Tales from the Crib

For those who are interested in checking on my life after the NICU "Tales from the Crib" has returned and is once again an active blog. There's a link on the right sidebar of this blog. Feel free to come by for a visit.
Thanks,
JSR

Final Post

This is the final post for "Jonathan's Journey." This blog was intended to give a record of my time in the NICU @ Brookwood Medical Center and now I'm home. The blog's purpose has been fulfilled, PRAISE! Therefore, I have a new blog "Tales from the Crib." In this blog I will give account of my ongoing journey as a preemie adjusting to life outside the NICU. Here's the link, http://jsrathome.blogspot.com/ Feel free to drop by anytime. The blog will be updated two to three times a week with plenty of video, pics, and updates. I initially planned on moving on from the whole blogging scene. However, family and friends from abroad convinced this was not in their best interest. So, we blog on.

To the NICU docs and staff @ BMC. You are truly AWESOME and we LOVE YOU!! I hope you drop me a line when you have time. If not, I'll see you at the reunion.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me and thanks for letting me into a small portion of your life. Y'all keep praying and I'll keep growing! JSR, out!

Third & Fourth Days @ Home...

As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
Eccl. 11:5 (ESV)

The past two days have been pretty lazy around here. Well, for me they have been lazy. My Mommy and Daddy always seem to be doing something for me or other things that need to be done. My feedings are going well, some better than others, but still good, PRAISE! I'm starting to sleep longer when I nap. I was sleeping about 30 minutes at a time, but now I sometimes sleep from feed to feed (3 to 4 hours). I think my folks hope and pray this trend continues, LOL. Friday was a good day as Meme and Pop dropped in for a visit. One neat thing was it was their first opportunity to hold me. I think they had a good time, LOL. (I've included at the end of this post a short video from their visit.) Today has gone well with Mommy and I hanging out most of the day while Daddy did a ton of stuff around the house. He even did the monthly Wal-Mart run and cooked dinner.

Last week I mentioned that the blog (Jonathan's Journey) would be ended when I get home. My reasoning was that it was intended to record my journey through the NICU and to provide my loved ones with updates. Well, let me tell you that some of my family and friends weren't all that thrilled with that option. So, I've decided to continue to blog about my life as a preemie. However, soon there will be a new blog that will be updated every two or three days. This way all my loved ones, and anyone else who wants to, can follow my progress over the next few months. I don't have a title yet, but it'll happen sometime within the next couple of days, Lord willing. For the time being there will be a second photo album on the right hand side of the screen containing all the pics since I got home.

Thanks for praying for me and I ask that you continue to pray as the Lord leads. Little guys like me are vulnerable to sickness and the slightest little bug and turn into something serious in a snap. So, pray for health, strength, growth, and a good immune system. Tomorrow is Sunday and I know many of you will be attending worship. Don't forget to offer thanks for what the Lord has done, is doing, and will do. Thanks again!! Later JSR.

Second Day @ Home...

Today was a good day. Daddy gave me my early morning feeding then Mommy and I spent the rest of the AM just hanging out before my afternoon doctor's appointment. My appointment went well. PRAISE! Dr. Harmon said everything looked good and he'd like for me to gain full pound by our next visit. We like Dr. Harmon, he's a nice guy who doesn't make you feel like you're just the next patient. Late in the afternoon or early evening we had some friends (adopted aunts) bring us dinner, Diva and Mrs. Siggie. They are the ladies who painted my room when my folks just couldn't get to it. So, they are already way ahead of the game on the hug meter. It was good to see them again. I wanted to include some video clips with this post, but my video guy hasn't been able to get to it yet. I'll speak with him about this, LOL. Please continue to pray that I get settled in quickly, start sleeping more consistently, and continue to have good health. Blessings, JSR.

First Day @ Home...

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her
young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah
Psalm 84:1-4 (ESV)

We left the NICU about 6 PM last night, Tuesday evening. I slept through the whole first trip outdoors and first car ride deal, but I'm sure I'll get plenty of exposure to both. When we got home my folks placed me in a bassinet in our living room. I spent the rest of the night napping, eating, and taking in my new surroundings. Home is a lot different than the NICU was, so I decided to stay awake a lot last night in order to adjust to my new surroundings. One neat thing is I got to meet our cat, Annie. She was really cautious at first, smelling everything associated with me, and she dared to get closer as the night wore on. I guess her curiosity got the best of her, LOL. Now she just stays close by. Needless to say, it was a busy and tiring day.

