Grateful to be Done a Long and Long Awaited Day

This is Ryan writing as Joanna and Elin get some rest .
  Here is how we started this big and eventful day. We had to wake up this sweet little thing at 6:00am, and drag her out into the cold February 19th morning to get to the hospital for 6:30am. We were thankful to be only a couple of blocks away at the Ronald MacDonald House. The uniqueness of the old architecture is matched by its atmosphere as up 17 families going through similar struggles share their lives and this living space.

 The  7 minute walk in the cold found us at the IWK full of mixed emotions and very much in-love with our Elin. She was pleased her  puppy was given a "necklace" to match her bracelet.

 Daddy was on book reading duty to help pass the time. She was given a new blanket by the staff. I think we have lost count of all the new "this and that's" she has received on this adventure. It is nice to see that even amidst the all the problems of this world there are many generous people who God uses to bring a little happiness to difficult times.

 Grammie Cameron gave Elin a little treasure she found shopping one day.

 This reaction is actually her shrinking away from the "scary snake".

 She warmed up a little...

 Then enough to get it on.

 "The scary" was actually "a happy" too I guess!

 The new books helped her pass the time even better...

 ...

 ...

 Mommy and Elin enjoying some snuggle time in the last minutes before Elin went with the nurses to the O.R.

 Not sure about this bracelet...

 Our hearts either melted or broke as we saw our sad and tired girl. Thankfully we had just heard the good news that everything had gone really well. Our grateful joy overshadowed any sorrow. She was crying for Mommy as we came into the recovery room. A few minutes of Mommy and Daddy time helped her settle. She was even able to relax enough to go potty in the potty chair. That helped her feel much better. Poor little thing.

After about an hour in recovery and 3 hours of strict bed rest with no movement, Mommy was super happy to be able to climb in bed with Elin once we got upstairs. She finally felt like she could connect with and soothe her hurting baby the way she wanted to.

 Elin wasn't to keen on the bright light of the camera flash.

 

A couple of pictures was enough for her.

  

She eventually got back to sleep and had a deep, peaceful rest. Once she peeked out of the corner of one eye to see if mommy was still there. A quiet "yep" to Mommy's "I'm still here", a touch of Mommy's face, and she was right back out with a contented grin.

The IV and monitors made the hospital visit seem even more dramatic. They eventually started driving her a little "batty". She thought the light on the her thumb monitor meant her thumb was "broken". When we unplugged it to take her potty, when she was allowed, she would tell Mommy, "all better".

 The Santes gave her a fun package. She loved opening it in the evening.

 There were lots of fun goodies.

 And some homemade cards from her cousins.

                         a diaper for puppy...

 Daddy and Elin time...

...

 She had a few fun phone conversations that night. These were the best kind of visits for a little girl who wasn't aloud to get too excited. The first was with her sisters and Auntie Jenny.   She has some big sisters anxious to see her tomorrow. Especially the biggest.

 Then, not too long before bed she capped off the night with this fun chat with Grampie and Grammie Skaling. 

The chats were a blessing for everyone! You could hear the joy in everyone's voices as they talked with her.She is one well loved little girl.

Our love for our little girls fills our hearts with gratitude and wonder at the goodness of our Saviour Jesus Christ. A friend recently said something profound that has settled deeper in our hearts over these past few days. The miracle of life is seen in different ways. The miracle of the sick child healed by God through the care of an earthly physician or supernaturally by the Great Physician, the miracle of a healthy little life, and the miracle of life at all with all the possible things that can go wrong. Can we ever doubt the goodness of God when we witness the beauty and wonder of life itself, whether it is whole or broken, enjoyed for a century or only in the womb. The beauty contained in all of life magnifies the God who is the giver of it all.  

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:13-16