Where Is the Parenting Book?

Seriously, when you think about being a parent or doing the act that could create a child, do you stop and think, "Will I have to decide to surgically attach my baby's head to his/her body?"  Where is that in the "What to Expect" book?  There are subjects not touched by that book.  Maybe there was a parenting book that was supposed to come home with us when we, blissfully unaware, took our baby home for the first time.  If there was one, I must have lost it.  I still believe there is one out there that explains the rules for talking about why kids pick on kids at school or how to explain that Mommy's time in the bathroom should be "alone" time or the number of sick days a parent should get.

Even in the best book, I am sure there is not a chapter on how to explain to your 13 year old that she will have to have her head surgically attached to her body because when she does turn her head it comes off at least 70% of the way.  Even if it had that chapter, I am pretty sure it does not explain the ins and outs of checking to see if she is hitting her vertebral artery in the process thus explaining some of the instant passing out she has done for the last year.  As far as parenting goes, I think Chuck and I are the first to have two children undergo this procedure because of EDS.

I have a choice, I can ask why my kids?  But this will do no good. (I've already tried it and it really does not do any good.)  I could get really mad at the doctors for taking so long to diagnosis this, but to be honest, they are creating a brand new test just for Elizabeth to check to see if she is hitting her vertebral artery.  I could get really scared and place her in a bubble until she has the surgery and worry every minute that if she turns her head she could have an instant stroke and die.  (This is a real possibility by the way)

OR I could trust that God has taken care of her up until now.  I can realize that we are ABUNDANTLY blessed!  We live in the city with the best doctor for the job.  If you read the previous post you will see that the modifications for the house are continuing and I am still unsure how we got all the funding we did to get this far.  She will still alive and will be after this surgery over.  I know that I know that I know it.  I have REAL peace about everything and I believe this is a result of the many, many prayer said for us over the last 3 years.  I know that it is peace from God because I am not strong enough to muster that much peace over the parking place I choose on my own, let alone a surgery that has the potential to be deadly.

There is a good amount of freaking out in my house right now and there will be more to come, but we are doing this together with God.  He created the Heavens and the Earth and that little gnat that bugs us.  He can handle attaching her head.