Happy Birthday Taylor!

Taylor turns 20 today. I've learned a lot more about medical issues than I ever wanted to know. I've shed more tears in the 20 years than I ever thought possible. I've spent more nights in a hospital in the past 20 years than I ever thought possible. When you add the total number of nights that I've spent sleeping on an uncomfortable, vinyl pull-out couch in a hospital room listening to the beeping of monitors and IV pumps, it totals over 3 years out of the past 20.

However I'm not going to talk about that today. I'm going to talk about the smiles she's given me. No matter what problem comes up, Taylor smiles through it all. I've seen her fight to re-learn how to walk and talk (well Taylor talk) after suffering a stroke after brain surgery. She wakes up in the morning, smiling. She is the most loving and affectionate "child" I've ever known.

Taylor is funny, silly, happy, loving, strong, resilient, and stubborn. She has been the major focus of my life for the past 20 years. People around town know me only as "Taylor's mom". She has touched the lives of a lot of people.

To me, Taylor is hope and I choose to celebrate the good today. Happy Birthday precious girl! We love you!