Tuesday, March 2, 2010

For you are fearfully and wonderfully made ... Psalms 139

Fragile beginnings.Seemingly insurmountable obstacles placed before you,one after another.Through it all, you found your way.All the while, showing us ours.Miss Zoey,Happy 3rd Birthday sweet girl.We love you so.

*Warning:Tons of pictures to follow.Couldn't even begin to sort through all of them.Didn't help that I began looking through them at about 11:00pm.Picked the "high points".Birth,a heart surgery thrown in there. Months of chemo,from 1st round to the last.Marveling in the last photo of that grouping, where she is grabbing at our family picture and amazed at her still full head of hair!Seems like a lifetime ago when I looked through the leukemia days.I suppose that is a good thing.I skipped the Infantile Spasms days.Weren't many to post.If there were,all that was there was a vacant,lost girl ... those were tough to look at.I finished with a couple of Zoey and that darling,impish smile of her's.The sparkle in her eye and the gift of a life brimming with joy and possibility ....So much fight packed into 3 years and so much hope for the years to come.Enjoy.


























"Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn on the wonderful,marvelous night you were born"~from the book "On the Night You Were Born"

46 comments:

Emma said...

Zoey Zoey Zoey. What do I say? A miracle beyond anything else I have ever known. Big birthday wishes from all the way over in Scotland. wish I was there to cuddle you on your birthday! so a virtual one will have to do. make sure she gets lots xxxx

Anonymous said...

wonderful, awesome flow of time through photos of our little Miss Zoey Grace. Happy Birthday sweet girl.


LOVE & HUGS ....

Great Aunt Bluebelle
Syracuse, NY

mandd3 said...

Well, this post certainly makes being awake at 2:30 in the morning with a sick baby (who has finally settled down, but has now decided it is time to play) worthwhile! Happy Birthday Zoey, your mamma's joy just jumped right off this computer screen and landed in my heart. That means you just made the world a little bit better. Again.

Anonymous said...

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY LITTLE MISS ZOEY GRACE!!!

From the OTISCO LAKE GANG

The VW's said...

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!

You are definitely fearfully and wonderfully made! And, you bring such a big smile to my face!

Have a great day! Celebrate you.....the world became such a better place when you entered it, Miss Zoey!

LOVE and HUGS!!!!!

Stephanie said...

I remember so many of those pictures. Zoey is such a part of our lives, just as you are my friend. Distance just doesn't stop love from traveling from one heart to another.
Happy Birthday Sweetness.

I was doing good until I got to the photo of Sol Merie and her dad. That little one really took my heart.

Tina said...

Glad to have found your post again, just as I had a glimpse of these precious pictures and wanted to post a comment your post was gone.
Zoey has really lived a lifetime within her short 3 years, but the toughest times are over. Just look what an amazing beautiful little new born she was, and then she got even more beautiful with each day.
I hope with this birthday comes so so much happiness to last her a lifetime.
Happy 3rd Birthday sweet Zoey Grace, God bless you and may happiness, love and good health always be your companion in life. You have so many people from all over the world loving you, you have blessed and touched our lives by letting us be a part of your brave journey.

Devon said...

We wish you the happiest of birthdays, miss Zoey. You deserve it!!!

Unknown said...

oh my..I loved seeing her pictures from when she was born...oh that love. So sweet!

She's amazing....Happy Birthday to your sweet beautiful girl!

xoxoxo
Kate

Dana Janowicz said...

Happy Birthday sweet Zoey!!!!

Reagan Leigh said...

Happy Birthday Zoey!!! You are loved!

Googsmom said...

HappY Birthday to my favorite Zoey!!! We love you!!!!
{{{{{{{{BIG HUGS}}}}}}

Anonymous said...

What a nice, lovely and endearing little girl!
All the best for her and the whole family.
Antje

Lacey said...

Happy Happy birthday my favorite girl! We will celebrate this amazing life soon. I can't believe how much older she looks even from her last rounds of chemo. Can't wait to see you guys!

Hope said...

I know I've said it so many times, but Zoey is just gorgeous. Her smile is contagious.

Junior said...

Happy Birthday Zoey. Lots of big hugs

Kristy said...

Happy Birthday Zoey!! How I loved looking at the pictures of you growing into such a beautiful little girl. Precious, Heather, Absolutely precious. Thank you so very much for allowing me to come along on your journey. Zoey is and always will be an inspiration to me! hugs! xxoxo

Peter Olson said...

Wow! What a blessing! What a sweetheart.

Jen said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS ZOEY!!!

Melani said...

Happy Birthday Zoey! Even though we have never met, I do follow the blog and I look forward to another year of watching you grow! You have an awesome family.

Denise said...

Well, I guess I needed a good cry first thing this morning, huh? Such a beautiful transformation!! We can't wait to help you guys celebrate!!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday!

Kim said...

Happy Birthday Zoey!!!Love all the pictures. You put a smile on our faces everyday...The Steelmans (blog stalker) lol

Claudia said...

