Monday July 31, 2006

531 AM text from Rob………”They have taken the rate down from 45 to 35 and the PIP from 22 to 21. Still no #2. Besides that uneventful night.”

Please pray that Sebastian will have a bowel movement. They are trying a second suppository this afternoon and then a stronger med soon. His billirubin count is varying so he is back under the light which should help. In the past it has even gone up with the light on.

The possible reasons for it being up are many, but as I understand it when our red blood cells die they must be able to leave our body, being processed by the liver and going out as waste. The light helps process them and having a bowel movement should help too.

But our true help is in the Lord.

It seems to me there are innumerable procedures and changes that take place every day .

But the one thing that has remained constant and unchangeable is the Sovereign loving and merciful hand of our Lord. He does not change and He has been steadfast in His protection of Little One. Through many dangers he has already come.

Please continue your steadfast prayers for Sebastian’s protection in each and every aspect of his precious life. Please give thanks and praise our Lord for His mighty works.

The day Sebastian was born I went to the chapel with Luke. God led me a verse that I saw there again today…..I believe it is the same one…

Help me O Lord my God, save me in accordance with Your love. Let them know that it is Your hand, that you, O Lord, have done it. Psalms 109: 26-27

848PM Sebastian did have a bowel movement and they have taken another line out so hopefully they can begin to feed him through his IV….there are many reasons to continue your prayers…both those of thanks to God and those asking for His continued mercy and protection for this dear Little One Sebastian……

Luke’s little devotional book title for today is “Saying Thank You.” It is about one little boy giving another a birthday gift and the first said thank you. It goes on to say that God gives us presents everyday and how we need to remember to say thank you to God for everything He gives you everyday.

The verse is Ephesians 5:20 and this version reads, “Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The prayer reads, “Thank you, God, for gifts You send. In Jesus name I pray. Amen”

Please thank God today for Little Sebastian, for His mercy and continuing protection of this Little One. Please thank God for his first week birthday, for the precious gift he is from our gracious heavenly Father.

These were the most recent text messages

554PM last night
Down to 55 % oxygen, 6 on dopamine, 5 on fentanyl. His blood count is low so they have him on blood products to raise. Otherwise sounds like a positive day thus far.

1146PM last night
His gases have not been good. They raised breaths per minutes again to 45. If they do not improve in the next few hours, he’ll have to go back on the jet ventilator.

526AM today
Billirubin is back up so lights back on. They’ve taken down oxygen to 40%. Dopamine down to 4. last night. Oxygen level has dropped lower than they would like. Otherwise not a bad night.

Please continue to pray fro Sebastian’s heart and lungs and overall health to just be perfect. The Lord tells us to aim for perfection, so that is our prayer! Pray His angels of protection will guard Sebastian in all his ways.

Hubby Mick returns home after a week visit here with our newest grandchild. Daughter Liz and their 11 month old Libby arrived last night.

We thank God for each of you too who have been such faithful prayer warriors for this precious gift from Him.

Saturday

Yesterday was a most eventful day. After the first hours of the morning (contained in yesterday’s post) our merciful Lord once again showed His power. They moved Sebastian from one type of ventilator to another…a good thing.

They took out his catheter and the missing tubes and the quieter ventilator made all the difference as our eyes looked on this most tender and blessed by God Little One.

But Frances is the story I want to tell you about. But first today’s text report from Rob and the prayer request.

5:24AM Not a great night. Gases not good they are doing another right now. They had to increase rate to 40 from 35 and pressure from to 22, reinsert catheter as he has not been urinating on his own all night

5:53 AM had another gas come back better. They are leaving settings where they are now.

6:08AM His blood pressure has just gotten much higher so they lowered the DOPamine from 11 to 8 As I understand it this is not a negative.

So each moment, as you can see, we move from one situation to another.

Please continue to praise and thank our almighty Father fro the great work He continues to do. Please continue to pray for each aspect of Sebastian’s health, for his protection from Satan and danger and physical, spiritual, mental and emotional harm . Please pray for God’s angels to protect and help this Little One. Pray only perfect equipment and perfect treatment will come his way.

