One month down, Eternity to go

A couple summers back I was helping a friend get in shape. She wanted to be able to run a 5k and I decided I'd help her achieve that. While we ran she felt defeated and like she couldn't go any further. No way she'd say. so I'd tell her "let's just go to that mail box and then we'll walk for a few" when we'd reach that mailbox I'd say let's just push it and make it to the next one. And you know what? she would make it. Although she was certain she wouldn't make it to the first one, she did. And not only that, but she made it to the second one. Our minds, our bodies and our spirits are capable of doing SO much more than what we give them credit for. We think we can't make it. But if we try, we not only make it, but go further. Friends ask me how we are making it with Derek working 2 jobs, building our house, driving to park city and back every day, 3 small children and a NICU baby. Just when we think we just cannot handle ANY more in our lives, we are proven wrong. We are SO capable of handling a LOT. How? with the help of our Heavenly Father and family and friends. We thought we had our plate full before... but now we know we can handle everything that is thrown to us. A dear friend of mine wrote me a letter to help me through this difficult time. She's gone through the NICU experience and knows first hand how it feels. In fact, she's gone through a LOT more. Gosh I look up to her. She told me to believe people when they tell me that Heavenly Father doesn't give us anything we can't handle. Oh how I believe that. We can handle it because HE is ALWAYS there for us. through everything. THAT'S how we can handle ANYTHING. I can't help but look back to this last month of our lives with so much reverence. So much thankfulness. An experience we will never EVER forget. We have learned so much from Liam, our Heavenly Father and people around us. I will hold this experience so dear to my heart. Liam is doing GREAT. His brain is apparently draining properly now because it's growing normally. The latest ultra sound shows the damage they though he'd had isn't as bad as they thought. He still shows some, but not as severe as previously thought. If you didn't believe in the power of prayer before him, you should now. Because the is living proof of it. His lungs are doing great too. he is up to a high flow cannula. He started on level 5 oxygen (highest) and was upgraded to a 4 but had too many swings of oxygen levels so they dropped him back up to a 5 for now. give him a little more time. He is eating my milk and NOTHING else. he is off iv feedings. He throws up here and there but is handling my milk very well. He is now 3.1 lbs! 1400 grams. what a good boy he is. he LOVES being swaddled. and has a lot of nurses wrapped around his tiny little fingers. He has touched the hearts of a lot of the staff. Everyone feels attached to him and everyone is very surprised at his recovery and improvements he does. I'm not. prayers my friends... prayers. He loves to be held by his momma. His numbers always look great when he's with mommy. And he always poops. yay me! Today he had an eye test and totally aced it. No signs of anything weird. keep the prayers coming my friends. He is living proof that He listens. He knows. and He CARES.