Little victories
This week has been one for the books. I started it out a bit discouraged about different circumstances: learning my new role as a mother, continuing the crash course in breast-feeding, saying goodbye to Shane for a week so early in this blessed but challenging stage of getting to know our babies.
(To his credit, Shane face times us every day. The babies were fussy, but calmed down as soon as they heard their daddy’s voice.)
By tuesday, I realized I must become determined to find the little victories along the way. The day we got back from the hospital, I wrote down a few milestones that I was looking forward to crossing. Instead of being discouraged that everything wasn’t easy, I wrote my hopes down and waited for the Lord to provide. The babies are now two weeks old and I can look back and see that God has already provided in several ways:
-we can now Tandem Breastfeed
-I am able to wear My Wedding ring
-The swelling in my legs has finally gone down
Also, I have lost some weight. I left the hospital with two 6 pound babies, but the scale said I had only lost 5 pounds altogether. Obviously something wasn’t right… Of course, from having surgery, I was pumped full of fluids, I just didn’t expected to be that much!
Today I am down 32 pounds from birth-day two weeks ago. I feel like I’m floating.
I must be intentional to keep my eyes open to see how God works. And it never fails to comfort and amaze me. This past week, He also provided time for me to spend with him! So many people said I wouldn’t have time to read my Bible or journal, but I’ve been able to make time. There are some hours I find it more refreshing than even a good long nap.
Shane encouraged me to study through first Peter. My favorite verse so far is the perfect reminder of how desperately I need to be in the word, even in this hectic time:
Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3 HCSB)
It’s very applicable, given that every three hours I am reminded of this truth as I am nursing two beautiful babies.
I am so blessed to say, “Happy two-week birthday to my two babies.”
I stopped in a local cookie shop to grab some sugar cookies for my mom and I (she has been an irreplaceable help in this week away from Shane). Turns out the shop was closed, but the wonderful people there didn’t kick me out; in fact they gave me two big (delicious!) sugar cookies. The folks at colossal cookies are colossally generous and definitely my favorite people right now.
I shared with them the great news of two babies, two weeks old, and they were overjoyed that they had found a blue frosted cookie and a pink frosted cookie just for us.
Through all of these little victories, I am reminded of the Phil 4:8 initiative… There are so many wonderful things happening all around me from two free cookies to the hourly wins of parenting twins. God is faithful and there is always something good to look forward to and celebrate. I think we will continue to do just that.