Thankful for good news...

I am so very thankful this day before Thanksgiving. I talked to a doctor today, he gave me an update on JW's progress and a timeline for coming home.
He said the earliest he would come home was late next week! Awesome news. We are getting closer.
A Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Allie

A small set back

Sunday, JW had an episode of apnea possibly caused by so many secretions not being swallowed. He had to be put back into the NICU, where he is today. He went back on oxygen for a little while and is now just on a small air flow through the nose canula. He is reported to weigh 5 lbs, 13 oz. I am not sure if that is correct, he would have had to gain a lot in one day for that to be correct. 

He also had an ultrasound done on his hips today, no results yet. 

Besides a small set back, he is doing good and continues to improve getting closer to coming home.

JW's Tummy Tube

Well, the last few days have been interesting and exciting.
Sometime last week JW graduated to a big boy bed as seen below.



Monday, JW had a feeding tube placed surgically into his tiny tummy due to his swallowing and sucking reflex being very weak. He was placed on a ventilator as more of a cautionary measure. He came off of the ventilator on Tuesday morning and was doing very well with the oxygen through the nose canula. The following are pics of him shortly after surgery.

This is his feeding tube or G-tube. Good news today also!! He is off of the oxygen and nose canula. Hurray! AND... he weighs... 5lbs...........7 oz. Yeah!! What a growing boy he is. I also got a voicemail in regards to beginning plans for discharge. Exactly what is going to happen, I have no idea because I returned the phone call too late but it was very encouraging.

I am very thankful for the Lord and what He has done to my family, to heal and hold JW in His arms. God has blessed our lives in many ways over the last 10 weeks and I pray He will continue to bless our precious little baby as well as our family. I also thank everyone else for all of the thoughts, prayers and support you have given to our family and JW.

I will update you on the whole discharge info as soon as I hear something. Please continue to keep JW in your prayers.

Allie

New pics...finally!

Sorry about the delay in getting pics up, our life has been some sort of hectic! Wacy just left yesterday for the Border Patrol Academy for a looonngg five months. So, we have been dealing with getting him ready and the normal day to day life with two busy kids, four if you count Duece and Lizzy.
Anyway, JW is getting better, slowly but surely, God is definitely taking care of our family. Now being 8 weeks old, they moved JW into an open crib a couple of days ago, he was getting too hot in the incubator. A big step for the little guy. They have also decided to put the g-tube or feeding tube in on Friday. This will be good so he can get the little tube out of his nose that feeds him. He is being fed 15 ml of milk per hour continuously or rather slow but constant, not all at once. He has worked his way back up after his infection. He lost some weight with being sick and coming off of the IVs again. But he is back up to 5lbs, 2oz. A few more ounces and he will be 2lbs bigger than when he was born.
Enough of the talk, here are some more pics..

Here is a video of the little cutie..

I will try to post something again after Friday, so check back.

Allie

Prayer Request

So, I know I have promised new photos and they ARE coming...I just don't have them yet.  Bear with us and we will get them posted ASAP.

On another note, please be praying for JW as we have learned he will be having a feeding tube put in sometime this week or next week.  Not sure on the date, but I will update again after I know more.  The doctors have elected to put the tube in so that JW can more easily be fed and have the tube removed from his nose.  Also, this will probably allow him to come home sooner than if the tube was not put in.  JW still cannot be fed by mouth as his swallowing and sucking reflexes are still weak.  Please be praying that these reflexes will become stronger every day.  Also pray that everything will go smoothly during the procedure and that God will guide and direct the nurses and doctors caring for JW.  Pray that the Lord will surround JW with His angels and empower them to protect and comfort JW during this time.

Allie also mentioned today that there were attempts being made to move JW to an actual crib!  This is great news and means that he is improving.  I know there are many of you who have been devoted prayer warriors for our little guy and we thank you and pray that God blesses you in return.  Thank you for your faithfulness...you have given us much hope!

I will update again soon with more info. on the procedure date and how everything goes.  Oh, and I will try to get ahold of those pictures...you aren't going to believe how different JW looks!

~JW's Aunt Lindy

Update (with new pics coming soon)

Allie, mom and Wacy went to visit JW yesterday and here is the latest.  He is back on milk (yay!) but has lost a little weight due to being off the IV (to be expected).  So, he is currently at 5 lbs.  He is still getting the milk through a nasal tube, but at least they removed his IV...which is great news!  Allie said he was pretty alert yesterday and it seemed like his eyes were beginning to focus a little more than in the past.  They had increased his oxygen a little, and this is something that will just vary by day almost, as he continues to develop physically.  No word on his hips or when they plan to take action on that issue.  Overall, JW is doing very well.  The intestinal issues seem to have just healed up and gone away...PRAISE GOD!  Allie has quite a few new pictures she will either upload or send to me for upload.  Thank you to all, again, for your prayers.  They are what is keeping us all afloat and heading JW in the right direction!  Pictures coming soon...you won't believe what a little chunk he is becoming!:)

~JW's Aunt Lindy