Pray as the Lord leads you.

Thank Him for all he is doing and continues to do.....we are overwhelmed with his mercy and love.......thank him also for people like Francis…I will tell her story later.

Please see previous texts from this morning…

815AM text...."Gases were not so great so they’ve gone up on the PIP to 35. Next one in next hour or so needs to be better."

Please pray to our loving, most merciful and omnipotent God for the life and health of little dear Sebastian....

They cried to you and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed

July 28, 2006

Text from Rob

600AM Not good morning Lots of issues. Rate and pressure are both up this morning. Fellow is on with attending to see what to do next

614AM
They have brought up rate to 480 and PIP to 34 due to bad gases. The doctor said it is a step back. Be praying that his next gas in an hour or so improves.

They cried to you and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.

Text from Rob at 6:05am today

“His PIP count went up overnight from30 to 31. Want it to go down. It’s the pressure count they are using on the ventilator. Pray his next gas looks good and no more pneumothorax.”

Please keep in mind each of these measures they take have extreme risk that accompanies them.

As in the miracle of Sebastian’s birth and his first cry that surprised all who heard, the miracle of his survival and healthy life will surprise all….and everyone will know it has been the almighty hand of our merciful God at work.

They cried to you and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.

Taylor left the hospital yesterday and they spent one night at one location and now have another place nearby through Aug 9, then another starting after that. Thank you for your prayers regarding their housing.

Little Sebastian is not stable.

But our hope and our prayers are strong and our God is omnipotent.

Rob talked with a doc today and it seems that if Sebastian lives this will be a very long stay at NICU…maybe months. So, we can do months, right? If Sebastian can fight, we can too! If God wants it, He will supply what is needed.

Please pray Sebastian will become stable and that his vitals and gas remain good….please pray for healthy heart and lungs…that no damage will be done to them. Please pray for no more complications, no more pneumothorax or heart problems, pray the infection and jaundice will clear up. Please pray for all aspects of his health to become excellent.

Pray God’s angels of protection will continually minister to Sebastian giving him all he needs and keeping from him that which might harm him. Please pray Satan will be kept from him.

Please continue to pray for Rob and Taylor.

Mostly thank this God of ours Who has in His mercy and love brought this little miracle baby so many days into this world, when no man believed it could happen. Praise Him for the many who have prayed so faithfully for this little precious and much loved gift from the Lord.

By the way I don’t think I told you, but the doc who was to take Little One months ago when all this started, the one who did not offer any hope, he is the one who God had on call and who delivered Little One!

I am not sure when I will post next because we will be staying with them starting tomorrow and I am not sure if there is wireless there.

If you have not read last nights post, please do....

605AM text from Rob

“Sebastian had a good gas this morning. They brought oxygen down to 80% overnight and there were no more pneumothorax. His billirubin is up so they have him on more lights to help get under control. The phrase for the night was “Good eventful” he is still not stable. Pray for no more pneumothorax, that he keeps having good gases, and his vitals stay where they are.”

Our Lord has been so faithful and so merciful to us……your prayers and concern have been so deeply moving….there are no words…

Little Luke still sleeps in the big bed in our hotel room down the road from his little brother he has not yet met. But when he saw Sebastian’s pic the first time, even with tubes and tape and all….little Luke’s face broke into a grin.

Children are a gift from the Lord…Babies are His reward………

We cherish each moment……………..

1036pm

hope you have read the next blog and are praying....
After I prayed tonight I felt God leading me to edit the post and add the last paragraph, so if you read it before 1030 DC time you might want to read the edit.........

also my verse as I head for bed...."the whole assembly became silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabus telling sbout the miraculous signs and wonders God had done...." Acts 15:12

What miracles He has done here!

