Lessons Learned

Three weeks ago today, I gave birth to our third child, our second little girl. Little Baby G is doing beautifully. She was up to 5 lb 12 oz at her two-week check-up (four ounces above her birth weight) and she's one happy, easy little baby. She's got her mama's big blue eyes and long, thin fingers. Actually, she has a lot of her mama's features. Our other little girl is kind of a "Daddy clone" so this has been fun for me!

When G. was born, she had a little difficulty clearing the fluid from her lungs. As a result, she was taken to the NICU and given some supplemental oxygen. She was also fed via IV fluids which meant that, rather than commencing nursing, I had to commence pumping. Oh, and she had some jaundice issues. Severe enough that she had to come home with a bili-blanket.

But you know what?

After the wild ride we went on following C's extremely premature birth, this didn't faze me. I really wasn't worried about the O2 because I knew how minimal it was. I became an expert pumper the last time around so that came naturally to me. Jaundice shmaundice. You think a little blue light is going to send me over the edge? I'm made of sterner stuff. :)

But as I sat in the NICU by G's bedside and saw the tubes and monitors, it did take me back a bit. And it made me realize how terrified I would have been by even these "minor" problems had this been my first birth. Or had I never encountered any complications or challenges in the past.

But I've had those experiences. I've learned those lessons. And I was able to count my blessings even as I faced "imperfect" birth circumstances.

God has never given me more than I can handle. And this time He had me well-prepared for the little bumps in the road...