November 21st

Noah is up to 36 mL per feed. He took 10 mL from a bottle today, so he's getting going on the oral intake. He will just have to keep plugging away. He didn't do as well with it tonight as he had done earlier.

He remains off CPAP and is doing well from a respiratory standpoint. I looked at him tonight and he is a bit jaundiced. Based on his exam, he looks like his bilirubin level is about 7. I am not sure if they might put him back under the lights soon. I hope not.

Missy has been doing pretty well. She was hit in the abdomen by one of the little girls in Anna's class. Apparently the kid just ran right up and hit her with both fists. She's been significantly sore since then.

We are hopeful to go with our friends to see the Philadelphia Thanksgiving day parade tomorrow. Anna is eagerly anticipating it. She hopes that there aren't a lot of fire trucks and ambulances that tend to be present in smaller parades. I have never understood why emergency vehicles are a. in parades in the first place and b. find it a necessity to blare their horns. I always hated that as a kid (and still do) and it appears I have successfully passed that gene on to Anna.

I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving tomorrow. Enjoy the time with your family and loved ones. Take the opportunity to truly be thankful. You never know what tomorrow holds, just ask Missy and Noah.

The verse for today is actually repeated multiple times in the Bible. It is in keeping with a theme of thanksgiving. The verse is first found in 1 Chronicles 16:34. It is repeated four times in the book of Psalms and there are several other slight alterations to it in Psalms as well. I pray that we will all meditate on the goodness of God and truly give thanks to Him.

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, for he is good; his love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34