In and Out of the Woods: I held my baby today.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

I held my baby today.

A week ago I received the greatest birthday present ever -- my Louisa got off ECMO. It was a long 7 days of "maybe tomorrow"s. But the maybe tomorrow turned into 2 PM today for removing the ventilator tube. It was a beautiful moment. Her raspy little voice barely eking out a squeak of triumph! It's been 6 hours since, which is the first milestone to reach. They'll be rechecking her blood gasses to see if she's handing things ok. We hope and pray that she'll make it to the 24-hour mark and things will settle right down.

At 6 PM things were stable enough for us to get our arms around her again. It had been 12.5 days since we last held her. I know others have had to wait longer, I don't think I could have waited another second. Thanks for praying so hard for Louisa. I really do feel that what you see below is because the Lord heard your prayers and because he loves to give good gifts to his children, he answered them. If you're a prayer warrior, thanks, keep them coming. If you've wondered whether God exists in the middle of this mess of a world we all live in, I hope this encourages you to consider that He is here and it makes perfect sense to Him. You can trust Him. And maybe you've struggled to remember if the God you serve is mighty and present and fully capable of all things. Maybe you've felt He was distant. I know I've struggled with these thoughts in the last 2 weeks. I hope what you see below will remind you of the truth you know and profess. I am convinced that this is nothing less than our Heavenly Father taking good pleasure in answering the prayers of his people on behalf of our darling Louisa. I can never say thank you enough. I love her. She is so beautiful. I hope you can enjoy her too.

18 comments:

GoogleBloggerFebruary 4, 2014 at 9:55 PM
So wonderful!!!!
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Jonathon and KatieFebruary 4, 2014 at 10:02 PM
Wonderful news! Thanks for the update and we will continue giving thanks and lifting up prayers!
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SarahFebruary 4, 2014 at 10:21 PM
the tears are streaming as I read! Praise God! Prayers, prayers and more prayers for you all. God is so good!
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Molly (Pacyna) FrancisFebruary 4, 2014 at 10:21 PM
Wonderful news in a beautifully written story. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this journey and to be prayer warriors for Louisa!
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AnonymousFebruary 4, 2014 at 10:30 PM
She is just beautiful. I am so happy to read this and the wonderful news. Glad to see the amazing photos of her and the rest of the family. Continuing to pray for you all. Good is great!!
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Tim Fryatt + Rachel HerwaldtFebruary 4, 2014 at 10:38 PM
Hallelujah! To see you hold Louisa is a joy! God is good.
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ReneeFebruary 4, 2014 at 10:38 PM
Thank you for sharing all this!! Such a privilege to be praying for you all! Your girls faces are priceless!!
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JenFebruary 4, 2014 at 10:49 PM
These are such beautiful pics you guys! God is good!
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UnknownFebruary 4, 2014 at 11:03 PM
She is so beautiful and what a fighter she is. Keep up the good work Louisa. Sending prayers your way.
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Penny DolataFebruary 5, 2014 at 12:47 AM
Beautiful sights and sounds. What a blessing!
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Karen HossinkFebruary 5, 2014 at 8:09 AM
Oh, happy day!
Rejoicing with you. And continuing to pray.
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EkSmithFebruary 5, 2014 at 10:39 AM
I am hopeful that she will continue to make strides (no matter how small they are). I will be always praying for you and your family.
Ekram
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MargueriteFebruary 5, 2014 at 11:44 AM
Beautiful! Praying for Louisa and your family.
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MarciFebruary 5, 2014 at 1:49 PM
She is beautiful! Enjoy every second! Praying for your family.

Marci
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MichelleFebruary 5, 2014 at 5:06 PM
Praise the Lord! I will continue to pray for Louisa and your sweet family!
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Jean (Kitchen) WirickFebruary 6, 2014 at 6:06 PM
Praising God for the miracles & for continued healing!! Is there anything specifically we can all be praying about for Louisa's siblings & all the loving friends & family who are helping at home? <3
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Penny (Verran) EisfelderFebruary 6, 2014 at 6:23 PM
Nic, you've taken such good care of my family and I am so happy to hear that God is taking such good care of your wonderful family and blessed you with this amazing miracle.
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melissa Scott-TicknorFebruary 10, 2014 at 11:47 PM
She is beautiful!!!
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Encouragement from the Psalms

Ps. 65:4,5 - "Blessed is the one you choose and bring near; to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas;"
Ps. 63:3,4 - "Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands."
Ps. 62:1,2 - "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken."
Ps. 61:1-3 - "Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy."
Ps. 59:16,17 - "But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love."
Ps. 57:1-3 - "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. God will send his steadfast love and his faithfulness!"
Ps. 56:8,9 - "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me."
Ps. 56:3,4 - "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?"
Ps. 55:22 - "Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."
Ps. 52:8,9 - "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.
Ps. 51:8-10 - "Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot our all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renrew a right spirit within me."
Ps. 50:10,11 - "For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine."
Ps. 46:10,11 - "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
Ps. 46:1,2 - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea."
Ps. 43:3 - "Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!"
Ps. 42:11 - "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."
Ps. 40:11 - "As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!"
Ps. 37:39 - "The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble."
Ps. 37:3,4 - "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Ps. 36:7 - "How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings."
Ps. 34:8-10 - "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing."
Ps. 33:20-22 - "Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you."
Ps. 33: 18,19 - "Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine."
Ps. 32:6,7 - "Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance."
Ps. 31:3,5 - "For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God."
Ps. 30:5 - "For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning."
Ps. 28:6,7 - "Blessed be the LORD! for he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exalts, and with my song I give thanks to him."
Ps. 27:13,14 - "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"
Ps. 20:7,8 - "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright."
Ps. 18:35,36 - "You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip."
Ps. 18:30 - "This God -- his way is perfect, the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him."
Ps. 16:11 - "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Ps. 16:5,6 - "The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance."
Ps. 4:8 - "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."
Ps. 3:3-5 - "But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me."
Ps. 1:1,2 - "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is on the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night."