Elliora was so teeny nine months ago. Wow.

Anyway…does anyone remember this photo, and how I asked y’all to help me think of a funny caption, and then I did a poll to see who should win?

I’d say we have a clear winner:

Congratulations, kc! Your caption is especially appropriate because I just read all seven Harry Potter novels for the first time the week after New Year’s. I’d like to paint you a mug or bowl or something as a prize. Email me and we’ll talk details!

My friend Heather and her family have been facing all kinds of challenges lately, from injury to lost jobs to illness to their crazy landlord evicting and suing them unjustly. The most pressing worry at the moment is how to bridge the gap between now and when Heather’s husband starts getting paid for his new job, how to pay rent. They’re having a yard sale this weekend, and are also selling a few things (a 45-piece Noritake Isabella set [pictured above], a Fender Squier Strat electric guitar and Marshall amp, some collector’s plates, some crazy cool knives) via Heather’s blog and Flickr. If you’re interested, you can read the backstory on Heather’s blog and check out Heather’s Flickr set Firesale.

Before we left for Omaha, I mailed this blanket off to Samantha in Texas. I hope and pray she gets the chance to use it for years to come.

Sammy is still in need of prayers, and so are her parents Stephanie and Travis. In the week since they figured out she has bacterial meningitis, she’s made some good progress but also had a few sobering setbacks. The strain of bacteria causing the disease was not the kind that is resistant to antibiotics, so that was great news. She was having seizures (not uncommon for infants with meningitis, I gather) so underwent an MRI, which showed extensive brain damage. She developed encephalitis. Then a lumbar puncture showed the white cell count was down, meaning the infection was under control, and they began to wean Sammy from the vent. A second MRI revealed the disease had progressed to ventriculitis, many infarctions, and that the brain damage seems to have grown more extensive.

Even though Stephanie and Travis (who is a Lutheran pastor) have great faith and are being supported by their friends and family and uplifted by the knowledge that people all over the world are thinking of them and praying for their little girl, this has to feel like a nightmare. They can’t protect their baby girl. They can only trust God and the doctors and hope for the best.

Thank you for your prayers so far. If you have a moment, please say a prayer, make a wish, light a candle, or WHATEVER for Samantha and her family. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I know Stephanie and Travis would thank you too.

UPDATE 5/1/2011: GOOD NEWS! Sammy was weaned off the respirator and oxygen and is breathing on her own. And, she was moved from the ICU to an intermediary room where her parents can stay in the room with her. They still have a long road ahead of them but things are looking up. Woohoo! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for them!