on having a preemie

Something that may not have occurred to you on having a preemie.... there is SO MUCH extra newborn time. Thomas' first six weeks basically "didn't count" at all. His weight, his developmental milestones, all are calculated against his adjusted age which is his age from his due date. So instead of smiling at 6-8 weeks he was smiling at more like 3 months. This has been a little bit hard because that insane eating/sleeping/pooping/schedule-less newborn time was so long and exhausting, only now are we getting a rhythm to our days. But even harder has been the simple wait for him to DO things.

Even with all the interventions at NICU, his oxygen sats were none so great the first few days of his life, and his doctors were somewhat concerned that this might have had a negative effect on brain development. Thus we are enrolled in the 0-3 program and have a public health nurse visit every few weeks to check up on him, so that interventions could be started up right away if he showed problems with motor skills or speech skills. And for weeks and weeks he really wasn't doing anything, the nurse kept reassuring us that it was okay, "he's really only 4 weeks old not 10 weeks" etc. but it just felt wrong. Because he was so old, and also so completely enormous (far bigger than my other two kids as infants!), it just looked like more should be happening. I was getting nervous.

But then things started happening, and within the last couple of weeks LOTS of things have been happening! Thomas not only smiles but chuckles, he coos and loves having "conversations." He can grab for toys and maneuver them into his mouth. When he's on his back he kicks his legs and gets on to his side- he'd be rolling over if he could work out what to do with the arm that's in the way. We're far from being in the clear in terms of development but we're so happy to see him interacting and happy.

questions I have been asked in the last 24 hours

Why didn't Jesus just tell the naughty soldiers no? Maybe I should just scare them away. How would I scare the naughty soldiers away?

Why do some eggs have baby chickens in them and others don't?

When I get a poke, then what happens to the little hole in me? ("your body heals itself") but HOW does it heal it?

How is Jesus the same as God?

What is space made of? Why is it black when there is so much light from the sun?

How does food go from my mouth to my bottom?

Why does snow melt into water? Could we turn it back into snow again? Could we turn it into ice?

How does fire burn things up? Can I help the firefighters if there is just a little fire, like in the garage but not in the house?

How could I get Jesus out of my heart? ("why would you want to do that?!?") I think it's my turn to have a naughty day, so how do I get him out of there?

(each followed by a series of about a dozen "whys," of course)

new library books

Almost a full half hour of peaceful quiet entertainment!

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halloween

Tim was out of town at a conference, but fortunately some friends of ours were able to come over and take the big kids out trick or treating, while I stayed at home with Thomas and handed out candy. A lovely time was had by all. The next morning, George woke up at 6am demanding candy for breakfast "because I'm a goooood sleeper." Sure, George.

she's 2!

how we love this sweet, feisty, girly, loving, mischievous little elf!

Isaiah 46:3-4

Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

14 years

and never have I been so often reminded of him as since the birth of this child who so resembles him.