It feels like each time Jayden has a great day, the next ones are difficult. Such is the case again this time. After having a wonderful day on Tuesday, he's had two difficult days. Instead of going into all the details, which I'm not even sure I could get exactly correct, I just will sum up by listing how he needs prayer. Basically, he's having lots of problems, and when he's treated for one, it causes other problems. As the doctor said, we're in a vicious cycle.
Please pray for the following:
1. God would give wisdom to the doctors and nurses as they test/treat Jayden.
2. God would touch Jayden's intestines and he would begin to be able to digest milk. Almost all, if not all, of his problems would be fixed if he could handle his feedings. It's IMPERATIVE that he begin to digest milk.
3. God would give Jayden strength. He has undergone so many procedures, shots, blood transfusions, IV's, etc., and he's a tuckered little guy.
4. God would protect Jayden from infections and further complications.
5. God would give Gerson and me peace as we WAIT and WATCH Jayden go through all of this. It's tough on Mommy and Daddy!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Baby Steps
Hi, again, Friends!
No, Jayden is not up and walking yet! However, he is taking baby steps of improvement with his health. I teasingly say that he's just been sad that Daddy has been gone, so he's been acting up. Now that Daddy is coming home tomorrow, Jayden is starting to behave again! What I DO know is that God is responding to the prayers of so many people and touching Jayden's body.
Yesterday was a good day. I actually held Jayden for about an hour in the morning and then for about 40 minutes in the afternoon. He was alert and expressive both times.
He is now off his antibiotic, and I wonder how much that had a negative effect on him. We also got his biopsy report back yesterday and it was negative! Praise the Lord! According to his blood tests, he has no infections. That's also wonderful news!
With all the good news is also the puzzling realization that the doctors have no answers for why our little guy is having so many problems. They are feeding him again using my milk, but they are doing it continuously so he gets little bits at a time rather than milk in "bulk." This seems to be working much better and as of yesterday he was digesting it very well. Pray that this will continue. We still don't know why he is having trouble with bowel movements. Please pray that he begins to have bowel movements on his own.
He is gaining weight, which is another huge praise. In addition, he's maintaining his body temperature well and yesterday moved to a "big boy" bed and was out of his incubator. I don't know whether he'll still be in his "big boy" bed today since he had to maintain his temperature all night long, but even if he had to return to the incubator, he's close to being out of it permanantly. That makes me smile! :)
Overall, he's doing much better and we are encouraged. Please conatinue to pray for him and the doctors/nurses as they care for and treat him.
Also, pray for Gerson as he travels home tomorrow (Thursday). He leaves Santa Cruz around 10:40 in the morning, goes through Miami (pray he has no complications with his visa and getting back into the States) and Charlotte, then arrives in Indy at midnight. We are anxious to be together again!!!
No, Jayden is not up and walking yet! However, he is taking baby steps of improvement with his health. I teasingly say that he's just been sad that Daddy has been gone, so he's been acting up. Now that Daddy is coming home tomorrow, Jayden is starting to behave again! What I DO know is that God is responding to the prayers of so many people and touching Jayden's body.
Yesterday was a good day. I actually held Jayden for about an hour in the morning and then for about 40 minutes in the afternoon. He was alert and expressive both times.
He is now off his antibiotic, and I wonder how much that had a negative effect on him. We also got his biopsy report back yesterday and it was negative! Praise the Lord! According to his blood tests, he has no infections. That's also wonderful news!
With all the good news is also the puzzling realization that the doctors have no answers for why our little guy is having so many problems. They are feeding him again using my milk, but they are doing it continuously so he gets little bits at a time rather than milk in "bulk." This seems to be working much better and as of yesterday he was digesting it very well. Pray that this will continue. We still don't know why he is having trouble with bowel movements. Please pray that he begins to have bowel movements on his own.
He is gaining weight, which is another huge praise. In addition, he's maintaining his body temperature well and yesterday moved to a "big boy" bed and was out of his incubator. I don't know whether he'll still be in his "big boy" bed today since he had to maintain his temperature all night long, but even if he had to return to the incubator, he's close to being out of it permanantly. That makes me smile! :)
Overall, he's doing much better and we are encouraged. Please conatinue to pray for him and the doctors/nurses as they care for and treat him.
Also, pray for Gerson as he travels home tomorrow (Thursday). He leaves Santa Cruz around 10:40 in the morning, goes through Miami (pray he has no complications with his visa and getting back into the States) and Charlotte, then arrives in Indy at midnight. We are anxious to be together again!!!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Announcing Graduate Gerson
I recieved a call from Gerson this afternoon and he had great news! His defense went super well and he graduated with "excelencia" -- which I think would translate to graduating with honors!!! He scored a 91 out of 100!!! We are rejoicing and praising the Lord for helping Gerson through the whole process. Thanks for your prayers on his behalf.
A Bit of Humor
As Jayden has had his ups and downs, the doctors and nurses have begun to affectionally call him a "stinker." If he begins to "act up," they tell me he's "being a stinker again." Yesterday I saw it in person!
