Growing Like a Weed!

Wow! I looked at our last post and realized that it was over a week ago! I guess time gets away from you.

We've had a few things happen during the last week. Josephine went to the pediatrician on Friday and she's grown 1/2 inch and weighs 4 lbs. 11 oz. We were hoping to see more weight, but we did have a couple of apnea episodes during the last three weeks when she didn't eat very much. So 10 oz. is still good! She has gained a full pound since she's been home with us. She's actually filling out her preemie clothes now. If she's not careful, we may have to break out the newborn sizes!! ;)

We've also cut our hospice visits down to once a week. We feel like we've established enough of a routine (random though it is) and we know what to expect from her now. We'll miss the extra visit with Cheryl. She is so much fun to talk to!

We even got to go out as a family on Friday night. This ended up being one of the best things for us. A very good friend of ours, Jaimie, hosted a Christmas Cookie Exchange on Friday night. While there wasn't a lot of exchanging going on, we did have a great time eating and visiting, which is even better! We were able to visit with other adults (amazing!), let the kids play games and decorate cookies, and talk about something other than how we're doing. (Not that we don't like filling everyone in, but we do seem to tell the same story over and over. :) ) After we left, Jon and I both commented on how great it was to get out and feel "normal" again.

Probably the biggest thing for me this week was the decision of when to go back to school. For a long time now, I really didn't want to commit to a specific time while knowing that Josephine's time with us is limited anyway. But I realized that I need to return to a sense of normalcy as well. After discussing it with one of the superintendents, I should be returning to school on January 5th. This is, of course, barring any major changes between now and then. Even now, after making that decision, I still hesitate to go back. But there has been one thing that was brought to mind and has made that decision easier to bear. I remembered that Jon and Mike had administered to Josephine before she went to Columbia. In that blessing, Jon commanded her to live and breathe. I know that it is because of this blessing and the power of the priesthood and Heavenly Father's tender mercy that Josephine has been with us this long. Since I know that she has this protection over her right now, I've been able to relax a little about leaving her during the day. It also helps to know that I don't work very far away from home and Jon will be the one with her all day.

Sometimes conversations with people prompt me to write a little something as well. I've realized that many people are concerned about us and don't want to burden us with anything. While our priority is to our little girl, please don't think that you cannot contact us or ask us for something. We have such a peace and and a comfort about Josephine, that we are not in a constant state of high stress and emergency, nor do we sit around on pins and needles watching her breathe and wondering if her next breath is her last. While there are things that have to be done differently, essentially we are still just taking care of a newborn.

Time for medications.... I'll try not to wait so long between postings next time!