Ella had a pretty good day. Her snotty nose is still present, but she seemed to be in a decent mood. We did not have any therapy appointments today, so Kelly and Ella just hung out together and played lots. Over the past week or so, her new favorite activity is sitting in her Bumbo chair and playing on her laptop computer. Apparently, the charm was still there for her today.

Also, she seems to be exploring with her tongue more. She’s been known to play with it inside her mouth, but now she is exploring with it outside her lips. When she was concentrating on her toy, it would roam out and twist around. That may seem minor, but any exploration that involves her mouth is a big deal. Later when she was eating, she forgot that there was food all over her face. So, she let out her tongue and it got covered with sweet potatoes. Oops – that wasn’t positive reinforcement for her tongue exploration! Speaking of sweet potatoes, her first feeding session was pretty quick (she wasn’t tolerating much without a meltdown), but the afternoon session seemed to go much better.

Bath time went much better tonight. It still was not something she wanted to do and she fussed off and on, but not like the normal screaming throughout the entire bath time. I didn’t do anything different; I guess she just had more tolerance and was in a better place. It’s just a one-off experience, but it would make it so much more fun if she decided that it was not a torture treatment!

Kelly had to drive to Colorado Springs this evening and Daddy worked late. So, it was just me and the Bun hanging out together. We had a nice time playing. Her smile just melts my heart. I’m so thankful for her.

When I look at her and consider that her brother or sister is not going to survive outside the womb, I get sad. I remember the endless days and nights in the NICU that lasted for 6 months, not knowing if Ella would live. The only serenity is knowing that He has a plan and trusting that He knows best, even when we may not be able to see the big picture and how this experience fits into our lives.

Too Many Burdens
by Ellen Bailey

You may sometimes feel your burdens are too much
That they cause you worries, heartaches, and such
You go to bed each night with problems on your mind
Hoping by the break-of-day some relief you’ll find

But God never gives us more than we can bare
Don’t be afraid to call on Him in your darkness hour
Place your trust in Him and your troubles He will hear
He will help lift your spirits and calm your fears.