what IS...

A dear, dear old friend of mine wrote me an encouraging email, (you know the kind-- you're practically moved to tears one minute and in the next sentence you're laughing!) and in it she said:

"...it struck me that even though y'all have this hair loss before you and a diagnosis looming, you're still taking the time to see what IS: Caroline as a thriving, brilliant, curious little girl..."

Oh, that resonated with me SO much, as it is incredibly tempting to consume ourselves in this medical puzzle we're in. But she's right. The loss of hair is only one small aspect of my sweet daughter, and not the one that she certainly wants to be defined by. Nor do I.

So in between doctor's appointments, running stool samples up to the hospital, and endless hours of internet research on alopecia, I want to stop and see "what IS."

And here's what IS:

I have a precious little girl who'd give just about anything to make playdough ice cream cones with her Daddy...


... who wants to try to walk in Mommy's tall boots...


...who gets the biggest kick out of air blowing up her shirt...


...and who sings, sings, SINGS!


She is our beautiful princess and the love of our lives.