Forty-Second Day...

Good morning, it's Monday and time to start another week. I was born on a Monday, therefore we count the weeks in the NICU as beginning on Mondays. This will be the sixth week of my journey and things are moving forward at a good pace. It's amazing to think of all the ways the Lord has provided for me thus far and I know he will continue to be faithful. All throughout the day yesterday they kept me on the NC (Nasal Cannula) to observe how I tolerated being off the CPAP mask. At some point last night I began to tire just a bit so they resumed the six hour rotation. Once they put the mask back on my stats returned to a normal range. So, I am back to rotating between the NC and the mask. They'll give me a couple of more days on the rotation and try again. All of this is normal and no one on the staff is surprised or worried by this. I continue to tolerate my feedings well and digestion remains good. Please pray for continued improvement in breathing mechanics and efficiency, good feeds, BM's, and stamina. There is nothing special scheduled for today, so the emphasis will be on getting me stronger. Y'all keep praying and I'll keep growing. Blessings, JSR.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Phil. 4:13 (KJV)

Forty-First Day (evening update)...

Hey all, it's been a wonderful day in the neighborhood. I spent the day being held by my Mommy & Daddy. It was cool! Everything pretty much stayed the same as I reported this morning. So, no news is good...no great...news! Here are a few pics from the day, including one with Lee & Mona Silvey. The Silvey's are friends from our church, Community Presbyterian (PCA) in Moody, AL. Later, JSR.

Forty-First Day...

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and
praise to spring up before all the nations.
Isa. 61:10-11 (NRSV)

A good Lord's Day morning to all. I hope you're having a swell weekend. There's not much new news to tell you, but I'll give you the latest. Robin was my nurse last night and she reported that I've had an uneventful evening. I'm still at 22 ml on my feedings and continue to do a fine job of digesting my food. The staff has kept me on the six hour rotation between the Nasal Cannula (NC) and the CPAP mask, which seems to be working really well. I am continuing to have steady BM's. My Xrays, labs, and morning physicals are still normal. One new thing that happened was I had my first eye exam yesterday. The doc said everything looked just like it was supposed to look. This was a relief for my folks since one of the potentially adverse effects of the ventilator is eye damage. It's not that the vent can make a preemie go blind, but it can cause issues with having 20/20 vision. As of right now, none of the potentially negative effects a vent can have on a preemie are showing up! This is subject to change, but the longer I go without anything showing up the less likely it is that I have suffered any negative consequences. This is a huge PRAISE! We are so very thankful to God for his grace in this area. So, you're all up to date. I should be able to get an afternoon update in later, Sundays are usually pretty lazy around here. Have a great time at worship! Blessings, JSR.

Fortieth Day...

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable Saturday. I had another good day and night, thank the Lord. My nurse last night was Robin and she took really good care of me. Dr. Mena has upped my feeds to 22 ml every three hours and I am having "very little" residual. Once I get to 30 ml per serving my diet will be altered. We haven't discussed this with the docs other than it being mentioned in passing. We are all still focusing upon one day at a time. I am still on six hour rotations with breathing using the CPAP mask and the nose prong deal. FYI, I've been referring to it as the "nose prong deal," but the medical term is a Nasal Cannula (NC). Sorry I didn't clarify that earlier. Mommy and I snuggled for a good long while yesterday. My Dad tried to reach her several times but she was unavailable, LOL. He finally called the NICU and told them to have her call him when they could finally pry me from her arms, LOL. The holdings are really great!! Mommy really likes it and I always get a good nap. I want you guys to be in prayer for my Daddy. He's been working a lot of hours and hasn't been able to come visit much this week, he even has to work this weekend. He gets bummed out about it and feels like he's missing everything. So, pray for Jesus to be really close to him right now. I would really appreciate it. As far as prayer needs for me just keep praying for continued improvement in all the usual areas; breathing efficiency, feedings, stamina, and strength. I would like to close by once again thanking everyone who is praying for me. My folks have gotten tons of calls, cards, emails, and stuff from people everywhere letting us know they're lifting our family up. The other day we got emails from people in Texas, Iowa, New York, and California who are praying for us and they don't even know us. How cool is that?! I know I'm not the most critical preemie in the NICU and a big reason for that is prayer. So, THANK YOU!! Well, I've gotta go, time for the morning diagnostic. I hope you guys enjoy your day. Later, JSR.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isa. 40:27-31 (ESV)

Thirty-Ninth Day...

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
Jude 24-25 (ESV)

Good morning all, I hope y'all rested well. My night went really well and I feel refreshed for the day. My nurse last night was Stephanie. It was her first time to care for me so I took it easy on her. Daddy called earlier and she said I was a real "sweetie." So, obviously I didn't play around with a loaded diaper or have a fit when she handled me, LOL. I'm still doing a good job of digesting my feedings, which remain at 21 ml per serving. However, they've added a growth medicine to each feeding to give me more calories in order to increase my growth rate. There's nothing wrong and they are not concerned that I'm growing too slow. The docs just want me to be as big and as strong as possible. The goal is to get me breathing on my own and gaining a little weight and strength will greatly assist in making this happen. I've been changed from a three to six hour rotation on the nose prong deal. This is really great news. I was tolerating the three hour "shifts" just fine so they bumped me up. The next step is no CPAP, but I think we are a few days away from that happening. So, everything is continuing on course, PRAISE!! Mommy came for her usual visit yesterday and of course we got to cuddle for a while. I love being held by my Mommy. I always go right to sleep and take a big fat nap. Dad had to work late so he didn't get to come by. I miss him when he can't come by, but he calls throughout the day just to check on me. Meme and Pop were also here for a while, which was cool. They come up once a week to get fresh pictures, help out, and visit. My Pop always has a camera attached to his hand whenever I see him, LOL. Today will be more of the same as far as my treatment goes. Keep praying for effective breathing, stamina, strength, and weight gain. Well, they're here for my morning physical so I've gotta go. I promise I'll do a better job of giving you guys an evening update, but the days have been really long lately. I hope each of you has a great day and that the presence of Christ will be especially real and sweet to you. Blessings, JSR.

Thirty-Eighth Day...

