We've been home for a week and are starting to process small bits of the last seven [+38].

• 35 pre-birth appointments between 5 doctors 
• 38 weeks and 3 days in utero
• 7 weeks in the NICU
  • 2 surgeries, 8 omphalocele reductions, 15+ blood workups, 2 echocardiograms, 2 x-rays, 2 PICC lines, 4 IVs, 2 ventilators, 1 NG tube
  • 80+ medical team members: 33 nurses, 3 surgeons, 6 neonatologists, 5 nurse practitioners, 2 dietitians, 1 occupational therapist, 1 speech language pathologist, 1 physical therapist, 4 respiratory therapists; just to name a few
  • 2 pounds and 2 inches grown
  • LOTS of laps in the wagon
• 1 very brave little girl

This platform has been an incredible way for us to share updates, prayer requests and photos with you all. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support for our family in this season. We cannot say thank you enough for walking alongside us in this journey. We don't know that we will continue to use this site as we fully expect that aside from a few sessions to work on feeding and muscle strength, Baylee will make a full recovery and be a "normal" baby. However, please feel free to reach out to either of us any time you want a Baylee update or cute baby pictures :) We are still happy to show off our girl.

We are so happy that our girl is home. Even more than that, we are so humbled by and in awe of the goodness and nearness of our Savior. If you take anything away from this journey with us, please let it be this: All glory to God. From the day we found out we were pregnant, we entrusted this little life to God. The day we found out about her omphalocele, we did so even more. With each appointment, each procedure, each day, we ran to the Lord for comfort, healing, patience and grace. God does not promise us an easy life when we follow Him. But, He does promise us that it won't be this way forever. We look forward to the day that there are no more tears, there is no more pain. We eagerly anticipate the day that we can fellowship in Heaven with God's people. We long for the day that surpasses even the joy of the day we brought Baylee home. If any part of you longs for that too, or even wonders about it, please reach out to me. So many of you have said that God chose us to be Baylee's parents for a reason. We believe that that reason is not just to love her, but to glorify Him. We have prayed through this whole experience that we were His image bearers, a light in the darkness, servants for His Kingdom. We pray that you felt that. We pray that you felt God working in your heart. We pray that you know and love Him in this life as He knows and loves you. We pray that Baylee knows that one day too. Time to go figure out how to teach her that and about a million other things.

Love, The Lindemulders