November 11th

Happy Sunday evening to everyone. Today has been a good day. Noah's exam today continued to be consistent with the ductus arteriosus having closed, so the neonatologist decided to begin advancing his feeds. This is great. Hopefully this is the last we'll have to think about the PDA.

They increased the frequency of the feedings yesterday to every 3 hours, which is likely where it will remain. Today, they started increasing the volumes. He is going to be increasing by one mL every 12 hours for now. We'll see how he tolerates that. He should start growing a bit more once the feeds are where they need to be, though it will take some time to reach that goal rate. Today, he weighed 3 lb 6.7 oz (1550 grams), so he is slowly gaining. We'll take what we can get, but I would like for him to be gaining a minimum of 30 grams per day.

He continues to be on the CPAP of 5. This was increased yesterday from 4, but I'm not sure that he needs it. Half of the time that we were there, the CPAP machine was reading 3 or 4 and he was doing fine. I am hopeful that tomorrow or Tuesday they will wean that down and he will be off CPAP by the end of the week.

With the obvious exception of Noah, our family was able to attend worship this morning. That was great. Missy was really emotional during the service. She later told me that she was "just happy to be here." By "here," she meant alive. I assured her that I was happy too. We were able to visit with so many of our friends. We were encouraged by everyone who continues to pray for us. It's one thing to know that people are praying for you during times of trial, etc. It's something different when people take the minute to let you know they are praying for you. We are so thankful for all of you. If you are taking the time to read this, I am quite sure that you are praying for Noah and our family. Thanks. I can't verbalize how much that means to us.

Anna appears to have croup. She awoke last night with a textbook example of a croupy cough. I debated taking her to the emergency department, but decided to hold off. I talked to one of my friends from work asked him to call in some steroids. She has taken her first dose and hopefully we will be able to get passed this croup without any further intervention. Croup is a viral illness most commonly caused by parainfluenza virus. The steroids won't cure the viral illness, but they will help with the swelling in the airway that is the issue of concern. Since she is ill, we aren't going to be taking her to the hospital to see Noah for several days. This virus, and the other types that cause croup, can be quite severe in little fellows like Noah. She didn't seem to be bothered by it today, though she was accompanied by her friend Cathy Lathbury while we were gone so it was more of a fun time for her. Thanks Cathy!

I think that my mom has thoroughly enjoyed her visit. She is heading back to east Tennessee tomorrow and we likely won't see her for quite a while. I suspect the little man will at least be sitting up and doing other tricks by that time. Please remember to pray for her as she flies tomorrow. She's already getting nervous at the thought.

I want to take the opportunity to thank all of our friends/family at Grace Chapel who have showered my mom with the love of Christ. I have overheard her talking to multiple people on the phone and telling them how wonderful everyone here is. It's really been great for her. I told her that Hobie had suggested that she move up here because she "fit right in." She laughed heartily at the thought of that, but I know that it meant a lot to her. Thanks again. Your love for us and for my mom whom you do not know reminds me of John 13:35:

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

While we were at the hospital today, Missy held Noah for about 30 minutes. He snuggled up to her and was snoozing soundly. Mom remarked several times about how small he looked. It brought to mind some verses from Psalms.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16

Little Noah is fearfully and wonderfully made. We fret over things like how much feeding he's getting and what his CPAP setting is. Almighty God has ordained all the days of his life and He knows exactly the steps that Noah will take. More than we could ever love him, God has loved him. He has known his smile, his voice, his laugh before we ever saw him. He has held him, and continues to hold him in the palm of His hand. How wonderful and loving is the God whom we serve!?

Thanks for checking on Noah and Missy today.

Please pray for the following:
Noah's neonatologists and nurses
Missy's OB/GYN, Dr. Heinzel
Strength for our family, especially Missy
Opportunities to be salt and light to others
Noah, and his big sister Anna, that they would come to know the Lord at a young age
Nana's flight back home

"The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?"
Psalm 27:1