Take heart!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus, before He was crucified in our place, quoted in John 16:33 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:25-27

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 I Corinthians 13:12-13

For we live by faith, not by sight.. 2 Corinthians 5:7

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  Romans 8:24

 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  1 Corinthians 15:19

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John

2:17

Our little Vitoria had some bad days, suffering greatly with her growing teeth. Last week she was still nervous and in pain, but she was so beautiful and close the window, with the soft light of a cloudy day, I took these photos. I got a smile and beautiful looks! Her eyes tell me so much! After looking at the pictures I was remembering the many Bible promises that inspired me and strengthened me since her pregnancy, when we did not know what would happen when she was born - if she would stay with us, or if God would take her to His eternal home.

Since she came into our lives I have learned so much about God's love and how much this life is so brief. How easy we get lost in the midst of our tasks, our concerns, and forget that our hearts should not be in things that perish ... but in loving God and people around us, and seek His kingdom, His will, His justice.

My little angel has been a great blessing in my life despite all her challenges and special cares she needs, and I believe all children like her, with similar diagnosis, are precious blessings.

 

Take heart! This is what Jesus tells us every day as we have been blessed with life.

Cold days and sore gums

Cold days are here! And we must pay close attention to our little princess so that she doesn´t stay with low temperatures. Somedays I need to measure her temperature many times a day to make sure she is warm, and if not, she needs to stay near the heater, or in bed with a thermal sheet. But once she heats up, I need to know the right time to turn off the heater. Otherwise she gets too hot and gets very upset and nervous!

Besides the cold she has also suffered so much with growing teeth. She gets very angry, fighting, crying, and unwilling to eat. Some days she does not eat lunch or dinner, and also does not want to drink milk, just fruits juice!

angry

very angry

Well, in addition to medications for pain and an ointment for the gums, lot of patience and love also help a lot! Moreover, to relax, an activity that I found that is great, when she gets very attentive and happy, and also helps in balance and support of head and trunk, is dancing with her!
I pick her up on my lap with a really fun song, and dance and sing with her ​​- she gets very straight and firm these times and gets very relaxed. Sometimes when the music ends, she is relaxed and sleeps well.











Poor little nose!

 

A few weeks ago our beloved Victoria caught a cold, her nose was very congested and she was very angry. She was mad trying to breathe through her nose and failed, cried, fought, it was a mess!

I got worried because she didn't want to eat or drink, she cried and tried to grab the pacifier, but then she could not breathe and let out the pacifier, and then got more angry ...

are you seeing  my hurt nose?

Throughout the days she was getting used with her congested nose, and she learned to breathe through her mouth with the pacifier.

she put her hand spontaneously to hold the mask

I did many inhalations with saline and aspirated her nose with a nasal aspirator, and thank God she got better and was able to eat. Poor little nose, it got very hurt!

sleeping in our bed

.




no one can take my pacifier!



and see what's here, making inhalation with a pacifier!



Physiotherapy

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness.

Isaiah 40:31

Our little princess is very well, thank God!

I have many good news to tell, but little time. Everything is going well, BUT she continues to suffer a lot with her teeth that are growing. Now she has already 4 teeth, and one more is growing! She doesn´t want to eat and gets very angry when I try to give her salt food. She only wants to drink juices and milk.

I am posting some photos taken during physiotherapy with "aunt" Janice, a wonderful physiotherapist who is helping our daughter.

Look how beautiful she is! At first she was wide awake, but after one hour of exercise she was falling asleep ... did not want to wake up to take pictures! But thank God after a good nap she always renews her strength!

sitting

some music to stimulate

stretching

autns Cida and Rafaela, that always help me when I take Vitoria to physiotherapy

 

tired...

let me sleep!

 

time to go home!

Great news about Fabio Gabriel

We have good news and beautiful photos to share about Fabio Gabriel, a little friend of Vitoria who also received the diagnosis of acrania during pregnancy and was born on April 8, 2011. He is a beautiful exception, since, unfortunately, in most cases babies don´t live so long after being born.

Fábio Gabriel's parents have been very blessed with this beautiful and warrior little boy. He is already 2 months and 20 days old, and thanks to God he is going so well!

With the grace of God, Fabio's at home, growing and surpassing all expectations. In his first month of life, he had some complications, such as breathing difficulties, and Fernanda had to take him to the hospital. Initially the doctor identified a heart problem, which actually was just a little and unimportant heart murmur. Then they discovered what was causing his respiratory distress was a gastric reflux, and he began to receive a thickened milk. Now he is great and doesn´t need oxygen support anymore!

Fernanda says he is very hungry and cries every two hours for milk. Recently, he started crying throughout all day, the next day as he continued to complain constantly, Fernanda took him to the pediatrician, who requested a blood test, and it was found he had a principle of infection. Fortunately, after a week of antibiotics the infection was tackled and he got happy and peaceful again. What a smart boy that tells his mom he needs to see the doctor!

It's been a great joy for me keep in touch with Fernanda. She spends night and day in this wonderful mission of being mother of this precious baby, so she could not stop to send these beautiful pictures that were taken from him a month ago. She always expresses the immense joy she is feeling for Fabinho´s life (as he is lovely called). They are planning the surgery to close his cranium for July, although there is no scheduled date. This is a very difficult decision to be made.

We praise God for Fabio Gabriel´s life and keep in prayer so that God can lead his parents and doctors about the best cares for him. May the Lord continue to bless and sustain him, giving many happy days with his beloved family. We ask that you who read this blog join us in praying for his life.

 

 

  

What a beautiful baby!

Happy days

peaceful sleeping

clothing with Mickey

Beautiful family photos

What a precious gift from God!