I write this from my phone (as I do just about all of my posts). I have a very tiny warm, fuzzy little person sleeping on my chest, snuggled in blankets. This? This is heaven.
I think I’ve done very well so far with keeping my worries of the future at bay. Logically I know that worrying serves no purpose but to torture us. As I lay here listening to the soft repetition of tiny baby breaths, I thank and praise God for moments like these.
Here are some pictures from earlier this morning:
Yesterday was a really good day. Nora finished off a couple of bottles on her own, and she was awake and alert for an extended period of time. On days like that it’s a little easier to keep the anxiety away. However, yesterday evening, that was no longer the case. Nora had her first “blue episode” where she started turning blue from lack of oxygen. Not sure if it was heart or breathing related. It happened twice, and each time was excruciatingly terrifying. To think that this little girl could just pick up and leave us at any given moment is almost unbearable. Given the statistics, it is likely that will happen. We just don’t know when that will be. So here we are engaged in a whole new chapter of uncertainty. But as in the previous chapter, I am putting my hope and trust in God.
Please continue to pray for this sweet precious bundle of love tucked away here on my chest, but also pray for our strength. That we will have peace with whatever it is that God has planned for us, when ever that might be.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 NIV)
iwillcarryyou 
She is so adorable! I could just eat those little feat:)!
I heard this song today and thought of you – you are living it! Enjoy every second you cuddle that precious bundle. Love, prayers & thanks for all the blessings I’m receiving by following your journey with Nora. Angie
The Miracle of the Moment – Stephen Curtis Chapman
It’s time for letting go
All of our if only’s
Cause we don’t have a time machine
And even if we did
Would we really want to use it?
Would we really want to go change everything?
Cause we are who and where
And what we are for now
And this is the only moment
We can do anything about
So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment
There’s only One who knows
What’s really out there waiting
In all the moments yet to be
And all we need to know
Is He’s out there waiting
To Him the future’s history
And He has given us
A treasure called right now
And this is the only moment
We can do anything about
So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment
And if it brings you tears
Then taste them as they fall
And let them soften your heart
And if it brings you laughter
Then throw your head back
And let it go, let it go, yeah
You gotta let it go
And listen to your heartbeat, yeah
Breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment
Beautiful words in this song!!
so beautiful….as is Nora…what an amazing family and mom and little beauty from God! Praying for you all!
Thank you so much for keeping everyone updated via FB. I can’t imagine the number of people who hit their knees after reading your status update last night asking for prayers for Nora. Give her a kiss for me!
Prayers continue for you and your precious daughter. God knows our hopes and desires and he also knows the plans he has for us. I pray for your precious one to live a full, happy and healthy life and I pray God will comfort you and give you peace in whatever plan he has for you all.
Nora is absolutely beautiful and such a miracle. Blessings to you all ♥
I love how well loved Nora is! I’m praying for every precious moment you have with her! She’s absolutely beautiful!!!
I was only introduced to your blog 3 days ago but it has without a doubt changed my life. As I sit hear listening to my baby’s breaths as he sleeps, I cannot even imagine the thoughts you have been trying to suppress. You are one of the strongest women ‘I know’ and I have been praying for Nora and your family. I hope today is a better day – enjoy that wonderful little miracle 🙂
I have come to know of your family through Kate R. Kate and I worked together and I know all the people involved in your care. You and your family are truly amazing. As I have read the blog I think what would I do if I were in your situation. Wow, you guys are truly a gift from God!!! I am feeling closer to God through you and Nora. Thank You for this gift. I have put you, Nora and the rest of your family on the prayer list at my church. I will continue to pray as well.
I’m so glad you are getting to bottle feed Nora. She is truly a miracle from heaven! God bless your family!
Your blogs are so heart warming – filled with joy, some apprehension – but most of all is they are full of your faith in the decision of God’s will for Nora Rose. Her pictures are precious. I will continue to lift each of you in prayer daily. Your faith and strength has been such an example for me and know that Jesus is holding each of you close to His heart.
She is constantly cradled in God’s loving hands. Nora is blessed to have parents like you both. MayGod bless your beautiful family!
Wow, you are truly amazing. Praying for your little Norah, and the continued strength God is granting you, each day.
