December 12th

Today has been a very encouraging day. Noah's nasogastric tube was removed today! He is now going to be taking all of his feeds by mouth. This is wonderful news. As long as he keeps eating and growing over the next couple of days he will be coming home. It may be Saturday. We won't know most likely until the evening before discharge.

Tomorrow is going to be a traumatic day for the little guy. He is likely to have his circumcision tomorrow, which may cause him to not eat as well. Once he recovers from that he should be set.

Without his tube he really looks amazingly like Anna. He's such a cute little guy. Apparently Anna's features are becoming for little boys as well.

Missy is obviously very encouraged about Noah's progress. She remains quite tired and somewhat emotionally labile at times, all of which is understandable. She worked today and that seemed to go okay by report. This evening she was able to spend some time with Julie. I pray that was a relaxing time for her.

My mom's vision continues to slowly improve. We have been able to keep in contact fairly regularly since her visit. All of the events with Noah and Missy have been good for our relationship with my mom. I think that these things have helped to begin to get rid of some barriers that have been there for a long time. I can't say how thankful I am for that. I have been praying that there would be some changes in the way we all get along and that has certainly been happening. That has been one of the greatest blessings of all. God is so good to us.

I found out some outstanding news today, other than that about Noah. My great friend Luke, whom I mentioned in some earlier blogs, found out that he and his wife will be returning from Germany this summer so that he can start an Allergy and Immunology fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I'm quite sure he is overjoyed. He has been waiting to get a spot there for two years. I can't wait to see him. With the short distance from here to DC, we'll be able to visit them frequently. It's going to be great.

Thanks for checking on Noah and Missy today.

Please pray for the following:
Ebrahim's walk with the Lord and his marriage
Noah, and his big sister Anna, that they would come to know the Lord at a young age
God's continued working in the lives of our friends and family
My mom for continued comforting and encouragement after her surgery
Opportunities to be salt and light to others

Please thank God for (at least) the following:
His love, grace, faithfulness, and provision
His 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
My mom's recovery of her eyesight

"I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done. I will rejoice in His great goodness to Israel, which He has granted according to His mercy and love."
Isaiah 63:7