For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:16-18 (ESV)
Hello from the NICU. I hope everyone is having a great weekend. My weekend has gone really well so far. I've continued to tolerate my feedings and my breathing is steadily improving. I am getting less help from the CPAP and when I do need a little help, it doesn't help as much as it once was. So, we are still making strides, PRAISE! If I continue to make progress then we'll see how I do in an open crib. That would be a HUGE step! So, things are going well. I'll make sure to keep you guys updated on the latest info. I'm gonna go so I can cuddle with Mommy and get my next feeding. JSR, out.
“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.”
Isa. 12:2 (ESV)
Greetings from the NICU @ BMC. I've had a really good day and night. Yesterday I continued to show no ill effects from my vaccines, PRAISE! Often preemies get a little sick after getting vaccinated, but I'm good. I have one more round of shots to go, so pray they go as well as my others have. My feeds continued to go well and my nurses kept alternating between OG tube feeds and bottle feeds. Of course, one of those bottle feeds was nursing in the afternoon when Mommy was here. This schedule will continue for a few more days, which is not a bad thing. I have maintained my pace in breathing improvements, PRAISE! My doc thinks I'm ready to come off the Albuterol and my Vibro-therapy is going to be discontinued. Albuterol is a medicine given to preemies and asthmatics to assist them in breathing. I have been taking it for about a month. Vibro-therapy is a treatment that Respiratory Therapists (RT's) administer for chest congestion in preemies. Sometimes we little people have trouble coughing up all the saliva we produce. When this happens the trapped saliva collects in the chest and throat making breathing more difficult. To combat this a RT, or nurse, will gently tap you on the back using a long wand with a padded end. This loosens up the stuff you can't cough up so it can be extracted. It sounds like they're really beating you, but it's all sound with no furry, LOL. My Dad told Candy, one of my RT's, he was gonna call DHR if she didn't quit, LOL. It will be good if I can stay off the Albuterol and not need any further Vibro-therapy. We still have a ways to go, but we are heading in the right direction, PRAISE. Keep remembering my breathing in your prayers. Thanks! Today we're praying for continued improvement in all these areas. I'm gonna run so I can get my morning exam done. I'll chat more later. BTW, My Mommy really likes the outfit I'm wearing in this picture. It was a gift from some great friends in Decatur, Lyne & Stewart Bennett. JSR, out.“Remember these things, O Jacob,
And Israel, for you are My servant;
I have formed you, you are My servant,
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.
"I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud
And your sins like a heavy mist.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
Shout for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done it!
Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth;
Break forth into a shout of joy, you mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it;
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob
And in Israel He shows forth His glory.
Isa. 44:21-23 (NASB)
Hello guys, I hope everyone's weekend went well. All in all I had a pretty good weekend. Yesterday afternoon was a little rough. I was having trouble keeping my stats up and I kept falling asleep during my feedings. Mommy and Joy, my nurse, tried a few things to keep me awake so I could feed to no avail. Then Joy checked when my next hemoglobin test was due. (This is a test that checks my blood count.) I was to have one on Tuesday so she went ahead and ordered it for yesterday. The test revealed that I was running a quart low, LOL. So, they gave me a boost (transfusion) and I perked right up. If you've ever had a low blood count then you know it just saps you of any energy. It's the same for little dudes too. However, the blood deal wasn't the rough part of the day. The rough part was I had an upset tummy. It's normal for babies to have an upset tum tum every now and then. I just couldn't get comfortable. It was like eating bad Mexican food, LOL. I think this was my first tummy ache. I'll tell you one thing, all the firsts in life are not great experiences. Also Meme and Pop came up for a visit, which was cool. So, my day was pretty normal for a baby. You know, even a tummy ache can be a good sign. It's good to have "normal" baby issues (like a tummy ache) to deal with that don't mean anything serious, even if it's not very pleasant :=) I continue to make gradual improvements in my breathing, feeding, stamina, and strength, PRAISE! My feeding schedule has been modified so that I will alternate between an OG tube feed and bottle feeding. Once a day one of the bottle feeds will actually be a nursing feed. So, we are making strides, PRAISE! It's so amazing how God has moved me along through this whole process. I can't over state how gracious he has been to me on my journey. We have not had to deal with many major issues and my care givers have been GREAT! Also, thanks to y'all for your prayers and support. Well, I'm gonna run as it's time for me to get started on my morning routine. Y'all keep praying and I'll keep growing. JSR, out.Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language that live in all the earth: “May your peace abound! “It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.
