And now Nora has a cold — upper respiratory crap. I’m finding it exceedingly difficult not to get discouraged. Our victory celebrations seem to last for about 5 minutes before we’re stripped of our medals and thrust back out into this never ending game of trying to stay healthy. In a minor fit of despair this evening I was reminded how quickly a week goes by and how quickly Nora will get over this cold just as she’s gotten through all the other ones. Her immune system is being strengthened with each cold she gets. She’s not in any pain, she’s able to breathe fine, her lungs are clear, and but for some intermittent gas pains she is HAPPY! Things could be so so much worse.
We would be so thankful if you could please specifically pray that Nora’s lungs are protected throughout this cold!
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
(Romans 8:11)
Happy 40th anniversary to my sweet Mom & Dad and happy 30th birthday to my adorable “baby” sister, Emily who also shares the special day (Feb 8th!)! They’re out this weekend celebrating their “Annibirthsaryday”. It looks like you’re having an awesome time and we are missing you!!
We had an uneventful, restful day here. Nora enjoyed some morning silliness with her big brother. She thinks Gavin is really pretty cool! Greta spent the night at a friend’s house. Nora missed her!
What could be more relaxing than an order of milkies in the baffs?
It’s fun to play with sunbeams when they show up every rare once in awhile!
I think the stomach bug(?) is finally out of here. Nora has had very minimal gaggy episodes today, no pukies, and no diarrhea — but now we’re hoping for at least something in the diaper!!
We’ve been given the green light by the pediatrician to start taking Nora off of her oxygen flow for periods of time while monitoring her oxygen levels! I had her off today for an hour and she maintained her oxygen levels in the mid to high nineties all by herself! It sure would be nice to have a “cordless” baby!! We will gradually increase her time away from the oxygen every few days and see how she does! I absolutely LOVE those bare little cheekies! RaspberryFest!!!!!!!
Today I got Nora to laugh at me. I think it was more of a “courtesy laugh” though. She didn’t want to hurt my feelings. No one can make her laugh like her Daddy!! Daddy was away this morning working on a great big job putting letters up on the side of a sky scraper! He sent us some cool pictures:
Nice view!
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:13)
Once again we were placed in the room with the 3 chickens — 3 birds. Once again there was no need to fear. Once again, God carried us safely through that morning just as He always, always has!
I love this excerpt from Streams in the Desert: Never look ahead to the changes and challenges of this life in fear. Instead, as they arise look at them with the full assurance that God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. Hasn’t He kept you safe up to now? So hold His loving hand tightly, and He will lead you safely through all things. And when you cannot stand, He will carry you in His arms.
Do not look ahead to what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you His unwavering strength that you may bear it. Be at peace, then, and set aside all anxious thoughts and worries. Francis de Sales
What a beautiful reminder!!
Nora did not care too much for the echocardiogram and made sure we all knew that! She tolerated the quick EKG while distracted by a fabulous magic wand and was happy for the rest of the visit.
Here is our stinky little Cupid waiting patiently for the doctor with Daddy.
The echo and EKG did not show any changes and we don’t have to come back until April. Nora looks and sounds great and her belly troubles are not related to anything with her heart, praise God!!!
Finally of finallies we were safe back home kicked back in the baff!
So fresh and so clean!
It was an exhausting morning so a long afternoon nap was certainly in order!
The weather was nice for about 5 minutes, so Nora and I walked up to the bus stop to wait for the big kids! They were very excited to see us! Friday
Nora is usually asleep while the big kids are getting ready for school, but was wide awake this morning. She just wants to be close to everyone!
Someone else was a little grumpy this morning…
Today was the first day without any stinky diapers!! She did get a little gaggy throughout the day at different intervals but never puked. This has been one of Nora’s best days in quite awhile!
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20 NIV)
Nora ate great today, but now after two days of not, she puked a couple times today. (?????????) She has a routine cardiology appointment dark and early tomorrow for an echo / EKG. I’m interested to know if they will have any input on this supposed virus. Please say a prayer that all goes well for this visit, specifically evidence of healing!
Here is a big, big girl doing physical therapy this morning in her red Tumbleform chair. She really knows how to hold her sweet fuzzy head up! Gavin thinks she looks like she’s about to ride on Firehawk (roller coaster).
Stretch Nora-strong
Would anyone care for some bite-size knee muffins?
They’re DELICIOUS.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
Sometimes I like to sleep in my bassinet, but I’m going to have to trade this thing in soon. I have a new baby cousin on the way in a few weeks and he or she is going to need it.
That’s right. My reign as Baby of the Extended Family is coming to a close.
