Three Roses

Our son Braydon was born last Saturday, January 16th. He weighed in at 5lbs 5oz and 18 1/2 inches long. He was 35 weeks 6 days at birth. Because he was born a few weeks early he has been in the NICU since the day he was born.

The day after Braydon was born my parents bought me a vase with three roses in it. There were two yellow and one pinkish in the middle. A day or so after I received them, I thought about the significance of this arrangement. I decided the two yellow roses must symbolize the parents- Ryan and I, and the pinkish rose the baby- Braydon. The pinkish rose sits between the two yellow.

Braydon has been in the NICU now for 8 days. It's been a difficult experience and discouraging at times. Last night was one of those times where it just seemed like he would never be going home. When we got home, I was in my room and looked at the vase with the roses in it. The two yellow roses were quiet wilted and dried. they didn't look awful, but they had seen better days. The pinkish rose in the center was opened and thriving beautifully. I remembered the symbolism I had thought of concerning the three roses. Ryan and I were definitely feeling a little worse for wear last night, but Braydon was thriving beautifully. I guess that is what being a parent is about sometimes. Sometimes you give up your own comfort and rest for that of your child to help them to thrive.

I'm so thankful for the Lord's protection over Braydon by giving the doctors wisdom. It's a miracle that they caught my low fluid levels. It could have been much worse. As I look at the other babies in the NICU I'm so thankful because many of them will be there for months.