His Eye is on the Sparrow

In just a few short weeks (or days, even!), the babies will be here.  We'll have the typical parent-of-newborn concerns:  "are they eating enough?", "why are they crying so much?", "will I ever get to sleep more than two consecutive hours again?", etc.  All of that, I'm sure, will be compounded by the fact that we have not just one but two newborns (and a two year old)!
We'll also have additional concerns to deal with that (thankfully) most parents don't have to endure.  You see, we learned several months ago that the doctors believe Judson has a heart defect called tricuspid atresia.  I'm far from a medical expert, but, in a nutshell (based on my layperson's understanding), what that means is that the right ventricle of his heart is underdeveloped and because of that not enough blood will be pumped to his lungs and his body will therefore not receive enough oxygen to survive for very long without medical intervention.  Thankfully, modern medicine has discovered a way to treat this condition, but it will not necessarily be an easy road for the first few months of his life.  The condition usually requires that the newborn undergo surgery immediately after birth, at six months, and then again at four years old.  While most people go on to live normal lives, there are some limitations that come with the condition in that there may not be as much blood being pumped to the lungs as a normal person would have. 
So...that's what we face immediately after the babies are born:  Judson will be whisked away to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Tony will go with him, and Wren and I will stay in the hospital until we can go home. 
I write this in hopes that you all will pray with us for our sweet boy.  First though, I must say that there are several things that I am thankful for: 
1)  It is only the right side of his heart that is underdeveloped.  Some babies have this condition on the left side, which is a much worse prognosis.  Some babies also have much worse birth defects than this one that have much more of an effect on their lives.
2)  We live so close to an amazing hospital that is well-equipped and experienced to deal with this condition.
3)  So many of our incredible family and friends have already offered to help and pray for us in any way that they can.
Here are some specific things that you can pray for Judson:
1)  For a miracle!  That he's born with a perfectly healthy and functioning heart, with no intervention. 
2)  That the first surgery is not required.  There are some set of circumstances where they can skip the first surgery and just have the second and third surgeries when he's older.
3)  If he has to have the first surgery, there are two possible ways for it to be done, one of which is less invasive.  Pray that he would qualify for the less invasive procedure.
4)  That the surgery would be uneventful and that he would recover quickly so he can come home!
5)  That no complications (feeding issues, infections, etc.) would arise as a result of the surgery.
6)  For his poor mama, who will be missing him until he comes home. And that he won't miss me too much.  I've taken to sleeping with this little guy beside me so that he'll have something that smells like me while he's in the hospital.

7)  For Tony who will be spending most of his time with him in the hospital.
While this is by no means a small matter, the Lord has granted us a peace that surpasses all understanding about it.  Literally the day after I found out that there was possibly something amiss with Judson, I saw the most beautiful bird (an indigo bunting for all you bird enthusiasts) at my bird feeder.  It was there nearly every time I looked at the bird feeder for three days straight. 

 Isn't that just the most amazing color?

Every time I saw it, it was a reminder to me of this verse: 
Matthew 6:25-26  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Right about this time, my friend Becky also sent me the very appropriate and encouraging lyrics to the hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow:”

1. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
   Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
   When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
   • Refrain:
     I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
     For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
2. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
   And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
   Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
3. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
   When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
   I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I haven't seen the bird after those three days, but the sense of peace hasn't left me.  We know who made our babies, and we know who's looking after them.
Thank you for praying with us and for us!