Joshua's Journey: Day 5

Today started off kind of rocky, not so much for Joshua, but for me. I felt like I had been so strong the past couple of days and all of the sudden I found myself beginning to cry as I was washing dishes. The past four days had been so different for me than today. We had people in our room practically every waking hour, and I absolutely loved having them and being able to show off our little "miracle". Now though, there is times of quiet and time for me to think. This morning I just felt weary and weak and I really didn't know what to do.  It was in that moment a Scripture came to mind. It's in my weakness that we are really able to see God's strength.  So I realized that it's alright for me to cry some, to feel that I'm not strong enough to handle all that has gone on in the past 5 days. It's His turn to shine and be my strength. As I thought about it more, I was even more comforted in the fact that this is God's opportunity to be Joshua's strength. His lungs, liver, stomach and all his other organs may not be as strong as more developed babies, but it's in that weakness that God is able to be strong as well. It gave me comfort!

So the day proceeded on and we went up to the hospital. I walked in and was talking to the nurse and she asked me what time I was coming in to hold Joshua. I looked at her with a stunned face. "I can hold him?" She told me that not only could I, but I needed to. She didn't have to tell me that twice! So, I was extremely blessed today to be able to hold my son for the first time. It was phenomeninal!!

After, my parents took Maddy and Derek and I were able to have a dinner date, just me and him. A bit later we went back to the hospital and Derek got to hold him in his hand and change his diaper. I must say that this was the best day yet! To top it off, Maddy is just at a really fun stage. She has us laughing constantly! I had turned on the milk pump to get Joshua some milk and all of the sudden Maddy started trying to dance to the pumping noise and she did it every time I pumped. I never would have thought of that as dancing music, but she loves it!

Specifics to be praying for:

The white blood cell count did come back lower, so pray it continues to go down.

That people will come to know Christ and draw closer to Him as a result of Joshua's story

For the brain ultrasound on Monday to come back with great results and no bleeding on the head

For wisdom and blessing for the doctors and nurses and that we will be a godly influence in their lives

For Derek and I to rest in God's strength and not try to do this journey on our own

That Joshua will continue to eat well and gain weight. He's back to 2 lbs.

For his liver to work well, so that he can get rid of the jaundice and the light



My prayer for you is that y'all too will be blessed and that I have the opportunity to pray for you some day the way you have prayed for me. I see now more than ever that we were meant to do the Christian life together praying for and loving on each other, and I thank God every day for all of your support and prayers for Joshua.

Have an amazing Easter. What an amazing God we serve!!!!