6 Days Old

There are so many things to be thankful for right now. It is not often that you pray and experience the answer in such an intimate way. But this last week has been a lesson in answered prayer. Lilly came out crying and was breathing room air within 28 hours. Keri came home after 77 days in the hospital. Just tonight we received a call letting us know that Lilly was being transferred from the Level 3 NICU to the Level 2 NICU. This is a huge step that means the doctors feel she is not in danger of respiratory distress and is free from infection. On the level 2 NICU she will focus on feeding issues, attempt to move off of a feeding tube and towards eating with her mouth. She will also have to work on being out of an incubator and regulating her own temperature. There is still some work for her to do but she has taken huge strides towards coming home.
I have been trying to think about how to articulate some of the experience we have had over the last week and I think the doctor who performed Keri's surgery said it best, "If you come to us willing to fight for your baby then we will fight with you the whole way." There were so many moments that doubt wanted to creep in and take over. When I wanted to play the "What if.." game. Every time that happened someone said something, I read something or saw something that affirmed my faith and challenged me to trust in whatever it was that was in store for us. I think what our surgeon said helped me to understand faith a little bit better. God wants us to fight for our faith. If we are willing to do that then He will fight with us the whole way and our faith will be strengthened. Tomorrow will bring another fight and I pray that the lessons I learned today and over these past days will bolster my trust in God so that I can meet that fight and see God the victor when all is said and done. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." We will continue to cast all our cares on him and fight the good fight. Please continue to pray, it works. Blessings to you all.