It's A Miracle!!!

Guess who's heading home from the hospital today???

Tayla Marie, you are truly a miracle, and we are once again amazed by God's faithfulness and goodness. 

I wanted to share two beautiful posts written by Seth and Casey this week. First, Seth's...written on Wednesday morning:

"When I got here last night, Tayla had just fallen asleep, so I didn’t bother her. She slept peacefully from about 8:30 until about 2:30. I got up with her at about 2:45, and held her little hand until about 4:00 when she fell back asleep. I saw my first smile in nearly 2 weeks. It was pretty overwhelming. She was playful, and we removed her restraint on one hand. She continuously tried to put my hand or her little rattle into her mouth, which of course doesn’t workwhen you have a breathing tube. I was pretty overcome with emotion thinking back on the last 2 weeks, and on the duration of her little life. I’m amazed at both the love of our Father, and the strength and fight that is packed within the 14 pounds of this little girl. She was born at 27 weeks gestation, but at 1 lb 6oz, she was actually sized at 23 weeks. She had to spend 5.5 months in the NICU, and even then she overcame so much... we were told that because of her size, we should expect her to have an intracranial hemorrhage. She didn’t. We were assured she would need a tracheotomy. She didn’t. We were guaranteed she would need a g-tube. She didn’t. She came home and was the happiest baby we’ve had. It doesn’t matter what you throw at her. Oxygen cannula, plagiocephaly helmet, eye patch, etc... she takes it all in stride with a smile on her face. This hospital stay has been no different. Last week we thought she was gone. The doctors thought she was gone. God had a different plan. She now smiles at us from beneath a breathing tube. She is playful, kicking her legs and shaking her little butt while still being heavily sedated. I am amazed. I praise God for the answered prayers, and for the countless miracles He has performed in Tayla’s short life. Tayla, I don’t know what God has planned for you, but I can’t wait to see. I count it a privilege to be able to call you my daughter. As Casey has often said, we want to be just like you when we grow up."

And Casey's:

"I’ve tried to write this out a hundred times, but my thumbs suddenly become a hundred pounds each and my head becomes foggy, the words seem lost somewhere in my brain. So here I sit trying to piece it together again. 

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I almost lost my daughter. My daughter was seconds from death. My daughter was inches away from being nestled in the arms of Jesus. 
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I remember reaching a point of pleading with God to take my child as I couldn’t stand to see her suffer for another second. I reached a point where I didn’t want her to have to worry a thought more about this life and its cruelty. I whispered in her ear that I understood if this fight was too much and that I would love her into eternity. You can say that our faith never wavered, but it did, and quite frequently. My trust in Him was never a hundred percent. It fact I yelled and screamed and cried until I just couldn’t feel anything anymore. I couldn’t stand to read another update about my child and the comments that went with it, about God’s will or what a miracle she is, or what big plans God had for her. Because His plan was being laid out by an innocent babe laying helpless, fighting literally for every breath. And suddenly I realized.....this must be how God felt. Sending His perfect son into this harsh world as a helpless babe to know a few decades later he was going to die a cruel, unfathomable death for us. And while was still so upsetting for her to be suffering, it also made me realize that God does have a purpose for her life and that He chose me to be her mother for a reason.
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Tayla, I am so sorry I ever doubted your strength. I’m sorry I was weak when you needed me to be brave. I will forever marvel that God chose me to parent such a miracle. I love you, my darling girl.
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I will never take for granted the mercy and grace God has extended to me for my lapse in faith, trust, and love. While time will fade wounds, my knowledge that God is always good will never cease. Our lives are precious and very fleeting; put your trust in He who holds your forever. It won’t be an easy life, or a semi-normal one, but it will be one that you can praise His name for.”

Our God is an AWESOME God. We have definitely witnessed Him moving mountains, and we are so grateful for all your prayers along the way.