Reflections After One Week!

Olivia was one week old on Monday! She is just precious and such a gift to our family! Lizzie and Lainie adore her and are adjusting really well. With two big sisters, I rarely pick out clothes for her, get a clean diaper or throw out a dirty one; my big girls are rock star helpers! We have also had to establish a few rules... You may not pick Olivia up. You may not put anything on top of her (toys, blankets, or any number of things). You may not get into her bed with her.

Liv weighed 8lbs 3oz at birth and was already back up to her birth weight at 3 days old, so she clearly has the eating thing down! She has gone for 3-4 hour stretches sleeping in her pack and play, but she prefers to be snuggled on mommy's chest for optimal sleep! Olivia has been to WalMart, celebrated Justin's birthday at Rockfish, enjoyed playgroup, made her debut at Lizzie and Lainie's preschool for their Thanksgiving feast, and been to Bible study. Not bad for 10 days of life!

I adore this precious girl, and I would be lying if I said there is not a difference in my response to Olivia Rae because of our experiences with Charlotte Jane. To hear Olivia cry as soon as she was born was overwhelming. The opportunity hold her and nurse her for the first time was beyond incredible, considering as soon as Charlie was born, it required an extensive team just to get her breathing, after which she was whisked away to Cook's. Having Olivia snuggle with Justin and me with very little interruption at the hospital was a gift, as our time with Charlotte was never so private or personal with the plethora of machines and staff she required to sustain her little life. The celebration of bringing home a healthy Olivia to her ecstatic sisters stood in stark contrast to our conversation to tell the girls that Charlotte would never come home to our house. As I feed Liv in the wee hours of the night, I remember the late nights Justin and I spent hovered over Charlie's bed and holding her delicate little fingers. I drove past Cook's and remembered my precious sick little girl on the way to Olivia's well check where she was proclaimed to be in perfect health. It has been such a time of rejoicing and grieving rolled into one. We look forward to the return of Christ where all will be made right, and until then we will walk in the power of the Spirit seeking His glory as He writes our story.

We sing the same songs over Olivia that we sang over Charlotte, believing their truth more deeply than ever before. Our God is Greater! Jesus does intercede on our behalf before the throne of God! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!