Overwhelmed

Asher started taking steps at the end of June. And now he's taken off! He's gotten so fast! It's been amazing to watch. At just 13 1/2 months corrected our little 1lb miracle boy was walking. We are so thankful for the mercy the Lord continues to pour out on him. And just this week, he finally figured out clapping! For us, many of the milestones we've been hearing about or have been aware of for what seems like forever. That is part of going to therapy so often. We were hyper aware of what kids his corrected age are supposed to be doing. This can be good and bad, but I think mostly bad. ;) I'd like to be a little more naive in that area!  So, every milestone is a big one. We love, love, LOVE seeing him achieve things, and I think we would be just as excited even if he was born on time. But, it's all especially sweet since he spent the first 5 months of his life trying to breathe, and then trying to eat and grow, and all with several set backs along the way. And of course because we really had no idea how his extreme prematurity would affect him. We still don't fully know that. I do have to remind myself from time to time of some of the many lessons we learned in the NICU. One big lesson we learned was to be thankful for where Asher was at that moment, and to not get overwhelmed with what he still needed to accomplish. So, that used to look like thinking about when he would get off O2 support, and when would he get more than 5-10ml at a feeding. Now, it's looking ahead to him talking, drinking more, eating solid foods, etc. But, I know God wants my mind to stay right here, in this moment and just to drink it all in for all it is.  And there is so much beauty to drink in! I was looking back at videos from last summer and I just can't believe my little baby has turned into a big baby. He was so cute and little back then! But, he was also having an awful time with eating/throwing up a ton of his tube feedings. So, when I think of that too, I'm just even more grateful for the time that has passed and all the progress he has made.

He actually graduated from PT (physical therapy) this summer, so that is awesome! And OT still checks in from time to time, but all of our focus really goes to speech (eating) therapy. There he's working on table foods, meats in particular are very hard for him to chew and swallow. He's liking and getting the hang of crackers, and cookies. As he should-- they are GOOD! Fruits, breads, and cheese he does okay with too. It just takes him a while to chew those things, and he doesn't eat very many bites. He usually throws a few, eats a few, throws a few...etc. :) But he IS trying them, and often on his own, so that is GREAT. He's still eating a lot of purees- about 20oz per day! We never would have thought that was possible. We just pray that continues. He drinks anywhere from 1 oz- 4 oz of milk per day from his straw sippy cup and sips on water throughout the day too but it's not much. Maybe 2oz? I just depends. I track so much, I don't always remember how much water he had in a day!

That's about it for Asher- he's just a crazy joy to be around. He makes a mess everywhere he goes, and tries to get into anything he can, ESPECIALLY if it is NOT at toy. Of course! Toys are just made to distract kids from tearing apart the house I think! He's in a wedding in a few weeks and we are so excited about that! I remember the bride asking me last summer if he could and I just couldn't even picture it. I wouldn't have pictured it this good. We are overwhelmed by the Lord's goodness. I pray I can sit in that kind of overwhelmed, and not the kind of overwhelmed that stresses about the future. We got to go to church Sunday (yay for babysitters...we are not ready to expose him to a nursery yet), and we sang these words in one of the songs:

 "You are more, You are more than my words will ever say....You are here, You are here, in Your presence I'm made whole, You are God, You are God,  of all else I'm letting go."

I remember singing that when Asher was in the NICU and what it meant to me to sing those words. I remember the hope in those words, and the peace I found in that moment of singing of letting go of all that we worried about for him.  Those words mean so much more now. The Lord is more than my words can say. I tear up every time I sing it now.

And, one of my favorite songs right now is Bethany Dillion's "Your the Best Song". It's amazing if you haven't heard it. My favorite part is:

"I remember when you were just a heartbeat that I heard..and now our eyes meet, forever.... I'm learning that in the long hard days, there is beauty... Do you know my favorite place to see it? It's when I look at you."

If you haven't heard it, you should download it! It's one of the sweetest mother songs I've heard. And I had a very specific time when I heard Asher's heartbeat everyday...for one month, twice a day I heard his and Titus'. It was sweet reassurance that all was well with them. Our baby boys were just incredible miracles.  I think it's an amazing gift and a miracle experience to have a child.  Do we really stop and think about that? A beating heart inside of you....a whole person the Lord is allowing you to grow and nourish until that perfect day (or not so perfect in our case but still divinely planned) when he or she will come out and begin to shape and mold you more than you imagined. Amazing.

And, Asher's precious face...is my favorite place to see His beauty. Amen!


Ps. I've noticed these videos won't play if you are trying to view them on a phone. 

First steps video....

Then about a month later....

He tried on these boots for the first time, and they are too big, but he still took off! I thought for sure he'd trip over them. It was so funny!