Monday, February 19, 2007

Bella is Home!!

I'm sorry I haven't been able to give the "play by play" over the last 2 days and have left some of you hanging. Thank you to my good friend, Laurie, who has been a bit more on top of providing updates for some of you. For those of you who have not yet heard, we did bring Bella home tonight. The blood in her spit up the other night was most likely due to the trama from the bronchoscopy and other tubing threaded down her throat over the course of time she spent in the hospital. It took her a while, but she eventually began to eat sufficient amounts to satisfy the doctors, and they decided to discharge her today.

We will need to take her for some follow up visits with our pediatrician and the ENT docs just to make sure the tracheomalacia is improving as is expected with time. She is expected to have reflux, a condition that seems to go hand in hand with the tracheomalacia, but we are going to pray and ask God to spare us all of that. The boys did have it and were treated medicinally until they were about 9 months old. It does make for very messy eating, clothing and carpets, but we'll do what we have to do in order to get the girl fed.

Please pray for wisdom, patience and much grace re: breastfeeding Bella. I had a nightmare experience with the boys, and I'm hoping not to repeat that with Bella. I want to be able to throw my anxieties on the Lord and look to Him in faith that He will supply all that I need to both serve Bella and help her fit into the dynamics of our family.

With Hopkins NICU behind us, I get to now rely on the Lord for strength and grace for the more "normal" transitions to mothering a newborn, which at times can test me even more sorely than the "big" stuff. Thank you for all the prayers you've prayed on behalf of me and my family. We are most definitely experiencing God's grace through them. We will continue to need your prayers as Lawrence goes back to a very demanding work schedule and I figure out how to do life all over again with three kiddos under three.

I will try to post some new pictures of my beautiful baby girl soon!!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yay! Praise God.

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy. Praise the Lord. Praying for you guys...

Audrey said...

Praise the Lord that you are all home together:)

Anonymous said...

that is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO great!!!!!!!!

Yippie!

Zoanna said...

We are soooo happy you've got your little angel home now. Key words for mothering at this stage: no expectations. Praise God for His mercy moment by moment, laugh as much as you can, snuggle snugge,and let people take care of you as much they want.

Anonymous said...

Praise God that you are all home now! We have been praying for you and will continue to pray for you. I will call you when time has allowed you to settle a bit. We love you.

Krista

Anonymous said...

How wonderful you have Bella home! I'll continue praying for all the adjustments to a "new" home life, and against her having reflux as well!

peg said...

rejoicing and praying too!
please rest as much as possible! and enjoy your precious baby girl!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I am so glad. God is good. Coming home is tough with a newborn no matter what...with three under three, well that defies the imagination. I know you will rely on God and will get through the peaks and valleys. GLA

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to see her! Tell her to stay tiny...oh who are we kidding 8.5 wasn't tiny to begin...just like her aunt. Hugs, Kisses and Prayers.

Amy said...

Congratulations!

Your last paragraph made me want to mention a series another blogger is doing right this very week about life with three under three. I don't know if you're familiar with Amy's Humble Musings, but she's now got five kids and talks about how the stage of having three under three was the hardest. So she's been posting all kinds of encouragement and tips for those who are in that season right now. Thought maybe you might find something helpful there!

Blessings!