Growing Girl

-
Everywhere we go, people who know Faith comment, "I can't believe how much she's grown this summer." We can't believe it either! We just weighed her the other day, and she weighs 48 pounds. 48 pounds!! 

That's so unbelievable to me as her weight has been an issue for so long but finally, she is starting to fill out more and she even has a roll in her tummy! I also tried to measure her while she was lying down and as far as I could tell, she's about 47 inches tall - almost four feet!

It won't be long before she doesn't fit in this swing anymore!

Rob and I have had to make adjustments in the way that we carry her and bring her from room to room. We have to remember her legs are longer, so we have to sort of turn sideways when we carry her into the bathroom or into her room. Every once in a while, we forget how long she is and bump her feet on the wall or the doorway. This summer we have had to adjust her chair and need to adjust her stander as well.

Just out of curiosity I looked in my baby book to see what my measurements were when I was her age. When I was seven, I only weighed 45 pounds. I was scrawny due to my heart condition. But I was taller than Faith - I was 49 inches tall which made me look really skinny.

While I am thankful Faith is growing, it forces me to think about our future when I may not be able to lift her at all. My cardiologist told me at one time I should probably not lift her when she gets to be 60 pounds or so. At one time 60 pounds seemed a long way off, but not anymore! 

I need to remember to take it one day at a time and to replace anxiety with prayer. God has given me so much strength to enable me to look after my daughter. I know he will continue to give me the strength I need as my daughter continues to be a growing girl.

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular Posts

My Little Vacay to Nebraska

-
Image
When one thinks vacation, they probably don't think about Nebraska, especially in November! But when I heard that a friend of mine was going be having surgery in Omaha, I began thinking about how great it would be to go down that way, especially since my sister, Tesa has lived in Lincoln for 17 years, and I have never had the chance to visit.  Lo and behold, my dad had also been talking about heading South to Texas in November to hunt wild pigs. My two respite care workers were available to look after Faith starting on a Friday morning through Tuesday evening. All I had to do was book a flight so I could get back home.  Despite all the details falling into place, I was still anxious about it. I haven't flown since Faith was a baby, so I was especially nervous about that part. I prayed about it and believed that everything would be okay.  On the morning of my departure, Faith woke up just in time and her respite care staff was able to get her dressed and take her to her day prog
Read more

Some Thoughts on World Prematurity Day

-
Image
November 17 marks World Prematurity Day . One might wonder why awareness needs to be raised about premature births. Well, I can tell you firsthand that it is a really good thing when more people are aware of the risks and complications, not to mention the emotional toll, of having a baby born too early. Having a baby born prematurely is not something most expectant parents think about until it happens to them. Most moms-to-be who first learn they are pregnant automatically think they have seven or eight months to prepare for one of the biggest days of their life. Expectant parents usually have one response when asked if they are hoping for a boy or a girl - "As long as the baby's healthy." But sadly, sometimes that's not always the case - especially if the baby is born too early. I will never forget the book I was reading shortly after finding out I was pregnant with Faith - "What to Expect When You're Expecting." It was a great resource that o
Read more

Faith Turns 21!

-
Image
 Faith's 21st birthday was on Friday the 25th and it ended up being an all-day celebration! She didn't sleep well the night before, so I was a little concerned she would run out of steam, but she just kept going! It ended up being a beautiful fall day, so I didn't even need to put a jacket on her, which is rare for the end of October.  Faith in her new birthday shirt!  This year, she was able to bring cupcakes to HIT. Last year, due to the dietary restrictions of her peers, she didn't bring any treats. This year, however, she is a new room, where they truly love their snacks! After I dropped her off, I raced around like a maniac getting her ballons, presents, and everything else ready for the surprise party we would be having at the end of the day.  Faith with some of her staff making a cupcake delivery.  When I picked her up from her day program, I informed her that some friends of mine that I worked with wanted to give her a special birthday treat. So, we made our way
Read more

Guest Post: Who Needs Sympathy?

-
Image
Guest Post by Stephen Gallup Last week, a columnist for the local newspaper interviewed me in connection with a memoir I wrote that’s being published this year. It was a comfortable, low-key discussion in which he asked about the basic facts regarding my disabled son Joseph and what I’ve learned that might be of value to other families. It was the sort of dialog that required no special preparation in advance. I just sat down with him and talked about the subject closest to my heart. But looking back on it now, one thing bothers me. In concluding the interview, the reporter expressed heartfelt sympathy for everything I’ve endured. He was being more than polite. I mean, he laid the compassion on with a spatula. Startled, and already thinking ahead to what I had to do next that day, I just thanked him and said goodbye. But now that final note troubles me. I don’t want sympathy! First of all, from the point of view of a new author hoping to promote his book, sympathy
Read more