Good morning guys and gals. Yesterday and last night both went well. I maintained having good feeds and digestion, my breathing is showing steady improvement, and my stamina is improving bit by bit. All good news! Sometimes preemies have trouble staying on the straight and narrow path of positive steps for several days in a row, but God has been gracious and yesterday we took another step forward. If you notice, in the picture the CPAP mask has been replaced by nose prongs. The prongs are the next step to getting off the CPAP and breathing without training wheels. The staff has begun a process of each day having me rotate from the mask to the prongs every three hours. If I can manage this comfortably then the time will increase to a six hour rotation. If I can handle six hours without issue then the CPAP will be gone and my breathing will be 100% me. So, it's possible that within a week or two I could be breathing without any assistance! Wow, it's hard to believe we have progressed to this point. If you've followed my journey then you know that breathing efficiently has been a major issue for me. So, to even be to the point where we can speak of that day being on the horizon is HUGE. Please pray for continued progress as we all know that this has all been the Lord's doing. He's sustained me, given me great people to care for me, and lead many to pray for me. It's such a comfort knowing that the Sovereign God of the universe loves you and is intimately involved with your whole life. I hope you guys have a great day. I'm about to start the morning routine so I've gotta run. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Later, JSR.

A PSALM OF PRAISE
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100 (ESV)

Thirty-Seventh Day...

Greetings, I hope everyone had a good night. I'm sorry I didn't give you an evening update last night, but the day was long (it was late) and I was tired when it ended. I did well yesterday and last night. My feeds have gone up to 21 ml per serving, woo-hoo! I am still digesting my food without issue and all the parts that take out the trash are doing great. My O2 saturation rate is getting better. I'm breathing easier with fewer stat drops and when they do drop the range is much smaller than before. Also, I haven't had any episodes with my heart rate in the last two days, Yeah! I got a blood boost yesterday and it really picked me up. I wasn't showing signs of major fatigue, but I did need a little boost, which is expected. They do labs every 12 hours and they have been looking good. I think I forgot to mention that on Monday (35th Day) I had a head ultrasound. They do this periodically to check brain and skull development. It came back negative, which is good, PRAISE! So, I'm still progressing nicely and things are moving forward. That's all I have to update health wise, but there are a couple of other cool things I'd like to tell you about.

A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is
grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass
withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on
it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower
fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isa. 40:6-8 (ESV)

Yesterday Mommy and I got a HUGE surprise. A friend of my parents from their days at Beeson Divinity School dropped by for a visit. The thing is he lives in California! Yep, jumped on a plane and flew all the way to Alabama to see me. WOW!! His name is Darren and he's one of my Dad's best friends. God is using him to plant a church in Vacaville, a small town in the Bay area. He visited with us for a couple of hours til 6PM when they kick everyone out of the NICU. Afterwards he and my folks went to dinner. It's cool that God gives us things like that to encourage us. Another cool thing was my Pastor, Burt, and his wife, Anita, came by for a visit later in the evening. My Daddy and I were hanging out and I look up and there's my pastor. We hung out and chatted and then had prayer for me and my parents. They prayed for God's hand on my life and my relationship with Jesus. I'm sure I will begin to get a better understanding of what all this means when I get a little older. Well, that about covers it. I don't think I've forgotten anything, which is suprising, LOL. Today pray for continued lung development, good feedings, strength, and stamina. Thanks so much for all your prayers! I still remember my promise to give each of you a hug when I get outta here. God is so good; He's so good to me. Later, JSR.

Thirty-Sixth Day...

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
Matt. 7:7-11 (ESV)

Hello and Good Morning, I had a good night last night. Heather was my nurse and I behaved well for her. When I first got here, which seems like a long time ago, Heather was one of the first people to care for me. However, scheduling and stuff have kept her from having me for a while so it was good to get reacquainted. Dad called this morning and she told him I was doing good and that my night went well. I have gained a little weight and right now I'm at 2 lb. 5 oz. They weigh me every night, but I only post it once a week (see the "My Weekly Progress" section) because it fluctuates a lot. I can gain 30 grams in a day then have two good BM's and lose almost all of it. So, rather than tell you about every little change I post once a week to give you a big picture view of my weight. That's also why the staff concentrates on slow steady growth because it's a sign of actual mass and not retained fluid or something like that. I know I have been doing really well lately and there's the temptation to get a false sense of security because it's been a while since I've had a set back. It's important to remember that I'm by no means out of the woods yet. The docs remind us that my condition is still termed as "critical." Tomorrow I could be back on the ventilator or having other issues that seemingly come out of nowhere. Remember the preemie principle; two steps forward and one step back. I'm really thankful to God and happy about where I'm at in my development, but "It ain't over til it's over." So, please keep praying for breathing efficiency, stamina, growth, good feedings, and BM's. I will be in the NICU for many more days and will need your support and love. We're still taking things one day at a time, begging God for a good day today and we'll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. I'm still amazed at how God cares for us. I'm surrounded by really great and capable people all placed here by God to take care of me. I have all of you praying for me and taking such good care of my folks. Thinking about it and everything that's involved is more than I can fathom, but I suspect that's something you don't out-grow. Blessings, JSR.

Thirty-Fifth Day (evening update)...

I hope everyone has had a great day. Life in the NICU was just more of what we've had lately. There are about 30 babies in here, for various reasons, and it can get loud and wild at the drop of a stat. It can get on your nerves, but you get used to it. My day went well. Dr. Mena upped my feeds to 20 ml per serving, YEAH! If you remember, the staff thought it best to suspend the amount increase until I got used to the CPAP. I've been doing pretty well and the reward is more milk. My nurse today was Emily. We basically hung out all day; I ate, slept, and pooped while she made sure I did it all correctly, LOL. Seriously, they do a really good job of monitoring me in the mundane tasks of life. It's all part of being in a intensive care unit. The best part of the day was this afternoon when Mommy got to hold me for a while. I don't think that will ever get old. Well, I'm off to get fed and some shut eye. I'll update again in the AM. JSR, out.

