Lots of people have been asking for updates on Blake, so here goes:

I had a vision that after we were admitted on Thursday, we would stay one night in ICU, one night on the floor, and then get to go home.  I had a hard time when reality didn’t meet my expectations.  The reality was that although Blake did start nursing, he threw up once and we were faced with a ultimatum:  if he threw up again, they would tell me to stop nursing again or put in a tube.  Thankfully, by the grace of God, he didn’t throw up again.  Since, that point, he continued slowly getting better – eating, slowly being weaned off oxygen and fluids, and his breathing slowing down.  After two nights in the ICU, we were transitioned to the pediatric floor.

Last night, they started weaning him off the air (they had stopped the oxygen but were just giving him air to pump up his airways).  When I woke to him fussing in the middle of the night, I discovered that he had busted out of his swaddle and pulled his oxygen tube out of his nose.  Not only had it pulled it out, he had pulled it apart so it was in two pieces.  The nurse who came in said she had never seen a baby do that before, but, because he was obviously done with it and didn’t want it anymore, she would take him off the air.

He continued to do well, and this morning, we got news that we want to shout from the rooftops – we are going home!!!  When all the doctors and nurses in the hall know you, you know you have been here too long, so we are excited to bust out of this joint!

A few things I have learned from being at the hospital this week:  They have gift shops and kids playrooms and courtyards and Ronald McDonald rooms…but every hospital should have a gym…what a great stress reliever it would be for parents!  It may be fun to see what the “mystery” food is that they will be serving you…but when you haven’t eaten good food in a few meals, it is no longer entertaining.  You can learn to sleep through anything…beeps, babies crying, nurses being loud, etc, etc.  Hospital personnel (nurses, doctors, aides, etc.) have a huge influence on their patients and parents – the tenderness, compassion, smiles, excitement, etc. that we have been shown this week (or not shown) have made all of this so much more manageable.

Apart from these lessons, I feel the Lord has taught us a few other lessons –

1.  Ask for help and be able to receive help.  This third pregnancy and birth has been a continuing lesson in this.  When people serve us or are given the opportunity to serve us, they are able to reflect the hands and feet of Christ, not only to us but to those watching who don’t know Christ. Not only is it a blessing for us, but it can be a blessing for those serving.  Not only is it teaching us to put aside our pride and humble ourselves, it is allowing them to look beyond their life and circumstances to serve others.  Not only do our children get to see Christian community in action and learn that people give of themselves time and time again, but the kids of those who are doing the serving can be blessed as they learn the value of serving others.  It has challenged me to look for ways to serve others, day in and day out.

2.  Just this past week, I had a discipleship appointment with a girl I meet with, and we were talking about the importance of having a quiet time – a time not only to pray, meditate, and listen to sermons, but also to read God’s word for ourselves.  I think of the Scripture in Hebrew 4:12 that says that the Word of God is alive and active and sharper than a double-edged sword.  It is amazing to me when the Word of God relates directly to what you are dealing with!  I was able to have some time this morning to spend with the Lord, and this is what I read:

All of this was definitely not my way, but his way is perfect, nonetheless.  There is no one who is God besides the Lord, and no one else is the Rock except God.  Who are we to question what the Lord is doing or why He did this or allowed it to happen?  God has definitely sustained us and upheld us through this time, and has used this experience to draw us closer to Him and each other. Praise the Lord that we have a God who provides a path for our feet so that our ankles do not give way!  I am so thankful for the truth of Scripture to point us to what is true, even when our emotions try to tell us something different.

I am sure there are many more lessons we have learned/are learning, but these are a few of the big ones!  Thank you to everyone who has prayed for Blake, prayed for us, provided meals, watched our girls, called, texted, sent goody bags, and so much more.  We have been so blessed and thank God for each of you!