“How great are His signs
And how mighty
are His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom
And His dominion is
from generation to generation.
Dan. 4:1-3 (NASB)
Well, the weekend is finally here. I hope everyone enjoys a couple of days of rest and relaxation. The weekends in the NICU are pretty much the same as the rest of the week. In NICU-land the important thing is the number of days rather than the specific date or day of the week. Although yesterday's date was significant as it was my two month "birthday." Mommy made a couple of cakes for the NICU staff to celebrate the occasion and to thank them for their GREAT work. They all said it was yummy! You'd think that I'd get a little bit since they're celebrating me and my progress, but it's all good. All the cake goes to the workers and all the glory goes to God, as it should. I wonder if my folks will give me a monthly "birthday" party when I get home? Uh...not betting on that one, LOL. I've had a good week and hopefully that will continue. The Lord has truly been faithful and ever so gracious to me and my family. Yesterday I took my first shot at nursing, which is a HUGE step! The lactation specialist told Mommy I did great and she was proud of me. A lot of little people my size have trouble when they start trying to feed naturally. I didn't experience any of those issues, PRAISE! I was able to get 5 cc (ml) of milk on my own. The plan is for me to nurse once a day and see how things progress. My first attempt at natural feeding really tuckered me out. Nursing requires a lot of strength and stamina because you have to be able to breath and obtain the milk orally, all at the same time. Sounds easy, but when you're my size it's a little tougher. Pray that everything goes well and I am strong enough to do the job. Also pray that all goes well for Mommy during this process. My breathing has been good and I'm still doing well with my bottle feedings, PRAISE! I'm now feeding once every 12 hours by bottle, once a day by nursing/OG, and the rest by my OG tube. I'm still at 30 ml per serving every three hours, but now I'm feeding three different ways. COOL! I'm about to get started on my morning routine so I'm gonna run for now. Y'all have a great day! Blessings, JSR.Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NLT)
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 John 2 (NKJV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 4:4-7 (ESV)
Good morning, the day before yesterday was a big day because we got to move out of the middle. Well, yesterday was my first full day after the move and I started getting settled into my new space. It's a little darker, cooler, and quieter in our new location. The middle is where most of the action is so it has more lights, electronics, computer and monitoring devices, medical equipment, and people; all of which contribute to heat and noise. It's like we moved from downtown to the suburbs. Yeah, we like our new place. Another big thing that happened late yesterday afternoon was I took my first bottle. It was cool!! My nurse, Mindy, came over to me and Mommy and asked, "Are we ready for our afternoon snack?" Mommy said, "I think we're ready." To which a smiling Mindy replied, "What about a bottle?" So, I had my first bottle. (Below is a video clip of a portion of the experience.) I took the whole thing without issue, a very good sign for a preemie taking their first bottle, PRAISE! It's hard work trying to get that milk out of that bottle when you're used to it being poured in you through a tube, LOL. A nurse will give me my first few bottles to make sure I'm all good. When the staff is satisfied that I can take a bottle consistently then Mommy and Daddy will get to feed me by bottle. The next step would be nursing, which Mommy is really looking forward to, but we're not there yet. Another cool thing about today was my Meme and Pop came up for a visit. As usual Mommy and I had our time together, which was the highlight of my day. Obviously, today was a good day! I have been here (living in the world) for a little less than two months and already God has been more gracious to me than I will ever deserve! Grace is truly amazing. Enjoy the clip. JSR, out.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
Psalm 139:17-18 (ESV)
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. 3:20-21 (ESV)
"I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
Psalm 91:2 (KJV)
Greetings y'all, I hope your weekend was as enjoyable as mine. I've an excellent two days and am gearing up for another week. Today marks two months that I've been here. WOW...that doesn't seem possible! In a way it seems like I've been in the NICU longer than that, but in another way it seems like I just got here. In eight weeks I've changed a lot and made a huge amount of progress. My heavenly Father has been SO gracious to me and my family! It's really humbling to think about how good God has been to us.
