I have found that when you spend a lot of time focusing on what you don’t have, you end up with a lot of anxiety, fear, and discontentment.
So instead of this post being a plea for prayers of health and feeding tube-removal, I am choosing to turn what I have into enough.
To be grateful for all that God HAS done in our lives and in the life of our sweet Happy Baby.
Happy Baby, this post is for you…
I am thankful that you are finally almost ready for size 3 diapers.
I am thankful that you don’t mind wearing all of your big brother’s hand-me-downs.
I am thankful that you hardly ever pee on me when I am changing you.
I am thankful that you are like a little koala bear. You are seriously the best snuggler ever.
I am thankful for your happy heart and insta-smile.
I am thankful that you started raising your neck so high and pushing yourself up with your arms this last week – take that hypotonia!
I am thankful that what used to take you over an hour in the hospital (drinking your bottles) now takes about 15-20 minutes (with only a little bit of a circus act).
I am thankful that we haven’t had to use your feeding tube in a super long time because you are doing so well taking everything by mouth.
I am thankful that you have been reflux-barf-free since Monday!
I am thankful that even when you barf everywhere you still have a big smile on your face.
I am thankful that you find toys so fascinating and that you love to grab at them and inspect them with great intensity.
I am so thankful for your bright eyes that tell me you are so smart – even after all you’ve been through.
I am thankful for when I try to give you solids and you purse your lips so tight that I couldn’t get in there even if I had a crow bar.
I am thankful for how you are like a little rotisserie in your crib – rolling around and around and around until you finally settle.
I am thankful for the belly laughs you give your big brother when he is acting like a goofball.
I am thankful that you have rock star grandmas who will come over at a moment’s notice to help give you a bottle or just give me some Jesus – reminding me, once again, where to fix my eyes.
I am thankful that I have enough crib sheets to accommodate the occasional poop explosion or spit up.
I am thankful for the green bouncy chair that you kick your heart out in.
I am thankful that you have recently become an expert burper – something that I could NEVER get you to do when we were in the hospital.
I am thankful that you don’t mind sitting with me and hearing me read the Psalms to you during my early morning pump session.
I am thankful for the check in our spirits that God gave your daddy and me about the surgery you were supposed to have on the 18th of October – how we felt we should hold off – get a second opinion.
I am thankful that the second opinion gave us some hope – that the tube you have now will probably last until we can get the whole thing removed.
I am thankful that you went with me on our church’s women’s retreat in October and you were a total champ – didn’t mind at all having 3,000 different ladies love on you.
I am thankful that even though your big brother has been under the weather the last few weeks, you seem to be holding strong with just a smidge of congestion.
I am thankful that you are a photo ham.
I am thankful for those sweet middle of the night feedings where it’s just you and me and the quiet stillness of a sleeping house.
I am thankful that Medela sent me a new pump for free when I told them my old one was starting to sound like it had emphysema.
I am thankful that the Lord continues to bless my milk supply so that you get just what you need.
I am thankful for if my chin is anywhere near your mouth, you will try to eat it.
I am thankful for the way you get all stiff-legged when I am trying to change your button-up feet-y pajamas – you have quite the sense of humor. 🙂
I am thankful that you never complain on the long car rides to pick up your brother from preschool.
I am thankful that you are home with us.
I am thankful that you do not have a genetic disease.
I am thankful that the Lord seems to be making you stronger and stronger every day.
I am thankful, though, for the challenges we do face with your health because they make us rely on Jesus all the more.
I am thankful that your story has already reached so many lives – and you are just 7 months old.
I am thankful for the good and perfect plan the Lord has for your life.
I am thankful that God is in control – that He loves you more than I do – and that I can rest in that precious hope each and every day.
And most of all, I am just so thankful for you.
Love,
Mommy
“Rejoice always; pray continually; give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
This is perhaps one of the most encouraging, inspirational emails I have read in a very long time. You bless me with your blessings and dwelling upon the good in your life. I’m grateful for your encouragement in my life. And seriously he is a super cute photogenic baby!
