Feb 4, 2009

The Hand of God in the Life of a Child - Part 2


The picture is not very good but I don't have one better. This is Olivia in her incubator. She is wearing a hat and has her first stuffed animal next to her head. It is a little Eeyore that I bought for her.




This picture is a little bit better.

Yesterday I told you about the events that led up to the birth of my first grandaughter Olivia and how God's hand was protecting her from harm. You can read that post here if you haven't already. Today I will tell about her birth and God's hand in the events that followed.

I hope the first sentence is not too graphic, I couldn't think of another way to say it.

As Nikki was going into her 7th month she called me one night and said she had just gushed a lot of blood. Looking back, what I think happend, at least in part, is that her water broke. So I went and picked her up and took her to the ER at Cooks Childrens Hospital. They got her right in and as they were about to do an ultrasound, she began to miscarry. They rushed her into surgery and did an emergency C-section.

Olivia was born weighing 1 lb 5oz. She was small enough that if we had been allowed to hold her, she would have fit into the palm of my hand. We couldn't touch her or hold her because they said her skin was still not completely formed and that the slightest touch could tear her skin. She was in an incubator and had nothing on except a hat and a diaper. I felt so bad for her and wanted so much to hold her and comfort her. They said the hat was for comfort. For a long time afterward, Olivia loved to sleep with something around her head, stuffed animals, blanket, pillows, it didn't matter. She also likes hats to this day. I prayed for her a lot and fully believe that Jesus was holding her the whole time.

The doctors were amazed at how well she did. She exceeded all of their expectations. Only once was there a complication and even then I know God intervened. Olivia developed retinopathy of prematurity. This is a condition that occures in preemies where the blood vessels grow over the retina and can detach the retina causing blindness if not monitored and treated properly. It is measured in stages 0-5.

When Olivia's was caught it was at stage 2. They said that if it went into stage 3 they would need to perform surgery. Well somehow it ened up in stage 4 before anyone caught that the surgery had not been scheduled. There was no guarantee that the surgery would prevent the blindness. But God (two of my favorite words) was there. The surgery went well and again the doctors were amazed at how well Olivia recovered and thrived. She does have a lazy eye and needs to wear glasses but her vision could be far worse.

Olivia was scheduled to be in the hospital until she was 3 months old, but she did so well that she was discharged at 2 months. Olivia is now 10 years old and is in the excell program at school. She is very bright and very loving, and she gives thanks to God for saving her life.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11


Edie

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind ~ Luke 10:27

25 comments:

Joyfulsister said...

HI Sis,
What a wonderful testimony of olivia's entrance into this world. God surely has plans for your precious Olivia I just know it!!! Thank you for sharing this with me today!!

Hugz Lorie

Mommy Jes said...

wow! thank God for that! She was really taken cared by God! God Bless you all!

Dorothy Champagne said...

My 11 year old daughter was born 2 months early at 3lbs. 6 oz. and I could hold her in the palm of my hand. Two weeks in the NICU. I know how stressful it was - I can only imagine two months. I also know the joy of God's miracles. Thank you for sharing!

Debra Kaye said...

But God...two of my favorite words too, Edie. I'm loving the story of Olivia and God!

I had a very difficult journey with Joshua too. They lost my heartbeat 3 times and it came down to "who do we save..mom or baby?" I had fought so hard to have him that Jay knew my choice would be to save my little guy but my whole family was crying and begging them to save me. Jay made the hard choice to save Josh BUT GOD and his infinite mercy saved us both. I do have a heart condition left from it, BUT GOD has been so good and allowed me this precious child and being a part of his life.

I love the story of Olivia. Those babies are special. It burdens my heart so to see any one of them lost. Praising the Lord for your Olivia today!

Love ya, Edie.

Sharon said...

What a beautiful story!! Praise God for he deserves all the glory.
The same happened to one of the girls from our church, he weighed in 1lb and they said he would not make it. Brad and I went and prayed for him, and we prayed everynight after that for the first month and they came in said he is going to make it, but they kept him for 3 months. He is so beautiful! God is a Awesome God Amen
Beautiful,beautiful story
Thanks for sharing
Hugggss & Love
Sharon

Yolanda said...