Thirty-Fifth Day...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Prov. 3:5-6 (ESV)

Greetings from Birmingham, I hope Easter was a blessed day for everyone. We had a great day! My folks came by for the usual after church visit. Meme and Pop were also here all afternoon. It was good to be with them and just hang out. Mommy got to hold me for a long time. I slept like a rock while she was holding me kangaroo style. My stats were really good so nurse Dee gave us a little extra time together, cool. Dr. DiCarlo told my Daddy that my Xrays were looking better and that I am making good progress. I hope I can maintain my current pace, but as you know preemies are always susceptible to set backs. Pray that my O2 saturation rate, heart rate, and stamina remain stable. My feedings are still going well and I'm growing little by little. It's better to have a steady gain than an all of the sudden growth spurt. So, thank the Lord for my steady growth! Last night was great as Kim and I just hung out and did the usual diagnostic tasks. I "behaved" much better as she only had to bathe me once and I kept my diaper on, LOL. I'll check back in later if time allows. Y'all keep praying and I'll keep growing. God bless you all! Later, JSR.

Thirty-Fourth Day...

"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word."

Matt. 28:1-8 (ESV)

Happy Resurrection Sunday from the NICU! I hope everyone has a blessed day and a good time at worship. I know today is set aside as a special day, but my folks say every Sunday should be considered a celebration of Christ's resurrection. Anyway, I hope y'all have a great day with your church, family, and friends. My Pop & Meme will be up this afternoon after church, it'll be good to see them. I wish Papa Hal could make the trip, but he works with the Red Cross and is very busy right now. Well, on to the update.


I had another good night in relation to my breathing and feeding. However, my behavior seemed to be lacking a bit, LOL. Let me see, how can I best explain this? At some point last night I made a poopy diaper, which I proceeded to wiggle out of. It doesn't take much imagination to guess what happened next. Yep, got the stuff everywhere in my preemie condo. My nurse, Kim, was like "What have you done!" She wasn't mad, but she did have to bathe me again, LOL. Boys will be boys, I guess. Anyway, she got me all cleaned up and strapped down and the rest of the night went well. Today will consists of the staff really checking my O2 stats. I'm to the point to where my breathing is the main concern. I'm tolerating my feedings, digestion is fine, labs and Xrays are looking better, PRAISE!! The main thing lacking is consistency in breathing. So, remember that when you pray.

Thanks to everyone for lifting me up! I know God has heard each prayer on my behalf. He's been so faithful and gracious to me. Even on the bad days God has never left me as an orphan, He's always here with me. I heard a quote somewhere that said, "God doesn't move without first moving his people to pray." I think there's some truth to that. I'm gonna run for now, Dee and Kelly need to put me through the morning routine. Maybe next year we can celebrate the Resurrection together. Love, JSR.

Thirty-Third Day (evening update)...

I thought I'd give you one last update for today. My day has gone pretty good although I had one period where my heart rate dipped. However, late this afternoon nurse Kelly went to Dr. DiCarlo and asked if my Daddy could hold me. Since I have been doing really well he said it would be ok. So for about an hour I took a nap while my Daddy held me. It was different than when Mommy has held me, but still cool. Now I have taken a nap in both my parent's arms. The neat thing is that my stats have remained stable whenever they have held me. Mommy says it's a sign that they should be allowed to hold me more, LOL. I don't think Dr. DiCarlo is buying her argument. Another first for the day was having Dad change a dirty diaper, which he didn't mind doing. It's been a big day and my belly is full from my most recent feeding. I'm gonna hit the rack early. I'll check back in tomorrow morning to wish y'all a blessed Resurrection Sunday. Rest well, JSR.

Thirty-Third Day (afternoon update)...

Hello, I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful day. Well, I hear it's really nice outside, but I wouldn't know since I'm cooped up in the NICU. That's ok though, there will be a day for me to play outside. The day is progressing nicely. Dee & Kelly are my nurses and they say I am doing really well. Feeds are going well, O2 stats are looking good, already had a good BM, and I'm lying on my tummy, YEAH! Lately I've been spending a lot of time on my back, which gets old quick. Some of you might be wondering why I make such a big deal about my bodily functions. BM's are real important for several reasons. They let everyone know all the plumbing is working, but they also show that my body is "processing" the nutrients out of my food. It's important that I get the most out of what I eat. Preemies often have trouble learning how to regulate themselves, which can potentially cause major health concerns. Pooping is one of the ways my body says, "Hey, I'm doing my job!" Also, if I poop on my own then I don't get the dreaded suppository. Anyone whose familiar with them will tell you they're no fun. Well, I've rambled on long enough. Later, JSR.

Thirty-Third Day...

Hey guys & gals, I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful morning. I had a "wonderful" night. I ate, slept, and filled diapers all night. I guess there are two ways to look at my filling diapers; I'm either full of it or it keeps me from being full of it, LOL. Seriously, my digestive system seems to be fully operational and in mid-season form. I am still tolerating my feeds without any major issues. However, there was one point yesterday when they drew off a large amount of residual, it was more than at any point in the past. My nurse, Emily, said it was due to my being upset. It seems that when preemies get upset or throw a fit it disrupts the digestive process. Why was I having a hissy? Well, they had just finished handling me and, as you know, I don't like that very much. I'm doing fine on the CPAP. My O2 saturation rate is fine and I seem to be holding my own stamina wise. Keep praying for strength and stamina! FYI, there are two devices used to connect the patient to the CPAP, nose prongs and a mask. The nose prongs do just what the name says, they are stuck up your nose. I am not a fan of the prong deal! The mask covers a portion of the patient's face forming a passage allowing the air to travel, my preferred method. So, it's been a good night and morning so far. The nurses just finished running me through the paces this AM and I'm gonna take a nap. Mommy and Daddy will be up later. I want to be rested up when they get here so we can do the holding thing again. Yesterday Mommy got to hold me kangaroo style (pictured). I really LOVE the kangaroo style hold. I slept for over an hour yesterday while Mommy held me. Today is Daddy's turn and I know he's looking forward to it. So, as you can see we have a big day ahead us and little dudes need their rest. Oh yeah, one last thing, tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday!! I hope everyone remembers the significance of the day and truly celebrates the beauty of Jesus Christ!! Later, JSR.

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."
Rom. 5:6-11 (ESV)

Thirty-Second Day...

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
James 4:13-15 (ESV)

Good morning, I hope everyone had a good night. My night was uneventful, but the NICU was buzzing with activity. We have a bunch of babies in here and it can get pretty crazy at times. I basically slept and ate all night. My stats look good and everything is moving in a positive direction. The staff will watch me like a hawk today to observe how I'm adjusting to breathing with the CPAP. Pray that everything keeps progressing with my breathing issues. This is gonna be a short update this AM, not much to update on, which is a good thing. I'm off for my morning physical, Xrays, labs, and miscellaneous tasks. Later, JSR.

