A new chapter has begun in our family story with an already dearly loved new character, sure to be a star. Our new little granddaughter, Nora Rose Mason, was welcomed into our family the first week of March and she is finally home.
Caleb and Lauren brought her home by driving a rental car several days, stopping every four hours to feed and care for her, and it made the trip three days long. Nora was a great little traveler.
Caleb and Lauren were in Florida for 37 days living in an Air B&B and driving to the hospital every day where Nora was in the NICU. This precious little one they adopted was born significantly prematurely, weighing just over four pounds. Nora had a feeding tube and lived in an incubator. It seemed forever before they could reach their hands through the little clear “cocoon” incubator she lived in, but it was a momentous day when they could finally touch their daughter.
Then there was the wonderful day she could come out and they could hold her! Patty and I were privileged to go down and see her up close. How precious she is! How wonderful it was to see how Lauren and Caleb so deeply loved her already!
Nora was steadily gaining weight. She is a little fighter. But they couldn’t leave the hospital until
Nora had five straight days with no issues with her heart or breathing problems. She would get to three and a half days, then something would happen. They would have to reset and start over.
Then she made it to four days. Another hiccup and another restart.
The paperwork to accomplish the adoption could not be started until Nora was released, so the waiting seemed exceedingly long. But finally, it was the day of their prayers and dreams. She made it for five entire days with no episodes. That little warrior was making gains in all kinds of ways, and Dad and Mom got to take her out of the hospital to the place they were staying. Then they were able to start the adoption paperwork with Florida and Ohio. Both places were very cooperative and expedited the process.
They chose to drive home instead of flying because it would be a better experience for Nora, and more protective of her. It was a LONG trip. None of the experience was what they expected. They expected an uneventful birth and fairly smooth sailing adoption. Nothing went as they thought. They were first told the baby would be born around May 25! A baby always changes your world. Nora turned theirs upside down!
If you were to talk to Caleb and Lauren and ask, “Was it worth it all this unexpected cost, time, money, energy, risk, worry?” they would say an unhesitating “yes!” Not because everything was smooth. That doesn’t mean there weren’t tough, challenging days so far. And they are not foolish. They know the challenges of loving and raising a child are just beginning.
This is a picture of life, isn’t it? Things in life don’t always go the way we have envisioned. Their initial thoughts were that they would go to Florida, pick up their baby, and be back in a week or less. They thought they knew all the costs and risks.
This is where people get frustrated and even disappointed with God. But this is life. The difference so often in our contentment with God and our faith in Him is how we manage life when it doesn’t go as expected. God has never promised a formula for a risk-free, care-free, problem-free life. He did promise to always be with us, giving wisdom, direction, hope, and peace, and He would always make it worth it.
Caleb, Lauren, and Nora are all thrilled to be home. Nora is snuggled in her little room, especially prepared with the deepest love for her. She is slowly meeting the people who will shape and fill her life, people who have been praying for and loving on her from a distance for so long.
Caleb and Lauren are trying to rest from the exhausting last weeks, not the easiest thing with a new baby in the house. But they are overflowing with joy. God gave them a new daughter, and amidst it all, He also gave them a remarkable story.
It’s one that drew them close to Him and each other, one that He will continue to write, and they will tell over and over.
It’s a story that will bring God much glory.
Welcome home, Nora Rose.