Tiny Twig Goes Out on a Limb

Asher-Day 17

Asher is continually amazing us.  :)  He looks like he is going to get off scot-free from this whole mess--no lasting detrimental consequences.  Praise the LORD.  Thank you for praying for our sweet boy.

I keep getting little comments here and there from the doctors and nurses about just how serious his condition was.  I think it was simply a blessing from God that somehow I intellectually knew it was very, very serious--but emotionally, I didn't go there after the first night when they transferred him.  That is a completely different chapter of this story, but God has protected my heart during this time.  I have a feeling it will hit me like a ton of bricks when Asher is home, but I'll cross that bridge when we get there.

We are looking at a Wednesday discharge if all goes well (I am afraid to even say that out loud, let alone put it in writing!!).  I promise I'll have a whole ton of pictures then.  Right now, I'm just too completely wiped out.  He is definitely a cutie, favors my first boy, and has the nurses swooning. 

I have a round of guest posts for you guys so I can enjoy a little maternity leave and get to know this little bugger.  He and I have some bonding to do. 

Thank you for your continued prayers.  Asher was one prayed for little boy--and we know that prayer is good and noble.  Thank you. 

Asher's MRI Results

Asher's MRI was "completely unremarkable".  Praise the Lord!  Phew.  Now we just wait for him to eat well and pass a few other "newborny" kinds of tests.  Then, hopefully he'll make his way to the Twig House soon-ish.

Thanks for your prayers--of course.

I'm so pooped.

Asher-MRI

still no word on the MRI (he also had an Echocardiogram)...will hopefully find out this morning when I get to the hospital.  just didn't want to leave you hanging.  so much for finding out immediately like the Dr. had told us.  blergh.

Asher is doing well...just getting the hang of eating, etc.  we're hoping for a discharge relatively soon...and i'm also trying not to get my hopes up. 

more later.

Asher-Day 13

 

Ahhhh.  I just finished up washing bottles and pump parts--I forgot what its like running a small time dairy operation.  :) 

Asher looked good today.  I saw him with his eyes open for the second time since his Birthday.  However, I am assured that he is awake much more often than it appears to me--I just tend to visit right after feedings.  It's good to know, because my mind can tend to run wild with those sorts of (unfounded) observations. 

He can wear little baby clothes now, so I brought in a bunch of favorites from Noah and Cooper.  I can't wait to see him in those clothes--I think it will bring a dose of home to the NICU. 

Speaking of the other boys, they are getting really anxious to see Asher and I can tell they are starting to feel the effects of being bounced from family member to family member.  They love the attention they are getting, but I can tell it's wearing on them to be out of our normal routine.  Please pray for a restoration of peace and "normalcy" around here?  Their bedtimes are messed up, Noah is feeling anxious when it is time for bed (he can't put a finger on why...just general worry), and they are emotionally going from 0 to 60mph in about 2.5 seconds about everything.  I know all of these things are normal and to be expected, but I still would love to see them experience peace and comfort during this time.

Asher's MRI has been moved to Friday at 9am.  We should receive the results from the doctor pretty quickly after that.  The doctor seems to think that clinically there is no reason for it not to be normal, but of course, those things can never be guaranteed.  We are praying for a clean and normal MRI, showing no signs of previous infection or permanent damage in his brain.

Otherwise, dude just needs to eat.  He is receiving his feeds by bottle now for the most part (so, his breathing HAS slowed down significantly!!) But, because he was so sick he tires out easily when eating.  He must take all of his feedings (a certain # of mLs) by bottle for 48 hours before he can go home.  This is really our last hurdle (praise the LORD, right?!), but it could take a week or more for him to get it figured out and heal the rest of the way. 

One really big and wonderful relief is that we found out our insurance is really good in this sort of situation.  It is so wonderful to know that this will not ruin us financially--it allows us to focus on our sweet boy and not about every medicine and procedure costing a fortune.  This stirs up all kinds of feelings in me about affordable healthcare...but, for now, I am just thankful that Husband's company has provided us with fantastic benefits.  Praise the Lord for that weight off our shoulders.

I'm sorry there are no pictures today--and that it's a wordy and disjointed post.  It's starting to wear on us that we are rounding out our second week with Asher in the NICU.  I don't know how families do this for months on end.  I have a soft spot in my heart for families with sick babies now. 

I'll fill you guys in on pictures tomorrow.  I got some good ones with his eyes open.  :)

edited to add pictures.  the first is from his 12th day, the second from his 13th.

Asher-Day 12

Hey all.  Asher is continuing to progress well.  Some new developments: they took out the venous line from his umbilicus, so now we can hold him a little easier.  Therefore, he is now getting all nutrition through milk--either through the tube or a bottle (when he breaths nice and slow).  He finished the course of antibiotics.  Now, he has to show that he can get all of his nutrition through eating--and not tire out.  He also has to have an MRI later this week to check to make sure there were no adverse neurological effects from this whole thing.  We are obviously praying fervently for a clean and normal MRI--will you pray for that with us? 

We still don't know when he'll be coming home, but we do know we are making progress in the right direction. I am starting to feel the effects of this whole thing myself...emotions are starting to bubble to the surface, nights are starting to feel lonely without either a baby kicking in my belly or a baby in my arms, and I'm starting to process through his whole birth (like all women do).  Pray for joy, peace, and comfort in the coming days?  Thankfully, physically, this has been a very easy recuperation process...I feel about 99%, which is a wonderful and extravagant blessing in this time.  Thanks for your prayers, as always.