Frigid Winter

Gerson and I are NOT used to this frigid climate! We are learning to bundle up, but lately it's been sooooo cold outside bundling up hasn't helped too much!
Gerson is actually doing better with the cold than I am.

Although I am not enjoying the below zero temperatures, I AM enjoying the snow! The beauty is stunning! It's been a long time since I've see such beautiful scenery. Gerson is learning how to drive on these snow-packed roads.

He's also learning that when we have to be somewhere early in the morning, we need to leave time to scrape off the car or remember to start it early and allow it to warm up!
He's gotten good with a shovel!
And he thinks his wife is crazy! Yup. This is me eating ice cream on one of our sub-zero days! We only lasted outside for about 30 seconds. Gerson doesn't understand that even though I'm usually freezing cold, I don't let it stop me from eating ice cream.

Growth

Jayden continues to grow. We took a picture of him shortly after he was born with this same soccer ball. His head was barely bigger than the ball! Now the ball looks small next to his head. That shows growth, for which we are very thankful!

However, he still has some hurdles to overcome. Yesterday the doctors changed the type of formula he is receiving through a tube into his intestine. The current thought is that perhaps he is allergic to milk. This formula is for babies with allergies. Pray that he responds well to this new formula and is able to tolerate it. 

Also, he was taken off the vent on Monday. He was doing well until yesterday. Before we arrived to visit him, he had another breathing episode, similar to what he was having before going onto the vent. Today before Joy went home, she called me to tell me he had had another episode and they were putting him back on the C-Pac (I think that's what it's called -- it's a step above the cannula and a step below the vent).  When I talked to the night nurse, she assured me he was resting easily and doing fine.

To be honest, I'm really sad right now and have shed my share of tears once again. Every time we seem to have progress, something happens and we're back to square one. It's so emotionally draining! 

Through all of this, Gerson and I are also undergoing growth. We are being challenged spiritually as we have never been before. When we found out I was pregnant, Gerson and I began to pray that God would use our baby to bring glory to HIM. When we prayed that, we had something else in mind than what we all are going through. 

However, God has brought to my mind Isaiah 55:8-11 -- "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.  As the heaves are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it."

God is answering our prayer. Our son continues to bring glory to God as we see answered prayer. God continues to give us opportunities to testify to his faithfulness and goodness. He continues to hold us when we have no strength and we are able to tell others the strength they see in us is not our own, but rather that of our Heavenly Father. Because of this road we are traveling, we are beginning to understand God's amazing grace in a brand new way. 

Growth. It hurts. But it's good. May we continue to let our Lord grow us and we daily surrender out son's growth to Him.

Reporting for Duty, Uncle Pete!

Over the Christmas holidays, I met my Uncle Pete for the first time. He's my mommy's older brother. I noticed right away that he had an outstanding haircut. I later learned that he's in the U.S. Army and that's why he has such a cool haircut. I love my Uncle Pete. He held me and loved me for quite awhile. I'm sad he lives so far away and can't come and see me more often.
While Uncle Pete was here, he gave me present ---- an army outfit! I've been wanting to wear it for a long time, but I had to grow into it. Finally Mommy put me in it. Uncle Pete told me that when I get older and stronger, he'll take me up in an airplane and teach me to jump out with a parachute! I'm so excited! Can I report for duty now, Uncle Pete????? I'm ready for an adventure!
Mommy's not too excited about her baby jumping out of an airplane someday. However, she told me she'll be supportive of whatever I decide to do. She's already had to surrender me to God, so I think she'll come around to our way of thinking if I DO decide to someday jump out of an airplane.
I think my daddy might like to join us, Uncle Pete. Do you think he could go with us? Better not tell Mommy! I'm sure she wouldn't want BOTH of her men to be so reckless! I think we have a couple more years to try to get her used to the idea! I'll keep working on her, Uncle Pete. Meanwhile, get all the training you can so you can teach me! :) I think I look pretty handsome in this army outfit. Do you think I have enough hair to get that outstanding haircut as well?

Bath Time!

We visited Jayden again on Thursday. Nurse Joy told us he could use a good bath and asked if I wanted to help bathe him. I've never helped with his sponge baths, so I was excited! This was to be his first bath in a tub of water!
Joy's job was to hold him up; my job was to scrub him down. Notice that his right leg is wrapped in a towel and outside the tub. That is because his still has a Pic-Line in for his IV fluids. We didn't want that to get wet.
"Ohhhh. I LIKE this! I think I'll just hang out for awhile and rest. Is thia what it's like when people go hang out at the beach? Too bad there's no sun in here, but those lights up there are keeping me warm."
Jayden LOVED his bath. He just relaxed and his oxygen saturation actually improved! I scrubbed him down. He reminded me of a purring cat, he was so content!

"Oh, no! Is it all done? Scrub me some more!" 
All clean and dressed again! Success!!! It was a wonderful experience to bathe our son. Can't wait for the next time!

"I'm the Little Man!"