Today, Wednesday, has been really low key. My Dad has gone out a couple of times to run some errands, but Mommy and I have spent the day hanging at the house. Our pastor, Burt, came by for a while. He toted me around just about the whole time he was here. He's got eight children so he's had a ton of experience at carrying babies, LOL.

It's good to be home! PRAISE!! I'll post more tomorrow, including some video of the trip. Please continue to pray that the first few days go well as we make the necessary adjustments, thanks! Later, JSR.

One Hunded & Fifth Day, "Discharge Day"

Today is the day we've been looking forward to since we got here, it's Discharge Day. PRAISE!! I had a good night and am going to have a busy morning. In a little while my doc will come by and do that one last thing that makes men cringe, LOL. I'll be monitored closely the rest of the day to make sure everything is good to go. Please pray that things go well and that there are no surprises. God has been ever so gracious to me every step along my journey and I know he'll continue to be. This afternoon my folks will have a long sit down with Dr. DiCarlo and then it will be time to go. The NICU usually discharges babies between 2 and 4 PM, so we should be leaving somewhere around that time. I'll post an update once we get home and I'm settled. I hope each of you has a blessed day. Later, JSR.

God said, “My presence will go with you.
I’ll see the journey to the end.”
Moses said, “If your presence doesn’t take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you’re with me in this, with me and your people?
Are you traveling with us or not? How else will we know that we’re special, I and your people, among all other people on this planet Earth?”
God said to Moses: “All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me.
I know you by name.”

Ex. 33:14-17 (TMSG)

One Hundred & Fourth Day...

Sunday was a relaxed day in the NICU. It was so quiet around here that many times my folks were the only people not employed by or admitted to the NICU. I had a really good day of napping, eating, and just resting, PRAISE! I go to spend some quality time with both Mommy and Daddy. BTW, the reason my Daddy is wearing those gloves is he's got a touch of poison ivy and he didn't want me to be exposed. Everything is still set for me to go home on Tuesday and unless God has other plans that's what we'll do, Woo-Hoo!! I"ll spend today just hanging out and logging time until I've been off the O2 for seven calendar days, which will be tomorrow. Tonight when my folks left they said good-bye to the weekend staff. This will probably be the last time we see them and everyone wanted to hug and chat for a few before they left. There's a bond between a preemie, their parents, and the people who care for them; especially for those families that are in the NICU as long as we've been. It was a great moment to be a fly on the wall for. Please pray that there are no surprises and we continue right on schedule. I'll post more later. Blessings, JSR.

God, my strength, I will sing praises to you.
God, my defender, you are the God who loves me.

Psalm 59:17 (NCV)

One Hundred & Third Day...

Greetings from the NICU @ BMC. Saturday was a productive day for me. (BTW, May 31, 2008 was my original due date, obviously things didn't exactly follow the calendar.) All my vitals remained good and my feedings went well, PRAISE! When my Mommy came in yesterday she brought my car seat so I could take the "Car Seat Test." This is a test you must pass before you can go home. Basically, they sit you up in the seat like you were going on a trip. I got all strapped in and they placed all the blankets and stuff around me, just like it will be in our van. Then they leave you alone for about 30 minutes, the whole keeping a close eye on your O2 sat rate. I had to keep my saturation rate above 90 for the entire time. I passed with a range of 90 to 97, which my nurse said is GREAT, PRAISE! One more hoop down and now only a few more to jump through and I'm outta here, PRAISE!! My folks will be so excited. Today is Sunday and my Mommy and Daddy will be by after church. Meme and Pop are also coming up for their usual visit, cool. It should be a really relaxed day for all of us. I hope everyone has a great time at worship and enjoys the day. Please keep me in your prayers and be sure to thank the Lord for his marvelous work on my behalf. I'm gonna run now and get the day started. Soli Deo Gloria!

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:23-24 (ESV)

One Hundred & Second Day...

