Sunday, October 9, 2011

Miracle Mile

Not the shopping mecca on the North Shore….this is about my miracle baby. Yesterday Katie and I were flipping through the radio stations in my car (we barely let a song end before we are looking for the next one). She stopped on Garth Brooks’ “Unanswered Prayers.” I think these lyrics sum up yesterday:


Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers,


Remember when you’re talking to the man upstairs,


That just because he doesn’t answer, doesn't mean he don’t care,


Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers.


In the weeks leading up to Preston’s birth I remember praying so hard. Praying that the doctor’s were wrong about everything. That Preston’s limbs were going to grow. That he’d be “normal.” That the ultrasound technicians (all ten of them) measured wrong. Please God let him live. Let him not have any form of dwarfism.
The answered prayer: He lived.


The unanswered prayer: He had dwarfism.


I’ve said many times that I didn’t realize what I blessing I was being given at the time. If Preston’s limbs had grown I’d have one less “family.” I’d view normal in the ways I always used to view normal. I’d probably never have started this blog. I’d never have had the opportunity to be taught so much from a little boy. Katie signed Preston up for his first race yesterday to benefit the Children’s Hospital in Richmond. I figured he would run a bit of the “Mascot Mile.” I’d walk along the sidewalk and follow him. He’d maybe get tired. Actually what really happened was Preston ran/jogged the whole thing, with maybe about 1 minute total of walking or resting (prompted by me). To watch this child’s determination, his drive was nothing short of amazing.

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He is literally in flight with his tongue out in the above picture. It was this point when I realized I would actually have to run with him. So I ran carrying my camera, my coffee mug and my BlackBerry. Clearly I underestimated Preston’s desire to show all what he can do. P1010511
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He totally was so excited about the cheering going on for him along the sidelines. At this point I was exhausted and realized that Preston kills me in stamina.
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After his race think he was tired? Nope. He hung out in the bounce house until it was time to wait for Katie to complete the 10K and my parents the 5K. Katie also beat her personal record! GO TINKA!!!!!
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What a great day. Preston, Mommy is so beyond proud of you. Thank you once again for showing me how amazing you are, what a gift you are to me and the rest of the world. Thank you God for my unanswered prayer.

15 comments:

Monica said...

:) Got a tear in my eye!

Evelyn said...

I also got a tear in my eye after reading this and truly believe that he is a miracle.

Andrea said...

Thank God for unanswered prayers--amen to that! What a wonderful example Preston is!

Barbara said...

Katie & I started to cry when he took off at the start line--he had such a determined look in his eyes and i knew then what a miracle and truly unbelieveable gift God had given the Raab family and the entire world. He has brought overwhelming joy to all who know him--Thank you Jesus for giving me such a special and beautiful soul to love

Mike Mallinson said...

Awesome, awesome, awesome. Our kids inpress us so much every day - AH and LP, they're all capable of so much more than we suspect! It's so amazing to get to watch them show it off...

Unknown said...

What a great post! Yes, Thank God for unanswered prayers. We do have some amazing children!

Lyla Our Little Miracle said...

I seriously have tears in my eyes! I too, was like......."please god let this dwarfism thing be wrong"! We are soooooooo happy Lyla came into our lives. Watching Preston run that race brought so much joy to my heart. Lyla is only one and looking at Preston makes me realize all the possibilities that are in store for her! I am so excited to see what she will accomplish! Preston is so lucky to have you and his family supporting him forever! You are all so blessed. Oh and congrats to Katie for beating her personal best! Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Kim F. said...

Okay, I'm officially sitting in my office in tears. Beautiful post Kim. What great pictures and what an amazing job by Preston - looks like he will be running many races with your sister in the future!!

Destini said...

Go Preston! Love that you had to run with all that stuff - and proud that you didn't spill coffee all over yourself! It is amazing how our unanswered prayers sometimes work out best!

Yiannakis Family said...

So very impressed to see you running your marathon with coffee and blackberry in hand ;) Congrats to all of you for doing such a great job!

mel said...

I mean, he pretty much rocks!!!

Unknown said...

Great job on the run, Preston! Our kids are just amazing...how blessed are we?! I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything in the world. You hit the nail right on the head...unanswered prayers have made us all a family! Oh, and btw...have we succeeded in making you a country music fan?? Lol!

Kerri said...

He's my hero, what a sweetheart!!!

Chelsea and Cody said...

I cried when I read this. My husband and I look at your blog often, to watch you and Preston both grow. It is amazing the things he teaches everyone around him. He is such a happy, happy boy! My husband said to me today, "Preston is a stud. He is definitely the happiest kid in the world". I completely agree. We miss Warner, but we are so happy that your unanswered prayer is amazing Preston!

April Larson said...

I'm sitting here in my office crying my eyes out reading this! I remember when the doctor told me that Parker was going to be born with dwarfism....I cried so hard. All I could imagine was all the stares we would have now going to walmart, going to the movies, or the park because now there were 2 dwarfs standing there. Parker has taught me so much about seeing what I'm really capable of doing as a LP mom as well as him. Parker pulled me out of my self pity and made me see a world I refused to open my eyes too. It amazes me how powerful babies are at such a young age.
Thank you again...I needed this :)