's mama. And Nolan, Hayden and Dylan, Dax and Drew's mama. And wife to my honey. I'm thankful. I cherish the milestones.