Time is again escaping me as I realize that Benjamin is rapidly approaching his 7 month mark on the calendar (and up to 12lbs 10oz!) Well, life at our home is changing a bit as I headed back to work last week and Brian headed back to school. The transition has not been as difficult as I thought yet since I am have only been working part time for the first week and a half and Brian is only taking 9 credits, but Thursday brings on full days and maybe a little sadness for mommy. All in all, I really enjoy my job, so as long as I can keep focused, I think I will be ok. I doubt it will affect Benjamin too much at this stage since he will be spending quality time with Daddy, Grandma, and Aunt Jenny. We feel very blessed that I have a good job to go back to and that God has enabled close family to take care of him.
This afternoon we had a visit from Karen, Benjamin's favorite physical therapist. He is still doing pretty good developmentally. He is weakest in his head control and still is battling the extension issues that comes from being premature. This means that he prefers to be straight - arms out, feet stretched, head back. This position feels natural to him. If he is in discomfort, it is what he retreats to. For example, when he is sitting on my lap and is uncomfortable from the need to burp, he will launch himself into extension and bounce off my lap if I am not careful. Sometimes I wander if I should installing a 5-point harness on my lap. Ok, that is exaggerating a tad, but this all said, bringing his toes up or his hands in takes a little more work than it would for a full term baby. It also means that he could be a great high jumper! :)
A couple weeks ago we went "sort-of camping" with some friends (we stayed in a house in the woods.) I learned that spending the night away from home with a baby is hard work! Our car was so stuffed full that I had to load items up on my lap to fit everything! Our poor car probably looked like a dog dragging it's rear end. I fully understand why a lot of people buy SUVs or vans, but then again I am sure I would fill them up too. The short trip was fun and I absolutely loved the fresh air and peaceful environment.
As for prayer, protection from illness tops the list, and we could also use continued prayer for Benjamin's development and our family's adjusting to new schedules.
Thank you for continuing to pray with us and walk this road with us. We have been so richly blessed and surrounded by wonderful people that love and care for our family. A special thank you to all of you who have blessed us with meals, gifts, shoulders, encouraging words, and just being there.
Jamie - Your comment on camping brought back memories of 14 years ago when our eldest daughter was 5 months old and we took our first trip to visit family (3 hours away) in our 1991 T-bird pack to the gills. We drove back in a 1994 Ford Windstar minivan. The family we were visiting works for a car dealer.
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