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| A card from one of the great nurses at Deaconess with Ella's Turkey-Handprints :) |
My mother's heart has so much to be thankful for on this wonderful Thanksgiving day. I am so thankful for my 3 beautiful children that Jesus has blessed me with. I love seeing how He is molding and shaping their hearts in 3 very different ways. Isn't it so great to think that He can meet us each where we are at and shape our hearts exactly how He wants it and how we NEED it to be molded? Our God loves us so much that He sees us each individually and loves us right where we are. So thankful.
I am extra thankful because I was able to hold Ella for the very first time last night. I had to catch my breath as the nurse handed the pink little Ella bundle to me and then I was speechless and all I could do was stare. So thankful.
I usually let Erik do the medical updates since he talks to the doctor (I get way to emotional), but yesterday was a busy day and so I will attempt to explain. Bare with me. Ella's ventilator was changed to a cpap, which is exactly what her grandpa uses at night for snoring. It is a step in the right direction to get her breathing on her own. The doctor called a few minutes ago and said that she is surprised and very pleased with how Ella is doing on this new breathing machine. She was given caffeine to help with her brain (taking after her grandpa again). She also got some tummy time to get her off of her back a little plus I got to hold her. A very busy day, but my sweet Ella is so resilient at such a young age and she is so strong. I am in awe of what Jesus is doing in and through her. So thankful.
32 comments:
Happy Thanksgiving, Christa and Erik, and the three little Dordals. Everytime I read your postings, I get teary. I also give thanks to our Lord for every little improvement, every beautiful photo, every lovely look coming from Ella's eyes. I'm thankful, too, that you and Erik have willingly shared all of this with all of us - you bless us daily, and in turn, I hope our prayers and thoughts help you to keep going. She's an amazingly beautiful girl, and, as her grandpa says, already has quite a legacy in her short time on Earth. Much love and many hugs from Australia - Vicki Weaver
Hallelujah! I am so thankful that you got to hold your little girl (and for tummy time)!!! We love you guys!
These pictures are AMAZING sis! So in love with that baby girl right now :) very thankful for you and your family today... Love you and still praying each day.
Christa, it's so wonderful to see Ella in your arms at last. We are thankful today for all of you, and for each day in Ella's life. Give the boys, and each other, hugs for us. We love you all!!
Aunt Kathy
Many blessings to you and your family on this Thanksgiving Day!
May the spirit of Thanksgiving fill you hearts and make you feel very special in being very blessed creatures of God.We are thinking about you all with love.
Marcia and Paul
What a wonderful Thanksgiving present you were given. May God continue to strengthen Ella and hold your entire family in his arms.
OH, I am so happy you got to hold Ella!!! Saying many prayers for you all today. So Thankful for the many prayers answered and are hopeful many more will be.
I was SO happy to see you finally holding your bundle Miss Ella.
Isn't gratefulness just the most "filling" thing? I praise God for his grace and mercy he has bestowed on you and Erik, and that you have accepted them rather than hardening your hearts against Him.
Sending love, Andi's mom - Linda
My heart filled with joy seeing Ella in your arms, waht a beautiful gift! On this thanksgiving we are thankful for you and Erik and the transparency you've shown on your journey with Ella, it has shown us how to truly live in Christ .. you are so real and honest in the depths but you continue to allow him to give you peace... thank you, it has changed us...Happy Thanksgiving love the edwards
Oh, Christa! In tears, seeing that picture of you holding your sweet girl! What an amazing Thanksgiving gift! Love you all so so much and am so thankful for all the ways God has provided and taken care of each and every one of you these past two weeks. Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends! We love you!!!
Yes! Yes! Let us give Thanks! How amazing the ways God works! Rejoicing for you and with you and giving Christ all the thanks and praise!
~Sue Asbjornsen (on Andi's computer!)
WOW! That is amazing! What great news! I am SO happy you were able to hold your sweet girl yesterday!!! What a gift. We love you and will continue to pray for sweet Ella.
Christa--
You may not remember me. I used to babysit you. Your parents and my husband and I went to First Free and then I forget the name of the church in the Lyons' Theatre. I have been following your blog ever since Sue Young brought it to my attention and you have all been in my prayers. What a blessing to get to hold your little Ella! Praise God for each day and each miracle.
Love you
Carrie Gretz
Seeing her in your arms Christa...is such a beautiful answer to prayer! We were praying for you all at Thanksgiving Dinner and were so excited to log on here and see your wonderful thanksgiving post. Praise and thank you, to our miracle working Jesus!!!
I am so happy you got to hold her today! :) I showed my grandma a picture of her from Facebook tonight and my grandma said she is beautiful and loved the one with her eyes looking at you! My whole family keeps asking Steph and i how Ella is doing. We are all praying for her to get well and for you both! We all think you both are so strong and are so happy to be able to read these blogs. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Oh Christa!!! I am so extremely happy for you that you got to hold sweet Ella! What a gift after having to wait for what seems such a long time for your poor aching arms! Our God is so good!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am SO happy that you were able to hold little Ella!!! What a wonderful gift!!!
Continuing to pray for your family!!!
Love, Nick, Jen, & Mia Snider
We are so excited that you got to hold Ella! What a gift!
Your Grandparents are here from Tacoma for the holiday, so I will be sure to show them the blog Fri.! It will be nice for them to see you and Erik with Ella!
God bless you..
Linda and Bob
Wow you guys!!... that is incredible... I cannot imagine how special yesterday was, and how full of extra praises it must be to see the improvement and get to experience holding her, feeling her right in your arms and what that must have felt like for her too!... we are overjoyed she is improving, ever so steadily and slowly. Praise Jesus!!!! Our prayers continue daily for you all and we love you guys. By the way, that Thanksgiving card that sweet nurse made for you is the cutest card I've ever seen! ;)
I just want to say that I think you guys are amazing! I think little Ella is amazing and she's a fighter! Just like her mom and dad! I'm still praying hard hard for you guys and for her little body! Get lots of rest and most of all rest in the Lord. He's a big God and loves little Ella so much! Bless you guys!
You got to hold her!!! How exciting, Christa! Those pictures are beautiful.
JESUS...you are amazing! How precious these hands and feet are to you. What a wonderful gift to give to the Dordal family and the rest of the New Community family.
She's got Jesus strength! :)
yy
Erik and Christa,
Grandma Louise got to see your blog and read all about Ella...see the pictures and read what people have written to you regarding praying for you both and Ella. The tears were falling and she said what a blessing that so many people care for you all and what an amazing thing prayer is!! She was truly blessed.
We are so grateful for Ella and the impact she has had on SO many people to join in prayer for God's healing touch.
God bless you,
Linda and Bob
We are thankful for you, The Dordal family - that you are able to share your story, that you are able to search for (and find) comfort in the loving arms of our Lord. What a gift to hold your baby girl.
Love,
Qui and Ryan
Happy Thanksgiving! I pray often for you all, especially when I drive downtown and look up at the hospital asking Jesus to pour his love and healing power over Ella. So glad you were able to hold her. That really made me smile today.
LIndsay
Praise Jesus for the time you were able to hold sweet Ella in your arms. My heart is overwhelmed with what Jesus is doing through Ella's life. When I look at her pictures, I can see Jesus smiling through her eyes.
My momma's heart has been breaking for you since I first heard of you. I have been praying that God would let you hold your little girl. I am full of tearful joy at this blessing for you. Ella is in our hearts and prayers.
Thank you so much for keeping us all updated! I have been praying for you all, and will continue to do so. May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you PEACE.
-your fellow Sunday seat partner, Ana :)
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