Coffee CubBuster

When you are expecting your first baby, everyone is equally thrilled for you. People begin to say and do things you've never experienced. If you don't know the sex, people will certainly tell you with a matter of fact what you are having (in my experience: 50 % of those people are always wrong). Many people will even begin rubbing your belly, talking to your belly, and asking you repeatedly how you are feeling. When you are expecting your second child, people seem equally as joyful, letting you know the blessings of close siblings. The belly-rubbing typically stops because they are either talking to your first born or asking you about him. However, when you are expecting your third child, people begin to divide over their enthusiasm, especially when your other two are still under the age of three. It saddens me how few people are able to express true excitement over another baby. You hear things like, "Oh, wow, you are going to be busy, " "Gosh, you'll have y...

What a difference a year makes. This time last year we were preparing to transfer our fragile little Levi from his four month stint at Northside Hospital to his new short-term home at Scottish Rite for his G-tube surgery. My precious sister Kyra came over to stay with Silas while I anxiously traveled to two hospitals in one day. I'd never believe just 365 days later that Kyra would be home in Heaven, I'd have another growing baby in my belly, and Levi would be weening his feeding tube!  Let me repeat that last part because it is still fairly new-- in the last 24 hours Levi only used his feeding tube during his night feed!!!!! After a disappointing visit to our GI doctor where Levi gained no weight and the doc wasn't thrilled I was cutting his feeds by calorie and quantity, (although I think that if he'd lived with us for a while he'd understand a little better.) we still saw great improvement in Levi's holding down his meals. Also, because he hasn't thrown...

I remember when Levi was taking steps forward and backward while living in the hospital, and it made it difficult to rejoice in the triumphs for fear of the nearing step in the wrong direction. I hesitated to bust out my happy dance, not because I didn't trust God's goodness and miracles, but because I remembered that this was a marathon, not a sprint. However, I cannot forget to show my gratitude for the good days even if they are short-lived. If Silas was never happy for fear of potential future discipline, my heart would be sad. Thus, I will rejoice in the fact that Levi has NOT thrown up in almost a week!!!! (Minus the standard gagging spit up that occurs with a frequent choker.) The secret sauce is... running out of doctoral ideas, and choosing to try my own recipe without permission. Levi is on a lower calorie diet with standard toddler formula and baby food, and I have cut his tube feedings short by 15 minutes. I will ask for forgiveness on Monday during his GI appointme...

While Levi may not be gaining much weight, he is still growing, and that is what matters.  It's funny...  we went to my parents' lake house for memorial day and I looked at Silas, Levi, and our precious dog Chloe. All three of them are not very stocky or weigh much for their respective ages, but all three are still healthy (all things considered). Chloe may have been deaf, Silas may still wear 2T shorts and Levi may still throw up, but all of them are happy and pain-free. Many people are not as fortunate. I was reminded of the verse I read the other day in 1 Corinthians. "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." We can toil all day long, but that toil may be in vain if it's not part of God's plan. You can plant the best seeds and water your brains out, but that plant won't actually grow unless God wills it to grow. All our efforts are futile if we continue to believe we are the one's who create life ...