Then and now

Yesterday I said that the past two months have been both the longest and shortest of my life. I've been thinking quite a bit about how different life is today than it was seven or eight weeks ago. Here are a few of the big things that have made life MUCH better for me...

Then, feeding was a two person job. If we weren't feeding her with a tube and syringe, Brian was busy holding her arms down as we tried to force her to nurse.

Now, no more tubes or syringes. There aren't even many bottles any more. Just me and Maya.

Then, the whole feeding process (attempt to nurse, bottle or tube feed, pump) could take up to an hour and a half.

Now, the whole feeding process (nursing, burping, diaper changing) takes about 20 minutes. Praise the Lord!

Then, nursing complications up the wazoo...bleeding, mastitis, abscesses and open wounds.

Now, just a battle scar as a reminder.

Then, a (very cute) blob who just ate (kind of), pooped, cried, and slept.

Now, a (still very cute) little girl who is awake several hours each day, can hold her head up (mostly) and loves to smile at us.

Then, swollen ankles and soreness in every part of my body.

Now, I'm pretty much back to normal physically although I can definitely tell that I haven't really worked out in three months.

Then, sleep in 1-2 hour increments.

Now, she sometimes goes for 3 or 4 hours! Hopefully these stretches will get even longer in the weeks to come!

Then, swimming in newborn clothes.

Now, I've packed away most of the newborn clothes and even some of the 3 month clothes are a little snug.

Then, the song lyrics running through my head...A few lines from a worship song we sing in church:

God I look to You
I won't be overwhelmed
Give me vision to see things like You do
God I look to You
You're where my help comes from
Give me wisdom
You know just what to do

Now, the song lyrics running through my head come from a song on Jason Gray's new album, Good to be Alive

Hold on
Is this really the life I'm living?
Cause I don't feel like I deserve it
Every day that I wake and every breath that I take that You've given
Right here, right now
While the sun is shining down
I want to live like there's no tomorrow
Love like I'm on borrowed time
It's good to be alive

Hold on
If the life that we've been given
Is made beautiful in the living
And the joy that I get brings joy to the heart of the giver
Then right here, right now
This is the song that I'm singing out

I won't take it for granted
I won't waste another second
All I want is to give you
A life well lived to say "thank you"