Recently I received the photo disc in the mail from our most excellent photographer Melanie. I just have to share some more of these images. Some photos you may have already seen in the slideshow, but they warrant being seen again. It seems so hard to believe that this blessed event was already 3 weeks ago. I wish I could somehow slow time down, because it seems to be flying by at warp speed! Enjoy these awesome photos!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17 NIV)

Sweet pictures of sweet Nora moments throughout today:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

And God continues to minister to me through the most random of occurrences. This afternoon it came about in the form of a phone call. I’d been asleep, as it was my turn to get some rest. The number on the caller ID was not one I recognized. Ordinarily I silence the ringer, figuring it’s either a prerecorded political message or someone enthusiastically congratulating me on the new home security system I just won and how would I like to pay for that?  But for some reason I picked it up, and I even managed to conjure up a polite “hello?”. The voice on the other end was that of a kindly elderly woman with a slight southern accent. She was calling to ask if I had any donations for the Vietnam Veterans, a collection truck would be in the area next week… I explained that things were a little hectic right now as there was a new baby in the house and that I wouldn’t be able to donate this time around. With sincere joy in her voice, she congratulated me on my new baby and gushed about how babies are such  miracles, such gifts from God. I smiled, debating to myself whether or not I wanted to get into what a miracle this particular little one actually is! The kindness in her voice drew it out of me and I found myself explaining Nora’s condition and her impact on the world to a complete stranger. I spent about 20 minutes on the phone with this sweet woman. She shared with me that she and her husband have been married for 55 years. They couldn’t wait to have babies as soon as they got married, but sadly they were never able. She attributes her soft spot for babies to the fact that she was never able to have any of her own.  She considers it a great honor to pray for babies. Our conversation turned back to God and His amazing grace and mercy. She shared with me several accounts of physical miracles she had witnessed in her lifetime, specifically people cured completely from cancer. She reminded me to be thankful, and to praise God for the miracle He has performed as though it were already done. In talking to her I was given a sense of renewed hope and strength, a beautiful Godly perspective and a smile on my face.

I’m cuddled up with baby Nora on my chest, having opted for the first shift of the night. She is so content. I’m certain she feels secure and loved beyond human comprehension. She looks so cozy right here! I’m so very honored to be able to give her that security and love, to fulfill that primal need as her Mommy.

We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

We love sitting here in the evening reading over the comments that our blog has collected throughout the day. You have no idea the comfort and encouragement we gain from all of your love, support and prayers. If I’ve said it before, I say it again! Thank you!

Nora went to the pediatrician today for another weight check. She’s still holding steady at 4 lbs. 10 ½ oz! I hoped she would have gained something more, but at least she’s not losing. We’re increasing her caloric intake to see if that helps any.

I find it highly amazing, completely beautiful, and incredibly wonderful that this sweet bundle of love has had so much to teach me (and apparently thousands of others). In a society that would suggest otherwise, Nora proves to me every day that her little life IS valuable. She reminds me that life really is too short to spend it being angry, fearful or bitter. She’s taught me to live in the present moment, not to worry about the future or to take my or anyone else’s life for granted. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Even if we were, the tomorrows will eventually run out – faster than we ever thought possible. Perhaps that sounds macabre and unpleasant. We don’t like to be reminded of our own mortality – or even worse, the mortality of our loved ones. If we had it our way we would all live forever, happy and healthy, without a care in the world. That unattainable earthly desire stems from a longing that was set in our hearts before we ever even breathed our first breath.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

No. I cannot begin to fathom any of it. While I might not understand it, I still chose to accept it and trust it. God HAS NOT let me down, even if I may have questioned it in the moment.

Pictures now – words later. Mama is fighting to stay awake!!

Here is your daily (nightly?) Nora fix. She’s as sweet as ever.  Did I mention how crazy I am about her?

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)

It’s been a rough day for us which is evidenced by the fact that we’re still here in the hospital. We did have a nice afternoon with a sweet visit from Sophie. I can’t begin to explain what a neat thing it is to see these two precious lives right before my very eyes. These two lives, that by the very grace of God I said YES to, despite their possible “inconveniences” of being “unplanned” or “imperfect”. These two individuals were both very planned and very perfect!!

A few hours later the cardiac team came to discuss Nora’s echo and EKG results. Basically, she has small ASDs and a medium sized VSD, neither of which would be causing her blue spells, nor do they require any immediate intervention if we were to decide to take that route. Our plan was to head home this evening with oxygen to have on hand should another episode arise. However, when we removed the oxygen it became quickly apparent that her little body couldn’t tolerate being without it. This came as quite a blow for me. She’d been doing so well, but turns out we’ve just traded one tube for another. I wondered out loud if we are simply just prolonging the inevitable for our own selfish reasons. I felt myself dangling from the thin wire I’ve precariously been balancing on for so long.  In Jesus’s own words I internally screamed,” MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” Just as I was about to “let go” the door to our room slowly opened and in walked a woman. I sensed immediately that she was overcome with emotion, but also wore a glowing smile. She proceeded to tell us how she has been following our blog for several weeks now and just had to come in and meet us. As she embraced me, my tears continued to flow, but for a very different reason. She reminded me of my great faith, how God has NOT let us down thus far, and of the multitude of lives this tiny, feeble little baby is touching. She had just resuscitated my faith in that moment and I began to breathe again.

I truly believe that God sent Linda to me right at that exact moment to give me that big hug and that clear as day message that He has NOT forsaken me. He is very much present and is busy at work here. It was too perfectly timed to be regarded as any kind of coincidence.

Here’s a sweet picture from this evening:

We are still here in the hospital because it was too late in the day to get all of the supplies we need to go home with (oxygen tanks, etc.) – Not necessarily for health reasons.  I’ll take that, as it could be worse!

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord  your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)