Thankfulness

We got a call today that Josiah's newborn screen results came back and that he tested positive for galactosemia, a rare genetic disorder that Elisha had as an infant. Actually, I guess he still has it, but his body has outgrown or adapted in some way, so he is now able to drink milk.

This meant that we had to take Josiah up to the hospital so that they could do another newborn screen (read: prick his heel and squeeze the blood out of it onto a card while he screamed for 10 minutes). It should take about a week to get these test results; and during that time, he has to take soy formula and I need to pump to keep my milk supply up in case it turns out the test was wrong.

This news produced a variety of emotions: sadness of wanting to breastfeed and possibly not being able to, especially since this is our last "planned" child; disappointment from thinking things were *fine* since he didn't have severe jaundice (Elisha was rehospitaized for two days due to his high bilirubin levels); frustration from having to wash bottles, boil nipples, and pick up formula; worry that because he can't breastfeed, he will not have a good immune system or optimum brain development or whatever (I realize these are irrational thoughts...well, not the immune system issue - I think that's a researched fact).

So now we are trying to settle in and get reorganized and refocused: physically, mentally and even spiritually. I'm trying to gain perspective and see things from a more eternal viewpoint where it will not matter one bit how Josiah was nourished for the first year of his life.

I was thinking earlier today about things for which I am thankful, and I wanted to post a list. (Keep in mind that I am a practical person.) I am thankful...

*that Elisha only threw up once and it has been almost 24 hours
*that Madelyn did not have a fever this morning; it must have "broke" in the night
*that Jim was home this morning to help monitor and entertain the older two so I could care for Josiah and keep him germ-free
*that Jim was able to take a couple of hours off to go to the hospital with me
*that I have amazing friends like Tasha who was willing to take my kids at a moments' notice (even though she knew they had been ill in the last 24 hours - I'm not sure I would have agreed to that)
*that at least they have a newborn screen to catch potential problems like galactosemia
*that we have a wonderful pediatrician who is double checking this AND whose office gave us free cans of soy formula (that stuff is expensive!)
*that I have a sensitive husband who will let me cry over things like this without making me feel stupid or overly emotional

There are many more things I could add, but I'll stop for now. What are you thankful for?