Hi everyone! I wanted to show you a couple of my nurses. They think I'm pretty special! This is Joy. She fell in love with me the moment she set eyes on me. I must be quite the little charmer! She quickly signed up to be my primary nurse, so when she's working, she's all mine --- well, kinda. She has other other babies to watch, too, but I like to think she's all mine! :) She bought me some cute outfits for Christmas. One of them says "My Hero." Yup. I think she's in love all right. She's crazy about me!! To bad Daddy says I can only have one date with her when I get out of here. He seems to think she's too old for me. Oh, well. I think I'll ask her to take out for ice cream! Yummy! I think I'll like ice cream more than the milk they're trying to get me to eat! Thanks, Joy, for loving me and taking good care of me! I'll try to get better soon so we can go on our date.
This is Erin. She's really sweet, too! She's been my nurse several times, but just recently she also signed up to be ALL mine.  . .  well, she has other babies to take care of, too, but when she's on duty, I get to be with her! Thanks, Erin, for taking me on as one of your babies. I'll try to be good, I promise!!! :)

Lots of Loving

Since the day Jayden was born, he has had a stream of visitors. We intended to get pictures of all of his visitors, but it seems we often get to talking and showing off our son that we forget to snap the shots! However, we have remembered on occasion to take pictures of those who have come to love on our son.

We have also had an amazing amount of people who have loved us, his parents. I won't be able to name EVERYONE, but you know who you are, and more importantly, so does God. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Some of the first visitors we had were Steve and Kara Eberhard. Steve was a missionary kid in Honduras and his sister Becky and I have been friends since we were babies! Steve and Kara surprised us by coming by the hospital soon after Jayden was born. As you can see, I was still in a hospital bed and quite puffy! Gerson escorted them to the NICU to see Jayden. Thanks, Steve and Kara, for dropping by. It was great to see you!

Becky and her family were also going to stop by, but Gerson was sick on the day they were driving through Indy. We hope to connect in February. Steve and Becky's mom, my "Aunt" Sara, daily checks this blog and prays for us. Thanks to all the Eberhards for your prayers and love!

This was not taken in the hospital, but I wanted to be sure to thank Liz and Trent. They have shown Gerson and me so much love during these days. Thanks for giving us a home when we didn't have one! Liz has gone to see Jayden several times, but I haven't taken her picture with him. We're going to have to get that corrected! Thanks, Liz and Tent, for your unconditional love, friendship and prayers. We love you.
I was so blessed to have 2 aunts come and stay with me after my parents returned to Florida after Jayden's birth. I was recovering from my C-Section and was unable to drive. Aunt Hazel (pictured above) came and stayed for a week. She was our driver and made sure we got to the hospital every day to visit Jayden. When Aunt Hazel left, Aunt Betsy came. She also stayed for a week and spent Thanksgiving with us, along with my sister, Jamie. Thank you Aunt Hazel and Aunt Betsy for loving us through some very difficult days and for being available to come be with us! Thanks, Mom and Dad, for staying with us for a week and taking care of me and giving Gerson a break when I was still in the hospital. Thanks, Jamie, for setting up our home and getting it ready for Christmas!
In addition to all his biological family, Jayden has a missionary family. "Aunt" Kelly came up from Kentucky to visit her new "nephew." Thanks, Kelly, for stopping by! Jayden was so happy to meet Aunt Kelly! He can't wait to laugh with you! :)
Keren is a friend of mine from junior high and high school. She and her husband live in New York City. While they were in Indiana for Christmas, she made the trip to Indianapolis with her mom to visit us in the hospital. It was great to see her again! Dan, maybe we can see you next time! 
Crystal is another missionary "aunt." She volunteered with World Gospel Mission in Bolivia for several years. She has tried valiantly to get down to Indy to see Jayden, but Indiana weather has interfered each time. She finally made it down to our home in Marion (she lives further north in Indiana) and it was wonderful to spend the evening catching up with her. Thanks, Crystal, for taking the time to visit with us. Thanks for the clothes, too! We hope to take them to Jayden this week.

Now, I have not mentioned EVERYONE who has come to visit. I'm afraid I'll forget someone if I try to do that! My whole family has been to visit various times. We've also had several other WGM missionaries/staff drop in to visit. Thanks to EVERYONE who has showered us with love and visits.

I also want to once again thank all of you who have been unable to visit us in the hospital but visit us regularly here on the blog, send us emails and cards, and love us from a distance. THANK YOU for your words of encouragement and support. Thanks for praying. Thanks for loving. I wish I could name all of the people who have blessed us with the knowledge of knowing they have been here with us --- either in person or through their prayer --- through these difficult days. God is using you in tremendous ways during this time of our lives.  

Wrestling Daily

Once again Jayden has had a setback. He was still doing all right with his breathing last time I talked with his nurse this evening. However, they had to stop his feedings once again yesterday when he had some questionable liquid (the color was wrong) come up out of his stomach last evening. Please continue to pray for the doctors as they try to figure out what is causing all of Jayden's stomach problems. We desperately want our baby home with us and it's so hard to see him with so many tubes and problems. We continue to trust the Lord, but both Gerson and I have had our moments of "wrestling with the Lord" as we've daily had to surrender our son to Him. Through the tears and questions, we've felt God just hold us in His big hands. We know God's people are praying for us. Thank you.

Answered Prayer

We received good news today! God answered our prayer and Jayden is off the ventilator! He is back on a two-nasal cannula. We are thrilled! I last talked to his night nurse at 8:30 this evening, and she said he's doing great! Praise the Lord! Continue to pray for our son. Getting him off the ventilator is one step closer to bringing him home. We're anxious to have him home with us. It's so hard to be separated.

Pray for Gerson and me this week, as well. We are attending meetings at WGM all week and won't be able to go see Jayden until Friday. That's going to be rough on us! I've never gone this long without seeing him. I'm already anxious for Friday to arrive.

The photo above was taken on Sunday when I was able to hold him for 2 hours! It was wonderful! Thanks to Joy (his nurse) and the respiratory therapists who made it possible for me to hold him while he was on the ventilator!