Finding Contentment

Temporary parent

When I recently blogged about my brother, his wife and their new preemie baby, I had no idea things would turn out the way they did.

The hospital kept Baby Alexis an extra night, but she and her mother were preparing to go home today. Just before check out time Alisha (baby's mother, my SIL) began having trouble breathing. My brother was concerned, and the new baby ended up going home with another one of my SILs. My brother and his wife left the maternity ward and checked into the ER, where it was discovered that my 26-year-old SIL was suffering from congestive heart failure. She is now in the ICU, and my brother is staying by her side. Unfortunately, their 2-year-old and 3-day-old daughters are being shuffled between relatives.

My other SIL is keeping them for the moment, while I have the duties of taking food to my brother and keeping the babies when the SIL who is keeping them needs to go somewhere. On Wednesday night, the babies will come to my house to stay until Alisha recovers and is released from the hospital.

I don't mind telling you, I am scared to death! First, my babies were between 8 pounds and 9 lbs., 13 ounces. I have never even held a 5 lb baby before. She is so tiny! Secondly, watching the 2-year-old by herself is very stressful, as she gets into everything. But watching the 2-year-old, my own three children, and a preemie newborn - I am afriad I will either lose my sanity or that something will go wrong.

I am dreading getting up every hour or two to feed another baby - I am so tired and exhausted these days anyway. I guess it's different with your own babies as opposed to a "temporary" one, or maybe it's just because this was sprung on me. I wasn't pregnant and I'm not a new parent. I just have a temporary infant daughter for a few days, and I am still the stressed-out homeschooling mother of three of my own. I also worry that the baby has not, and probably will not for some time, have the oppurtunity to bond with its parents. I hope this won't be too deterimental to poor tiny Alexis.

Please pray for strength for everyone involved:

SIL in hospital - for a speedy recovery

my brother - who has been sleeping in chairs in the hospital since last Thursday. He has only left the hospital once to shower and shave.

My other SIL, my brother's wife's sister, and myself - who will all be taking turns caring for their girls.

the girls - who very much need their parents and a stable home.

Praying

10:57 PM, Monday, September 10, 2007 .. Posted by Sara

Oh my, I just wanted to cry reading this. I will be praying for all who are involved.

Blessings,
Sara

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11:11 PM, Monday, September 10, 2007 .. Posted by farmgal35

Praying for you and your family. God will take care of everything. sheryl

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11:12 PM, Monday, September 10, 2007 .. Posted by FoggyMountainFarm

Oh mercy. I will be keeping her in my prayers. Please post as you get more news.

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11:43 PM, Monday, September 10, 2007 .. Posted by Karen

Oh wow - I am so sorry for all of you. I will say a prayer for you all. Goodness, I know this must be a shock for all of you! I don't even know what to say!!!!
I will keep checking your blog to see how things are going. For now, I will leave you with this:

"'The LORD bless you, and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.'" Numbers 6:24-26 (NASB)

May God give all of you peace,
Karen
http://thetagblog.blogspot.com/

Praying

11:45 PM, Monday, September 10, 2007 .. Posted by smmagers

I am so sorry for you all. You and everyone in your family will be in my prayers. It will be hard taking care of such a little one, but what a blessing it is to her parents knowing that you all are stepping up and helping. God Bless you all , mj

Lord please come to this family

11:45 PM, Monday, September 10, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Dear Father God I just come to you this evening to restore Alisha to full and complete health. Please let all go well with her new baby during this recovery period. Please let all those watching over baby, love on her and comfort her so that she would not feel out of place. Father God please be with all family members as they watch over new baby give them rest and patience, let their households be manageable and not chaotic, bring peace to everyone and healing to Alisha. I ask in Jesus' name, Amen.

On a side note, I have heard of similar circumstances with other families and baby and mom bonded just wonderful when their time together came and have gone on to have close wonderful relationships as their children got older.
God Bless,
Melissa D. SC http://www.xanga.com/MelissaDSC

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10:28 AM, Tuesday, September 11, 2007 .. Posted by meme21713

SO sorry to hear this Cindy and I will keep you all in my prayers. With the Lord's help you will do just fine. Maybe consider holding off on your schooling to releave some of the pressure...Thinking of you in this trying time...Debbie

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11:26 AM, Tuesday, September 11, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Oh, I am so sorry to hear about you SIL!! I will definitely be praying about all of this - strength for all of you helping out and a speedy recovery!! btw, is hubby out of job training now? His job, your homesteading, your homeschool and now all this is at the top of my prayer list!!
God Bless You,
Your Secret Sister!!
(yikes - I typed my name first)