Thirty-First Day (update)...

Hey guys, I'm sorry I'm so late updating everyone. We had a great day today! I went off the vent this afternoon around 1 o'clock. Dr. Strange was "really pleased" with how I responded to breathing with a CPAP. There's still a chance I might have to go back on the vent in the future. It all depends upon my ability to handle everything strength and stamina wise. Another important factor is my diet; I'm on a diet with actual food rather than IV fluids. The IV provides necessary nutrients, but it's the real stuff that helps you build muscle and mass. So, pray for strength, stamina, efficient breathing, and continued success in feedings. Dr. Strange suspended the gradual increase in the amount of milk at my feedings. This will give me a chance to adjust to this big change without the added stress of digesting a larger amount of food. Once I am breathing a little easier in a day or two then feeding increases will resume. Everyone here is doing all they can to help me so we don't have to go back to the ventilator. This is an answer to prayer so let's be sure to thank God for it. Night, JSR.

Thirty-First Day...

Good morning, now that our Internet access has been restored the updates will be more frequent. Hopefully, I'll be able to give everyone both a morning and an evening update with the latest news. Technology is great, but when it "glitches" it's a real headache. I want to thank each of you for your concern over these past few days. Mommy & Daddy told me they got calls from people worried that something was wrong since I hadn't updated as often. It really encourages me (us) to know that so many are keeping up with my journey and praying for me (us) each step along the way.

"Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever."

Psalm 28:6-9 (ESV)

I had a good night with lots of sleep and minimal issues. Elizabeth was my nurse and things went really well. At some point she started me on the medicine I mentioned in my last post. It seems to be helping because I haven't had any episodes since it kicked in. We'll see how the day goes and if this does the trick or if it only corrects part of the problem. My Dad called this morning and I heard her tell him I was doing "great!" I like those kind of reports. Today's focus will be on trying to get enough improvement in my overall breathing so I can kick this vent. The quicker I can get off the vent the better I'll be. Hopefully, that will happen at some point in the near future. Also, pray for continued strength and stamina. I'm about to enter the point in my treatment where they start working on making sure my bones are strong and that my whole body develops correctly. Up to this point my docs have been primarily concerned with my heart and lungs, but now the focus broadens, that means a whole bunch of new issues. We'll take 'em one at a time and pray our way through each one as it comes.

I'll update later today. Right now, it's time to start the morning routine. I hope everyone experiences Christ's presence today. Love, JSR.

Thirtieth Day...

Hello, I hope y'all had a good day. Today was a positive day in many areas. I haven't had an "episode" with my stats all day, great news. I've put on a little more weight and now weigh in at 980 grams. My feedings and digestion are going well. There has been very little residual, unprocessed food, from my feedings, which is great! My digestive system is performing well, I had 3 BM's today. So, I seem to be progressing at a nice pace. Breathing efficiency continues to be an issue. Tonight they are going to start me on some meds that will help my lungs and decrease any internal swelling that might be part of the problem. Please remember all of these things in prayer as we still have many days ahead of us in the NICU. All the things I mentioned are good and signs of my body maturing, but they weren't the best part of the day. Today's highlight was when I got to be held by my Mommy (see pic). Yep, they rearranged all my hook ups and put me right in her arms. It was cool!! We sat for about 30 minutes until I got tired. I pretty much slept the whole time, but the environmental change kinda tuckered me out. It must have been a thrill for her to actually hold me instead of just reaching inside my crib to touch me. Dr. Strange says that Mommy holding me is a bonding exercise. That's really important since I'm supposed to still be in the womb. Tomorrow should be another good day if progress continues. So, everyone keep praying and I'll keep growing. Later, JSR.

Twenty-Ninth Day...

"He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God."
Psalm 62:6-7 (ESV)

Good evening from the NICU. I hope everyone had a great day. My day...let's just say I've been busy. Today was a good day for the ol' plumbing as evidenced by the two LARGE BM's I had earlier. A little while ago Kim, my nurse for the night, gave me a much needed blood boost. (I might have forgotten to mention that my labs have been moved to once every twelve hours, which is good.) Every few days I get some blood to help me replenish what is drawn for labs and such. Also, Dr. Strange increased my feedings to 18 cc (ml) and has taken me off the IV supplements. My diet is now 100% all natural milk, WOO-HOO!! I have had a few episodes where my stats dropped today, but the drops might be related to mucus build up. Because I am so drooly I produce more wet stuff than I can cough out. Over time a build up of retained mucus begins to hinder my breathing and heart rate. However, once they suction me out my stats improve to the acceptable range and I'm good to go for a while. It's normal for we little ones to produce more saliva than we can eject. So, the need for the occasional suctioning isn't alarming. Well, that pretty much catches you guys up with the latest news. Keep praying for my breathing issues as well as continued growth, strength, and successful feedings. I'm gonna turn in for the night, little boys need their sleep. Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite.

Twenty-Eighth Day...

Hey guys, can you believe I've been here a month!! Yep, today makes me one month old. So much has happened the last four weeks. In some ways it feels like it's been longer, but in other ways it seems like I was born just yesterday. Daddy says many things in life are that way. Today was a day like every other day this past week. I'm continuing to do well with my feedings and am still struggling to get my breathing stabilized. I'm not complaining, things could be a lot worse, just stating the facts. As I've said many times before, preemies often have difficulties in this area. So, we'll just keep praying that I would get stronger and that my lungs would mature.

My nurse today was Alice and I'll be hangin' with Elizabeth tonight. I've known these two ladies my whole life, LOL. Today was great day on my social calendar. One of Mommy's good friends, Shari, came to visit us. It was my first time to meet her, although I've already met her hubby, Brian. Shari is a nurse and has always been a good source for medical info for my folks. Meme and Pop also came by for a visit, which is always good. Another cool thing that happened today was my Mom surprised the NICU staff with two Honey Bun cakes; one for day shift and the other for the night shift. However, there is some doubt as to whether or not the second cake survived til the evening, LOL. My Dad says my Mommy can really cook! So, I guess I have some good meals ahead of me when I go home. As you can see it's been a busy day. I'm gonna go for now, but I want to, once again, thank everyone for their prayers on my behalf. I don't know how people, big or little, get through life without prayer. Sleep well and don't forget to thank the Lord for all the "little things," like breathing. JSR, out.

