November 20th

Noah has been off of CPAP for 48 hours! He was breathing fine when I saw him this evening. He is still getting a little bit of oxygen through his nasal cannula, but he's doing great. I am hopeful that he will remain off the CPAP for good.

He is tolerating his feedings well and they are going to increase the fortifier in his breast milk to give him a few more calories. This will hopefully put some weight on him. He is going to try a little bit of bottle feeding soon.

Noah will be three weeks old on Thursday. It's hard to believe that so much has happened in such a short span. We can't thank everyone enough for all of the prayers, meals, and encouragement. This has been a trying time for our family and God has been faithful to give us the strength we need for the moment. I know that we have grown so much from this and I pray that we can use it to minister to others.

Missy continues to improve everyday, just like the little man. She is having less soreness and she looks better in general. She has been able to spend some time with her great friend Julie, which has been wonderful for Miss.

As Thanksgiving day continues to approach, we all become more cognizant of the many things that God has bestowed upon us. My grandmother's favorite hymn was "Count Your Blessings." I can't enumerate how many times I heard her say "If all we did was count our blessings, we wouldn't have time to do anything else." She was a fountain of faith and love, and that Godly wisdom couldn't be more true. God has been so gracious to our family in this time, as well as in all our lives heretofore. This Thanksgiving is certainly going to be one filled with more gratitude than the average. I pray that henceforth it will always be so, for our family as well as yours.

Thanks for checking on Noah and Missy today.

Please pray for the following:
Noah's neonatologists and nurses
God's continued working in the lives of our friends and family
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
Our working with Anna during this difficult transition time for her
My friend Luke as he finally returns from Iraq after 15 months to Germany to be with his wonderful bride Ivy

Please thank God for (at least) the following:
His love, grace, and faithfulness as exhibited in our lives
God's strengthening of our family
His working in the lives of all those who have played such an important part in Noah's life already: those who have and continue to pray for him

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done."
1 Chronicles 16:8