Happy One Month!

As it was my night with the boys, Josh suggested that I walk with them to the local park. A splash pad was installed a few weeks ago, and the boys really wanted to try it out.

After putting bathing suits and shoes on, each boy mounted their bike and headed out the door.

As a side note, I think my body turned eighty while spending so many weeks on bedrest. Oh my goodness! I cannot believe how winded I was by the time I got there.

Sometimes I wonder how two kids, raised the exact same, can turn out so differently?

From the get go tonight, Bryce was a maniac.

Kayden hesitantly rode down the hill, looking back to constantly make sure I was following. Always on the side of the road. Always stopping at street crossings.

At one point, Bryce's entire body was horizontal. Feet flying high in the air, rolling as fast as he can go. He prefers the middle of the road, and fell at least five times on the way to the park.

Once they decided it was too cold for the splash pad, we entered the skate ramps area.

Bryce immediately climbed the tallest ramp, and lunged down at full speed.

I had to coax Kayden into taking his bike down the smallest ramp. As I held the back of his bike during the ascent, the tiniest smile came across his face.

I asked him if I could help him go down again, to which he replied a firm no.

The park also has one of those old 15 foot metal slides. You know, the ones that are probably illegal as the only thing preventing him from tumbling off the side is two inches of a lip.

He sat at the top for a few minutes before digging in his sandals to ease slowly down.

I felt the whisper.

I could see myself while Kayden was going down that slide, ever so slowly.

A reminder from God that I might be missing the thrill of this time of life, while constantly being so cautious.

It's so easy to trust God when life is great, isn't it?

It's easy for me to have trust when I am on the reliable Fisher Price plastic slide.

So much more difficult when my child is in the NICU, and things are just plain scary.

I am a work in progress, I suppose.

Yesterday, Josh called to tell me Tessa was off her CPAP for three hours. My mom has been waiting and waiting to hold her, so we rushed up there to catch an hour's worth of cuddles for Grandma.



It was a huge blessing to kiss her head over and over and see all that beautiful blond hair again!



I thought this one was just plain funny.



One Month

28 Days

1440 Minutes

262800 Seconds

However you want to say it, Tessa is one month old today.

16 inches, 3 lbs, 8 ounces.

I am so grateful and thankful to God for this precious gift of time with Tessa. I cannot believe how much I love her. I still cannot believe she is here.

Thank you, as always, for keeping Tessa in your prayers. We are hoping and praying for many more uneventful days ahead!