“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
(That is the verse we hung on the wall in the Happy Baby’s hospital room!)
Boy, have we experienced His great faithfulness in the weeks since the Happy Baby’s One Month…
This last week I got to go to the hospital and spend 2 full days with my little boy – courtesy of Mom-Mom’s special babysitting services for the Happy Buddy. 🙂
I cannot even tell you what a beautiful two days it was – just getting to be the Happy Baby’s mommy. Change his diapers, his outfits, suck out his boogers (actually, I let the nurses do that), and I even got pooped on!
Isn’t it funny how going through a trial like this will make you appreciate having poop all over you??
The Happy Baby is astounding the doctors with his progress. Correction – GOD is astounding the doctors with His masterful plan for the Happy Baby’s life.
Now being 2 and a half weeks off of respiratory support, the Happy Baby’s breathing looks wonderful. What was once a conversation about having to do surgery to lower his diaphragms (as they had developed high and were in the way of his lungs, thus causing the rapid breathing), is now not even on the table for discussion.
And we only have 6 days left on the medication he has been taking for a virus they found.
The thing we are working on right now is eating.
It’s a strange thing, really, because with my other two boys (the Happy Hubs and the Happy Buddy) I practically have to tell them to stop eating – but with the Happy Baby, I feel like I am trying to shove food down his throat while he would be just content to sit there and smile at me with those bright, happy eyes.
Feeding times are a super long and slow process. Although he has made a lot of improvement over the last two weeks of being on the bottle, he still struggles to make it even halfway through the required amount of milk before tuckering out or giving up. I surrendered my desire to nurse him right now because even that was becoming a battle and I feel like there are only a few battles I have the strength to fight at this point. We serve a super powerful God that can help me with that in the future. But for now, I am still pumping every 3 hours like a mad woman. If you follow me on Pinterest, you will notice that I pin a lot of things at 12, 3 and 6 am. 🙂
We are also still waiting on a super scary test result (possible long term disability diagnosis) that we are praying will come back negative.
I believe that God has given me a clear vision for the Happy Baby and his life and our future with him, but that vision is tested whenever a doctor or nurse walks in the room and unintentionally plants a seed of doubt with their we just have to tell you the worst case scenario business. I have to wear some serious armor when I talk with one of them – and then go take a nap after they leave. 🙂
How we covet your prayers for strength – to stand firm in our faith and in what I believe are our final weeks in the NICU, as well as for the Happy Baby to suddenly turn into a hungry bear and guzzle back those bottles like Will Ferrell took down that bottle of soda in the movie Elf. 🙂
Many blessings on you, dear friends, for traveling this road with us.
We could never, EVER do this without you.
I can NOT wait to reveal the Happy Baby’s homecoming… It will be a glorious day, indeed!!!!
Love,
Julie
Prayers = Healthy Happy Baby! Coming your way…
God is so good! You are constantly in our thought sand prayers…He is absolutely adorable! love!
Praying God will speed the day of your Happy Baby’s homecoming. He is beautiful, Julie!
Thanks for the update! You are on my thoughts and in my prayers! Believing the best for you all!!
Julie, what wonderful new. He is adorable and those big eyes looking right at you. What a doll. I hope and pray the test results will be negative and that you will soon be going home. I was so glad to see an update and then have such good news. He will get the hang of eating; he’s a fighter and won’t give up. Much love.
Precious Julie and Ryan,
We are praying for all of you and praising God for Happy Baby’s progress and smile (LOVE that smile). Claiming many verses over him and look forward to one day seeing your whole Happy Family together and enjoying the blessings God gives.
Beautiful…what an amazing change from one month ago!!! Happy baby looks great 😀
Prayers continue as God weaves His perfect plan 🙂
Oh Julie he is beautiful indeed. So bright, such a smile looking up at you. it brings joyful tears to my eyes…It is so evident God Our heavenly Gather is there with you and all of NICU.what a testimony <
Prayers being said here, but I know God’s got your back on this one. 😉
Happy end of NICU-ing Happy Home Fairy!!!!
Julie,
I found your blog through “more like this” on my google reader. I am hooked on your great ideas and astounded by your sincere faith. I have joined the prayer team for your sweet baby!
God bless you!
I know what you guys are going through, Julie…wanting to force milk into your baby so that he or she will get strong, to be pumping every few hours, to get those seeds of doubt that God is somehow letting you out if His sight. But he will not let you go!!! Keep believing in his amazing goodness!! You will all continue to be in our prayers 🙂
Happy 2 month birthday little buddy!
Thank you for the update, you are never far from my thoughts and prayers. That verse is perfect, it’s one I have in my kitchen window. Praying for daily strength as only He can give… that the little sleep you find is deep and that you wake up refreshed despite the restlessness and getting up to pump. Believing with you that these are your last few weeks and praying for good test results! He is so gorgeous, love those bright eyes and sweet adoring smile. Blessings and Hugs!