Friday was another good day. It was so quiet in the NICU that Mommy was having trouble staying awake, LOL. I continue to do well in all the vital areas and am making steady progress. There's really nothing new to report except, it was another good day and there's nothing new to report, which is BIG news!! PRAISE!! My discharge date has been moved up from Wednesday to Tuesday, a day earlier than we originally thought. That's cool because my folks have everything set for me at home. I hear my room is really neat and that a lot of people helped to make each part really special. I'll be sure to post about that when I get home. Speaking of future posts. As you know this blog is entitled "Jonathan's Journey: a preemies journey through the NICU at BMC." Well, that's when my blog will end, when I get home. I'll make a couple of post from home and that will close out the blog. I've had a bunch of people ask me about this so I thought I'd go ahead and mention it. Anyway, please continue to pray for me as I move a day closer to the end of this short journey in the great adventure that is life. God bless and keep you today! JSR, later.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Heb. 13:20-21 (ESV)

One Hundred & First Day...

You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.
1 Peter 1:17 (TMSG)

Hello and good morning guys. Thursday was a uneventful day in the NICU, which means it was a good day. I continue to improve in all the important areas (O2, strength, stamina, feedings, and weight gain). All signs point to my journey through the NICU nearing its end as each day I move closer to going home, PRAISE!! Please pray for continued progress and growth. I can't put into words, my vocabulary is a little limited, the appreciation my family feels for everyone who has prayed for me. God has been so gracious! I'll be sure to keep you up to date if anything changes. I hope each of you has a blessed day! JSR, Later.

100th Day...

Today marks the one hundredth day of my journey through the NICU. WOW, has it really been one hundred days?! In some ways it seems like longer, but in other ways it seems like I was born yesterday. Speaking of yesterday, it was a really good day for me. I am still off the cannula, PRAISE! My breathing continues to be just what the docs want to see, PRAISE! The nurses, RT's, and doctors have all been so good to give me exactly what I need to succeed. God has really worked mightily through them. Everything is still moving in a positive direction and it looks like I may be heading home sometime next week. The docs want me to be breathing 100% on my own for seven days before they'll send me home without O2. So, if things keep improving I could go home a week from yesterday, Wednesday. My folks are still keeping a "one day at the time" attitude, but you can tell they're already thinking about what's next. They have been working really hard to make things just right for me when I come home. Today I'll be closely monitored to make sure I'm good O2-wise. So, pray that everything continues along its current path. I hope you all have a great day filled with Christ's peace and love. Later, JSR.

Psalm 113
Who Is like the Lord Our God?
Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!
The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far downon the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
(ESV)

Ninety-Ninth Day...

Greetings from the NICU. Take a look at the picture on the left. Do you notice anything? Is something missing? Yep, sure is! I'm not wearing my cannula, which means I am breathing on my own, PRAISE!!! Since late Sunday afternoon the nurses and RT's have been taking me off any and all breathing help for periods of time. I've been doing well and each time I get better at maintaining my O2 saturation rate. This may not be a permanent thing and I may still require some O2 help when I go home, but it is still HUGE. As this is being posted I've been on my own for a little over twelve hours, PRAISE! My folks are still stressing we take things one day at a time. We beg God for a good day today and we'll deal with tomorrow when it gets here, but Tuesday was a really really good day for me. Thanks for the continued prayers, because prayer works!! Last night my nurse, Kelly, gave a big ole' bath, dressed me up real cute, and took me around the NICU showing me off to everybody. It was so cool to be able to "cruise" around and see everybody. My feedings are still going well and I seem to be improving in all the necessary areas, PRAISE! I've said it a thousand times over the last 99 days and I'm gonna say it again; God has been more gracious to me than I could ever deserve! Soli Deo Gloria

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Jude 24-25 (NKJV)

Ninety-Eighth Day...

Jesus the Great High Priest
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.
Heb. 4:14-16 (ESV)

I had a great Memorial Day and I hope everyone else did as well. It was a really slow day in the NICU with few visitors and not too much activity, a good day to nap. I've been doing really well with my O2 as I spent much of the day and night on "room air", which is AWESOME news, PRAISE!! God has really been taking good care of me! Duh, ya think?! My feedings continue to go well and my strength and stamina seem to be on the rise. I still have bushels of growing to do, but things are moving in the right direction. Today we'll continue to focus on making strides with my BPD. Thanks so much to everybody for keeping me before the throne of grace! Y'all keep praying and I'll keep growing. Have a blessed day. Later, JSR.