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23 (KJV)
Good evening from BMC. I know I'm a little late getting this update posted, but it's been a really busy day. The Lord graced us with another good day. I had an Xray and everything looks to be as it should be, PRAISE! My labs were good and my stats weren't too far "out of whack" (highly technical medical phrase that means, OK). Dr. Mena adjusted my feeds to a whopping 28 ml per serving. I have been doing a real good job of digesting ALL my food, so he upped the amount again. If you're keeping count that's three ml in less than 48 hours! PRAISE! I was scheduled to have an eye exam this afternoon, but the eye specialist was late for some reason. I guess that will happen later tonight or tomorrow. That's the reason my eyes are so big in this picture. My nurse, Christine (aka "Mrs. Utah"), had just dilated them before this picture was taken. This afternoon was all about family as I cuddled with Mom and Dad came home from his trip, it was good to see him. We all hung out together and it was good! I think that catches you up on the latest news. I'm gonna go hit the rack and get some sleep, little dudes need their rest. JSR, out."For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind."2 Tim. 1:7 (KJV)
...Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Good morning everybody. Yesterday and last night both went really well. I have been able to remain on the Nasal Cannula without having to go back to the CPAP mask, PRAISE! My feeds have been increased to 25 ml every three hours and I continue to tolerate them without issue, PRAISE. So, my breathing has been steadily improving and my feedings continue to be great! Another positive was that Mommy and I enjoyed another daily cuddling session, which is always a thrill. God continues to bless me with improving health, PRAISE!! We are so thankful for the way my body has gained strength and how the setbacks have been few and far between. This type of progress is the work of God through those he has gifted in many special ways. Again, my family and I are taking things one day at a time. We fully understand that things are always subject to change, but we're amazed at how good God has been to us. Please continue to pray for strength, stamina, and continued progress. In the future I will have to regulate my own body temp and other things, but we'll deal with each of those at the appropriate time. Please remember my Daddy in prayer. He's out of town this week and won't return until Friday afternoon. Pray that Jesus remains close to him and that he doesn't worry about me too much. Thanks for all your love and support! It's time to get my morning routine started so I'm gonna run for now. Later, JSR.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)
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Heb. 11:6 (NLT)
When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,”
my heart leaped for joy.
Psalm 122:1 (The Message)
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127 (ESV)
Good morning from the NICU @ Brookwood MC. I had another good night again last night. My feedings went well, and I'm still showing slow but steady progress in my breathing. Once I start breathing 100% on my own then my status may change to a "less critical" condition. Let me explain it this way. Every baby in the NICU, no matter what, is considered to be in a somewhat critical condition, that's why they're in the NICU. However, there are different stages of "critical condition." Just because a baby is in here doesn't mean they are in a life threatening state. Although all babies are more vulnerable to life threatening health conditions. Anyway, if your condition is serious then you are put in the middle rows of beds. If you're stable then you get placed on the outer walls of the NICU. So, the goal is to get kicked out of the middle. That doesn't mean you're free and clear, but you're doing really, really well. I hope I didn't confuse you with that, LOL. All these good night in a row are steps closer to that happening. Therefore, keep praying for boringly normal updates. I ask you to continue to pray for my breathing development, feedings, and digestion. God is so faithful and he has been better to me and my family than we deserve. Thanks so much for being instruments of God's provision and love!! Later, JSR.For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully
and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written the days
that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
Psalm 139:13-16 (NASB)
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."
Col. 2:6-7 (ESV)
I hear it's a stormy morning outside, but you can still have a good day, even during a storm. If I copied yesterday's entry and posted it as today's it wouldn't make much difference. We seem to have developed a pattern of progress, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. My body is continuing to do everything it needs to. It may seem that my breathing is still progressing really slow and maybe it is. But I am making measurable progress and that's good. Dr. Mena says he's pleased with where we are and how things are going. God is continuing to give me more strength, stamina, and growth. We'll just move along at his pace as it's His show and we are glad he's in control! Yesterday was another great day with my Mommy and Daddy. Mommy got to hold me kangaroo style plus Daddy got off early and was able to visit. He got to change a diaper for me just before they left for the evening. Also, Mommy went for her post delivery OBGYN appointment with Dr. Ross. He said she's doing great! So, we are all well and still taking it one day at a time. Please continue to pray for strength, stamina, breathing issues, and good feedings. Everybody keep doing what you're doing and I'll keep growing. Thanks again!! Love, JSR.
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)
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.
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)
"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 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)
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)
“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.
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)
