December 2, 2007

We woke up to sleet/snow/rain this morning and it has continued throughout the day. Needless to say, it's cold. Church was excellent this morning. A group spoke who had just returned from Kenya with pictures and stories. Anna was invited to play with her friend Katie for the afternoon, and all of a sudden I had a few hours to myself. Julie and I went to see Noah for his 2 pm feeding, and as always had a great time. He is now taking 40 ml per feed. At 2 pm, he took all but 13 ml from a bottle. His nurse said he had done the same for her the past two feeds. So that would mean he is feeding around 75% orally today. We'll have to see if his morning email reports the same figures. Luckily for me there were no diaper mishaps today! He continues to melt my heart with his smiles. All the NICU staff says we are just waiting on him to get his eating figured out and then he is home. I am hopeful that he will be home by the end of the week. I almost forgot to put in the answer to the question I am asked the most...4lb 9.3 oz (2079 grams).

Tom's visit in Memphis is going well. Today he had some free time at drill and was able to get some reading done for CHOP. He visited with some of our best friends, Jeff and Mary, last night, and he and Jeff decided the best visiting happens at the best bbq place in town. Please pray for safe travel home for Tom on Tuesday. Also keep Mary and Jeff in your prayers...Mary is 40 weeks pregnant and tomorrow they will have their 3rd child!!! It has been wonderful to share, commiserate , and encourage each other through our pregnancies, and I am sure it will continue once our babies are home!

At church, I was blown away again by the love that continues to be poured on our family. In the 3 hour period, I had one family give us around 200 newborn diapers, one family ask Anna to play, another wanting to know if it was okay to send around another sign-up sheet for meals, rides,etc., several more ask if they could help with Anna or if we needed anything, one said call anytime for anything, and I could go on and on. I was reminded today by someone that Christianity isn't just about Heaven, it's about life here too, and people want to minister in all these different ways. Sometimes one of the hardest things to do is ask for help but with a church family like Grace Chapel, it's not as hard. You really don't even have to ask...it's just done when someone sees a need.

Thanks for checking on Noah and the rest of us today!
Please pray for the following:
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 (Susan) for continued comforting and encouragement after her surgery for a detached retina
Noah's neonatologists and nurses
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

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love endures forever."
Psalms 136:1