I arrived at the hosptial late morning and waited until his noon check-up to hold him. Holding him is always the highlight of my day! The nurse got him out of the incubator and got him settled in my arms. He fussed a little bit, but quickly settled in for an hour-long nap in Mommy's arms. Before the hour was up, my nurse had to go to lunch, so she left me in the care of another nurse.
At 1:00 I called the other nurse over to us and explained to her that my hour was up and asked her to put Jayden back in the incubator. (Now, many of you may wonder why I don't just get him out and put him back. Someday soon I hope to, but he's connected to so many wires and has 2 IV sights --- one in his head --- and other wires to monitor his heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen stauration, etc., and I'm a little overwhlemed by all those wires and cables! I love holding him, but I don't like moving him and out of his incubator because of all those "things" he's connected to!!! The nurses have much more experience!!!)
Anyway, the nurse came over and settled him back in his bed. Normally, he fusses a little bit and then goes right back to sleep. However, yesterday he fussed and fussed and fussed! I had planned to stay until he settled down and then I was going to go get lunch. Little did I know that he wouldn't settle down!!! He continued to fuss and cry for the next 50 minutes. I kept putting my hand in the incubator and rubbing his little fingers. That often calms him down. Not this time! I spoke quietly to him, hoping my voice would comfort him. No such luck!
By the time his nurse got back from lunch, I was an emotional wreck! I KNEW this wasn't normal for him! What could be wrong!? The doctor had upped his feedings again to 5 ml, so I thought perhaps he had a tummy ache and was having trouble digesting the milk. I was beside myself because I didn't know how to help him!
When I saw his nurse had returned, I called her over and explained to her that he had been crying for almost an hour. She also said that wasn't normal and began to examine him. She checked his IV sites -- no problems there. She checked his stomach --- it wasn't distended or hard and he had digested 3 ml of the milk just fine. She checked his bowel sounds --- his intestines seemed to be working fine. She changed his diaper. She checked everything there was to check and declared him to be fine!
Hmmmm. I was puzzled. Why had he been crying for so long!?
Then the nurse turned him over and placed him in another position. Would you believe our son calmed down instantly and after looking up at us adoringly, went right to sleep???? That's when the nurse turned to me and said, "I've noticed that Jayden is super picky about how he lies in bed. He fusses when he doesn't like how we put him back!"
Yup. It's things like this that have brought on the name "little stinker" for our little guy! I was all worried, and all I would've needed to do was adjust him so he was more comfortable! Welcome to motherhood . . . Guess I have a lot to learn about my little guy, eh? I have a feeling this is only the beginning! Thankfully, instead of leaving the NICU crying, I left chuckling.
I arrived at the hosptial late morning and waited until his noon check-up to hold him. Holding him is always the highlight of my day! The nurse got him out of the incubator and got him settled in my arms. He fussed a little bit, but quickly settled in for an hour-long nap in Mommy's arms. Before the hour was up, my nurse had to go to lunch, so she left me in the care of another nurse.
At 1:00 I called the other nurse over to us and explained to her that my hour was up and asked her to put Jayden back in the incubator. (Now, many of you may wonder why I don't just get him out and put him back. Someday soon I hope to, but he's connected to so many wires and has 2 IV sights --- one in his head --- and other wires to monitor his heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen stauration, etc., and I'm a little overwhlemed by all those wires and cables! I love holding him, but I don't like moving him and out of his incubator because of all those "things" he's connected to!!! The nurses have much more experience!!!)
Anyway, the nurse came over and settled him back in his bed. Normally, he fusses a little bit and then goes right back to sleep. However, yesterday he fussed and fussed and fussed! I had planned to stay until he settled down and then I was going to go get lunch. Little did I know that he wouldn't settle down!!! He continued to fuss and cry for the next 50 minutes. I kept putting my hand in the incubator and rubbing his little fingers. That often calms him down. Not this time! I spoke quietly to him, hoping my voice would comfort him. No such luck!
By the time his nurse got back from lunch, I was an emotional wreck! I KNEW this wasn't normal for him! What could be wrong!? The doctor had upped his feedings again to 5 ml, so I thought perhaps he had a tummy ache and was having trouble digesting the milk. I was beside myself because I didn't know how to help him!
When I saw his nurse had returned, I called her over and explained to her that he had been crying for almost an hour. She also said that wasn't normal and began to examine him. She checked his IV sites -- no problems there. She checked his stomach --- it wasn't distended or hard and he had digested 3 ml of the milk just fine. She checked his bowel sounds --- his intestines seemed to be working fine. She changed his diaper. She checked everything there was to check and declared him to be fine!
Hmmmm. I was puzzled. Why had he been crying for so long!?
Then the nurse turned him over and placed him in another position. Would you believe our son calmed down instantly and after looking up at us adoringly, went right to sleep???? That's when the nurse turned to me and said, "I've noticed that Jayden is super picky about how he lies in bed. He fusses when he doesn't like how we put him back!"
Yup. It's things like this that have brought on the name "little stinker" for our little guy! I was all worried, and all I would've needed to do was adjust him so he was more comfortable! Welcome to motherhood . . . Guess I have a lot to learn about my little guy, eh? I have a feeling this is only the beginning! Thankfully, instead of leaving the NICU crying, I left chuckling.
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