Last day of August

Sorry for the infrequent posts. Its been busy around here, but good. We had Pop and Nana over last week and had a great time with them. I also have been working a good bit.

The boys are well. Daniel is completely over his initial fussies and uncertainties when Joshua arrived. He shows off some new talent daily. Joshua is growing huge, way bigger than Daniel was at this stage. We enjoy his multiple chins greatly. He is able to stay awake for longer periods for more fun. Daniel loves laying down beside him when he is getting tummy time or playmat time.

Who is who?!

Iphone games
Sweet

Saturday pm

Nothing too new. Everyone doing well. Aunt Stacey was here this week, a great help in everything taking care of 2 little ones. Looking forward to Pop and Nan coming this week.

 
 
 
 

Tuesday pm

Well, I started back to work today. Thankfully, Aunt Stacey is here for several days to help Sarah with the transition, which is a huge help. So far, so good. I miss my boys, but its so much fun to tell people about the blessings we received, and show pictures of our family. Many at work didn't even know what happened til I told them today. On one floor, somehow a nasty rumor had gotten around that we had had a girl. I was quite certain I needed to set the record straight, and did.

They all continue to do well. Daniel likes the little guy so far, but he still has Aunt Stacey to distract while Sarah feeds the baby, and he's starting to get into a more independent, sinful phase. Hopefully he never learns too much from me along those lines. Joshua is eating well, and makes noises regularly where Sarah and I say "What Was That?" He sleeps tons (except when we want him to in the middle of the night). Sarah has recovered nicely and takes at least one walk every day. We've got a new double stroller (i.e. "The Tank"), but so far only I can push it. Mostly she's been taking Daniel out (trust me, he needs to get out) while someone else watches Joshua.

Saturday pm

No big news (which we like). We are trying out different nicknames for Joshua, and really not sure yet which may stick. Personally, I like Froggie (similar to Hoggie, taken from the position he prefers to hold his legs). Sarah is a fan of Booga J (Junior version of Booga, her frequent name for Daniel). I suspect there will be many more to come.

He sleeps so much. We were pondering today how different this is the second time around. Its like Joshua got out all the difficulties on the NICU staff, and left behind for us is the simple baby we didn't have with Daniel. If we had had Joshua first and Daniel second, we would be overwhelmed right now, but in this order, its much better. God knows what he is doing.

Thursday pm

Great checkups today for both boys! Joshua has gained 8 oz in only 3 days! We didn't believe it at first, but a recheck confirms. Although it seems like he struggles with eating sometimes, this is the proof that he's doing fine. God has answered yet another prayer.

Daniel never ceases to amaze. Despite looking to us like a perfectly normal proportioned boy, he measured at 90th percent in height and 25th in weight; totally healthy and normal, but surprising just the same, given his appearance. He definitely has gotten taller lately. And eating is never a problem with him. Well, we are blessed nonetheless.

 Peanut!!
 Shelby, best babysitter ever
 First bath, surprisingly not enjoying it like his brother
 Isn't that adorable?

Everyone is doing well, although fatigued as expected. Daniel has perfected the run-by head-rub on Joshua. Joshua is going to make us go broke on diapers, and makes us think a full-grown man must be in the room at times. Cute as can be though.

Tuesday am

Doing well here at Eusebia. Joshua is starting to figure out eating a little better, our last little hurdle, although still room for improvement. He's adorable, and a very good sleeper. We have to wake him at night typically to eat.

Daniel is holding up fine. A little fussier than normal, but otherwise handling the changes well. He mostly ignores Joshua, but smiles when Joshua makes noises. He also tries to play his favorite "boo" game with him, but surprisingly Joshua doesn't boo back.:-) Getting better at "gentle" play.

Stable family life, aahhhh!

 Daniel not used to the idea of sharing yet
 See any resemblence yet?
 Little ham. Reading some good Puritan literature though, Samuel Rutherford
 Swing gentle Daniel!

Homecoming!!!

 
 
 
 

Saturday am

We think he is coming home today!!! We are most blessed. Updates may be less frequent, but hopefully we'll have some good pictures and stories of how Joshua and Daniel are getting along soon.

Thanks to everybody who has been lifting us up. God has been doing exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we can ask or think.

Friday am

Great news today!!! Joshua continues to do well, and as such, he could potentially come home tomorrow, Saturday! We'll see how he does today and overnight and then the decision will be made tomorrow. Regardless, what a blessing to see how close we are to having our boy at home. We'll be praying for a great night, and giving thanksgiving for what we are receiving. We also pray for his future, and that he would know and live the following verse from an early age, and know an Eternal Home that is far greater.