Oh your baby girl is just so precious. Thank you for sharing this amazing journey.
God bless you with joy and strength. Your daughter is gorgeous. Enjoy each day for ech day is a gift. Praying got you and your family.
I’m continuing to pray for a miraclethat god will touch Nora and heal her.also praying for strength & comfort for u & your family.
As in my dream, she is beautiful!!! Love her to pieces and I haven’t even met her yet! Please let me know when is a good time to stop by! As always, your in my prayers!
I have heard about you through Keli Corey and have been following your blog for just overva week!! You are a truly amazing family and I pray daily that sweet little Nora continues to get stronger!! She is so blessed to have such amazing parents, family and friends!!
My sweet delicious little niece! I love her and you guys so much! After hearing about the episode last night, I was so relieved to see these pictures and this post today. Continuing prayers for strength and peace. God is so so proud of you for caring so tenderly for His sweet little Nora. He chose you for a reason that seems so evident in your deep love for her. No one else could be her Momma, and no other little girl could be your Nora. I pray that you have more and more time with her. I can only imagine how you must feel, not knowing what is going to happen from day to day, trying to savor EVERY second with her. The best way to take care of yourself right now, is to be taking care of Nora, so hog her if you must! You’ll never regret it! ❤ you so much!
I’m a mom of a three and five year old and I can’t imagine going thru what you are going thru! I just feel like saying , as a fellow Christian, that I am proud of you!! You have proved to be a warrior!! A witness to many!
What an inspiring journey. She is a wonderful precious bundle of love. Thank u for sharing her with people u don’t even know. I’ve been praying for your family ever since I saw your post on Amy’s facebok. You are a wonderful mother….truly an inspiration.
I went to brown county ursulines a few years ahead of your mom. I have followed your blog and prayed for you and your beautiful baby girl. My daughter-in- law delivered a baby girl at Bethesda north the day after Nora was born. Her name is Kate Danielle. Nora will always be in my thoughts and prayers. You are a person of such high regard that God has chosen you to lead Nora down her path in this life. How He must love you to entrust this special angel to your care. There is no other love as a mother’s. May God watch over your family. With love and prayers, judy bramlage Niklas
I found your blog as a link on a friend’s fb page. I had to read every post and comment, and quite frankly …couldn’ t stop reading. I am truly amazed at your strength and eloquence. My prayers are with you and your family. Nora …thank you for giving life meaning.
I cannot stop reading your story and thinking of you and your newest girl. She is so incredibly lucky to be loved so fiercly by you. I pray that her time here will be as easy as possible. Just her being here is touching so many lives. What an incredible girl!!
We continue to pray for Nora & all of you! Thank you for continuing your posts & letting us share your journey.
With love,
The Robison Family
(Newtown, OH)
(VERY blessed Mom to 2 boys. Our Jack, age 3, has Trisomy 21. Our “heaven on earth”.)
Praying for you alone, with family, with friends, every chance we get. The episodes are terrifying. Call us, day or night, no matter what time, we’re here for you. Doug & Kim
Doug,
I learned about your family through Aleisa’s blog. You’ll never know how many lives Alexandria touched in her beautiful short life, and you’ll never know how helpful you and Kim have been to the Yuskos. God bless your family.
thank you for sharing your story and reminding all of us to never take anything for granted and cherish every second of every day!!! i will keep you and your precious family in my prayers,please keep us posted on Nora’s journey!
