Thankful Thursday: Big Miracles, Little Baby

It's November, the "thankful" month. Usually, I always post a Thanksgiving thankful blog, but this year I want to continue my Thankful Thursdays.

My baby will turn 8 months on the 23rd. Incredible, 8 months of Journee!! I feel so blessed when I have her in my arms, but there are special times that I look at her in wonder and it overwhelms me to think I have been blessed with such a gift.

We knew she was a miracle from the moment we heard her first heartbeat. Those 40 weeks and 6 days I carried her, I knew every heartbeat and every movement was a miracle. When she was born and I held her those first few minutes (before they took her away because I got so sick), I could only cry and thank God over and over for the miracle of her life.

These 8 months have not been without challenges. At three weeks we discovered she had the beginning of venous malformations on her neck just like my Mamo. We prayed desperate, heartbroken prayers and called the Pastor, Assistant Pastor and other prayer warriors to join us in prayer. I'll never forget my Dad opted to stay home and remain on his knees in prayer during her doctor's appointment. Somewhere between the waiting room and the doctor walking in to check her she was divinely healed. It had completely disappeared.

Journee was born with torticollis and at 3 months started receiving chiropractic adjustments. Since 4 months, she has been monitored every month because she has a very small head (in the 5th percentile) with a flat spot and she is in the 5th percentile for her weight. At 5 months, we were told if her head size and shape didn't improve we would be sent to neurological specialists in the Bay Area; doctors were worried her skull had grown together which would prevent brain growth. If that was the case, she would undergo surgery and we could expect developmental delays. Again, we prayed and added another doctor, this time a cranial physician.

On the 5th of October, we discovered the KP pharmacy had given us the wrong syringe for Journee's acid reflux medication. That day was horrible. There it was, right in my face, how easy I could have lost my miracle baby. "Seizures" "respiratory failure" and "leukemia like symptoms" were a few of the words used. Again, God had his hand on Journee.

Yesterday, I took her to the doctor because she has a cold and I wanted to make sure she didn't have an ear infection or Strep throat, since that is going around. The doctor noted that she says "Dada", "Mama", "Nana" and she recognizes "No" and "Bottle."  She gets excited when she sees her food or a spoon. She pulls herself up and would rather play with our iPhones than her own toys. Her eyes get big and she says, "NUM!" when her Pa sneaks her a tiny piece of chocolate frosting - that always makes us laugh.

After a thorough examination lasting almost a hour, the doctor informed me Journee is a bright little lady who is developing just fine. In fact, the doctor said she was a "well-made" petite baby who is developing better than some babies who haven't had the history we have. And I'm so proud to say her head circumference, while still small, has grown and rounded out and is just fine.

I watch her as she falls asleep and think of all that has transpired. Her pacifier falls out. I watch her take her sweet, little baby hand and find her pacifier and put it in her mouth, all while still asleep. It always makes me smile. Ever since she was overdosed she has been sleeping with me. I place her in her own little spot and but she squirms and wiggles until she is cuddled against me. I cuddle her and pat her beruffled behind and marvel at her perfectness.

I have to agree with the doctor's assessment that Journee is well made, but I can't take credit for that. God has watched over my child since the day she came to be. He has proven that over and over to us. I don't know what He has in store for her life, but I know He brought her into this world and has kept His hand on her for a purpose and my prayer is, "God help us not get in your way!"

This first Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for miracles, little and big; for my sweet baby who brings us so much joy; for my Christian brothers and sisters who have shared our joys and tears and spent so much time praying for our precious baby; the sweet people around me who love my baby just as if she was one of their own and those of you who are so happy for our happiness.

I've been told I am lucky to have her. I've been told I'm extremely lucky she didn't seize and stop breathing every single time she was overdosed those 30 days. I'm not lucky; I've known from the beginning Journee was a miracle - and I am blessed.