Ninety-Seventh Day...

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Roman 8:28 (KJV)

Hey guys, I hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day. Yesterday was a good day. I hung out with my folks for most of the day. My feedings went well and I got lots of sleep. The goal is to get me all prepared to leave the NICU. It'll take anywhere from ten days to three weeks to get me set. It all depends on how I adjust to the changes required for me to leave. Please pray everything goes smooth. Late in the afternoon we watched the mandatory CPR and car seat videos. Every parent has to watch these videos before taking their child home. Also, anyone who will be caring for me has to take a three hour CPR class. Mommy and Daddy took theirs' last week so they're good to go. Please continue to pray for my BPD issues and continued improvement in general. Today will be a lazy day full of eating and sleeping, YES! Speaking of sleeping, I've included a short clip of me snoring for those who wanted to hear it. (I hope Aunt Twyla and "E" enjoy it.) I'm gonna run for now. Blessings, JSR.

Ninety-Sixth Day...

God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
Hab. 3:19 (ESV)

Hello everybody, it's Sunday and I hope everybody has a great time at worship and that your weekend is going well. I heard this weekend is special because it's a national holiday, Memorial Day, which means an extra day off work for some. That means I'll get to see my Daddy one more day this week, PRAISE! I'm sure that as I get older I'll learn all about the significance of the day since a bunch of my family members have served in the armed forces. My Pop was in the Air Force and my Daddy was in the NAVY. Anyway, I'll quit rambling and get to the update.

I've had a good weekend thus far. The staff is starting to adjust my meds in preparation for me going home, PRAISE! Going home is a HUGE deal even if I go home on O2. I am eating fine although lately I've had an issue with spitting up. It's the normal stuff preemies go through and no one is overly concerned about it. My caregivers see it all the time and know how to deal with it. The only thing is when I spit up it usually comes up through my nose, which I absolutely hate, but who wouldn't? I'm not real crazy about them sticking that suction syringe up my nose, but it's necessary. I'm resting well and enjoying just hanging out, PRAISE! Yesterday I got to do something really cool. I got my first ride in the swing (see pictures above). I went right to sleep once that thing started moving, LOL. Well, that catches you up on the latest news. I hope everyone has a great holiday. Please continue to pray for my BPD, feedings, and continued improvements in strength, weight gain, and stamina. Y'all keep praying and I'll keep growing. Later, JSR.

Ninety-Sixth Day...

Friday was a good day for me. I ate good, slept well, and thoroughly enjoyed hanging with my Mom. (BTW, this picture shows how she usually finds me, all scrunched down in the end of my crib.) Late in the day I was examined by Dr. Lozano, my pediatric pulmonologist. Afterward he spoke with Mommy about my struggles in stabilizing my O2 saturation rate. It seems that I have a lung condition called Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD). Basically, my lungs don't have enough air sacs to consistently supply me with the O2 I need. The good thing is that as I grow my lungs will develop more air sacs and I will gradually get better. So, it's something I'll grow out of. The negatives are that 50% of babies with this condition have asthma, and I am more vulnerable to illness. A cough could turn into a two week stay in the hospital. To lessen the chances of me getting really sick I'll have to be somewhat of a recluse for my first couple of years. So, when you come to see me you can't be sick and you have to wash your hands. If not, my folks won't let you in the house, LOL. You know it's a little bit of a downer finding out part of your body doesn't work right. But, it's not the end of the world. Actually, God has been really gracious to me. A lot of preemies have issues that they won't grow out of, but will deal with their whole life. I'll get better! Also, asthma is treatable and there are bunches of people who have asthma and you'd never know it. All things considered God is still being very good to me! Have a great weekend! Blessings, JSR.

This is a sign made to celebrate my three month B'day.

A big THANKS to whoever made it for me!

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor. 12:8-10 (ESV)

Ninety-Fifth Day...