A friend of mine posted your story on facebook. All it said was “Amazing birthstory” with a link to the photograph slideshow of the birth. I’m a sap for birth stories, so I clicked on the link. (It helps that I have an almost 3 month old and love all things baby.) I didn’t expect to find an inspirational story such as this. We’re a military family and are currently in England. We’ve had issues staying pregnant in the past, so when asked this time if we wanted to have the genetic testing done, we chose not to. I’d like to think that I’d be able to handle whatever God chooses to give us, but deep down, I know that I’d struggle. I’ve had three miscarriages and after the second one, I’d pretty much lost my faith in God. I prayed everyday during that pregnancy and when I lost it, it took everything from me. My husband persuaded me to try again a few months later and we did, but ended up with a molar pregnancy. We were told not to try again for a year. Which, wasn’t an issue cause as far as I was concerned I was done trying. I changed my mind early last year. We got pregnant in May of last year, and I couldn’t pray for the health of the child growing in my womb. I still had no faith in God. So, I asked for prayers from everyone else that I knew. I figured that God didn’t listen to me, but I knew He’d listen to others, so maybe this time around I’d have a better chance. The doctor that I saw here, was a true Godsend. He followed our pregnancy very closely. I like to think that through the power of prayer that we were blessed with a healthy child and an uneventful delivery. Since the birth of my daughter, I’ve slowly started to regain my faith. But after reading your story, I’ve wept like a baby. To see that you have so much faith in God, and to see your strength, how could anyone not return to their faith? I won’t lie and say that I pray everyday (even though I know I should, multiple times a day), but when I do, I will add your family and friends to my list. I’ll pray for His healing hands to be placed upon your beautiful daughter, and to give your family strength during this trying time. God bless you and yours.
Thank you for sharing your truly amazing and inspirational story. I hope you don’t mind my passing it along. I’ve reposted it on my facebook account and I’ve pinned your blog on my Pinterest account.
I will continue to pray. I look at her and wonder how hard it was for God to let Nora go from his heavenly place and come live here on earth. When you spoke of the scary moment in the hospital all I thought of was if that was God struggling with letting such a beautiful, perfect, little angel come here. Aleisa, I feel you and William were so perfectly chosen to be Nora’s parents. I prayed that God let you all have her here and that he not take her back to be with him for a VERY VERY long time, for your entire life. I’m praying that she beats all odds and statistics and that God continues to use her for his perfect work. With much love for you all! -Shauna
I found your blog through your photographer. Your story is amazing and your little girl as stolen my heart this morning. I watched your video and sat and cried my eyes out. What amazing faith you and your family have displayed, please know that I will be praying for you and your little girl!
Aleisa,
I’ve been following the blog since last week. I am so touched by your story and I think about Nora every day now. Many thoughts and prayers and love to your family.
Jen M.
very cute baby. mwah!
Nora,
You are a true Miracle and Miracle giver.
Thanks for your Miracle.
May God bless you and everyone you touch
ralph
I am so moved by your story. I will keep your family and your beautiful baby Nora in my prayers.
The “blue episodes” sound scary, I have five children, all healthy Thank God. Honestly – none of them have done for me what Nora has done for me. You are so blessed, Nora is simply adorable, I pray that you see her grow to a ripe old age, and that you can relate all of this love to her when she can understand what she has meant to all of us. God Bless you my dear.
God gives the best gifts
Nora is absoluely precious and so lucky to have such a loving family. You continue to stay in our prayers. Trisha (Elizabeth Voorhees’ aunt)
I had a baby girl a few weeks ago at the same hospital by the same ob practice. Even though I knew what a blessing my baby girl was, you have opened my eyes to things I was taking for granted. Life is such a miracle and you have renewed my faith with your testimony. Your family continues to be in my prayers.
Such sweet pictures. She looks so tiny! How much does she weigh? I can’t imagine how scary those ‘blue’ episodes are 😦
Nora is a sweet angel from up above. She will teach you many lessons in her few short days. I got the chance to meet a Baby Boy born with the same thing. I was headed away from God, but He tought me that each and everyday is a blessing from God and that HE is wirth all the heart ache and laughter. God bless you Precious Nora! May you theach those around you what they need to learn.
Aleisa – I saw a link to your blog on my friend’s facebook wall, as she is a photographer and was sharing the pictures of your delivery. I just read your entire blog and openly wept at my desk at work. Your faith is astounding and so encouraging. I just want you to know that Nora, you, and your family are in my prayers. It is clear that God has already used Nora’s life in such an immense way to bless so many people and reignite the fire in their hearts for God. Also, you are an amazing writer! I echo the comments of others in encouraging you to consider writing a book as little Nora’s story is such a testament to God’s perfect will in so many ways.
Be blessed.
Jessica
I am a young woman who’s faith often falters. I question my beliefs and sometimes need reassurance that they’re real. This story has proven to me that God is the true maker of miracles. I thank you for sharing your story but also for helping strengthen my faith in not only God but also mankind by bringing this beautiful life into our world. -Psalm 121- it’s my favorite.
shes a little peanut