Sunday, July 29, 2012

Jordan is 51 days old 7-29-12


Good evening! Or good morning to everyone in the states! Today has been a very good day.  Yesterday was also a great day.  Yesterday we didn’t go see baby boy like we usually do on Saturdays.  Jacob and I decided to switch Saturday and Sunday so that we could go boating with some friends.  We had a great time.  I wasn’t sure that I was going to be able to enjoy myself since I was so worried about Jordan since the not so great news on Friday.  Jacob ended up calling the base translators Saturday morning and they called the NICU to get an update.  I was able to relax a lot more after hearing that baby boy had shown improvement with his tests and was doing well. 
Our friends had rented a boat from the recreation office and we went tubing and water skiing with them.  I only went one round on the tube but it was a lot of fun.  I am sore today though.  Only one round on the tube and sore…yikes…I used to be able to go for hours when I was younger…Im so old!! Haha…yep..23 is really old!!  Jacob went on the tube several times and he even tried the water skis.  We were all really impressed with his skills.  He was able to stand up and stay standing on the water skis for a while.  No one else was brave enough to try the skis.  Jason got in the water.  We were going to put him on the tube with Jacob and then drive the boat extremely slow but he didn’t want to.  We did manage to get him to sit on the tube for a picture though lol.  Jason was the only one who didn’t get burnt.  We all put on sunscreen but I made sure Jason had extra coverage.  I thought I had good coverage too but I guess I missed a couple of spots.  Jacob is a lobster though.  He must not be a good sunscreen applicator lol. 
Today we went to church this morning and then right after church we went up to Aomori to see baby boy.  He had his transfusion and looks like a strawberry from all the extra blood.  A very cute strawberry I might add.  We had a good cuddle time.  He held my finger and made silly faces at me.  His CRP is down to 4.0 this morning.  The doctors are still unsure about the location and type of infection that he has.  They know it is bacterial but they are waiting on the cultures for a diagnosis.  Since the inflammation is going down, the antibiotics seem to be working.  The nurses said that Jordan is still very active and energetic even when he doesn’t feel well.  He doesn’t seem to show that he feels sick.  Tomorrow doctors are going to decide the next step for the weaning from the ventilator process.  They are either going to keep him on the ARPV setting which is most like CPAP and matches his body the most or they are going to switch over to HFO for the high frequency again.  Whichever setting they decide, they will wean the pressure down on the ventilator until it hits a normal range that will work well with the CPAP.  We don’t really know when he will be off of the ventilator.  All we know is that they are working on things and taking every consideration day by day.  He could be on for another few weeks if that is what he needs.  We are praying that he is able to come off very soon.  He is getting 28-30% oxygen concentration.  By the time they take him off the ventilator they will have it down to 21% concentration which is the same as room air that you and I breathe.  God is doing great things in our little boy’s life and He has great plans for him and for us.
At church this morning, our lesson was on the qualities of the Holy Spirit as outlined in scripture.  I thought this was an interesting topic and I was encouraged by the discussion.  The past few days have been rough for me and I believe this is because I was starting to lose focus.  I was fighting God for the control over things going on in our lives.  As I was trying to hold all the control, I wasn’t focused on the blessings that we have received and was focused on trying to fix all the problems.  Today I needed this day in God’s house.  He really spoke to me and helped me to reset my focus on Him and His purpose.  Jordan is going through the things that he is for a reason.  God is with him and I do not need to try to find a solution.  God has things under control.  When I try to control things, I get overwhelmed.  When I give things over to God, I am encouraged and I see the positive blessings.  Praise God for every circumstance in your lives.  We do not need to know all the answers.  God’s got this under control.  Look at how much Jordan has already overcome.  He was born 17 weeks prematurely, He had open heart surgery, his digestion passed the test, he is putting on weight and his organs are working like normal.  He has overcome two different stages of pneumonia and now has a different infection that he is working on.  Jordan did not do this alone.  All of these things were the work of God healing his body and restoring His perfect creation.  God has plans.  I know that I am called to share this journey and reach out to others.  This blog is my testimony.  God speaks through me and uses my words to reach out to others.  This is part of the plans that God has outlined for me.  I am the voice to share God’s miracle.  I am honored to have this privilege.  We had a lesson in church a few weeks ago about killing our pride.  God cannot use you if you become too prideful.  This weak I became prideful.  God was testing me on this issue and I did not do so well for a few days.  No one is perfect, but God will use you if you let Him.  
My song for the day is Cornerstone  by Hillsong.  If you have not heard this song, you need to. Please look it up!  Christ is the cornerstone of our lives; the strongest point of our entire being.  If we know this and allow God to work as our center strength; He will bless us beyond measure.
Lord I praise your name for the power and grace that you have put into our lives.  You have planned out great things for our lives.  Often times as humans we think we are missing out.  But the truth is that your plans and paths are much more rewarding and prosperous than those of this world.  You created us to have life and to have it abundantly.  Your plans are to prosper us and not to harm us.  By being a Christian we are not lacking in the fun department.  We are actually having more fun because we are following your perfect plans for our lives.  Lord I praise you for this day. I needed to hear those words that you spoke through the sermon today.  I pray that you would not allow me to lose my focus.  I give up my control over everything happening in our lives right now.  I know that your ways are much better than my pride.  I ask that you would remind me when I am starting to lose focus and that you would shift my attention back to you and your awesome power.  Use me and my words as a testimony for you lord.  Lord I praise you for the many things that you have done in Jordan’s life.  You have been healing his body from day one.  You have a purpose for him.  I pray that you would heal this new infection completely and protect his body from future infections.  Guide the doctors as they diagnose test results.  Guide them in the decision process for the ventilator.  Lord I pray that you would be in their meeting tomorrow and guide them in the decisions that need to be made.  Continue to allow Jordan to surprise them with his growth and success.  Allow him to be a testimony for you. Protect us as we travel lord.  I also ask that you would guide the process for our move.  I give over that worry to you and trust that you will make things smooth even with the short process time and notification.  I praise you for great friends and for loved ones far away.  Lord I thank for my mom.  Thank you that she encourages me and lifts me up when I am struggling the most.  I am blessed beyond measure to have been raised by two wonderful parents that love you Lord and are great examples of Christ-like living.  Lord allow us motivation this week to accomplish our tasks with positive attitudes and allowing you to guide us each step of the way.  I ask all these things in your name, Amen!

Side note:  I promise to post updated pictures soon.  It was brought to my attention a few weeks ago that a group of people are stealing people's photos on facebook and other sites of their premature babies.  These people are then claiming the children as their own and are asking for money and donations to help pay for NICU costs.  Because of this, I won't be posting photos unless they have tags on them that identify them as Jordan. So I'm working on doing this.  I will have it working soon.  Just know that he is still really cute! :D

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