Honestly, I've got tears flowing for that itty bitty little precious PRINCESS and truly....BUT GOD.

We had a pastor once that encouraged us to really take hold of the scriptures and PAY ATTENTION when we saw...BUT GOD.

Blessings Miss Edie!

Yolanda

Greg C said...

That is a great story and a very happy ending. I will have to one day tell the story of the birth of my oldest son. It was truly a miracle too.

When I logged on this morning, I was so excited. I thought I had a new visitor. But it was only Edie. :)

LisaShaw said...

Our awesome Abba Father has great plans for Olivia!!! I praise HIM for it!

nomore said...

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

love,
Deanna
yep~ Psalm 139
yep~ Jer 29:11

Julie Gillies said...

What an amazing story of God's faithfulness. Olivia has quite a testimony - I'm sure God will use her to share it!

And I love those two words, as well ("But God") Probably two of the most powerful words on earth!

The Patterson 5 said...

Thanks for sharing Olivia's miraculous birth story. God had her in His palm and still does! What a blessing!

Cristine said...

Whew! Powerful story, Edie. I love a happy ending (but know that God is in all endings - whether they are happy for us or not)... Thanks for weighing in over at my blog this morning. And you are so sweet to be concerned with whether or not your post caused me any grief. It didn't. I'm just marvelling at this amazing display of God's healing hand and once again reminded that HE is in control, no matter what the outcome.

God Bless you,
Cristine

Tammy said...

Our God is so good!

What an amazing testimony of God's love even when life seems unfair,God is always faithful.

I too love the words "But,God."

Many times I will pray for the girls at the CPC,in their presence,who aren't sure on their decision after they find out their pregnant.I use Jeremiah 29:11 as one of the verses as I'm praying.

Jeff and Valerie Carr said...

What a great story! Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

God does amazing things! Thanks for sharing your story! She is truly an amazing girl.
Christy

Kelly said...

That story made me weepy. It is so amazing. Her little leg is so tiney, and not to be able to hold your baby. I cannot imagine!! Praise God for this precious girl.

Then Greg had me laughing, because I had a "new" bloggy friend too that was you. LOL! Too funny.

From the Heart said...

Happy endings are my favorite especially when God is involved. There is nothing impossible with our Heavenly Father, we only have to believe and trust Him. He has a purpose for your granddaughter and one day you and she will know what that is.
Thanks again for sharing,
AliceE.

Melanie said...

A beautiful story...part I and II. Thanks for sharing it.
Melanie@Bella~Mella

My ADHD Me said...

Although you couldn't hold her in the palm of your hand, it is very obvious that God was holding her in the palm of his.
What an incredible story. I mean really, really incredible!

Also, I LOVE that Bible verse. :)

sailorcross said...

I just read through the story of Olivia. BUT GOD was in control, and HE had HIS Hand in her life right from the start!!

I, too, had heard that when you read "BUT GOD" and also the word "THEREFORE" that you'd better perk up your ears and listen because God has something really important to say in these instances!!

When, I read therefore, I go back and reread what was written before this--why the therefore?

Beautiful testimony of God's faith and power!!

Beth

betty said...

beautiful story of the Lord's work in a person's life!! even from the moment of conception!!

(I'm taking a break from journaling for a bit; I'll catch up with you when I can :)

betty

Kathryn said...

Edie, I stand amazed (well, actually, I'm sitting!) with tears in my eyes. Praise the Lord for the "But God"s in our lives!

It defies my imagination how He can create us so intricately and breathe full-blown life into a tiny one-pound being. Aren't you just in awe? Does Olivia know her story?

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

What a beautiful miracle. Thank you for sharing...how old is Olivia today?

Andrea said...

Praise GOD....you have one of his miracles and so do I. My miracle son, Wil is now 16. Your phrase "but GOD" brought back so many precious memories, b/c we too used it more times than we could count. Thank you for sharing your story. Blessings, andrea
http://arise2write.blogspot.com
http://andrealuvsallgodscreatures.blogspot.com

Beverlydru said...

This story encourages my heart. We have been rejoicing this weekend over Harper (Kellyskornerblog.com) who almost didn't make it and his home now, 3 weeks later. We continue to pray for 4 mo. old Annette Maxey (Maxeyweb.com) who is battling cancer. But God...!!!