Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig!

"Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jig!" was something that my Grandpa McDonald would say after many a family outing as we walked through the door. It always put a smile on my face and gave me the greatest feeling of warm love. That is the feeling that I hope to hold on to with my lovely wife Lindsay and our sweet Delaney. I want her to know that feeling, to build connections and memories of what it is to have a HOME.


In their efforts to show support often people have felt somewhat powerless, without a "solution" to the circumstance we find ourselves in. We need prayers, good intention, and positive energy - this is abundantly clear. The food that people have been providing has been wonderful, we are comforted in that we don't have to think about or worry about meals. It's something that is easy to forget when all of your energy is going into supporting the greatest gift we've been blessed with. What we have been thankful for (in some ways we need most) are the visits of family and friends to our home.


Many of you who know me well, and know that I thrive on human contact. At work, I have been known to end a meeting with exasperation and say "before we leave, I need some personal time with you guys!". Usually gets a smile or two, and then we ask about each other's personal life. Likewise when we get visitors to our home, it builds our spirit, helps us feel a sense of community and brings us "home again".


Our whole world has been turned on it's head. We don't know what will happen moment to moment, or day to day. We have lost some of the rhythm of the family system we had started. So when we have quality time with our friends and family it brings us closer to what we had. In doing so, we are demonstrating to Delaney what she can expect as she relearns what it is to be a part of this world. She was barely with us, beginning to experience things to smile about...and tragically had it all stripped away.


Today, we were visited by some wonderful people who are very close to us and as a result our house was buzzing with chatter, laughter, and brightness. All of the things that Delaney deserves. It heals our hearts and minds and puts us in the best position possible to give her a fighting chance. As I have said before, I surround myself with wonderful people and wonderful things happen.


One of our visitors today was a Reiki Master. I have to say I am always open to alternatives, and I am all about what is possible. Before she arrived I hoped and expected a positive impact. We all know that babies need love and affection, warm touch, cuddles and snuggles. So at the very least Delaney would feel comforted by this light non-invasive therapy. What astonished me, and I get chills even reflecting on it, is that her eyes were wide open the entire time! She even made little gentle cooing noises, as if to say "aaahh". The practitioner talked to her and it was as if they were having a conversation. It was wonderful to see, it was the most active she's been since this nightmare started.


I'm not saying that she's all better, or that we are out of the woods yet. It's just that now have one more weapon to wage in this war. We have one more way to make her life more comfortable, maybe take away some of the pain and discomfort - at least for a while. At most we have a way to stimulate all those good healing vibes and see the possibility of a return of our sweet girl we were just getting to know.


I would be remiss if I also didn't mention that my older brother (Uncle Sean) was wonderful yesterday. He sat with me and Delaney for about twenty minutes and shared his own Ki energy with her. She just soaked it up. She was on my chest and abdomen at the time and I could actually feel the energy in my own tummy. It was kind of like getting "butterflies". We Flatters are pretty powerful!


As I write this very update Delaney is feeling the warmth of our embrace, of our home which was graced by some really wonderful people, and the presence of the holy spirit - I'm sure of it!


(You'll be happy to also know that she is breathing deeply, and strong!)


I love my sweet baby girl, my beautiful wife, and this crazy life which has sought fit to throw many curveballs our way. As I tell Lindsay everytime things get tough and we break down...We're gonna get through this!


God Bless,
B & L & d