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)

Twenty-Seventh Day (evening update)...

Good evening from the NICU. My day remained pretty much the same as I reported earlier, ok but not great. One bit of good news that came from today was the positive results of my feedings. Right now I am doing really well digesting my food. If I continue to process my feedings they will keep increasing the serving size. Late this afternoon Dr. Mena upped my feeding size from 13 to 14 cc's every three hours. He also said that if I digest most of each feeding for three feedings in a row then the serving will increase by 1 cc. So, three consecutive successful feedings at 14 cc's means the next (fourth) feeding will go up to 15 cc's and so on. Pray that my digestion continues to progress. This is important to my overall growth and strength. Also, pray for my breathing issues as they continue to be a concern. I hope everyone has a good night of rest. I'll update at some point tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers!!

Twenty-Seventh Day...

“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2 (ESV)

Good afternoon everybody, I hope y'all have had a great morning. Myself, I've been enjoying a good Sunday. Today is the first day of my new diet, all natural milk without the IV. This new diet is good for two reason BIG reasons. First, it will be better for my liver long term. Extended use of IV protein supplements increases the risk of liver problems in preemies. Second, the all natural stuff tastes way better than the IV medicine. If I continue to tolerate my feedings then I'll be off the IV stuff permanently. My breathing has been inconsistent today, as usual. The staff is keeping a really close check on my blood work, O2 rate, & heart rate. Hopefully I can reach some level of consistency before the day is over. Please continue to pray specifically for efficiency in breathing & stamina. I'll update again later in the evening. Later, JSR.

Twenty-Sixth Day...

I'm back!! I've got Internet access again, so hopefully you guys will get an update every day. The updates might not be as early as they once were, but I'll try my best to keep you in the know. There have been a lot of changes since Wednesday's post. I'm still on the vent, but it seems that nothing else is the same. I now weigh 30 grams over 2 lbs, Yeah!! I now have regular BM's!! As of tonight I will be getting 12 cc (ml) of milk every three hours. My lungs are still maturing, but they aren't ready to handle the responsibility of breathing full-time. Dr. Mena stresses the fact that I'm not sick, just growing. So, keep praying for breathing issues, good feedings, BM's, and overall strength. I really missed you guys! I hope Internet issues are behind us. Everyone have a great day at church tomorrow. JSR out.

Twenty-Third Day...

Hello from the NICU! I know that some of you have been worried, since I didn't post an update last night or this morning. Everything is fine... but my Internet has been down. Sorry-didn't mean to worry you!

Things are going well. Yesterday, they upped my feeds again so that now I'm up to 5mls every 3 hours. That's a whole teaspoon! It may not sound like much, but it is for this little tummy! Thankfully, I'm still processing my food well. I also gained a little more weight and am now up to 2 lbs! I'm still having some trouble keeping my O2 levels consistent, and am still having some "episodes" where my heart rate drops and my nurse has to run over and stimulate me to breathe and recover. Dion, one of my respiratory techs, told Mommy yesterday that they had started giving me some breathing treatments several times a day to help with this. I've responded well so far, and am hoping that I will continue to improve so I can come off the ventilator soon.

Today, I have several specific prayer requests. Please continue to pray that I tolerate my feedings well and continue to gain weight and grow strong. Also, please pray that God will help my lungs to work they way they need to and my body to process air like it should. Pray that the new medicine they're giving me will help with this and that I can maintain steady O2 and CO2 levels. Pray that I can improve in these areas and come off the ventilator soon. I know that God is a big God and He can handle all this stuff. After all, He made me!

Well, I guess that's all for now. Don't be alarmed if I don't get to post regularly for a few days... they're still working on my Internet situation. Just keep checking in with me! Thanks for all your prayers for me and Mommy and Daddy. Keep praying and I'll keep growing! JSR out.

Twenty-Second Day...

Good morning from the NICU. I trust everyone has had a restful night's sleep. Personally, I had another good night of slumber. Things went about the same as the rest of the day, really smooth. My feedings went well, although I did have some residual (incomplete digestion of all my food) one time, but no one seems overly concerned since it was just once. I seem to be more stable in my breathing efficiency, which is reflected in the decreased help I am getting from the ventilator. I wish I had the knowledge to give you a more thorough explanation of the whole process, but here are the basics. The vent gauges how much it is helping me and I am down to only needing 5% of help on a consistent basis. So, my body is doing more of the actual work of absorbing the O2 out the air I take in. This also means that my body is doing a better job of pushing the CO2 out of my system. All really good news!

"I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
that I may declare all thy works."
Psalm 73:28b (ESV)

Today I hope to take one more step toward getting off the vent. We'll just trust the Lord, do what we can, and let my doc make the call. Today we're praying for continued improvements in breathing and feeding, more rest and "actual" weight gain, as well as increased strength. I say this all the time and it never gets old; PRAISE the Lord and THANK YOU so much for all your prayers!! I don't have the words to express how much they mean to me and my family. Oh yeah, one final thought. The circumference of my head has increased, but I'm not gonna tell you by how much. I might get accused of having "the big head," LOL. I'm off to my morning routine. I hope everyone has a blessed day. Later, JSR.

Twenty-First Day (update)...

I know it's late and many won't read this until morning, but I thought I'd give you a quick word on my day. Everything went pretty much the same as yesterday with the exception of my feeding portion being increased from 3 cc to 4 cc. More milk!! Mommy says I'm beginning to look a little more filled out and no so boney. Dr. DiCarlo said that my labs look good and I'm doing fine. He wants to keep me on the vent a little while longer. The daily X-rays don't show any damage to my lungs. The vent can cause some lung damage if you have to stay on it for a long time. But I'm not having any of those issues, PRAISE!! Dee & Kelly were my nurses today, they're cool. I hung out with them and Mommy most of the afternoon. Well, that about covers it. I hope everyone sleeps well. JSR, out.

Twenty-First Day...

Last night was a really good night. My nurse, Kim, and I hung out all night, but it got busy late yesterday and I didn't have a chance to update you. Sorry. This is a big update so here it goes.

