24 days old 7-2-12

Jordan is only 6 days away from being one month old.  I cannot believe how fast time has already flown by with this sweet angel in our lives.  We are so blessed to have both of our little boys and I praise God so much that we have the chance to be their parents and to lead them in the ways that are true and good.  We made the trip up to Aomori to see our little Jordan today and he seemed (in my opinion) to be doing okay today.  He seemed much less agitated and more alert and happy.  He makes me so happy when I look at him.  The changes in his body and his development are visible each time we visit.  I am so thankful for the many miracles that we have been shown through Jordan.

The doctor was explaining to us that today, Jordan’s respiratory condition is stable but last night, it was not.  Last night, he was having a lot of issues with his respiratory system.  The doctors gave him an extra steroid dose to counteract the problem.  The steroid worked well and his condition improved significantly.  Doctors have been giving him steroids as a treatment every other day but last night he needed the next dose of treatment early.  Doctors have decided that his body relies on this treatment for stability at the moment and they will need to give him more frequent steroid treatments.  There are side effects with the steroids that are not really that great for his body but right now, the benefits of the steroid outweigh the side effects.  The doctor was also explaining a process that they want to start that has to do with weaning the mean air pressure on the ventilator.  He explained how they were going to be weaning but I am unsure if this is the start of the process to wean him from the ventilator completely or not.  Parts of the conversation on that matter were lost in translation I think.  I know that the doctors know what they are doing though and I am confident that they have his best interests and health in mind with every treatment decision.  I am thankful that God has placed us in this location so that Jordan can receive this quality of care.

I am praying, and I ask you to do the same, that we would see significant improvements in his lung condition and respiratory system very soon.  It is difficult playing the waiting game with very little changes.  We also want more than anything for Jordan to overcome this hurdle.  We know that God has so much power and can do anything.  The respiratory system is the longest hurdle.  After the ventilator is removed, he will still be on CPAP treatment.  We know this takes time.  Praise God that his lung condition is not getting worse and just staying the same.  That is also a blessing because I know it could be going the opposite way as well.  We just pray that progress and improvement as far as his lungs would occur.  Jordan’s digestion and nutrition is going well.  Today he was eating 7.5ml of milk 8 times per day.  This is through a feeding tube.  The nurses also give him a q-tip that is dipped in breast milk during his feeding so that he can practice sucking and chewing. 

I really enjoy watching him.  Because of the ventilator, his head is always turned to the side.  Today, he was trying to move his head so hard.  He just wanted to get comfy and flip over but that darn tube would just not allow him to get very far.  I was amazed by his strength and persistence.  He is already working on developing those muscles he will need in the future.  God really has blessed this little boy and He is doing miracles in his life daily.  I was reading a story today about a little girl that was born at 23 weeks gestation and she recently was released from the hospital after 4 months in the NICU.  I pray that our day will come in time for us to take Jordan home with us to lead a healthy long life.  The little girl in the story weighed a lot more at birth than Jordan though.  She was 1lb 5oz and Jordan was only 12.3 oz.  According to his measurements, he was about the size of a normal baby at around 21 weeks gestation rather than 23 but the doctors go off of my due date for the actual gestational age.  I find it amazing that even being so tiny; he is still so perfect and so wonderful.  God really is holding this little boy.  Lord, please give him lots of hugs and kisses while you are holding him until I can hold him and give him hugs and kisses. 

Jason had a great day today.  He had so much fun at his sitter’s house and was full of energy when he got home.  He had way too much fun that he didn’t want to take a nap while he was there.  He pretty much had a melt down around 6:40 this evening so he went to bed early.  That’s going to be an early morning for us lol.  I tried to wake him up to eat some dinner at 8 but it didn’t work out so we just put him back in bed.  Oh the joys of parenting.  I did enjoy that he rested in my lap for about twenty minutes though.  I sure do like little boy cuddles.  Jason is going to be super athletic.  He is interested in almost everything that has to do with athletics, sports, and acrobatics.  He wants to try it all and is not afraid to go for it.  Today he was doing endless summersaults.  So much energy he has! 

Tomorrow we won’t go see baby boy but we have a lot of processing to get completed.  We have to get Jordan’s birth certificate registration and passport application completed ASAP because there is a big chance that they will transfer us to a location in the states that can handle Jordan’s follow on care in the future.  We also have a lot of housework to do.  It seems crazy that we can accumulate so much mess in a short time.  I am so thankful that Jacob has been here to consistently help me out. 

Today in my devotion I was reading about being best friends with God and forming a friendship with Him.  We can start this process by communicating with him regularly throughout the day.  Although a quiet time is very beneficial, this does not develop the close personal friendship that comes with constant conversation and meditation.  God wants to be in every single minute of your day rather than just the first 20 minutes of your devotion time.  I am going to post little sticky notes of verses around the different places in my house and life that I visit often.  This will help me to remember to speak to God frequently throughout the day and include Him in the little tasks.  By including God in the small things, we are worshiping him and bonding with our Lord.  If you are reading this and you have a favorite verse that really speaks to you each day, please message your verse to me and I will be sure to include it on one of my sticky notes!!

Lord, I thank you and praise you for the work that you are doing in my life and the life of my family.  I know that I was called for this purpose and that you are using our story to touch many lives.  I ask that you would mold me and shape me so that I might have the biggest impact on those that read this story and that I might plant many seeds in many hearts for your kingdom.  Your plans are so perfect and I know that you have called us and have been preparing us for this task.  We do not have to be exceedingly knowledgeable to complete your tasks we simply have to be willing.  Here I am Lord, send me and use me to reach your people with this testimony.  God I thank you so much for the time that we have been given with Jordan.  We are so blessed to be his parents.  I specifically ask that you would bless his lungs and his respiratory condition.  I pray that you would help us to see significant improvement on his lung condition and that you would help him to mature and excel so that he can come off of the ventilator and move on to the next step in his respiratory care.  I understand that he has a long journey ahead and I ask that you give Jacob and me the patience we need to wait on you.  Just continue to strengthen him and guide his development each day at a time.  Lord be with Jason also as he is very much a part of our family and this journey.  Give him the peace and acceptance that he needs when he is with a sitter and give us the abilities to give him the attention he needs at home.  Allow us to parent him with love and understanding.  Help us to be good examples of your grace.  Be with us tomorrow as we attempt to get a lot of paperwork completed.  Give us the motivation.  Help us to rest well tonight.  Please watch over us all as we rest, especially Jordan.  We ask all these things in your name, Amen.