Updated on March 1, 2016
Immeasurably More
All we wanted was breath.
Enough lung tissue to breathe. A rib cage that grew large enough for that lung tissue to develop.
That request alone seemed like a pie in the sky, I know you’re powerful enough to do it, but it’s going to have to be you Lord request. Read More
Posted on February 15, 2016
My Valentine
Photo credit: Where Bluebirds Fly Photography
The kids wake at 6:40, and before I can roll over and offer to go grab them, he’s already quietly slipped out of bed. I gratefully snuggle deep into the covers, treasuring a few more moments before my eye lids need to be pried open.
Downstairs I hear echoes of conversations with the toddler, of a bottle being made for the baby, of admonishments to be quiet because mommy is sleeping. And then car doors and quiet. Read More
Posted on February 11, 2016
Six months
We are finally living in our new home. I almost wrote “we are finally moved in to our home.” But moved in seems to indicate that all unpacking has been accomplished. And such indications would be a bold faced lie. So yes, we are finally living in our new home.
Unpacking, though painstaking and arduous, has also been somewhat exciting as we rediscover things hidden away for several months. Some things forgotten, some missed, and some that probably shouldn’t have been packed in the first place.
This past week as I was unpacking the box of books from my nightstand this paper fluttered to the ground. Read More
Updated on January 20, 2016
Bella’s Heart – The Decision
Photo credit: Stephanie Nunley Photography
The phone rang tonight just as we were sitting down to dinner at my in-laws, just before the first bite was shoveled in. Hunting for the ringing phone under boxes of takeout, I met Jeff’s eyes, “I wonder…” I rushed out of the room, hand trembling just slightly. Answered. Nothing. Hello? Hello?
A minute later the phone rang again, another new number.
It was the call we waited for all day. It’s the reason the phone was never more than a few feet from me. Read More
Posted on January 20, 2016
Working on the jiggly parts
One of my oldest and dearest friends is getting married in May. She pre-dates kids, pre-dates Jeff, pre-dates China. Which means she’s walked through all of those adventures with me. And when Bella happened she bought a plane ticket to Seattle for August, not knowing whether she’d be keeping vigil with me in the NICU or standing with me at the graveside. Turns out she cut out tons of different tiny fabric shapes for nursery decorations instead.
But back to the wedding. In May, I have the great privilege of standing beside Heather as she says her vows. A privilege which comes clothed in a formal dress. A formal dress which requires measurements. Read More
Updated on January 18, 2016
An Evening in Eden
Photo credit: Stephanie Nunley Photography
The evening was drawing to a close.
Bella sat in my lap, snuggly jammies, eyes half-mast, hand wrapped tight round my thumb, contentedly slurping her last meal of the day.
Eliana danced across the room, singing an ode to the last bit of her candy cane at the top of her lungs, old but shiny Happy New Year hat precociously perched on her head or dramatically flung to the side, periodically checking her poses in the reflection of the back door. Jeff and I caught each others eyes from across the room, laughter dancing. Read More
Updated on January 16, 2016
Bella’s Heart
It was in the genetic counselor’s office, during that first pregnant trip to Seattle, that we first heard about it. We had just received the crushing news that our daughter’s rib cage would not grow large enough for her lungs to develop. The counselor had tried to describe as directly and as gently as possible that our little girl just would not be able to breathe. As our meeting with the counselor drew to an end, almost as an afterthought she added, “Oh, and there’s a heart defect. I don’t want you to wonder why we never mentioned it if you’re looking at her chart in the future.” 
Read More
Updated on January 2, 2016
New year, new grace
It’s a new year. New days. New breath. New grace.
I can hear my baby girl, struggling with a cold, snoring like a trucker in the room next door. It is truly remarkable how one so little can saw logs that loud. My husband just rolled over to blow his nose for about the twentieth time since crawling into bed. The monitor next to me flips on and off with the toddler’s coughs.
Our family is quite positively the definition of a mess. Read More
Posted on January 1, 2016
All was calm, all was bright
Christmas this year was absolutely magical.
What infused the air with magic? I don’t know if it was being homeless and at my dad’s – which meant a whole lot less doing this year, and instead a lot more being. Or could it be that my husband did pretty much all of the shopping, just leaving the wrapping to me? Or was it the fact that the baby was finally well and happy, and mommy could finally savor the tastes of the season? Or that the toddler was finally old enough to brim with anticipation? Perhaps most of all it was that my eyes were primed to see each moment pregnant with grace. Read More
Updated on January 16, 2016
Santa Baby
(As you can tell, both of our girls are HUGE fans of the man in the red suit.)
Thank you all for your prayers for little Miss Bella’s tummy issues! Shortly after the last post we switched her to hypoallergenic formula only, and it was like flipping a switch. All of her symptoms disappeared and it is like we have a new baby in the house! I’m not going to lie, Jeff and I were about at our wit’s end (Jeff is sitting here watching me type…he says he was past his wit’s end), so it came at the perfect time.
Instead of spending our evenings bouncing and cajoling an extremely fussy baby, we now routinely have both girls in bed by 7:30. And all the parents collectively let out a sigh of relief.
We are still bunking at my dad’s, but hopeful to close on our new house in the next week. It has been wonderful being here, but I’m looking forward to having a place to put everything away – especially after Christmas!
A Christmas update with a plenitude of pictures will be coming soon, but I wanted to hop on tonight to tell you about two things.
First of all, you are all likely familiar with our fabulous birth photographer/now dear friend Kristin Wall. What you may not know is that Kristin runs an incredible ministry called Delight. Kristin describes this ministry in one simple sentence – “Changing hearts through the arts.” And oh if you could only hear the stories of artistic young women transformed and refined through this ministry! Right now Delight is running their end of the year fundraiser to help cover the non-profit insurance as well other expenses. If you’re looking for an amazing place to make a year end donation to, I cannot recommend this ministry highly enough! Click to donate!
Finally, if you happen to think Bella is the cutest little Santa Baby in the land, click below to vote for her. Voting is unlimited, so click away. 🙂
Recent Comments