Dr. Strange upped my feedings from 2 cc to 3 cc every three hours, which I am handling just fine. PRAISE! I have gained some actual weight, not just retained fluid, and am up to a whopping 1 lb. 15 oz., PRAISE! Cherie, one of my RT's, hooked me up to this thing that provides better suction. She figured out that one reason my labs weren't consistent was my high level of mucus/saliva production. (Remember, I am a very drooly baby, which is a good thing.) My stats would begin to waver on the monitors and someone would suction me and my stats would improve, go figure? Anyway, this little device enables the nurses & RT's to suction me more often with minimal discomfort, a fact I really like! So, my labs have begun to gain some consistency. This is not a fix all but it does help, PRAISE! Also, if I keep things up throughout the AM they might try to extubate (take me off the ventilator) later today. That would be HUGE! So, I'll bet you can guess what we're praying for today. Yep...steady breathing efficiency, stamina in the art/act of breathing, continued success in feedings, lots of sleep, and a good BM. I know that's a lot, but like I said things got busy late yesterday.

All the praise for this good report belongs to God and the NICU staff. The Lord continues to be faithful and the people here continue to be just awesome in their gentle and thorough care for me. However, there is something very important I want/need everyone to remember. Preemies grow by the two steps forward one step back principle. So, don't be shocked if I regress some in one of these areas. It won't mean all has been for nothing, somebody did something wrong, or God has forgotten me. No, it's just the way the world works in the NICU. So, keep the faith that God knows what he's doing and whatever happens is what he wants. Y'all keep praying and I'll keep growing. Later, JSR.

Psalm 150
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary:
praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts:
praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet:
praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance:
praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals:
praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.
Praise ye the LORD.

Twentieth Day...

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
While I live will I praise the LORD:
I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Psalm 146:1-2 (ESV)

Last night wasn't as good as yesterday. My labs weren't as consistent and my O2 & CO2 levels lacked the consistency we're looking for. I rested well and tolerated my feeding just fine, but my breathing efficiency continues to be a problem. This has been an ongoing issue since I first arrived at the NICU, but that's "normal" for some preemies. I'm learning that the word "normal" is a very subjective term. Today's focus will be on increased efficiency in breathing and better O2 saturation rates. That's what we're praying for today along with the usual requests for strength, stamina, good feedings, and rest.

My parents missed church this morning. I'm glad, they needed a break! They haven't been sleeping much over the last three weeks. Just yesterday my Daddy kept falling asleep. I wanted to tell him to go home and take a nap, but work had caused him to miss two visitations this week. I knew he wasn't leaving until he was good and ready. I think the Lord knows we get tired and just need some down time. The same thing happened to me this week. I was really tired and needed a break so the Lord provided the ventilator to give me some rest. They're coming up with the Phillips, some really good friends of my folks, after lunch. Meme & Pop are coming for a visit at 3, it'll be good to see them. I like the way they make a big deal over me ;-). Pop always has his camera ready for a picture, LOL. Well, that's about it for this morning, I'll chat back at you this afternoon. I hope everyone has a great Lord's Day! Blessings, JSR.

Mommy's Moment 03/8/2008

I think one of the hardest lessons to learn is that God is sufficient. We say it in church all the time. We say we believe it... but when it comes down to it, we-or I guess I should say "I"-don't really evidence that in my life. It's easy to think He's enough when things are easy in life... but when they get tough, I tend to rely on other things or other people to sustain me. This week, God has been teaching me that HE is ENOUGH. HE is what I need. HE is Who I need to rely on, not Keith or great reports from the doctor. It's not been an easy lesson, and I have a feeling that I haven't completely learned it yet and will have to have more lessons in the future.

It's been a very difficult week for me. Physically, I'm completely exhausted. I'm normally an 8-hour a night sleeper but now I get about 3 hours at a time. I started back to work and am trying to do 8 hours worth of work in about 5 each day so I can spend the majority of my afternoons with Jonathan. My hormones are still out of whack, so I get very emotional very easily. -And the toughest thing has been that this has been a tough week for Jonathan. While I know that going back on the ventilator has been the best thing for him and I totally trust his doctors, respiratory techs, and nurses, it has still felt like a huge step backwards and I only want to move forward. One afternoon, all of Jonathan's monitors started screaming at once and his respiratory tech came running over with a very serious look on her face. I was asked to wait in the waiting room so they could do what they needed to help my son. Those were an agonizing 10 minutes filled with fear at what was happening. As it turns out, his ventilator tube had come out of place and he had to be reintubated. It's not an uncommon occurrence, and he was fine. I, on the other hand, was a wreck!

During some of the hardest moments this week, I've asked God why He would cause or allow these tough things to happen in my life-especially when I didn't have Keith at my side to lean on and to strengthen me. The resounding answer in my heart has been, "Because, My child, I am all you need. I am enough." The truth is that I need Him more than I need Keith's shoulder to lean on, more than I need sleep, more than I need less stress in my life, even more than I need Jonathan to be ok 100% of the time. Christ has been sufficient for me this week even though it has been hard and exhausting physically and emotionally. He has sustained me when I thought I would just melt into a puddle of tears, when I was afraid, when I received disappointing news... He has been the one in control of everything. Nothing is a surprise to Him and nothing happens without His causing or allowing it to happen.

I've learned a lot these last three weeks. I've learned about things like Tidal Volume on a ventilator , O2 saturation levels, CO2 levels. I've learned even more what an amazing blessing it is to have such supportive, loving friends and family. I've learned that it is possible to function on way too little sleep. But, the most important thing I've been learning this week is that Christ is sufficient, no matter what is happening in my life. I wish I could say that I've already learned the lesson... but I'm not always a very good student. Thankfully, my Teacher is patient and loving even when He's teaching me a hard lesson.

Daddy's Diary 3/8/2008

One of the first things they tell you when your child enters the NICU is, "Don't be discouraged by setbacks, they are inevitable!" The next thing they tell you is, "Don't be discouraged by setbacks, they are inevitable!" It doesn't take one long to figure out that your life is going to be radically different. There will be days of great joy over a poopy diaper and there will be days of concern because of no poopy diapers. Yes, a day can revolve around whether or not your preemie's body took out the trash.

