Praying to have a T-18 baby??!!

This isn't the most flattering picture of fresh-from-the-bath-Lilly, but I love her rolls on fat on her arm. :)

In my last post, I took that picture of Lilly because I thought it was so cute how she was holding her hands together. Since then she has done it a lot more. I don't remember ever paying attention to my other babies bringing their hands together (except to clap) but for Lilly, I figure this is a pretty big step.

This weekend I talked twice with a local woman that has a 3.5 month old baby with Trisomy 18. The wee little girl (5 lbs. something) sounds like a fighter. (She was born at 2 lbs. 10 oz.) And she drinks from the bottle like crazy! Lilly needs lessons in that from her. This mother is still at the beginning of the journey of learning about Trisomy 18. She did not find out her baby had it until after the baby was born. When she learned that Lilly is getting close to 9 months old, she exclaimed that she now had some hope. In another conversation she shared that her relationship with God has totally changed. And that she considers herself blessed that God deemed her worthy to give her a baby with Trisomy 18. Wow.

The other day, my older daughter said it made her so sad to know that about 2000 babies diagnosed as having Trisomy 18 were aborted each year. She said she wished she could take care of them all. Then she said that when she grew up, she was going to "pray to have a baby with Trisomy 18." I was stunned. I wondered if anyone has ever prayed that their baby would be born with Trisomy 18! I told her that I hoped she had a strong heart, to be able to take all the heartache involved. I love Lilly dearly just as she is. But I still pray that God would completely heal her and shock everyone and even take away her Trisomy 18.

Some great news - for the last two nights I have done what the pulmonologist said and put Lilly down to sleep at night on her side. We have had fantastic results! First - Lilly slept through the night, both nights, for the first time in a long time. (I feel like a new person!) And second, her breathing has been so quiet. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it turned out that it was just her tongue blocking her breathing and that she doesn't need oxygen for sleeping after all? (If only it were that easy. But nuthin' is easy!) I only feel stupid for not figuring this out before.

I keep having a line from Psalm 127 run through my mind: "For so He gives His beloved sleep." (verse 2) Good sleep is definitely "beloved!!"