Supply

OK, I pumped 2 or 3 times an hour today to get my supply back up to almost 2 oz every 3 hours. I am going to keep it up as long as I can. Hopefully, I can get enough milk that Isabella doesn't have to work for it so hard.
Thinking of supply...............
I love that God promises to supply alll my needs. Not only does He promise to supply them, but abundantly, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. He loves me. I need to be loved. It makes me feel safe when I think about it. I helps all my problems to think about His love and His promises to supply my needs.

That means that when I have a problem with one of the children, I can come to Him. When I have a problem in my marriage, I can come to Him. When my world has fallen apart, I can come to Him. And I have in each of those instances and He, He has not disappointed me.
He has carried me through earth shattering marital crises.
He has carried me through life threatening illnesses with my children.
He has carried me through the death of those closest to me.
He has carried me through the spilt milk and endless laundry and chores that overwhelm a mother's day. And He has  made my work joy.

He has made my trials a blessing and given me peace and joy in the raging storms of life.

Father,
I love you.

Cheryl

First visit with Gigi

This week we went to Jackson to a doctor's appt. I went to an MD that specializes in breastfeeding. She prescribed fenugreek to increase my supply and watched to make sure Isabella's palate was not too hight for her to nurse. She gave me a different size shield to use when pumping and advised me to nurse her when she wasn't frantically hungry. Still not much luck. I couldn't really nurse this weekend with all the company. We were getting the hang of it before we left. I hope I can accomplish that this week.

We went by to visit my dear friend, Laura, after we went to the doctor's. We always laugh when we call each other "my oldest friend" now. My birthday and Laura's are only a few days apart in November.
It was so much fun to watch Kimberly, Kaitlyn, Laura and Harry hold Isabella. . Ealier this year when Kimberly, her youngest, found out I was expecting, she told Laura and Harry to go do what they needed to do right now to get her a baby, LOL! That afternoon  Kimberly again  said she wanted a baby. Laura told her they didn't have anywhere to put a baby. Kimberly responded, "I have a whole shelf next to my bed!" LOL!

We visited Gigi this weekend. It was the first time she has seen Isabella.

It was precious. Gigi ate her up and Isabella loved Gigi. They gazed at each other for hours both days as Gigi talked and talked to her. William Lee came by to visit, too.
I took pics. I'll have to post them and a video. More later.

This was also the first time that Janie, Stacey, Lee, Andy, Jan, Bob,
Amy, and Mark saw her.
It was fun to share my sweet baby with our loved ones.

17 years

Today( August 27th) is Willliam's seventeenth birthday. I remember this day 17 years ago very well and it really only seems like a few years.
He is such a precious boy. I am so grateful for him.
He still hugs on me and holds my hand no matter where we are. His love language is definitely touch.

We didn't do a whole lot today. We got cake  and snacks from Sam's. He had Jake and Tucker to spend the night and play video games. He went to the movies and Books a MIllion with Collin the next day.

And he said to me," Thanks, Mom. This was the best birthday ever."

I am so glad that the little I could accomplish was more than enough for him.
Precious boy.

Perfect

I know you find that you struggle a lot, with many things, with all the things that you wish you could fix about yourself. We all do. Whether you want to have more patience with your children, want to be joyful and peaceful all the time, want to be more organized, want to have more discipline in any area of your life, want to be more Christlike, and the list goes on....
I find comfort in this. ..
"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being [3] might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him [4] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1: 27 - 31.
I am foolish and weak. Sometimes I feel like a "not". There are so  many things about me that I wish were better.
2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
He accepts me and uses me as I am. My weakness allows His strength to shine and makes me grateful to Him that He will use me just as I am. He takes what I am and makes it beautiful.

Rest in Him. Look to Him. Don't strive so hard.

Everyone is enjoying Isabella!
She is a joy to hold. We love all her little baby sounds. We love all her little baby moves. We all oooh and aah over her all day long. There is never a shortage of arms wanting to hold her.
The cuddling, the snuggling,  the feeding, all so much fun. We excalim over her all day long.

Today, she demostrated a new talent.... Projectile pooping.
Rachel was changing her  and had just put a new diaper on, but it was not yet closed.
Isabella pooped all the way across the room. We could hear Rachel's exclamations and all went to see.
We all laughed heartily.
William got the clean up joh. He is the one that pooped all over the carpet at 18 months and it was David's birthday. Rachel couldn't because she was gagging. Lol.

Grateful

I am thanking God for all the wonderful people He brought into my life as a result of carrying Isabella to term with an uncertain diagnosis. He brought beautiful women of faith along side me to encourage my heart, women that walked the same road and turned their trials into a ministry of faith, Monica Rafie, Louise Flannagan, Laura Dawson, Julie Stahl, Amy Beth, Katie Butts and others.
All of my friends that have prayed for us. I want you to know that each prayer strengthened and encouraged my heart. Thank you for lifting us up. God is always good, even when His answer is no. I am grateful for His "Yes!"
I look forward to the new friends we will make as we travel the journey He has planned for us. I hope to honor and glorify Him as He is worthy of praise and devotion.
Please pray for Katie Butts and Ellie, from the blog, http://www.baseballsbutterfliesblessings.blogspot.com/


Katie is due to have Ellie on August 17th. This has been a difficult and uncertain pregnancy. Ellie will be medically fragile and have to endure many tests and treatments if she survives to term.

You will be blessed by her posts.... Her first child, Will, was born a congenital amputee. He makes me laugh and nothing holds him back.

Katie is a woman after God's own heart.See More

Baseballs, Butterflies, & Blessings

http://www.baseballsbutterfliesblessings.blogspot.com/..
 
Please welcome and pray for my new friend, Meghan Beauman Bell, and check out her ministry, Cross Healed Hearts.


http://crosshealedhearts.blogspot.com/?spref=fb
 
And I have been remiss in not posting the site that first gave me hope when I found out that Isabella had very little chance of survival.


http://www.benotafraid.net/
 
Thank you my friends. I love you all