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Gen 2:7 (KJV)

Thursday was a good day. I have shown signs of improvement with my O2 and breathing from the Lasix and other treatment I've received, PRAISE! So, the docs have started to get a touch more "aggressive" in their strategy. I've mentioned before that preemies occasionally have fluid build up around their lungs, which can make normal breathing a tad difficult. All indications are that I'm having to deal with this issue. It's not a large amount, but enough to cause a slight change. So, Thursday night I started receiving a more potent diuretic that will speed up me getting rid of any extra fluid. This means I will have to tee tee a lot, LOL. Hopefully, as the meds do their thing my O2 saturation rate will improve even more, thereby allowing me to reach our goal of me maintaining a normal O2 saturation level without any help. Please pray for successful treatments and improved breathing. My feeds are still going well and I'm doing great in all the other major stuff, PRAISE! I'll keep you updated on how everything progresses. Later, JSR.

Ninety-Fourth Day...

Good day y'all. Well, the Lord granted us yet another splendid day yesterday, PRAISE! I had a really good day sleeping, eating, and what not. My O2 issues are getting better, but I'm not sure they're to the point of me going home without home O2. My docs are going to evaluate things tomorrow and give us their thoughts on how we should proceed. Pray that everything goes well. I spent a good portion of the day just looking around taking in the scenery. The older I get the more time I spend just watching. There are times I lie in my crib just letting my eyes roam around taking in the sights. It's a blessing to be as healthy as I am! I have a bunch of NICU-mates who are so sick all they have time to focus on is getting better. My folks always thank God for my progress and pray for the little ones who aren't doing so well. I don't have anything special set for today so we'll concentrate on continuing to improve my O2 saturation. Everyone have a great day! Blessings, JSR.

...Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
1 Cor. 1:31 (ESV)

Ninety-Third Day...

I had a good day on Tuesday and really good night. Yesterday I spent a good portion of the day just breathing "room air" without O2 help, PRAISE! I was still on room air when the night shift nurse, Stacy, came on at 7pm. She did have to bump me up during feedings, but that's to be expected. My feedings went well and everything seems to be in tip top shape, PRAISE! So, as you can see the Lord has been gracious and I'm making good progress. Pray that today is another day in a positive direction. I have nothing special set for today so we'll just keep doing what we're doing. BTW, I forgot to mention that I had a chest Xray the other day and everything was normal, PRAISE! Thanks so much for all the prayers!! I'm gonna run so I can eat breakfast and get into the day. Y'all keep praying and I'll keep growing. Blessings, JSR.

This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:23-24 (ESV)

My Aunt Twyla called last night just to check on me. She and my uncle (Big "E") live in Mississippi and can't visit much. So, I thought I'd post some video for my loved ones who live across the country and around the world (MS, IA, GA, CA, NY, IN, TN, FL, ME, TX, and Australia). It was taken on 5/20 just after supper. It's kinda long (5 min. 34 sec.) and there's not much action, but it does show how I've grown. Don't worry, I won't take it personally if you don't watch the whole thing, LOL. Enjoy!

Ninety-Second Day...

Greetings from BMC. Monday was another good day, PRAISE! This week they staff is putting on a full-court press in an effort to get me off O2 assistance. I've been progressing all along, but I still get a little help. My docs have decided it's time for me to be a "big boy" and do it myself. I wish I had the capacity to explain everything that needs to happen and how it all works, but it's kinda confusing. So, I'll just give you the basics. The docs have a standard for O2 saturation that I must maintain before they'll send me home without O2 help. If I don't meet a saturation rate of at least 90% at all times then I will be sent home on "Home O2." We are praying for me to be able to meet this goal within the next week to ten days. Please join us in praying for specifically for this. My feeds and poops are going well and I'm doing just fine in every other area, PRAISE! The only thing keeping me in the NICU are my O2 issues. Once that gets settled then I'm off to the next chapter in my life. It would be GREAT to go home without the O2 help and all the stuff that goes with it. But, even if I go home with O2 help I'm not worried. God has brought me this far and I know he'll provide for me, no matter what. I heard a line from a song recently that says it all. "T'is so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word; just to rest upon his promise, and to know, "Thus saith the Lord." I'm gonna run so I can get the day started. Later, JSR.

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)