5 weeks old and a PERFECT day! 7-13-12

                Jordan is exactly 5 weeks old today!!  We have had a spectacular day!!  Today we got to hold our sweet little boy for the very first time.  We were not expecting this at all.  The nurse simply walked up and asked us if we wanted to try to hold him.  Of course we said YESS!!!  We were not expecting to be able to hold him until he was off of the ventilator but the doctor gave his permission and stood by for assistance.  This was such a perfect moment.  I have been waiting to cuddle my sweet boy for so long.  He is still so small and he fit into our hands without much excess.  We also took a second size comparison picture.  A while ago we had placed Jacob’s wedding ring on his hand to picture how small he was.  Today we put Jacob’s ring on his hand again but this time it was a much tighter fit.  The difference in the photos is crazy and really shows his growth.  We have been so blessed by this little miracle boy!

                Today Jordan had his central line removed.  He is now just down to one IV.  This is where he gets blood drawn and where he got his transfusion from the other day.  The doctor explained that he no longer needed IV fluids and that the breast milk will be his complete nutrition and hydration.  Hooray! We love it when he meets little milestones along the way.  Every milestone is such a big accomplishment!  The doctor was also saying that the normal growth speed for Jordan’s gestational age is about 10 grams per day.  This is the amount that they are hoping for.  Please keep his growth in your prayers.  If he is bigger it is easier to take him off of the ventilator.  We are praying that he will only have two more weeks for the ventilator or less.  They are treating him to cause the least amount of damage to his lungs but taking him off the ventilator is the best prevention.  So close to this major milestone!! 

                We were just beyond happy to have this great moment with Jordan today.  I am so thankful to God for allowing us this time with His creation.  God has done many miracles in Jordan’s and our lives.  We are so blessed to have a front row seat at this journey. 

                When I was in the hospital for my own illness, we used to joke around about some of the things that were strange to us. For the first few days, the nurses did everything for me.  They brought in the pump every time I needed to pump, they washed the bottles and equipment, they brought me my medication, etc. Everything about my care was done by them.  As time progressed, they started to give me more responsibility.  They let me be in charge of washing the bottles and equipment, they gave me a large quantity of my medication and I had to be in charge of remembering to take it.  Just little things like that.  We joked about how I was slowly “growing up” and graduating into self-sufficiency.  Now, with the NICU, we are starting to have the same thing.  The nurse today told us the list of things we were “responsible for”.  In other words, these are things we are allowed to do on our own.  It makes me laugh that we are graduating step by step to be eventually allowed to take care of our own son.  I have never been hospitalized in the states before so I have no idea if it is the same there or not.  When Jason had pneumonia and was hospitalized, we were still in charge of every part of his care.  Obviously with Jordan, we cannot be in charge of everything.  We just feel so special when we get another responsibility on our list! :D LOL

                Jason seemed to have a good day.  We were told that everyone at VBS just LOVED his Mohawk!  He is so popular at church it is crazy.  This evening, Jason has been playing with his cars and racing them around the house.  We also watched Cars 2 the movie.  Jason thought that was pretty funny.  Jacob thought it was pretty good too.  When Jacob and I were just married we actually went to see Cars in the theatre for a date night.  Jacob made sure that we went to the late show since we didn’t have any kids.  Adults can enjoy kid movies just as much as kids can!! J

                The song for the day is “My Savior My God” by Aaron Shust.  As you can tell, I really like music.  Praise music is one of my favorite ways to worship.  I often find me singing songs over and over in my head.  It also seems to work out very well that God would “shuffle” my Ipod to the specific song that I needed to hear that day!  The first line really speaks to me. “I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned.”  This is SO true.  I have no idea what God has planned for my future.  I am pretty sure none of us can tell the future.  We have no idea whether Jordan is going to make it out of the NICU or not.  All we can do is trust that God has a perfect plan.  We can pray that our own desires match God’s plan and God’s purpose.  The idea that I have planned out in my head for Jordan’s future may not match God’s plan at all.  The only thing we know for certain is those things that God promises us in his word.  Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future”.  God promises that His plans are for our benefit and not for our harm.  Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  God promises here that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  God will be by our sides every step of the journey and will prepare us for the things he has planned. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  This promises that God’s work is ALWAYS good.  We cannot go wrong if we are working for the purposes of God and following God’s plans.  These promises give us security.  God is perfect therefore his promises are perfect and never failing.

                Lord I wanted to praise you today for this awesome day that we have had.  You planned out things perfectly according to your purpose.  Today we were able to hold our baby boy and it was such a wonderful and amazing moment.  Beyond what words can ever describe.  You have been planning these moments for us since before Jordan was even conceived.  We praise you for your perfect timing.  We praise you that Jordan was taken off of his central line today.  Thank you for the big miracles that you are doing in his body every day.  The progression that he is making is all based on your healing hands.  We are so honored to be given the chance to watch your power.  We ask that you would use us for your purposes and lead and guide us.  We are blessed by your promises and we rest easy knowing that you are in control.  We ask that you would continue to bless Jordan and guide his lungs to be ready to be off of the ventilator.  We ask that you would increase his growth rate and allow him to be on track to make the transition from ventilator to CPAP easy and stable.  We know that you have everything under control.  Thank you for holding my baby boy in your arms, and thank you for allowing his health to progress so that we could finally do the same today.  Lord I ask that you would guide the doctors and nurses and give them wisdom, patience, and rest.  Allow them to make wise decisions that give Jordan the best care and best options that they are able.  We thank you for your power.  Allow Jordan to be a great testimony toward the doctors and nurses of how awesome of a God we serve.  Lord we dedicate Jordan and Jason to you.  We ask that you would guide them and be with them.  Prepare them for their purposes in life and guide them to the right paths.  Guide us to lead them as well.  We ask for rest and safety as we travel back and forth.  We are so blessed and so underserving.  In your name, Amen.