A Thanksgiving of Firsts

It was a thanksgiving of firsts in the O'Neill household. Baby S celebrated her first thanksgiving ever. Daddy and Mommy had their first Thanksgiving on their own, as keeping S healthy means keeping to ourselves until the spring. Since it was the first Thanksgiving we hadn't spent with family or friends, it was also my first turkey. I had a big sigh of relief when it came out just right without any major crisis!

It was also my first pie ever. I know that is embarrassing for someone like me who loves baking and all things domestic to admit, but alas, it is true. I have always been intimidated of pies! But it turned out fine. It tasted good even if it was a bit ugly :).

We had a very nice holiday by ourselves. I even got to take a nap while Niall watched S, which was amazing. We played Christmas music in the kitchen as we cooked together.

All in all there is so much to be thankful for this year! I am so thankful for S, who in all reality would not have made it to be with us apart from the loving mercies of God. I am thankful that she is off of her oxygen. I am thankful that none of us have gotten sick since she has been home. I am thankful that both sets of her grandparents and one uncle have been able to fly out and see her. I am thankful for delicious food and a cozy home, for a wonderful husband who works hard for us and strives to lead us spiritually. For a wonderful church body, many fantastic friends, and the freedoms we have to worship God in this country. For the Word of God and open access to Him in prayer. For His many tender mercies which are new every morning!

What are you thankful for this year?             
           

                                                                                                                                          

Exciting News!!!

It has been a majorly exciting week in our home. Baby S achieved one giant milestone when the doctor said she could come off of the oxygen Tuesday evening!!! It has been glorious- kissing sweet baby cheeks with no tape on them for the first time ever. Seeing her whole face, just her face, with nothing on it. We've waited nearly four months for this, and it was well worth every moment.

Even better, my mom came from across the country on Wednesday to meet S for the first time. What a wonderful surprise for Grandma when the baby with nothing on her face was handed to her :). Precious moments.

So far S is doing great without the O2. She had been pulling that cannula out of her nose since she was about a week old, so I think she is happy to have one less annoyance in her life :). We are just praying for a healthy winter so she doesn't have to get back on it!

Updates: Surprising my husband went well! I did get to vacuum the whole house (a process that should be much easier from now on, since I can wear S without lugging an oxygen tank around too), and two shirts were ironed. It's a start. Niall appreciated my efforts.

November's goals are a struggle. As you can see I've been averaging about two posts a week instead of three. Walking and praying happen maybe twice a week. I am following 21 days to a more disciplined life on Crystal's blog at moneysavingmom. Let's face it, I need all the help I can get :/.

Here's to a good week of thanking God for our many blessings!! Woohoo, my baby is home free!!! :D

She's Home!

Fast forward three months, and our life has changed dramatically again.

Our sweet daughter S has been home for just about a month and a half. After exactly two months in the NICU, with no out of the ordinary complications, we feel so blessed just to have her here with us. S came home on oxygen and an apnea monitor, but we are hoping she will be truly "wireless" within a few months :).

Adjusting to full-time parenthood is going well. We are exhausted, but what parent of a newborn isn't? In some ways I feel like I have finally "arrived," all I have ever wanted to do was to be a stay-at-home mom. I don't think it's hit me yet that I am really done working. I still feel like things are going to change again, this doesn't feel permanent yet.

We have so much to thank the Lord for. As I've been reading tons of books and blogs on preemies, I am finding out just all the possible things that could have gone wrong in little S's body...and yet in His Divine Providence didn't. Thank you Lord! She is absolutely beautiful, we are truly fearfully and wonderfully made.

Catching up

So it's been four months since my last post. And a wild four months it has been! When I started this blog I was in the first trimester of my pregnancy. Surprise! My due date was October 11th. Bigger surprise: I went into preterm labor at 24 weeks, was admitted to the hospital on strict bed rest, and delivered a baby girl by emergency c-section at 27 weeks on July 13th. Nowadays I am living at the NICU of our local hospital trying to help care for our micro preemie. Not what I had planned or could have foreseen, but the Lord ordained it, and by His grace our daughter is doing extremely well. Now that I am doing a lot of sitting around these days (pumping breast milk to feed her), I thought maybe I have time to blog again. So we'll see how it goes. Your prayers for our little girl are appreciated!

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                                                       Holding our little miracle, 4 days old