Julie you are truly a blessing to us all with your strength and faith! We love you and will continue to say prayers for baby Jethro and his beautiful family! We can’t wait till you can bring him home! <3
What a beautiful baby! His eyes and expressions are gorgeous! Praying for your family and the Lords Will in your lives. And anticipating that post about the happy baby homecoming!
He looks sooooo much better!!! I can’t believe how different he looks from the start to now!!! I will keep praying for Your baby jet!!??
He looks much better!! I will keep praying for your BABY JET? ?
SO happy to hear so much good in your post. He is faithful, isn’t He — no matter what? We’re praying for Jet and all of you!!
He is a warrior, a child of the Most High God, he is the healed of the Lord. Just keep doing what your doing, we serve a miracle working God!!! I stand in agreement with u to stop the voices that don’t line up with the word of God.
Thank u so much for ur faithfulness, u and ur family have some testimony that will and is being used for His Glory.
We have a baby that was in the nicu for a month recovering from surgery to correct a birth defect. I have beef reading ur blog for a few months now and it soooo encourages me. I can’t wait to see these babies grow up and defeat the enemy, they r going to be a mighty army. The enemy wants nothing more than to come against those he know will b used by God in a mighty mighty way.
Bless u bless u bless u
Julie & Ryan…Jet looks so beautiful!! He looks very healthy and very contented…what a blessing! I pray for Jet and all of you every day…I’ll be praying that he gets so strong and hungry you’ll be telling him to slow down! 🙂 We serve a great God who is full of love and compassion, grace and mercy. I love you guys 🙂
Hey, handsome boy! So glad to see some pictures of you! You have a wonderful Mommy and Daddy who love you so, a super-cool big brother, and a host of folks in God’s family who love you and pray faithfully for you. Kick into Hungry Bear mode, please, so we can welcome you home!
Oh my gosh, he is so beautiful and looks so healthy and happy! Praying for a complete miracle and his coming home soon! God Bless you all, always!!
What a beautiful post and an adorable little guy!
This is such wonderful, hopeful news, that your little angel has improved so much! It fills me with joy and confidence in all the Lord has in store for you and every member of your family, especially your happy baby. Just one look at those little eyes filled with wonder and serenity as he gazes at you holding him close, how can you not be filled with contentment that all will be just as He has planned. I am so happy for you and can’t wait to hear more good news! Thank you for sharing all this with us!
I am PRASING the LORD with you for His mercy and grace!!!! Tears of joy!! Much love to you all, Marla
I’m so glad to hear your little one is surprising the “experts” right and left! I can’t wait to see how God’s perfect plan unfolds for your family. But I know the waiting is excruciating. I’m praying for you guys especially to have peace as you wait for (negative!) test results. For me, the waiting was always the hardest. Once we knew what we were dealing with, it was a matter of dealing with it, but with the unknowns, my imagination has a tendency to veer toward worry and despair.
I love the quote, “God is greater than any problem I have.” God is bigger than fear. God is bigger than lies we are tempted to believe. God is bigger than any kind of “should be” or “should do” scenario for Happy Baby based on the world’s expectations. Our Father knows what Happy Baby WILL be, and WILL do, and there is no room for error in God’s plan. Happy Baby is fearfully and wonderfully made, just like my little guy with the birth defect. Just like both our little men’s healthy big siblings.
Being without your baby is so incredibly hard, but His timing is not a mistake. (easier for me to say from this perspective though, I know! Hugs to you and your family in the horrible limbo of waiting to be together…) What a blessing that you got to spend some uninterrupted time with him! When I got my baby home after his NICU stay, I never minded his middle of the night feedings. I was just so grateful to be able to do them! 🙂 I’m praying for you to have him under your own roof soon so your family can be together!
I can’t remember if I mentioned this before, but in case it’s a help to you (and absolutely zero pressure if it’s not :)): Our little guy was NPO twice, and I developed a love-hate relationship with my pump. I think it was the only thing I could be mad at, really, so I turned all my venom on it. 🙂 Anyway, I wanted to let you know I donated breast milk with both of my kiddos, but with little guy it was a LOT. So if you feel like all your pumping is for nothing (or almost nothing- getting them to eat is so hard! And slow!), and you’re interested, there are lots of mamas and babies that would love to share your milk. I donated through International Breatmilk Project with my first kiddo and Indiana’s Mother’s Milk Bank with the second. I think most states have one (not mine, though! :)) if you’re interested.
Praying for God to hold you especially near in this time of waiting and waiting and waiting.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Ps 18:2
“…Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” Is 43:1
I’m continueing to pray for your faithfulness to testifying to God’s goodness through this advdity. May God continue to strengthen that wonderful child of his.
Beautiful. Beautiful baby, beautiful words, beautiful mommy.
He is beautiful. He has made such remarkable progress since Month 1. I hope he will be able to join Happy Buddy and Happy Family at home soon.
Praying for you all! Hope the Happy Baby will be home SOON!