Ah, the little Love.

Dear Zoey, happy birthday to you! (Mom, would you please give her a kiss, or two)

and also

congratulations to your parents, for having such a great and georgous little girl.

Love to you!

Jackson's Blog said...

Happy 3rd Birthday Zoey! You are one amazing, beautiful girl! I love seeing all your accomplishments. I can't wait to see what this 3rd year will bring! Enjoy your big birthday celebration!

Mommy to those Special Ks said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS ZOEY!!!!
Love Sincess Kennedy and Princess Kellsey!

Anonymous said...

Amazed at how much she has changed and grown. She is truly "fearfully and wonderfully made". God knew exactly what he was doing when He made Zoey. Congratulations and Happy Birthday Zoey!

Dawson said...

Happy birthday sweet girl!! We love you

Kristen's mom said...

Happy Birthday to Zoey! Blazing trails where ever she goes.

Angi said...

A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!! So happy for this momentous day!! (I cannot believe how much she has changed from last year to now!!!)

just jean said...

Three is a magic number!!! Happy happy happy birthday, Zoey!

(And to Dr. Seuss, too!!)

Anonymous said...

Have a wonderful birthday, Zoey!

--Mo

Melissa said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUNSHINE!!! Thank you so much for being SUCH an inspiration to me!!!!

With all of my love & God's Blessings!

Melissa & Master Dillon
xoxo

Kaden Epstein said...

Oh Zoey...you are such a beautiful little girl. Although I am fairly new to this blog and your whole story...I feel so blessed to know all of you. I LOVED seeing Zoey at school today and how she just had to join the group. She knew right where to go. I hope you all have a GREAT birthday celebration of a beautiful life!!! Happy Birthday Zoey!!!

Tara said...

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! You are an amazing child and we are privileged to watch you grow.

Shelly Turpin said...

Happiest birthday little one - I hope it was fantastic!!

Bea Braun said...

Oh my what a journey. These beautiful pictures brought tears to my eyes. She has come so far. Around here we still call her baby Zoey, since she was in your womb. We may have to consider a new prefix since she's a big 3 year old now. Maybe Ms. Zoey. I like that! Happy birthday Ms. Zoey. You are an inspiration to all of us.

Anonymous said...

WOW
Love you Zoey, xo
Happy Birthday blessed one.
We are blessed to know you, Christi Harman

Susette said...

Happy Birthday Zoey! Truly inspiring journey...for both of you!I came across this blog using Google alerts...so you are definitely touching people's lives! MOM...such bravery...your angel has shown you and your family what you are made of...absolute LOVE!
Blessings, Susette

tish said...

Happy 3rd Birthday my darling Zoey Grace! I love you with all my heart.

We are so looking forward to celebratating with you on Sunday. Feel better soon my love.

Unknown said...

Oh tears streaming down my face. She is a gift from God, a gift that shines so brightly everyday. She is all that is good wrapped up in this beautiful, amazing, strong perfect little package. She is hope for all of us, she is courage, she is faith, she is smiles in their purest form. I am blessed everyday to have found you guys, to know her, to love her to pray for her, hope for her and learn from her! Happy Birthday beautiful angel! Miss you guys!

Kele said...

Happy Birthday Zoey! So wish I was close enough to say it in person. Have a beautiful party this weekend, I can't wait to see all the pictures of the fun and fellow friends!
I loved all the pictures in this post, such a sweet collage showing just how amazing you are Zoey Grace.
Again, Happy Birthday sweet one!

P.S. "because she wears white, brown and pink a lot" just how precious and clever is that little guy??? I loved it!

Jeana said...

Wow, look at all those miracles that little girl has lived through. She is amazing and I can't believe how much she has grown up, she is no longer a baby, she's a little lady and I love it. I love the pic in her pab love shirt.

Mama Mason-Mann said...

Happy happy happy birthday! Those pictures are awesome!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!

Penny said...

Birthday Blessing to Zoey!!!! and a huge Thanks to Mom for allowing me to tag along on your journey of grace and accomplishment! I have savored every post.... living a bit through your life I guess.
I adore your sweet girls smile and bright eyes. She gives me a glimpse of what might have been for us. Our daughter Mackenzie was blessed with Downs and plagued with severe heart dysplasia, many terms I still can't pronouce but in the end it kept her heart from pumping enough to adequately allow Mackenzie to grow to viability. At 21.6 weeks our hearts were broken and our baby took flight. Our life has not been the same, our path different. I was once told your path would have been different WITH Mackenzie,.... yes I suppose so but she would have blessed us so much. I love to see Zoe accomplish and grow, my little window to what might have been.

Blessings and prayers.....

p.s. I would LOVE to send Zoe a little birthday gift, if it doesn't make you feel strange. I know we don't know each other in real life. But I would love to make and send her a hat from our shop. All I need is an address and her favorite color.

Bri said...

Thank you! I love this photo series!!! Praise Jesus!
You are amazing!
Happy Birthday ZOE!