FANTASTIC POST! One of my favorites. For more reasons than you could ever know! You bring me comfort, hope, laughter & virtual friendship with every post…*I* am grateful for YOU today! HUgs! ~ Sam, creative crazy, christian momma to 5 kiddos
And I am thankful to read such a wonderful report on the Happy Baby’s progress. Thank you for sharing, Julie, and for the beautiful example you live of walking by faith. May God continue to pour out his blessings upon you!
What a precious Baby Boy. It is hard to believe with the sparkle in his eyes and the smile on his face that just a short time ago he was fighting for his life. We have all witnessed a Miracle. If I learn nothing else from your experience it is that we should be living everyday with an attitude of Thankfulness, eyes that see like Jesus and an endless Trust for God. How Grateful I am that our Merciful Father has poured an abundance of Love, Mercy and a Healing Strength on your family. Jane
You are a precious mom.
He is unbelievably adorable! Love this update 🙂
Praise God for His many blessings!
Oh Julie, he is so precious. He has the sweetest happiest face I think I’ve ever seen. I am so grateful that God has worked such a miracle in his little life and for the rich and abounding blessings he is pouring out on your family. God bless you and your sweet sweet family.
Love! 🙂
Is this doll baby already SEVEN months old?! That’s the most precious little grin ever. I still remember those middle-of-the-night quiet feedings — what joy. Cherish those times. I’m just tickled to hear he’s doing so incredibly well, and to be blessed by the lessons you’ve learned in the midst of it. That wonderful verse — I use it to start out my book in the first chapter! Such truth there. Blessings on all of you!!
This is one of the sweetest things I’ve read in a long time. As a mother of a baby boy stricken with liver cancer at age 18 months….I understand that when you think you can take no more…you have to be thankful for how far you’ve come! My son is now 27 and hevand my daughter in law is now expecting their first child. Thanks so much for this beautiful passage. By the way…our son is a VERY special young man and I think it’s BECAUSE of all he’s been through.
He’s incredibly cute. Love this post!
This child is so beautiful! I am thankful for knowing you and the Happy Hubby and Happy Buddy as well as this precious Happy Baby! And I am amazed at how much he looks like his daddy. Praise God for the wonderful progress he is making and for the miracles yet to come!
Precious post, precious baby!
What a lovely expression of thanksgiving…God bless you and yours
I am thankful for you!! When you read what you are thankful for it really is so much, Happy Baby is so very handsome, thankful to get to see him pushing up. God has big plans for that young man, he already is quite a warrior.
He is so darn cute and this is a lovely post, perfect the month of Thanksgiving. Thank you. You will all continue to be in my prayers.
Another “super sweet”, “super thankful” blog! He is beyond preciousness! Also thanks again for sharing your heart with us all at Praise & Coffee. God truly used you and what grace HE gave you as you shared with us all. Proud of you sweet friend, you are truly a vessel of the Lord! Praying for you and your family always! oxox
Hes so precious. He looks like such a happy little guy! God bless him and you 😉
Joy, joy, joy!
Just bought some googly eyes in honor of you and tissue paper so we could make the turkey you posted about recently. Thanks for feeding us lots of great ideas to encourage learning and fun! We still have our coffee filter leaves hanging in the dining room. 🙂
The Happy Baby is ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE! I am so choked up reading your post today! What a blessing he is and thank you for sharing the highs and lows and what the Lord is doing in your lives. Looking forward to hearing more wonderful news and seeing his handsome face.
LOVE it! Love him, love you.
Beautiful, as always. I am thankful to have found your blog. I appreciate the reminder to focus on our blessings during this season of Thanksgiving, and every season of life. The Happy Baby just couldn’t be any cuter if he tried!
Well, that was just the sweetest thing ever! Thanks for sharing! He is so beautiful!!!
So so sweet… enjoyed reading every bit! xoxo