The Longest Stay

Hello to all again.


Just to update, JW is still in the hospital, today marks two weeks. Over the weekend he was starting to flair with his respiratory issues. He was on 2 lpm of oxygen but they had to increase to 4 then 6 lpm. He has been on 6 for the last few days and holding steadily. The xray showed some haziness that they believe to be the bacteria coming back that was supposed to be taken care of with the antibiotic. The bacteria is called pseudomonas, you can find some info at this website that might explain a little more. http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/471/main.html


He is doing wonderful oftherwise, laughing, smiling, just a real joy for the nurses and child life staff. Here is a photo I took of him on Tuesday...
Sorry its a little blurry, took it with my phone.

He is getting so big, thank you everyone for your prayers, thoughts and encouragement. He is such a blessing to the world, especially his family.

Allie

will update as we progress

Look at our blessing!

So here are a few recent pics. We are in the hospital again, but should be coming home soon. Just wanted to post these, update tomorrow.

EMERGENCY! Call 911.

I never in my life thought I would have to call 911 for anyone in my family much less one of my own children. But as life has it, the EMS staff definitely know who we are by name. Lately JW has been having trouble with choking on his secretions that he can't swallow when he gets really upset. We had this in Nov. Dec and now in Feb.
On wednesday, I think, ( I am not even sure what day it is today) JW had one of his episodes and starting to lose oxygen with my nurse Crystal while I was shopping for something for dinner at HEB with the older two kiddos. I was talking with her and Chriselda, my other nurse, and things were getting worse, so we had to call 911. He was doing good when they got there but we sent him on to San Antonio because we weren't sure what was going on. Apparently during the flight he stopped breathing and they had to intubate so when we arrived at the hospital he was much worse than I was thinking.
He is doing much better now they are soon looking to take him off the ventilator. Today he was awake but still kind of groggy but looking much better.
JW has been growing and doing so well at home, he is just such a joy in our lives, a joy that I, with the help of my nurses and family, work very hard to have. I just want to let my wonderful nurses/family, they are basically family now, that I appreciate everything they do to help me keep my child well. I saw a little something at the hospital gift shop today, buying something for JW for valentine's day, that said "Nurses are Angels on Earth" and that is so true.
Thank you to everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers sent our way, they are greatly appreciated. I just felt like blogging a little, I will return soon with an update on how our little guy is doing and a few more specifics of his condition. God Bless!

Memory Lapse and Good News

So, I completely blanked and forgot to update the blog this past week! I have been on the phone with a few people and have given them the good news, which is probably why updating the blog slipped my mind. Sorry about that!

The good news is that JW came home on Friday! He was down to a half liter of oxygen and was then off oxygen for a while the couple of days prior to his coming home. They kept him until Friday just to make sure everything was ok. We are all very relieved and I know Allie and Wacy are glad to have him back home and for things to be back to normal.

We know that this good news is, in part, to all of you, our devoted prayer warriors! THANK YOU! Your prayers and support throughout the past few weeks has played a huge part in our family's hope and strength and JW's recovery.

Please continue praying for JW....for his healing and development and God's plan and purpose for his life. Pray for his nurses and caretakers. Pray for JW's doctors, that they be blessed with wisdom. Pray for Allie and Wacy in the decisions they are making and will make for his care and for courage, strength, and comfort for them.

I will try to get some new pictures of the not-so-little guy to post....as of last week he weighed 17 pounds! So, check back in the next few days.

Again, thank you to everyone who is praying and for those of you (and you know who you are) who have sent words of encouragement via email/Facebook or made those phone calls to let us know you care...it means more to us than words can ever express. God bless each of you.

~Lindy

So Much to be Thankful for...

JW is still in the hospital, but improving. He did have a rough night a couple of nights ago in regards to his respiration, but he is doing better now. He is still not at an oxygen level that would allow him to come home, but we hope he will be soon. I hope to be able to report more in the next day or so.

As Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, our family has so much to be thankful for. We are thankful for each other and the strength, hope, and faith that has resonated through and to and from each of us over the past year since JW's birth. It has been trying at times and we are blessed indeed to have one another. We are thankful for JW's life and how his life has touched each of ours in ways that can never be explained. We are thankful for Allie and Wacy and how they have gone through the tough times with grace and a maturity that is beyond their youthful years AND how they have still been the best of parents to Tristin and Mitchell through it all. We are thankful for Tristin and Mitchell too...how they both light up our worlds and bring such joy to our hearts. We are thankful for the love of God that has surrounded us and held us tight when we most needed it. We are thankful for the blessings of friends and extended family who continue to be so faithful and caring in lending a hand, praying, comforting, and much more. We are thankful for peace that comes only from God, Our Father, and how He has provided it when we needed it more than anything. And we are thankful for each of you, for standing by and showing your love for us and JW...may God bless you greatly, in the ways you need His blessing most. Thank you for following JW's story and praying with us.

~Lindy

On the Mend

JW was taken off the ventilator yesterday! Praise God for that! Poor little fella was pretty hungry and sleepy after being off his milk (overnight, I think) and having an eventful day all around. They have to take him off milk prior to removing the tube and ventilator. Allie said he was so fussy and she knew he just wanted to eat and sleep...so, he is feeling more like his usual self again. JW had been on 1/4 liter (per minute) of oxygen prior to going into the hospital but he is now using 4 liters per minute. Before he can go home, he will need to get down to a more normal oxygen level. Overall, he has improved greatly in the past few days and will hopefully be home soon. Please keep checking the blog or our facebook pages for updates. Again, there are not words to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers through this ordeal and over the past year. Please continue to keep JW, Allie, Wacy, Tristin, and Mitchell in your prayers. May God bless each of you for your faithfulness and selflessness. We have so much to be thankful for as this Thanksgiving holiday rolls around. Let us remember how blessed we are throughout this week and always!

~Lindy

Improvment All Around

As we near the Thanksgiving holiday, today we are thankful for continued good news. JW has improved more and the doctors are hoping to extubate him tomorrow (Sat.) and get him off the ventilator. He may have to have a higher level of oxygen for a while, but I'm not sure on that just yet. Also, Allie says he was more awake today and she actually got a smile out of him, which definitely means he is feeling better. I will report more later Sat. night or Sun. morning. Thank you again, for all the prayers, thoughts, and kind words you have sent JW's way. He is an amazing, resilient little guy and we are so thankful for the answered prayers of many when it come to him.