I am absolutely brimming with gratitude for this day.
After the big kids were safely off to school I went back into the living room to check on Nora who had gone back to sleep around 6:30. Expecting to see her still fast asleep, I instead encountered a sweet smiley little face!
She didn’t get much baff time yesterday, so we decided to make up for it today. She’s always so patient on Mommy and Daddy’s bed as she listens to the water fill up.
We had a nice long, relaxing soak!
All fresh and clean for her 9 month checkup with Dr. B!
But not before some loves and cuddles with Mommy!
Nora had an incredible, awesome, wonderful well-check! Dr. B was thrilled with her progress! She weighed in at a chunky 12 pounds 10 ounces! That’s about a pound and a half since December! She’s increased her feeds, her color is great, her heart even sounds perfect! Dr. B said that you would never know by the sounds of it that anything is wrong with her heart! (Maybe the next cardiologist appt will reveal miraculous physical healing!!!)
Nora was all smiles and squealed a couple of times. Then the shots came in and changed all that. Pooooor sweet fat leggies got stuck with 2 different vaccines and her little finger got pricked for an iron test. (Her hemoglobin is right where it should be!) After the terrible sadness subsided a little bit we set off for home!
The second we walked out the door it was as if God were celebrating Nora with us. There was a big cross emblazoned across the sky, which was enough to send happy tears spilling out of my eyes. Then I saw the little sun rainbow.
It wasn’t so little when I initially saw it, but by the time I had the opportunity to take this picture of it it had shrunk. I was immediately reminded of the times we had seen this kind of rainbow on our trips from the OB while I was pregnant.
Once we got home, Nora was consoled and rewarded with another warm baffs on the high seas! Arrrr!
As the night progressed we fully anticipated that Nora might be a little irritable and fussy because of her shots. Instead, both William and I were right there to hear her FIRST LAUGH as we were interacting with her. I don’t know if there could ever possibly be anything sweeter. We can’t stop watching this video clip:
We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
(Psalms 126:2 NLT)
iwillcarryyou 
Dear Aleisa: I have followed your writings since almost the beginning and feel like I know you and your beautiful family. I would like to ask a favor of you. I know a young couple who are in urgent need of some extra prayer. A little more than a year ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the tender age of 31. She was able to have just the lump removed and is now 7 1/2 months pregnant with their first and possibly only child. Everything has been going along very well until yesterday when a routine ultrasound showed that there may be a problem with the baby’s brain. They are having another ultrasound next Tues that will be more detailed and hopefully give them some answers. I am asking as many people as possible to say a prayer for them today and every day thru next Tues. I know how busy you are and hate to impose on you but I can see the power of your prayer and would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you so much, Teri Hannon
Sent from my BlackBerry device from Cincinnati Bell Wireless
I will remember her and the baby in my prayers, Teri.
Praying now, Teri, and believing in faith that our lord will bring healing!! Your courageous faith is beautiful.
Your family brings me (and so many others) so much joy and peace. God bless each one of you!!!
What a precious laugh. So thankful for such a great check up!!
Such wonderful news!
She is a miracle!
That is quite possibly the sweetest thing I have ever heard! Nora is such a sweet baby, and everyone giggling at her makes it even better!
It’s moments like this, in your video, that make the rest of us pause and be reminded of the simple things in life like a baby’s first laugh. Thank you for sharing Nora with us. She made me laugh with my first cup of coffee this morning.
Sweet Nora!! What a day filled with happiness <3!
That’s the joy of The Lord right there. I can hear it in the laughter of all FIVE of you. And as Nehemiah says “the joy of The Lord is my strength”. May your home continue be to filled with the joy and the strength of The Lord through the sweet laughter and giggles of your brood. So so precious.
I don’t know if I’ve commented on how perfect her mermaid eye patches are…so perfect its like they are made for her! 🙂 My niece is 1 now, and she has recently taken to watching Bubble Guppies on demand. (now I’m not advocating for little ones to be watching tv all day…) but those Bubble Guppies look an awful lot like mermaids to me, and it makes me think of Nora. 🙂
So happy the 9 month appointment came with great news (and just minor sadness due to shots). Nora is just so precious…and her cheeks are getting to be chubby! 🙂
Hope the Gavin and Greta are getting to enjoy a snow day today. Super short school week this was…only 3 days for us over here in Campbell County. 🙂
Oh, such a sweet sound!!! Such a precious baby girl!! Prayers to you all.
William, Mariana found you hilarious too. Clearly our girls have an excellent sense of humor!
This is an awesome post! Thankful that Nora had a great checkup and can’t quit smiling after watching her laugh in the video. God is so good!!
Baby-licious Nornor!!. Sooo happy everything went well !!. Love the video !!. Muuaahhh:)
So, so sweet those baby giggles are! You are pure Sweetness, Nora! And, you have the very Bestest family ever! I wanted to tell your Mommy about those little rainbows. When it’s really, really cold outside they are called “Sundogs”. And, there are always TWO of them. If you see one, then look on the other side of the sun, you will see the second one. I think they are actually the 2 ends of a regular rainbow! Let me know if you see the second one!
I love you, LittleBug! ~ Auntie Jo
I read your post everyday. Mora is truly a miracle. What a beautiful sound of her laugh. .
Yay Nora – way to go at the Doctor! LOVE those sweet giggles and Happy, Happy, Happy face. I smiled throughout that whole video.
Awwwww Nora…You have no idea how much joy you bring to me!!!! Thank you for making me smile today!!!!! You are such an angel!!!!!!!
This is the best video yet!!!. Thank you!!
so sweet!
Hi! This is my first time responding, but I’ve been reading your blog since the beginning and I enjoy checking in everyday as well. Nora is just the sweetest, cutest baby and she always makes me smile. I’m so happy to see her doing so well! Your faith is such a bright spot as well and every time I see you post about three birds, or like today–a fire rainbow–it gives me goosebumps. Certain birds and rainbows are signs for me as well that when I encounter them I know they are a sign from my Mom who passed away almost 4 years ago. Continued thoughts and prayers to your family being sent from Dayton!
Love it!!!! No other words!
Oh, the sweetness!! Brings joy to my heart and tears to my eyes!
Love the laughter!! ❤
A day for you to treasure forever! I love those times, when you are able to realize in the moment, ‘I will never forget this.’
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! THIS BLOG HAD ME SMILING ALL THE WAY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END. SHE LOOKS SO PRETTY IN PINK. LOOKED LIKE NORA LOVES THE ROOM AT THE DR.’S AND ALL THE BRIGHT COLORS. LOVE THE PICTURE OF MOMMY AND NORA SNUGGLING. AS FOR THE VIDEO, I JUST DON’T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS HOW WONDERFUL IT IS. LOVE HEARING ALL OF YOUR GUYS LAUGHTER, INCLUDING OUR SWEET LITTLE NORA ROSE. SHE JUST COULDN’T QUIT SMILING AND LAUGHING. THAT JUST MADE MY DAY!!!!! AS FOR THE DR. VISIT, I AM SO THRILLED WITH ALL THE GOOD NEWS. GOD IS SO GOOD, AND I PRAISE HIM FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS HE HAS BESTOWED UPON NORA. I LOVE YOUR FAMILY. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS.