Braeden entered this world in a flurry of excitement and has kept life interesting ever since. He is our spirited and strong-willed child. He is extremely passionate and I know that someday that passion will be used to do great things in this world. For now, it is mostly spent on expressing his frustration when the world around him doesn't meet his expectations. I have hope though, because I know God has big plans for this child.
Braeden is a very artistically creative child. His drawing was chosen for the local paper's weather drawing this spring. The drawing was a lake scene with a boat, people fishing, a jet ski, some fish and many other details. My favorite part was the curls in the sky he used to depict the wind. I found the picture on the newspaper's website so here it is:
I had forgotten about the jumping fish. I also love that little detail. (That and it's green... my favorite color.)
Braeden is my "snuggle puppy." He loves to cuddle and get hugs. After expressing his frustration and being sent to his room, he always comes to give me a hug and apologize once he has calmed down. I am very thankful for that quality in him.
When Braeden was in the Special Care Nursery at Abbott we posted a sign on his isolette with the verse "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13) For me, that's his special verse. That verse and the song based on that verse by Steven Curtis Chapman helped me through the time spent in the cities. I knew that no matter what, God was in control of my sweet baby and that He would give us the strength to get through this chapter of our lives.
Now a period of our lives that seemed to last forever is merely a sliver of the past eight years. I remember how my days revolved around his care schedule. Every three hours from 6am to 9pm I was in the nursery with him. I was determined to be with him as much as I possibly could. I remember holding him and watching the sunrise listening to the Norah Jones CD one of the nurses was playing.
I remember singing to him as we rocked until one of the nurses would tell me I needed to put him back in his isolette before his temperature dropped too much. As a music teacher I found it funny that I had a hard time remembering songs to sing. I racked my brain for "children's songs" and nothing came to mind. The only ones that I could think of were by Steven Curtis Chapman: His Strength is Perfect, Be Still and Know, and Hold on to Jesus. Somehow I believe that was part of God's plan for that time in our lives.
"His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He'll carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in his power the weak become strong. His strength is perfect. His strength is perfect."
"Be still and know that he is God. Be still and know that he is holy. Be still oh restless soul of mine. Bow before the Prince of Peace. Let the noise and clamour cease. Be still."
"I will hold on to the hand of my Savior. And I will hold on with all my might. I will hold loosely to things that are fleeting. And hold on to Jesus. I will hold on to Jesus for life."
What great messages for a mom and her preemie to hide in their hearts while waiting for him to grow strong enough to come home. These days you would never know that he started out as a tiny 4lb 7.5oz baby who decided to join the world eight weeks early.
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