8 awesome months!

Maggie turned 8 months old on the 7th - yes, I know this is late, but alas. What an incredible journey these 8 months have been! Maggie's first appointment with the Physical Therapist at Hand In Hand was late yesterday afternoon and went really well, praise God!!! We have some work to do, which we knew, but are now being given the tools with which to help her. Marliese (PT) was pleased with the work we have done so far and gave us additional pointers- her biggest concern/area for improvement is Maggie working on her midline- think clapping- more coordination is needed than reaching to your side. Marliese said to encourage her to do this by laying her on the boppy pillow to give her arms a head start and hold her hips down because Maggie likes to use her body to get that midline. We're also to have her sit up as much as possible (which we already do) on the floor, in the highchair, in the bumbo to give her different feels and locations for sitting up. She showed us a couple other things, but we're going to start with these and then Marliese will be out to the house next week to show us more.

All that said, God is so good because we can see Him working in Maggie and the healing that's taking place. Thanks so much to our prayer warriors, keep 'em comin'!!!! Through the whole appt., or at least the beginning where the most evaluating took place, Marliese would say I see that she likes to do this (like turn her head to one side or fist her hands) and then almost right after that Maggie would do the other thing (like turn the other way or unfist) and Marliese would say oh she can do that, she is trying, these things aren't integrated (we believe is the word she used.) Basically saying, Maggie is behind, but she's not stuck and is trying to move forward. We're going to give her the tools to do that. She said Maggie is good cognitively and that she's motivated to move- which is one of, if not, the biggest factor in therapy- she said some parents come in and say their kid is just laid back and likes to watch and that's a big problem. And last, but certainly not least, she's confident that Maggie will improve.

In fact, just since her appointment with the state last month (where the evaluation determined whether or not she met the criteria for early intervention) she has improved in many of their concerned areas. Like she was babbling but not saying consonants and now she says b, g and m...still working on mama and dada :) She wasn't reaching midline at all then, but will bring her hands together now, not quite clapping. She passes objects from hand to hand and many other things. These improvements are nothing but the hand of God. We had to do the work, of course, God doesn't make you skinny just 'cause you pray for it, but his healing hand nonetheless. Honestly, Daniel got the feeling that the service coordinator was surprised at some of Maggie's scores from that appointment. BUT if she did think that, it's fair to say Maggie has progressed since then and not necessarily they were too hard. Although, I was surprised she qualified for communication and our service coordinator yesterday agreed. She (Jessica) said that Maggie is very socially aware which is one of the main factors they look for at this age, she won't even receive a speech therapist evaluation until she's at least a year old because it's too early to tell.

We've been praying for healing, well since she was born, but particularly this last week and prayer WORKS! We (especially I) have struggled with many bad days, we are only human, but God has continued to lift our heads up and carry us through the bad days that make the good that much sweeter! Before our appointment yesterday, particularly on the drive there, I prayed for God to give me peace no matter what they 'said' and he gave me that. I just had a feeling that everything was going to go well which did not and could not have come about on my own. Only God can calm my heart like that, I'm a worried mess on my own!!! So, yes, we have work to do and she may be behind for awhile, only time will tell. But the main thing is Maggie is strong cognitively, is motivated and Marliese is confident. I think I can speak on behalf of Daniel and say we were elated; I literally jumped for joy in the parking lot (embarassing him a little I think). We pray our struggles and Maggie's healing will serve to glorify God and further His kingdom; maybe one day her own testimony will bring Maggie humbly to her knees and praise the God who not only saved her life but healed her. Thank you Lord!!

A little about baby Maggie at 8 months:

• still just sweet as can be, she is such a bright light in our life
• so happy, always smiling and laughing
• lights UP when big brother Will and daddy walk in the room, but is still a mommy's girl and wants me most if she gets upset
• getting stronger on her belly and really wants to crawl! She'll rock those hips back and forth if she gets all the way up on her hands
• loves to play with her girly things- dolls, purse, stuffed animals but enjoys brother's action figures if he lets her play with them :)
• sleeps like a dream except when she's teething (nothing popped through the top yet)
• is continually complimented on what a happy, beautiful baby she is (which we think biasely of course:)
• a beautiful picture of God's mercy and grace

I know I say it all the time (about mercy and grace) and I pray you don't have to nearly lose your child and face her possible brain injury to find yourself huddling under the wings of our Saviour but it is life-changing. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes being broken to let him in. And it may sound like a hallmark card but saying you believe in God and truly finding yourself completely humbled and broken and at the end of your rope, understanding how deeply you need a Savior, are completely different. We cannot do this alone. Life and Christianity are hard and we are a sinful people, being Christian in no way means you're perfect, just that you see and understand your imperfections and know that Jesus Christ came and died to save you from those transgressions you are completely incapable of saving yourself from. NOTHING else in my life has brought about this understanding for me the way Maggie's birth has. And that's why I say she's a beautiful picture of mercy and grace.

Mercy: God's goodness toward those in misery and distress

Grace: God's unmerited favor and blessings through Christ freely extended to people who deserve His wrath (that's all of us folks)