Jonathan has done well, even with his setbacks. The setbacks he has experienced have not been as serious as those experienced by others. God has been very gracious and merciful in the midst of his allowing pain. It's hard watching your child undergo painful procedures and tests with potentially harmful consequences that are designed for his good. The pain is necessary if you want your child to have a chance at a full life. You can't do it for him, but you have to watch them struggle through it. It's hard not to be discouraged and many times I have been just that, discouraged.

On those days I'm at a loss someone will call, email, write a blog comment, or we'll get a note/card of encouragement. Just when I need it most, God provides a gentle reminder of his love and comfort. I am watching my son struggle with challenges that he cannot face alone and require help. God is watching his child face challenges that he cannot face alone and require help. In both cases, Jonathan's and mine, God is allowing pain designed for our good and at the same time he's providing all we both need to have an abundant life.

Nineteenth Day (update)...

I thought I'd give you an afternoon update; the day has gone well. The doc on duty, Dr. Strange, increased my feedings from 1 cc to 2 cc every three hours. My labs have been cut from every six hours to every twelve hours. Also, my assistance from the ventilator has decreased. So, today has been a day of progress. However, I am experiencing what is termed as riding the ventilator. This can best be explained as me subconsciously realizing that the vent will work for me, therefore I get a little lazy and decide to let the vent breath 100% for me. This is a bad move because the vent is only here to help me. Whenever this happens all the lights and buzzers on the monitors go off. It's normal for preemies on the vent to go through this false sense of security. My nurse today is Julie and she's not too concerned about it. Well, that catches everything up. Thanks for your prayers. JSR, out.

Nineteenth Day...

Prayer for Spiritual Strength
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Eph. 3:14-21 (ESV)

I hear it's snowing outside. My first snow and I'm stuck in the preemie condo. Earlier this morning my folks called to check on me and the report was "nothing new to report." Kim, my nurse, says I had a really good night and that I'm back to being my feisty ol' self. I'll take her word for it because I slept like a rock. This AM I'll have the daily routine of labs, X-rays, and what amounts to a complete physical. You wouldn't believe how thoroughly they check me each & every morning. I get a bumper to bumper inspection even if the staff thinks I'm in good shape. I'm glad they are so thorough and don't leave a single stone unturned. Incidentally, I'm 28 weeks old today, that's another week in the books. The NICU is filling up with other babies like me. It seems there a lot of us who were early to the party, LOL. Some of these guys & gals will be short timers and they'll leave in few days. Others are like me, we'll be here for the long haul. If something changes I'll let you know, but for now keep praying for improvement in all the usual areas (O2, strength & stamina, rest, and successful feedings). I hope everyone enjoys their day! Later, JSR.

Eighteenth Day (update)...

Today was one of my better days. When Mommy came to see me she didn't consult with any of the docs. That never happens, unless the docs think you are doing well and there's nothing to consult about. So, I'm doing very well and the docs are all happy with where I am. Of course, we are riding the preemie roller coaster so everything is subject to change. Dr. Strange was on duty today and she is optimistic about my progress. Thanks so much for all the prayers for me and my folks. I think God uses our prayers in a profound way beyond our mental abilities to accomplish his purpose. He's such a mystery, but yet so near. The great big God who created the universe is the same God who has time for a little dude like me. That's the definition of cool! I hope everyone has a great night. Blessings, JSR.

Eighteenth Day...

I hope everyone had a good night's rest, mine was good. I did experience one dip in my heart rate around four this morning, but that's normal for preemies. Other than that I rested well and am doing fine. Neely was my nurse again and she told my Daddy everything was looking better with my labs, PRAISE! I hope they continue to improve. I tolerated my feedings, although I did have some residual (not fully digested) food after one feeding. Since it was just a one time thing the docs won't be overly concerned. Sometimes early babies have trouble processing every feeding. It's tough to get all this stuff right every time when you're just starting out. It's like when you start a new job and you have to learn the ropes at first. I got some more new blood yesterday, which really helped. They regularly take blood for labs and sometimes I get a little behind on replenishing my stock. When that happens a transfusion really gives me a boost. Today's plan is up in the air right now. One of my docs will make the rounds in a little while to scrutinize my chart and formulate a plan. I do know that my O2 saturation, feedings, BM's, and heart rate will be points of emphasis. So, pray for these things specifically. Oh, I forgot to mention that Dr. DiCarlo stopped my antibiotics! This means they have ruled out an infection. PRAISE the Lord!! This is a big deal for preemies since we are prone to developing infections. Also, Mommy's OBGYN (Dr. Ross) called yesterday to say the results are in from the placenta tests. Remember, the reason I am here so early was thought to be an infection that had developed in the womb. Well, that was it! They don't know how it started and no one did anything wrong, it just happens sometimes. It looks like God knew what he was doin' by getting me out of there when he did. DUH, Ya think!! I'm forgetting something...let me think...oh yeah, I had another really good BM yesterday. That's good news especially considering the extra stress of all that has happened. I think that's it. I didn't update last night because, frankly, it was an extremely long day and I was just plain tuckered out. I'll keep you posted on any news. Y'all keep praying and I'll keep growing. Later, JSR.

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times
in every way. The Lord be with you all."

2 Thess. 3:16 (ESV)

Seventeenth Day...

"Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning."
Psalm 30:4-5 (ESV)

I slept like a baby last night, pun intended. Neely was my nurse, she's really great! This morning I'll get the customary X-rays, labs, and full exam. I'm still on antibiotics for a possible infection. So far my blood cultures are negative for infection, but it takes up to 96 hours for them to rule out everything. So, keep praying for that. My O2 was better, but not great. It looks like my strength is improving as I am getting a lot of rest. It takes us little guys a bit longer to regain our strength when we get tired. I should resume feedings unless my doc has had a change of mind. Our prayers today will be specifically for an improved O2 saturation rate, more consistent "good" breathing patterns, no infections (so far so good), and resumed feedings. If it seems like we have a lot going on, we do! Many of these issues are interconnected and have a major affect on one another. You know I have many requests for my health issues, but I also have much to be thankful for. God has sustained me for 17 days here in the NICU. All in all my set backs have not been as bad as they could be. I have tremendous care from the people here. I have a ton of people praying for me. My family has been well loved and cared for by so many people. Through all of this God has been faithful, and he will continue to be! So, when you pray for me remember to praise and thank the Father for all he has done. Later, JSR.

