A blessing is a blessing, even if it is hard to see

Whew!  Twins will definitely keep you busy, especially when there are tummy and heart issues thrown into the mix.  Sometimes it is hard for me to slow down and recognize the blessings around me.  Today, I am going to do just that.

I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason.  I don't think that things happen by chance, but by divine reason.  I believe that God has a very specific plan for my life and my family.  With this being said, my time in the hospital with Rowan was overwhelming, and I often felt as if I were in a dream.  At times, I found myself asking, "is this really happening to us?"  Here we had been through five scary weeks of bed rest and contractions, three difficult weeks in the NICU, and terrible reflux to boot.  What could we possibly learn by going through all of this?  The answer is, a lot!

Here is my lesson:  I. Am. Blessed.  Even when blessings are hard to see, they are there, just waiting to be found.  It's the finding part that can sometimes be tricky, but once you do, it's more than worth any pain that you went through to get there.

This is how God has blessed me in just the last week.......

1).  During a time like this, you need love and support.  We had it!  We are blessed with a supportive and loving family, who will do anything and everything to help us make it through.  Our parents took turns keeping Jack for us while we were with Rowan at the hospital, and our siblings called and prayed for us when we needed it the most.  Our friends also called or texted to ask how Rowan was doing and let us know that they were praying as well.  Our sweet neighbors even got our mail for us while we were gone.  Knowing that others were praying, gave us the strength to keep going.

2).  We are blessed with an amazing pediatrician!  She recognized the need for Rowan's care right away and sent us to the best place possible.  Throughout the week, she called to check up on him and let me know that she was praying for us.

3).  We are blessed with a minor, fixable heart condition.  While in the CICU, we met a mom whose daughter had been there since birth.  Her daughter has a very serious and complicated heart, which required surgery immediately after her birth.  She has been in the CICU for almost four weeks.  Her mom hasn't even been able to hold her yet.  Can you imagine going four weeks without holding your baby?  To make matters worse, the mom lives in another state and has been staying away from her husband and son at the Ronald McDonald House this entire time.  Her daughter will also need several more surgeries throughout the first year of life to correct her heart.  Everywhere I would look at Egleston, I saw other babies who were far, far worse off than Rowan.  Those families could have been us.

4).  We were not only blessed with a nice place to stay while Rowan was at Egleston (The Ronald McDonald House), but we also were blessed with a good night's sleep.  When your child is hurting and  you are running ninety miles an hour, the Ronald McDonald House is like a safe haven.  This was a place where we could go at night and simply breathe.  While we were there, we met many families who will have to stay for several weeks, some even months, while their children undergo treatments.  We were there for three nights.  Blessed.

5).  We were blessed with time as a couple.  Even though this was scary, we had each other.  Jody was able to get off work and I am still on maternity leave, so God knew what he was doing when he timed this little event in our lives.  :)  We were able to get through this together, and it has made us stronger not only as parents, but as husband and wife.

6).  We were blessed with the most perfect hospital possible for our little boy.  The doctors at Egleston were wonderful, and we always felt confident that they were doing the very best that they could for Rowan.  It gave us peace of mind to know that he was in good hands.

Now that we are home, I can't deny that it doesn't get scary at times to have a little boy with a hurting heart.  However, it's these blessings from above that remind me of my Lord and Savior who is always in control.  In our living room, we have a framed print that says, "The Will of God will never take you were the Grace of God will not protect you."  It's no coincidence that it's the boys favorite thing in the house to stare at.  :)            

Another blessing--seeing my baby boy smile!

My sweet boy checking out his mommy

Taking a short break from the hospital to come home and see Jack (and his cute little monkey bottom)