It is hard to believe that all of this began over 2 weeks ago.  A fever, a cancelled ‘Babymoon’, upper-respiratory infection, flu, emergency room, admittance to the hospital, emergency transfer to ICU, intubation (life support), pulmonary arrest, emergency C-section, induced coma, waiting, waiting, waiting, awakening from the coma, hallucinations, confusion, meet Abby for the first time, forget meeting, second first meeting with Abby, forget, sleep, new day, meet Abby for the third first time, walking, transfer out of ICU, discharged from hospital, stay with Abby in NICU, released to go home.  Come home, start new chapter of our life…

In the midst of all of this, there were thousands of you praying.  I mean, thousands!  While I am overly impressed with the doctors and nurses, with the technology and medicine, I am most humbled by the power of prayer.  God heard our prayers.  God answered our prayers.  God showed to us His mercy and grace, not because of anything we could do to earn it, but because it pleased Him to do so.

The morning Steph came off of the ventilator, the anesthesiologist who worked on Steph, who didn’t have high hopes for her pulling through walked into her room and saw her off of the ventilator and said, “That’s not what I was expecting at all, but I’ll take it!”

We were at the doctor earlier this week and she is a brilliant woman.  She said that Steph’s recovery was miraculous.  From a medical stand point, it didn’t make sense.  As a Christian, it made total sense.  Jesus healed my wife!

The other day I began writing out the back story leading up to the updates that I posted on my blog, but it was much more difficult than I had imagined.  This past week has been one of the hardest weeks of my life.  I almost lost my wife and baby daughter.  While there is overwhelming joy in God’s miraculous care, a deep sense of gratitude, there is still a sense of fatigue and coming down from all of the adrenaline   I’m grateful for the people God has placed in my life to walk with me through this, and I covet your continued prayers.  I am okay.  I’m not losing it, or in a dark place.  However, I am trying to be faithful with where I am and trust the Lord has much to teach me during this time.

Steph, Braelyn, Abby and I are overwhelmed by all of your prayers, love, and support.  Many of you have sent gifts from our registry, provided meals, sent words of encouragement, served us, cleaned for us, and loved us.  We are so thankful for you.  Thank you.

I will write more as I am able, but please know that Mama and Baby Abby are doing very well and for this we thank Jesus!