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.

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.

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.

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!!!!!

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.