Invisible String All Over Oakes' Map.

{Isla and T playing}

So, a few months ago after watching Isla completely freak out when I tried to put a band-aid on her, I decided that we needed to make "boo-boo's" as we call them, not a big deal. From the day that Oakes came home with oxygen tubes taped to his cheeks, Isla could vocalize that Oakes had band-aids on his cheeks and a "boo-boo" in his nose. We went with it, but now she has an extreme reaction to any injury and most of all band-aids. In an attempt to help her make sense of this new medical undertone in our lives, I got on Amazon and ordered a dozen children's books that all have some type of medical theme. I got a Little Critter book, where the little critter breaks his arm and goes to the hospital, I got the one where Curious George has an injury, I got one about a sibling that is in the hospital, one about germs and so on. We do not read these daily, but sometimes they get put into the weekly circulation and when they do I just hope that the subject matter makes her feel more comfortable with our lives right now. One of the books has become a favorite and I just have to share. It is called The Invisible Sting. The message of the book is that we are all connected to the ones we love by an invisible sting. We are never alone, should never be scared, and should always find comfort that our stings keep us together even when we may be apart. And for the times that we are apart, and we may miss someone that is not with us, we can tug on our sting and the other person will feel it, and then they can tug back. Originally, I got this book because I spend so much time away from Isla now, that I thought it would be comforting for her to hear that we have a string. However, when Greg is out of town she talks about his string. She talks about all of her cousins stings, and of course little Oakes. She will put her hand over her heart, and make a little whistling sound as she throws her sting to friends and family and calls them by name. It warms my heart to see how loving and connected she is. Just the other day T-Franny was tickling her, Isla was giggling and wiggling around on Tina's lap, but when they both calmed down, Isla brushed her hair out of her eyes, looked and T, and threw her a little sting and made that whistling sound, even though their hearts were inches apart. Then just last night she made that sound as I was closing her bedroom door after tucking her in for the night.

Whenever I look at Oakes' map, I imagine this complex web of invisible sting wrapping and weaving, originating from St. Louis, Missouri in the US and traveling some short distances and then others much farther across seas and over mountains to the other side of the world and it amazes me. We feel your love and prayers, and yes, we feel all of the deep healing breaths that you have sent, and now we hope that you feel us tugging on the little sting that connects us to you. Thank you all for your continued prayers! Much Love, Becky