I LOVE this time of year. All the traditions, the music, the lights, hot chocolate, decorating, buying the presents, stockings, magic, and of course, the real reason -Jesus’ birth.

We are traveling to Illinois for the week, between Dale having to work on the weekends. Merry Christmas to you all and we hope you are celebrating with those you love and finding peace in your hearts.

Sweet Ruby is BLOSSOMING these days. We turned a corner about two weeks ago and things have calmed down drastically around here. Ruby is living up to her name -an absolute JOY. We are having fun!!

We saw her cardiologist and she NEVER has to go back again! Ruby’s heart is functioning at 100% and the small leaks have since healed! Yay! There are NO future issues involved, she can play sports, go through airport security without issues -all those things I had questions about.

4 Months

She is rolling from back to front and then gets REALLY upset that she is on her belly. Sleeping has become a chore for her. She can’t quite get comfortable anymore. She rolls onto her belly then can’t turn back over. It is good timing, her flat spot on the back of her head has now rounded out since she is laying on her belly more.

Her favorite way to sleep below. Just like mommy and daddy.

We did have her assessed a few weeks back, a free service that comes into our home to check her development. Any NICU baby in the city of Pittsburgh gets this service. Pretty cool. AND the woman that comes in to assess Ruby was the same one that assessed Lindy, so we enjoy our time together. She did say that Ruby was eligible for Physical therapy because she is delayed in her motor skills (sitting up, tummy time, etc). We didn’t feel it was necessary, talked to our pediatrician and we all agreed that we just need to give her some more time. Since we couldn’t hold her by her arms for 6 weeks, that has slowed her down. As of today, she is doing JUST fine. Getting stronger everyday.

Trying to lift her head a few weeks ago. Today she can lift to a 90 degree angle!

She is grasping things with her fingers now if you put something in front of her. She concentrates pretty hard on focusing on toys and getting them into her hands. Pretty cute.

She is eating better now -I lowered my expectations and now all of a sudden she has changed how she is eating. She actually sucks on the bottle -not just piddles around. She gets a good latch and doesn’t let go. We are going through 4oz bottles now pretty easily! Her weight gain is on the lower end, but when it is graphed, she is doing just fine on the curve, so we don’t have to see her pediatrician for 2 months! We have gone from a doctor’s appointment every week to none until the new year!

Her little personality is coming out so much more. She is a super happy baby. I caught a cute video of her laughing.

I can’t stress it enough of how much we appreciate all of your prayers and concerns. Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t call or stop us asking how Ruby is doing. How she is eating. How we all are. We are blessed that Ruby is here. That Ruby is healed. That Ruby got her surgery and everything is over with. We are blessed by this little miracle.

Well, I wasn’t online updating my status all the time for the challenge, but I had a good month. A month of reflecting and digging into God’s word. Trying to be intentional about setting aside time to meet with Him. Searching for a Word from Him.

I started out with a plan to get up early in the morning. I failed at that. Just could not do it. BUT I was able to carve out time in the evening instead. Some nights later than others and I traveled for about 10 of those days. It can be hard to carve out time when traveling but I made it work.

I of course did feel that a few days, I did it just because I knew I’d have to write this post someday, ha. I guess that is accountability. A few days, I just went through the motions. A few days I read through the Bible and just couldn’t pull anything out that was applicable.

Biggest feeling of accomplishment was that I was able to really dig into my prayer journal and pour out my soul. Many new things came up. Prayer for our future -for May 2013 -when Dale graduates. Prayer for my heart as I work through the past 4 months and my expectations. Prayer for our choice in schooling for Lindy.

Surprisingly…I started to write that I didn’t really get a profound word from the Bible during the last 30 days. It is not like God came down and spoke to me. I don’t know what I was expecting. But I DID see His heart in another way…

Something that had been laying around in the back of my car for weeks, I pulled it out randomly one day and it has changed something inside me. My heart. My thinking. A dear friend passed me a book called One thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Basic premise: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. That is what I needed to hear. I would highly recommend this book. I’m not quite finished with it yet. Once I finish it, I’ll share it with you. It truly is an amazing look at just enjoying being in the moment for who knows when that moment will be gone. forever.

How did you do? Were you able to carve out time?

Of course, we cannot quit the challenge just because our 30 days are over. Press on. The Bible says, if we seek, we shall find and I am in the business of finding Jesus in my life and serving Him.