"For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeepe in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."
Psalm 84:10
and
"One thing I have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
Psalm 27:4

Good burping and hiccups on Thursday

So, today was a very sweet day. Our favorite neonatologist was on duty, and he decided to just go ahead and pull the air flow off of Joshua entirely to see how he does (mind you, something similar was tried last Friday with terrible results)....and so far, so good!!! He has not been breathing significantly faster without it (although still not totally normal), and continues to be able to eat decently. He needs to catch on with the nursing a little better (He's not used to hard work at this point after 2 weeks of tubefeeding), but is doing well with the bottle. I actually fed him myself this afternoon by bottle, quite a joy, and amazing what I'd forgotten since Daniel started feeding himself.

All in all, a most blessed day, the best one we've had in a week. We see the light at the end of the tunnel clearly now. Please continue to pray for further healing and that no setbacks occur (as they are prone to doing in ICU's). We trust God for it all. Thanks.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26 (thanks Susan)

 
Sorry, a little blurry. Those stickers are still on his cheeks in case he needs oxygen again (They hold the tubing in place)

 

Followup

 
 

These pictures refer back to Sarah's post of a few days ago, regarding John 10 and its relevance to our lives. This is the nursery and the paintings on the wall (Daniel will be vacating this room soon).

Trash time

I sure hope nobody watches this first video and thinks that I'm a terrible heartless daddy. Daniel loves throwing away any scrap of trash he finds in the house, and so I decided to capture it on video. Of course, in addition to being a sanitation engineer, he also is a professional at falling down, and its usually easy to tell when something has hurt him or not. In this case, no he wasn't. But we do laugh...with him, of course.

Wed pm

Sorry about no post yesterday. Things have slowed down, so expect less frequent updates.

Joshua is doing well. Slowly decreasing the air flow. He is now out of the incubator, into a regular bassinet!!! Like a regular baby, and we can hold him whenever we want. As well, he is nursing twice a day, and bottle feeds most of the others occasions. He was weakened by his infection, and thus learning to feed takes some time.

Thanks for prayers. We still need them, and are blessed by them and by the meals that our church family is bringing us now.

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy or this reason, that in me, as the foremos, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example t those who were to believe in him for eternal life."
I Timothy 1:15-16

Monday pm

I feel like a light-hearted blog tonight. How? B/c the Lord has given us peace through all of this.

Joshua nursed today for the first time, and it went pretty well, praise the Lord!! We'll be increasing the frequency in the days ahead.

This won't be as meaningful to those who don't live near us, but we had a once-in-a-lifetime experience Saturday night. There are basically only three primarily pizza joints in Forest Acres, our town. As any nursing mom will know, apparently you get some pretty severe hunger cravings quickly. Well, Saturday, Sarah was craving pizza, and starving. So, we got in the car and drove to Italian Pie....closed for renovations under new management...nnoooooo!!!! Daniel was screaming b/c he wanted out. So, we drove to the 2nd choice, Paulie's Pizza......closed, being remodeled into a new pizza chain.....double noooooo!!! How can this be, 2 joints closed ON THE SAME SATURDAY NIGHT IN AUGUST!?!?

So, we drove to Stevie B's, the last option (in many senses)....CLOSED TOO!!!!! What in the world was the Lord trying to tell us?!?!? Seems like it was time to make some healthier decisions, so we ended up at Chic-Fil-A (sorry Stacey) with grilled chicken salad and chicken salad sandwiches. My goodness!

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body".
I Corinthians 6:19-20

Don't forget me!

 
I'm a blogger too!

Go Dawgs!!!

 
Sic' em Dawgs!!!! Woof woof woof woof woof!

Monday am

Back to the usual blogger. Progress has slowed down from the torrid pace we saw last week, but still moving the right direction overall. It's just going to take a little longer than we hoped. It seems like he still really need the airflow through his nasal cannula, but should continue to wean today. Perhaps today will be the day for the first feed by mouth??! Thanks for many prayers.

Now for today's Scripture. Not specifically related to Joshua's situation, but great advice for any parent regarding the importance of the Word of God.
"And these words that I command you today shall be on our heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6: 6-9

Daniel says "Don't forget about me.
Joshua: "Go Dawgs!"

Sunday pics

 
 

The Lord and His sheep

Ok, so it's Mommy's turn to share! Casey is the usual blogger, but he requested me to make a post. I was reminded today of the Lord's providence and how He comforts and loves His sheep. He has given us so much peace in this situation and little (and big) reminders that He is there! This morning I went to the hospital and then Casey picked me up to go to church service. I sat down just as service started and saw that the passage for the day was out of John 10 -- the Good Shepherd passage. Of course I was brought to tears because this is where the verses we painted on the nursery wall came from! AND, when Pastor Bowers came to visit us in the hospital just hours after DANIEL was born, he read the same verses out of John 10 that were on the nursery wall! Is not the Lord good to His sheep? We count on your continued prayers and look forward to seeing or speaking to everyone soon!!!

Sat am

Down just a little bit on the airflow overnight. Weight up to 7# 8oz!!!

"Blessed be the Lord! for he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him."
Psalm 28:7