November 9th

Today has been a good day. It hasn't been filled with great news or anything, but I feel that there is some on the horizon. Noah's blood pressures are the best that they have been. I listened to him tonight and could not detect a murmur that would suggest that the PDA is still present. He received a dose of ibuprofen at 20:00, which was after I listened to him. He will get another dose on Sunday.

Once the PDA is closed, I think things will start moving for the little man. He will be able to get fed more. He will start trying oral feeds this next week. Once he is receiving feedings at a normal rate, he will have his belly button IV removed. I feel like it's all about to happen. That's encouraging.

The nurse said that they will try to wean him off of the CPAP over the next couple of days. That would be great as well because it will decrease the air in his stomach and help him more readily able to tolerate larger volumes of feeds.

Missy and my mom felt that Noah's color was a bit better today. That made them feel quite encouraged. While I agreed that he looked a little bit better from a pigmentation standpoint, I suspect that part of it might be that his bilirubin level has increased a little since the high beams were discontinued yesterday.

Missy had a pretty good day. She was able to spend quite a bit of time with Noah and helped in his care. She also has had improvement with her pain, so she's getting around a little bit better. The four of us (Missy, Anna, my mom, and myself) went to eat at Anna's favorite restaurant, Peace A Pizza. Miss tolerated that well and we then went to Target to procure some items. Thanks mom for the gifts!

We continue to be extraordinarily blessed by encouraging friends and family. God has put us in a wonderful place surrounded by amazing people "for such a time as this." When we moved here from Memphis, we never anticipated that we would have such wonderful friends. Now, we can't imagine ever leaving all of our friends here. You all are such an amazing blessing. Our friends remind me of verses of scripture from Proverbs.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Recently, Miss has been able to spend a good amount of time with someone who has rapidly become one of her dearest friends; Julie Fernandez is that friend. It's really been great to get to talk with Missy as that friendship has grown and deepened. They have gotten to share a lot of their experiences during this trying time, as well as before the recent events. I really think that the Lord is using them to sharpen each other, and that's exciting. As a husband and friend of my wife, it delights me immensely to see her develop such meaningful and deep friendships. I praise God for such a wonderful friend as Julie.

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

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 29:11-14