Jude's Mom

Ben: One Week

Some of you may be wondering what in the world I’m doing blogging when I have a new baby at home. Honestly, my house is so quiet (and clean after a serious post-delivery nesting urge kicked in yesterday – a nesting urge I wasn’t able to indulge since I went into labor much earlier than anticipated) and my brain is so full, I simply have to write. Ben is a week old today. I can hardly believe it. It has been a whirlwind and I still find myself in disbelief that our new little boy is here and life is to continue as usual. Well, it isn’t usual, that’s for sure. Michael is working the night shift for the next week or so in order to be home with us during the day. That guy, I tell ya… He is one of the hardest workers I know. Though I’m home alone right now, missing him like crazy, I can’t even imagine how much he misses us. He’s hardly had time with little Ben and him and I have only been in the same house one night in the past week. One night! Like I said, it’s been a whirlwind. Not complaining in the slightest. Just wondering when life will feel “normal” again. Does it ever when changes like new babies occur? What’s normal probably morphs into a new normal, a different normal, I’m sure.

So here I am in a quiet house, knowing I should probably sleep while Benjamin sleeps, yet I have a million things I’d like to do while things are still: pack up all of my maternity clothes and put my old clothes (which now seem new!) into the dresser; start writing thank you cards; make study guides and write posts for the Unbound Book Club; call my dear friend Alli for the third time in one day. And then in the midst of thinking of these things I want to do I realize – Ben has already been alive for a whole week. We’ve been through so much in just one week. One week. I need to not do anything except reflect on God’s grace, be quiet, and be thankful. Not run into the busyness I’m so prone to run to. Why do I seek busyness? Maybe to elude loneliness. Maybe to fulfill this annoying desire to always be productive. Maybe because this last week, now that I think about it, was pretty overwhelming and I still can’t wrap my brain around the craziness. Ah, to rest. What does that mean? Someone help me out. Ha.

Benjamin is doing great. We went to the doctor today and his weight has increased. Praise the Lord! Jude, on the other hand, is pretty sick right now, but still super sweet. He loves little Ben. I caught him walking up to him while he was sleeping on the couch, placing his hand on Ben’s leg, and leaning over and kissing his blanket. Jude’s always been a kisser. Always. You can imagine the joy in my heart when I see him kiss his little brother who will most likely be his closest friend. These are the moments I need to be still for. Closets and clothes and other things can wait. At least this next week, the second week. 

Again, all glory to God for Ben’s recovery. Please keep our family in your prayers as we navigate new changes and find time to be together as a new family.

We were discharged from the hospital this afternoon and it is so great being home. Jude’s been showing off for me nonstop (we’ve been away from each other a lot the last five days or so…) and tonight some friends gave us the yummiest comfort food for dinner. I’m so full! Thanks Mark and Ashley!

Ben is doing well. He’s your “typical” baby: he eats and sleeps. That’s about it. Though one thing is pretty incredible – the fact that he is totally healed and now sleeping on our couch. A resident doctor came in to see me before we checked out today. She wanted to know everything about my pregnancy and delivery because she said Ben’s turnaround is very “unusual” and the doctors are trying to figure out the how’s and why’s of his condition – and the reason he became better so quickly. I attribute it to Christ alone. I did before I left and felt his peace and reassurance during our time at the hospital. But for some reason, the questioning of this woman made me realize even more what a miracle it is that Ben didn’t have to have surgery and that he doesn’t have any complications or things we need to watch out for or anything. In the medical field, the fact that he is well is baffling. As a Christian, it’s overwhelming to remember that there is nothing God can’t do. 

Thank you again for your prayers. We are truly blessed to serve a gracious and loving King and to know so many people who care for us as brothers and sisters.

Great news. Our little Ben does not have Hirschsprung Disease as the doctor’s originally suspected. We got the results from his biopsy back today. Basically, he has an immature colon and all it needs is time to grow. I was able to start nursing today and Ben has been unplugged from just about everything: antibiotics, saline, everything. No more tubes in his nose. Nothing. It’s a beautiful sight. We get to go home in a couple of days! I don’t even think we’ll be sent home with medication. We’ll basically get to walk out the doors with our little baby and head home like nothing happened. All glory to God in the highest. He reigns, he reigns, he reigns…

Benjamin James Furubotten

Benjamin James Furubotten was born on March 19, 2009 @ 7:20pm. He weighed 7.5 pounds and is 19.5 inches long. He’s adorable and we love him like crazy. Jude, though mostly oblivious, has had his moments of adoration too. When we first brought Ben home, Jude shared his toys right away. He put two blocks and his dearest stuffed animal Poncho into his car seat. (We’re pretty sure he was trying to let Poncho kiss his brother, not smother him, as he placed Poncho right onto Ben’s face.) 

The evening we brought Ben home, Friday the 20th, we ended up taking him back to the hospital. Thankfully, we are in amazing hands. First, in the hands of a sovereign and mighty God who knit our little boy together. And secondly, God has blessed us with an amazing hospital and a surgeon who cares for Ben as if he was his own. Ben is experiencing intestinal problems and the cause is still to be determined. As of today (Monday, March 23rd), we’re waiting for the results of his biopsy to come in and we’ll go from there. He wasn’t able to eat any food from the evening he was born until just this morning around 1am. (See pictures…) He’s making progress. 

So now? We wait. Michael and I miss whichever little guy we’re not with and that’s been pretty hard, but we are also filled with so much peace and thank each of you for your continuing prayers. Currently my mother-in-law is staying with us and caring for Jude and either Michael or I go home regularly to put Jude down for his naps and be there when he wakes up in the morning. We’re trying to keep things as normal as possible for him. Jude is so sweet and handling all these changes really well.

I probably won’t get on here much more. I’d much rather be holding little Ben while I’m here at the hospital. So many of you have expressed concern and we appreciate that so much! Thank you again for your prayers. We know we are loved by God and we trust Him with all things. If I could describe to you the joy and peace I feel during this difficult time, despite many tears, I would. But there has never been a question of how much I trust the Lord, nor have I questioned what He is doing in our lives and with Ben. Without Jesus, this would break me. With Jesus, I see blessings all around. 

(There are more pictures posted on the right side bar…)

Now, for those who know us well, you won’t be surprised by this, but we may have decided on a different name for our new little boy. Just wanted to give you a heads up, since I know his potential name has been circulating. For sure, his middle name is James. Call him Baby James, if you like. (For now, at least.) We’ve known since Jude was born that we wanted to name our next boy after Michael’s dad. Since we do tend to change our minds so often (such is one pleasure of life…we can!), we’ll just keep our baby’s name a secret until he comes. So much more fun that way.

The birth of our new baby is quickly approaching. I can’t believe how fast this pregnancy has gone! Imagining a new little baby in my arms reminds me of Jude when he was super tiny. And that too – I just can’t believe how quickly he’s grown. Here are some fun baby pics:

Michael started a blog recently to catalog this crazy (but glorious) church-planting venture God has called us to. Check it out. He’s just getting started, but will begin posting regularly as time allows.

www.mfurubotten.wordpress.com