Expecting a Miracle!

June 21, 2012

Our Smiling Boy!

Whew its been one of those weeks. Busy, Busy, Busy!!! 

Blake is doing great so far with his breathing he is still on vapotherm (the oxygen that's delivered through his nose) and he is tolerating it great. Blake was on 2 Liters at 30% but, as I've told y'all before, the NICU is a roller coaster....Blake tonight started to have some episodes where his heart rate dropped a bit. His oxygen saturation however stayed up the whole time and Blake did a good job at recovering without any help, but because of the frequency, as a precaution, they went ahead and bumped him back up to 3liters on the vapotherm. That has been our ONLY bump this week though and we are OKAY with that!!! 

Blake is cute as can be now a days. He has been smiling a lot and is getting to the point he is awake for a lot longer during the days!! He is still tolerating his feeds well he is getting 32 mL every 3 hours and is now trying once a day to do non-nutritive breastfeeding. Now that Blake is older they are trying to teach him how to feed- one of the early steps to prepare is doing this non-nutritive breastfeeding. I myself had never heard of such a thing-but then again I haven't in my wildest dreams ever thought I'd know any of this! So our nurse on Monday introduced this idea to us and we went with it- and its been wonderful! What non-nutritive feedings are: The mother pumps right before its time for one of the baby's feeding times then allows the baby to breastfeed (he is just not getting a lot of milk from mom) while his actual milk is going through his feeding tube. So we did this with Blake-it allows Blake to learn to attempt to feed and breath at the same time....the next step in a few weeks will be to actual give him small amounts of milk orally to teach him to feed, breath and swallow the milk all at the same time!! It will be a LONG road but he is already showing LOTS of progress!! The nurses were very surprised at how well he did----we weren't cause...WELL YALL KNOW BLAKE! Nothing he does surprises us anymore!!

Blake's  now....are you ready... 4 lbs 2oz- Our big ol' man!!! He is growing like a weed! Its getting to point we are getting close to Blake's abdominal reconnective surgery they said 4 1/2 to 5 lbs and the way he is growing it could be a lot sooner rather than later! We will definitely be keeping yall informed of when that is coming for we certainly will need prayers for that!! (Maybe more for Mommy and Daddy's nerves than anything!) 

Last week a couple, Zach and I met up here at Riley came back and we had lunch. My friend and I were talking and discussing the bad days and the good. Discussing how sometimes we just want to shake people and tell them to quit complaining and rejoice in their life- remind people that it can be worse, and that we should enjoy life and focus on the positive. Although life can sometimes be exhausting we must rise up, and be positive and cherish every day we have! Zach and I learned this lesson real quickly with Conor's passing. My friend however referred a book to me she said its just an easy read that helps you look at life in a more positive way....I started to read this book the other day when I started to feel a little down, and I found it so helpful! I read this part and wanted to share in hopes that it might help someone who is having a bad day. 

"Remember that its always darkest before the dawn. More challenges mean you're close to your victory. Don't give up. Times may grow tough, but remember there are rewards for staying in faith. If you learn to be a prisoner of hope and get up every day expecting God's favor, you'll see God do amazing things. You'll overcome every obstacle. You'l defeat every enemy. And I believe and declare you'll see every dream, every promise God has put in your heart, come to pass."

*JUST A REMINDER GUYS- IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY SOME GOOD MUSIC AND FUN! THIS WEEKEND IS BLAKE'S BENEFIT AT CHILLY WILLY'S IN EVANSVILLE, IN! ZACH AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING US AND OUR PRECIOUS MIRACLE! *

 My wide eyed baby boy!

Blake's "My Dad is Rad" Made By Nurse Lauren!

Blake is looking a Daddy thinking......Rad?

 Blake is his UK bow tie and suspenders onesie made by Mommy!

 Mommy loving on Blake!

 Daddy loving on Blake!