Sixteenth Day (update)...

Today was a better day than the last two or three. My heart rate has been consistent and I was able to rest. I've started being fussy again whenever anyone has to "handle" me. This was a welcomed sign for my Mommy and my nurses. I've lost a little weight with all that's gone on, down to 1 lb. 12 oz, but I should be able to bounce back. The docs gave the go ahead to restart my feedings tomorrow. I'm ready to get off the IV only diet and start gettin' some of the good stuff. My O2 level is still inconsistent, which is frustrating. Sometimes it take preemies a while to get everything stabilized with their O2 & CO2. I guess I'm one of those guys whose gonna take his sweet time about getting this whole breathing thing straightened out, LOL. So, we'll just keep going forward from here trusting God to provide everything we need. Sleep well, JSR.

Sixteenth Day...

Good morning to all. Last night was better than my day yesterday. Nurse Heather kept an eye on me while I slept. She says I haven't experienced any significant heart rate dips (episodes) overnight, that's good! The ventilator is really helping, but my O2 level still needs to come up some. This morning they'll do the daily chest X-ray, labs, and head to toe exam. My doc will take the info and form a daily treatment strategy as well determine if I can resume feedings. Man, some of that all natural milk would taste good! It's important that I start back feeding asap because the milk offers more substance than the IV (proteins & fats) stuff. The food Mommy makes promotes weight and strength gain and is better for me. I'm still on antibiotics, just in case there's a pesky infection hidden in me somewhere. So, we have many things going on and my docs are juggling a variety of issues. They're all great and I know I'm getting their best care. They are a real blessing!! The nurses and RT's continue to be really sweet to me and my family. As always God remains faithful! My Mommy and Daddy looked tired yesterday, but Jesus is sustaining them and me. It's all in God's hands. The other day my Daddy sat by my preemie condo, held my hand, and prayed that I would be dedicated to God's will, whatever He wants. God is using the great people here, but it's still His show. Today, pray for continued improvement in O2 level (breathing), resumed feeding, good labs, and strength. Your prayers are a treasured blessing and thank you so much for your faithfulness. You know, I've gotten messages from people all over the place letting me know of their prayers for me. That's awesome! JSR, later.

And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God."
1 Sam. 2:1-2 (ESV)

Fifteenth Day (update)...

I hope y'all had a great day. Well, I went back on the ventilator early this afternoon. It's a step backwards, but it's not the worst thing that could have happened. A ventilator is a great tool that saves lives, but when a preemie is on one, the risks for long-term lung damage is very real. It's a risk you have to take because proper breathing is so crucial to a baby's development. The initial results from the blood cultures came back as negative for an infection. That's good, but we will know for sure after 96 hours from the time they took the blood since some infections take that long to show up. After going on the vent my O2 & CO2 levels improved and my heart rate stabilized. It's looking like fatigue was the root cause of the problems I was having. So, just keep praying for my strength to improve and for the ventilator to do what the docs, and I, want it to do. That's all for now, I'm gonna hit the rack. JSR, out.

Fifteenth Day...

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes."
Psalm 118:8-9 (ESV)

Last night was a little better than yesterday. I'm still having the occasional heart rate dip, but not as frequently as before, and each time I have recovered on my own. My O2 saturation level is some better, but still not where it needs to be on a consistent basis. Heather, my nurse, has been encouraged by my behavior. I don't know what this means concerning a return to the ventilator. We'll see what the day holds. Please continue to pray for rest, increased stamina, strength, but mostly pray for God's gracious touch. I'm in His hands and know that his will is best. One thing Mommy & Daddy pray for is that God would use me and my situation to bring glory to his name. I read somewhere that that is our main purpose. I'll check back later and let you know how things are progressing. Thanks, JSR.

Fourteenth Day (update)...

The best word to describe today is "tough." The heart rate issue I mentioned the other day has gotten more persistent. Today I had occasions when my heart rate would dip and I was unable to recover on my own. My nurses and/or RT had to help me get back up to speed. The docs haven't nailed down the problem, but it is probably one of two things. I either have an infection or I'm just a tired little guy. Both are common in preemies. Later in the day it looked like I was gonna be put back on the ventilator, but they tried altering the way the SIPAP delivers O2 to my lungs. It was a big help, but that alone may not fix the problem. So, I still may go back on the vent. My feedings have been suspended as they are trying to let me rest as much as possible. The less I have to do the quicker I can regain strength. Dr. Strange wants to see how I progress tonight before they change anything. Earlier in the day they put me on antibiotics and took some blood cultures to be tested. We'll get the results in a couple of days. I need you guys to continue to pray for rest, strength, and stamina. A return to the ventilator is a strong possibility and though it would be a set back it's not totally unexpected. I'm in the midst of what has been called the preemie dance, ie having one, two, or three good days followed by one or two bad. It's all part of the growth process. It's not fun, but it's the way it is.

Fourteenth Day...

Well, today marks my fourteenth day out of the womb. If I were still hangin' with Mommy I would be 27 weeks & 2 days. I still can't believe the time has passed so fast. It seems like just yesterday that I was born, but it has already been two weeks! I guess that's the way it is with time, it always seems to just slip away. I wonder where it goes? Hmm.

The Potter and the Clay
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Jer. 18:1-6 (ESV)

I've had a good weekend. However, there is one crucial area of concern. Dr. DiCarlo talked with my parents yesterday about the instability of my CO2 levels. This has has the docs concerned that I'm getting tired, which is 100% normal for babies in my situation. If they determine that I am indeed tired and that my tiredness is the reason for my CO2 issues then I will have to go back on the vent. This is not a good thing. So much of how they proceed in my care depends upon my ability to breath on my own or with minimal help. Going back on the vent is not uncommon for preemies, but it is risky. Every day on the ventilator increases my chances for lung and/or eye damage that could cause issues for me later. So, today we are praying & begging for stamina, strength, and improved efficiency in breathing. I ask you guys to join us in praying for these things. Some of you are saying, but things were going so well? True, but this is the way it goes with early birds like me, a little bit like a roller coaster. We'll just pray through it knowing God's in control and he knows best. I'll check back later in the day.