Psalm 139:13-16

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Baby Korbin

Please pray for baby Korbin's family...they said hello and goodbye to him today.  They got to spend a precious hour with him.  Tonya's blog is http://ourraremiracle.blogspot.com/

Newborn Session

First of all, I just wanted to post a prayer request...one of my friends Tonya, momma of baby Korbin diagnosed with an encephalocele, is in labor right now.  Please pray for Korbin and his family.  Tonya's blog is http://ourraremiracle.blogspot.com/.

Also, we recently had a newborn session with Andrea Reed (http://andreareedphotography.blogspot.com/).  She is an amazing photographer!  She selflessly gives of her time and talent to serve as the area coordinator for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, an organization that is very dear to my heart.  Andrea came to our house when I was pregnant with Grace to capture maternity photos of our family.  She was also present on Grace's birthday to capture our first moments as a family of three.  And, of course, most recently she took photos of our precious 10 week old miracle baby.  I CANNOT say enough about Andrea!  If you are looking for a photographer, look no further! 

Here is the link to our newborn session...a sneak peek!  :)  http://andreareedphotography.blogspot.com/2011/05/golden-family-sneak-peek-of-precious.html

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Post Op Again

We are HOME from the hospital after Grace's shunt surgery yesterday.  She did GREAT!  She is my tough little girl!  I will post more info later about her surgery and post op, but I just wanted to thank you for you prayers!  She is still in some pain here and there, but I think she is starting to feel better.  There's no place like home!  :)

Monday, May 16, 2011

Shunt Surgery Wednesday

Hey!  Grace had her pre-op appointment today.  We signed the consent and got all the information.  They also had to get some pre-op labs from her today.  It was sad, but she did great!  Grace also had another speech therapy appointment today, and the speech therapist was very pleased with Grace's progress so far!  We have only been doing our exercises for a week, so I was proud!  We will see her again in one month, and hopefully Grace can be finished with ST then! 

I go back to work next Monday.  I can't believe it's been 12 weeks!  I am ready to go back, but will be sad to leave Grace.  Thankfully, she has a great caregiver!  Ms. Rita, "Mammaw," will take great care of Grace while Chad and I are working.  We are so thankful for her! 

Some new things with Miss Grace...she is smiling more and more!  I also think she is focusing better on us and objects.  She started making great improvements in her tummy time skills.  She is also having more hand to mouth movements.  I am one proud momma! 

We have her shunt surgery Wednesday.  We have to be at UMC at 6 am.  Some specific things you can be praying for...that He would be with her doctors and nurses, that the surgery will go well with no complications, that Grace will have minimal pain, that there will be no infection (Grace will be at greatest risk for infection for the next 6 months), and that her shunt will work well with no malfunctions.  We are praying that this is her last surgery for a while. 

Thank you so much for your prayers for Grace and our family! 

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Blessings

So, I've kinda had a long day today.  I guess I'm just feeling emotional or tired, or both.  Nothing special happened today...just changing diapers, feeding a hungry baby, burping a crying baby who just wants to eat some more, etc.  I didn't even put on makeup or fix my hair.

I know I've posted about our daily exercises, but we've added some exercises recommended by the speech therapist we saw Monday.  I watched the speech therapist do the exercises with Grace Monday, but I did them for the first time myself today.  She.HATED.them.  We had major tears.  It was so sad.  Then I started crying and got sad thinking about all of the extra things we have to do for Grace (which really is nothing compared to some other babies).  I just thought why does she have to go through all this and why can't she just be like any other "normal" baby??  I quickly felt extreme guilt for my self pity, because AT LEAST I HAVE A BABY.

I try to be thankful, but it's just plain hard sometimes.  But I WILL be thankful for all the blessings in my life, because God has surely showered them on my family and me.  I will give thanks to Him because He is good.  His mercies are unending and new.  His love carries me.  He is always faithful and true.  He has redeemed my life.  He blessed me with a miracle. 

This is my new favorite song!  Going through everything we have been through since October has given me a new perspective about many things, and this song reminds me of God's faithfulness to us.


Also, here are our latest photos!


Sunday, May 8, 2011

Mother's Day

I LOVED celebrating my first mother's day with my sweet miracle baby today!  It was one of the most special days, and I will never forget it!  It was especially special because, before we had Grace, I thought today would probably be a very hard day for me, a day I would not be able to celebrate.  But through God's mercy and grace, I got to truly celebrate.  Being a momma is the best thing in the whole world!  I love it and I LOVE my precious angel. 

My heart has also been heavy today because of those who have not been able to celebrate today.  Those who have lost their mommas, those who long to be mommas, those who have lost their precious babies.  I'm so sorry because I know today was a hard day.  Please know that I have remembered you today and will be praying for you, sweet friends. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Life with a 2 Month Old!

Happy 2 month birthday, Grace Elizabeth!  Your Daddy and I love you so much, more than we could ever express!  You are our greatest blessing, and we are so thankful to God for you and the miracle of your precious life.

What are you up to these days?  Well, we daily "exercise"...we have tummy time, I pull you up to a sitting position, we practice tracking and holding objects, I stretch out your legs, and we try and look more to the right.  These days, you eat between 4 and 6 ounces of Gentlease every 4 hours during the day, and you sleep for about 8 hours at night!  We started you in your room this week, and you're doing great!  You are a gassy baby, but you are getting less fussy!  You still spit up some, but that is better too.  You are staying awake during the day for longer stretches.  You really like your swing these days.  You also like to read your books and rock.  You are smiling more and more, and seem to be happier with life lately.  You still do not like to be changed...diaper or clothes.  You are in 0-3 month and 3 month clothes.  Probably the thing you hate most is a bath.  I'm sure the neighbors think we are torturing you, but really we are just bathing you!  BUT, fingers crossed, your last two baths have been much better!

You are my favorite person!  I love you to the moon and back!