I’m alright with that though. It was a good run. I’m ready to hand over the bonnet and kick back for awhile, read some books, play with some toys… Just so long as I don’t have to give up baffs or milks. Dats really all I care about.
It’s the Superbowl or something today. I don’t even really know what that is,
but Nana & Papa and MeeMee came over and I got lots of loves. I like loves!!
My caterpillar friend and I had a friendly discourse about some things.
I told him all about how my Mom tried to sneak Activia yogurt into my milkies.
We both agreed that was just downright uncalled for and DISGUSTING.
I’d rather just have diarrhea, thank you very much!
Monday
Aaaah. Baffs and giggles.
Here’s Mommy:
Thank you, Nora! Mommy loves you!!!!!
(Whispering:) We were able to sneak some probiotics into Nora’s milkies from a capsule without raising any suspicions. Things seem to gradually be getting a little bit better!
I had a beautiful day today from within the cozy confines of our warm house. Nora had just settled in for a comfortable afternoon nap. I had intended to organize some things around here when I noticed the excitement of flurries outside. Without too much deliberation I took my front row seat to gaze upon the animated performance of wild birds and bustling flakes of snow outside my window.
A delicate white lace began to adorn each stark tree branch as the enormous flakes tumbled down from the great white sky. An ornate arrangement of cardinals decorated the branches while big flakes deflected off of their smooth feathered frocks. A deep sense of peace and gratitude settled upon me. It was then that I realized life will never ever be perfect, but there are these gifted moments where everything is beautiful. Everything was perfect for just a moment, a moment that I was almost too busy to notice.
The stillness and beauty of the afternoon was incredibly therapeutic and refreshing.
(Insert sound of needle scratching record)
“AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! SNNNOOOOWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Oh, wait, what? Am I missing something??!!”
He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.
(Job 37:6, 7 NLT)
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)
A couple of days ago I noticed a posting from one of my neighbors on our neighborhood Facebook page. Her garden flag had blown away in one of the wind storms. She gave a brief description of it and asked the neighbors to keep an eye out for it. I didn’t immediately note the significance of what was on the flag until Thursday afternoon when I was out in the backyard cleaning up recycling bin escapees. On my second trip down the hill I saw the face of a little penguin on a piece of cloth that was caught up in some bramble. I knew right away that it was E’s flag! As I dusted it off I noticed the THREE penguins on the flag and smiled with tears in my eyes. It had been a particularly rough morning of feeling sad and discouraged yet here I was with a blatant reminder that God is right here with me even on the cold and messy days. OF COURSE, I was the one to find this flag!
Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given
(1 Chronicles 16:11, 12 NLT)
We tried giving Nora some Activia yogurt in her bottle. She made it very clear that 1) she was on to our tricks and 2) she WASN’T having it!!!
Thank you all for the other probiotic sources that you mentioned on the Praying for Nora page! We’ve got some more tricks up our sleeve now. Hopefully one works!
Family movie night last night! 🙂 See Nornor sleeping at the end of the couch? 😉
The big kids were granted another Friday snow day. Of course it doesn’t look like much snow, but the roads were pretty icy last night. We saw several many abandoned vehicles littering the edges of the highway on our way to the pediatrician this morning!
Dr. B. is still pretty certain that we are dealing with a stubborn stomach virus. There is no immediate urgency to see the GI doctor, but we do have an appointment scheduled for the 12th(?) which was the earliest we could get in without it being an emergency. Nora is keeping hydrated and for the most part is in exceptional spirits!
I was able to get out to run a few errands this afternoon after my eye appointment. Gavin and I spotted these three puffy robins at the edge of a parking lot. They seemed to be enjoying the sunshine as much as I did today. Sometimes a sunny day can make all the difference in the world.
As I mentioned yesterday, I was feeling a bit discouraged and overwhelmed with everything going on with Nora’s sickness. Stumbling backward into my old way of thinking, I feared, worried and imagined I was supposed to have some sort of control over this. The relinquishment of my imagined power has been one of the hardest tasks since last January. I will say I felt much better about it all today. Nothing really changed except my perspective based on my decision to place this in God’s hands… for the seemingly millionth time. Once again I look back at all the harrowing instances that He has delivered us–now just little hills way off in the distance. This too shall pass even if I can’t see an end anywhere in sight. The days may blur and melt together, but each one is a gift.
Some days it sure would be nice to be the cat though!
Or Nora!!
She doesn’t know to be worried about anything! 🙂
“Sometimes I worry about whether or not I’m gonna get a baff!!”
God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
(Psalms 18:32, 33 NLT)
