I meant to post something over Thanksgiving, but I just didn’t have the energy. The emotions keep coming in waves, and the holiday felt heavy this year.

Audie went back to Wisconsin and spent Thanksgiving with family, and he had the best time. I’m so thankful he got a few days of fun and normalcy — running around like a wildman with his cousins. It gave Kyle and me the mental space to focus on Sabrina and both stay with her at the hospital for a few days.

We used the time to soak up snuggles, enjoy her giggles and little playtime milestones, and cheer her on while she tries different purées. I took her to the skyway during the blizzard so she could watch her first snowfall (see photos). We decorated her room for Christmas, too — hanging up little things to make the space feel homey and maybe just a little magical. We walked the familiar halls and said hi to all the staff we’ve come to know over these last few months.

Some good friends brought us the best Thanksgiving dinner, and it made the whole day feel a little warmer. Another friend watched our dog so we could just stay with Sabrina, and that kind of help means more than people realize. 

We’re really trying to focus on what we’re thankful for, because it’s when we start thinking about ‘what should have been’ that it hurts the most.

We’re so relieved and appreciative that even with Sabrina’s diagnosis, she has stayed stable — her heart function usually in the 20s — and she continues to fight with such strength. We feel incredibly supported by this medical team that cares so deeply for her and has done everything they can to make this reality as comfortable as it can be while we wait. We’re thankful that the medical procedure we’re waiting for even exists — that there is a real path forward for her to live a full life after all of this. And we are so touched by the way our friends and family keep showing up for us, time and time again.

We’re taking things one day at a time and trying to make this season feel safe and soft for both of our kids.

Thank you to everyone who continues to check in, pray, send messages, and hold hope with us. We feel it. 💜

#SabrinaStrong