Time Marches On...

It has been a few weeks since I have written...time goes by all too quickly! Benjamin has continued to stay off oxygen for a month now. It has been so amazing. He is still on the monitor when he sleeps and anytime we travel farther than a few miles and we always have an oxygen tank nearby, but he is mostly like a normal 2-month old at this point. Praise God! Thank you all again for your prayers for our baby boy. Never would I have imagined that night in the hospital as I cried with labor pains and my heart cried knowing my baby had come too soon, that Benjamin would be where he is today. He is a miracle attributed to the Creator alone.

Our little family has been enjoying a few outings before the cold season hits, where we will need to go into a time of as much isolation as possible. We were blessed with a shower thrown by my coworkers a couple weeks ago and came home with many needed items for Benjamin (thank you to my friends at TE!) We have been able to go to church the past 4 weeks as a family too, which has been a blessing as well. Our biggest adventure yet was when we helped Benjamin's Aunt Lisa celebrate her birthday with a 2 mile hike at a nearby park with a couple beautiful water falls. Benjamin seems to enjoy hikes - especially when snuggled in the front pack with mama. :) It was a fun and beautiful day. This past weekend we ventured out and joined my dad's side of the family for a few hours of the annual camping trip up at the woods. It was very rainy and we almost turned back, but the clouds broke up and we enjoyed a few dry hours. We were so glad the weather cooperated so that we could introduce Benjamin to the gang.

Last week we had another visit with Benjamin's physical therapist from the early intervention program. She informed us that he would probably walk early for his corrected age because his extension muscles are so strong, which was a surprise to me. His challenge, however, will be to crawl and roll and she would like to see him do these before he walks. These movements require rotation movements that do not come as naturally to micro preemies. Benjamin is stiff for a baby. He is strong, but not nearly as flexible as a full term baby. He cannot pull his toes up near his face and only touches his hands and feet when we assist him during his stretches. This is a result from missing out on the last months of being curled up in the womb and going straight to a laying-flat position at birth.

Benjamin is such a joy to us. Brian and I can just sit and stare at him or play with him for hours. He is smiling more these days and has learned to frown too. I feel a little guilty, but we love his little frown. It is one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Maybe someday we will capture it on film.

I start back to work 2 weeks from Monday. Though I am looking forward to a "normal" schedule and a little more adult interaction where I can discuss more than the latest diaper blow-out, burping accomplishments, or Benjamin's medical status, I am finding as the days pass I get a little sad and nervous thinking about leaving my baby for 10 hours each day. He will be in good, experienced hands. I am just thankful to have this time and I try to be intentional about savoring special moments of being together. I would appreciate prayer for the transition if you think of it.