Christmas Eve... into Christmas Morning -- JOHN

Merry Christmas! It has been a while since we have written. We are enjoying our time with Kyle and we are trying hard not to be stressed out “making it happen” over the holidays. From trying to take time to soak in some quality time with the boys (making Christmas fun for them) to bouncing from one family event to another family event to trying to take a few minutes here and there for seeing friends, … time is really hard to come by… so, unfortunately , journaling has been the thing to suffer! I know many of you check on this daily, sometimes multiple times daily, and I am sorry we have not updated lately. I promise we will try to get back to it after all these holidays are over, and we are over all our illnesses… that’s right,… illnesses. Kelly got it, John got it, Jadon got it, and Jack got it too! All of us, sniffles, etc,… so needless to say, it has been fun around our house. We each had to take a few days away from the NICU,… which was really tough on Kelly. I have done it before. Hospital life is not easy. I have been to the doctor personally more in the last 2 months than I have in the last 2 years. Fun the things you can “pick up” in the hospital – even with a purell OCD like I have. Weird.

Anyway,…

Kyle.

Kyle is doing really well right now! His Oxygen requirements on CPAP have been very low, so they are talking weaning him tomorrow or the next day down a little!
This is a GREAT step in the right direction! His pressure is set right now to the highest place (8) BUT, they are going to go down to probably 7 soon! I think they go down to 5 if I heard correct, then they go to nasal canula! Kyle is getting to be a big boy!
He is 2 pounds 12 ounces tonight! When we walked into his room today, his primary,
Brandy, had him dressed up as one of Santa’s Reindeer! Too Funny! I will try to post a picture tomorrow. It was actually a build a bear outfit I think she said. Needless to say, Jadon got a good laugh, as did we. Tonight, one of Kyle’s favorite new nurses has him, Amanda. We are hoping Amanda gets to go to days to help take over some primary duties once Brandy leaves in January. Why? You may ask is she leaving??? She is now a full fledge Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, seeking employment at either TCH or CMHH, so she could be back as a NNP, or she could end up at TCH. Also, she is adopting and welcoming Nicholas into their home, so she and Steven will be a little busy for a while adjusting to parenthood! Congrats to her! BUT, sadly, we lose a great primary, so Valerie, Mandy, and hopefully Amanda will have to take over more often! There are some truly super people up there, so we are in good hands. We are having a hard holiday this year, but still good. Good because God is doing such great things in Kyle’s life. Good because I am so thankful for the family and friends in our lives. Good because I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the people that God has put in our paths at Children’s Memorial Hermann—from Craig Cordola to the amazing doctors, nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Respiratory Therapists, Child life specialists, etc etc etc…
We are so thankful for these doctors and nurses and NNPs! From the smiling receptionists to the care given from all in the NICU, these people are truly the hands of Christ ministering healing to Kyle and us. We are so thankful to a host of friends that give so much to us over and over to ensure a little sanity here and there, and to help take care of our homefront,… we are so thankful for the prayers, emails, cards, gift cards, comments left on the blogs,… all are so encouraging to us to read. We are so thankful to our ministry team, board of directors, Crossroads Baptist Church and Woodsedge Community Church, as they have ministered to us physically, spiritually, financially and emotionally. We are thankful for our homechurch and 220.

I will probably be writing more soon about the coming year,.. hopes, dreams, expectations,… but know this… God is doing something we can’t even begin to fathom
in and through Kyle. I truly hope that God is receiving so much attention because of Kyle up at that NICU. I hope and pray that people, doctors, nurses, etc are moved to see God’s hand in Kyle’s life, and know that God is using THEM to help redeem, restore and fulfill HIS Purposes and plans. What a cool thing to see.
Kyle is doing so good right now. Pray he can come off CPAP and to nasal canula soon!
Pray for continued strength, Pray for Apnea of Prematurity to go away! No more Bradycardias or Apnea episodes… this is where Kyle forgets to breathe and his heart rate plummets… SCARY… nurses have to go over and thump his foot to “wake him up”… pretty common in preemies,… but still SCARY! Yikes.
Pray he can begin to try and bottle feed very soon! We are asking for continued protection against NEC and that his little digestive system will keep working well!
So far, so good, as he is digesting very well~ We are praying daily that Kyle will not be plagued with any oral adversions and that he would take a bottle well, and learn to be able to eat and breathe at the same time. This is tough for these little preemies!

What a year,… what a holiday season. I am thankful that Jesus came. God with us. Emmanuel… we have hope. Christ in us—the hope of glory.

One thought to leave you with… from a Christmas tune… one of my favorites, if not my all time favorite …

Here is the line…

“when HE appeared, and the soul felt it’s worth.”

Wow. Thank You Jesus for life, for breath, for purpose and meaning.
Thank you for doctors and nurses and Friends.
Thank you for family.
Thank you for Kelly, Jadon, Jack and Kyle.

Thank you for salvation—eternal, and daily in our need.
Thank you that because of you, our soul can feel it’s worth.

Amen