One week, with psalms and smiles

When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:1-3

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalm 126:4-6

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Psalm 127:3-4

This first week with Vitoria at home has been very special. We had, naturally, some difficulties of adaptation to create a new routine at home. We spent, however, wonderful moments of peace and calm. She is resting a lot in her new crib, much bigger than the one she had in the hospital; she's sunbathing and even throwing a few tantrums, for she can now enjoy being held by mommy and daddy at all times...
Due to medical advice, she still cannot receive visitors, for she spent five months in isolation in the hospital, and she hasn't received all the vaccine shots she's supposed to at her age. We need to be very careful during this adaptation phase. We've posted this week's pictures below, so that everyone reading this blog can feel closer to our daughter Vitoria:

 

Did anybody see Vitoria?

Oh, no... they found me!

Five more minutes, please...

I think I saw a kitty cat...

What pleasant sunshine!

The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:9

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm146:5-6

This is our little flower, planted and watered with many tears, but now we can joyfully see her blooming.

Home, sweet home

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Psalm 98:1

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Psalm 95:1; 6-7

It is with great joy and gratitude to God that we inform you all that our beloved Vitoria de Cristo was released from the hospital and we could take her home this last Monday, June 21. She's been doing very well in her new routine at home: she's eating well, peacefully sleeping, enjoying the calmness of her new bedroom that had been ready for her during all those months she was in the hospital.

For us, it has been wonderful to be with our little angel all the time at home.

Bellow there are some pictures of the big day when we brought our beloved daughter home.

What change in sight! (my first car ride)

"Aunties" Renata and Cida, who took care of Vitoria during the months she was in the NICU, and daddy, who was wearing a mask because he had a cold.

Dr. Silvia, the pediatrician who cared for Vitoria during her stay at the hospital.

Daddy and Grandma Cida waiting for the "aisle of applause" which is made for all the babies who are released from the NICU.

At home, having her bottle with mommy.

At last, home sweet home!

Five Months, on her way home

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Psalm 73:28

Our beloved daughter is doing well, we thank God for that. As we had mentioned in the last post, she is ready to go home. This is a real miracle for us: to be able to bring our daughter home from the hospital well, alive, and healthy, in our arms. Besides, a week ago, on 06/13, she turned 5 months.

Vitoria spent five months in the NICU, facing a tiresome hospital routine and painful interventions. We give thanks to the Lord because all that happened resulted in life for her, and in learning for us. We give thanks to the Lord because she completed 5 months of life with an excellent post-surgery recovery, ready to go home, breathing well without oxygen support, drinking her milk without the feeding tube, and free of infections. Vitoria is a calm, tender baby; she's smart, full of life and she is very loved. She still faces some limitations and will need medical help, especially neurological and also physiotherapy during her development. However, as we have already seen, nothing is impossible for God, and if we have faced many battles, it is because we will have many victories.

We have many things to tell, many amazing lessons God has taught us amidst our tears and prayers, and through this precious life he has sent us to protect and love. We feel it is our duty to share everything we have learned during this unique and challenging, but edifying and wonderful experience of seeing our daughter fight for her life, and seeing that God has given us strength during all this time

We reinforce our prayer requests for her adaptation at home, for the medical care she will need to receive after she leaves the hospital, and for her health insurance.

We hope we can soon tell about God's amazing answers to our prayers, with joy and gratitude!

May God bless you all. Have a great week, everyone!

 
 

No time, but with good news

Dear friends,

During these past few days we've had no time to write on the blog, neither to post pictures of our beloved Vitoria. We've been leaving home very early, and returning very late, spending the day without access to the internet. We also had a few changes we had adapt to. There was an attempt to tranfer Vitoria to another unit, to the Pediatrics ICU, but our health insurance did not authorize it. So last week Vitoria was transferred to another room shared with other babies at the NICU. Unfortunately, the nurses that cared for Vitoria are not working in this new shared room, therefore it has been a phase of adaptation, with a few difficulties for us, but we thank God because everything is working out and she is doing well!

Now she is expected to be released at any moment, and we are preparing the best way we can to receive her home. We ask for your prayers so that we may organize ourselves to give her all medical care she needs, and we also pray so that we can extend her health insurance. During all the time she was in the NICU, Marcelo's former employer company kept the insurance, but now that she doesn't need to be in the NICU anymore, her insurance may be canceled, and the other insurance we applied for does not cover her stay at the hospital just yet.

We wait in God for a provision, and we are doing everything we can to offer the best to our daughter.
We thank God immensely for our darling Vitoria, who may now go home and lift us up with her special and unique life.

We hope to be able to post more news and beautiful pictures very soon!

Nine pounds in the scale of Heaven

Our little princess has reached nine pounds today! She's so adorable!

Last week daddy started to work again after a long battle, so we have had very little time to post on the blog. Our little baby, however, is doing well, thanks to God. She has recovered well and is enjoying her naps now that the weather is colder.

Bellow, a few pictures of the week:

Lots of hugs and a great week for everyone.