As many of you already know, we spent the better part of three days at Children's Hospital with Nicole this past week. It was a very scary few days where my sweet baby girl wore a tiny hospital gown, was covered in cords and monitors, and slept in a hospital crib. Adam and I lost all track of time as we sat by her crib and held her during her many medical procedures. It is so heartbreaking to watch your child hurt and not be able to make the pain go away!
Nicole was a little trooper throughout it all. She patiently endured having blood drawn, shots, EKGs, x-rays, being in isolation, EEGs, tubes up her nose. and all manner of cords attached to monitor her. It brings tears to my eyes to remember how bravely she smiled as she reached her arms up from her hospital crib for Adam or I to pick her up.
Nicole was quickly a favorite patient of all of her doctors and nurses. She greeted each visitor to her room with squeals of excitement and smiles. She also learned two new tricks: waving and clapping! Nicole discovered that if you wave at other people, they smile and wave back. Such a fun game! She also learned how to clap her hands together- again, a trick that makes other people smile and repeat her motion. I'm not sure if it is new skill that thrills her, or the fact that she can make others repeat the same movements!
During one of the first tests she had done at the hospital, the technician offered Nicole a stuffed animal. Nicole examined her options and reached for a miniature bean bag puppy dog with floppy brown ears. She LOVES this puppy! She spent most of the three days with a tiny fist grabbing its' snout or her mouth around a floppy ear. No matter what unpleasant thing those doctors or nurses did, her puppy was there to play with. Watching her enjoy this little toy even in the midst of her pain made me think- No matter what painful experiences life brings, there are always blessings from God to be thankful for. Having a puppy didn't minimize or eradicate the medical severity of her situation. But she was able to appreciate and enjoy her puppy in the midst of her struggle. What an accurate picture of what life in earth looks like! We struggle and hurt, yet we still have blessings from God to be thankful for in the midst of it all.
During that first long, lonely night at the hospital, I rocked Nicole (who was too sick to sleep) and prayed. I kept thinking about how fragile life was and pleading with God to heal my little girl. (And I am so thankful that He did!) Those many hours in the hospital were an opportunity to cling to God in faith and remember that my hope is in who He is, not in my circumstances.
I also left the hospital with a deep appreciation for our many friends. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, prayers, phone calls, texts, visits and meals from so many people! We are deeply grateful to be part of such wonderful community.
In conclusion, I can share with you that Nicole is back to her normal self and the virus that attacked her heart and lungs is gone. We're so thankful for God's healing on her tiny body and that we get to have our little princess safely back at home. I've always loved being Nicole's mother, but there is definitely a special sweetness to my role now. I have a new appreciation for her coos and giggles and it delights my heart to see her smile. So grateful for this precious blessing in my life!