910pm text message from Rob tonite 7/25/06

“Major prayer for tonight is that there are no more pneumothorax and that the doctors are able to lower the pressure on Sebatian’s ventilator while maintaining “good gases” something they check every hour or two.”

All of this is extremely important and a fine balance is critical. The oxygen level he is receiving is now at 90% and needs to be around 35%

Please also praise our loving Father for His continuing mercy and love and all He in His omnipotence is doing for dear little Sebastian.

When I saw him today, the emotions are overwhelming to see our tiny little grandson with so many tubes yet fighting so hard. Again I sang Jesus loves you,……Little Ones to him belong, they are weak but He is strong……

…..reminding dear sweet Sebastian that he has been Little One since his conception and that he needs to rest because he is weak, but God is strong………..


added at 10:32pm DC time
Rob and Taylor did not lightly choose Little One's name...you may be like me and not know the story of the early Christian martyr, Sebastian
Saints: Saint Sebastian
Saint Sebastian is represented in many paintings. He was an early Christian martyr who became popular in the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Saint Sebastian served as a soldier in the Roman army, but he was discovered to be a Christian and so was sentenced to death by the emperor Diocletian. He was to be shot by his own archers. He survived the arrows, which miraculously failed to pierce any vital organ, and the arrow became his identifying attribute.

Text message just received from Rob 530AM:

"Sebastian had a pnuemothorax overnight that caused his vital signs to drop to a worrisome level. They are back up at this point but they seem extremely concerned about this issue. The pneumothorax was roughly 40 ccs in size. He was down to needing 70 percent oxygen and is now up to 100 percent. The 70 number is much more preferred. Ideal would be less than 35. "

As I slept with little Luke last night in his Mommy’s and Daddy’s bed last night, off and on all night, he cried but without tears and not awake. His face would grimace and he would cry out…a cry unlike any I have seen him ever have. I would kiss his little face and talk softly to him until the crying stopped, but it would happen over and over.

Please continue your ardent prayers to our omnipotent and merciful Lord.

I just talked to Susan. She went into see Sebastian and he is looking good. He really held her finger as she sang Jesus Loves Sebastian to him. Let us give thanks to God, but continue to pray for the doctors to have skill and wisdom and for Sebastian to be guarded by His angels and his little life supported in His Almighty hands.

Do pray for Rob and Taylor and the many large and small decisions they must constantly make. Taylor will be released from the hospital soon and they must figure out what to do about housing. Pray that they will have peace and wisdom...knowing that God will provide and trusting in his tiiming. Once again thank you for all of your diligent prayers.

posted by Liz

For now the rate is back up to 164...thanks be to God...please keep praying...

Please read previous blog first…its very important. Luke and I are at the hotel and I spoke with Rob about 9:30 DC time. He said that things are status quo with little precious Sebastian (but please read next post which was 10 DC time). So many are praying for him. When Liz was at our church yesterday, she told one of our very faithful prayer warrior ministers about Little One coming into the world crying. The minister stopped where he was in our most traditional church hall and fell to his knees and praised God.

Please pray that God’s angels continue to minister to Sebastian as there are so many wonderful medical people, but so many errors that can be made.

Yesterday before I left the hospital I went to say goodnight to precious Little One. He looked good. Then they had to change his chest tube and do several other things. When I went back in after the procedures he looked so very weak and so very still. I did kiss him though and he responded. Ron told me late they put the tube in wrong and have to do it again.

All life is precious and each life totally dependant upon our Lord’s mercy. Little Sebastian just seems so much more dependant…so very frail, yet such a fighter. I told him yesterday that God is with him and that when he feels weak it is OK, for God will be his strength.

As you know from Liz’s post, twelve doctors were in the room to see Little One be born either not alive or to live moments. No man has given much hope, but this is not about man.

Thank you for your faithful prayers to our omnipotent and loving and most merciful Father, for He is with us all.

They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed. Ps 22:5

Then they will now that I am the Lord…Ezikiel 25:17

Posted by Liz dictated by Susan

We just heard from Rob. Please pray that the output of Sebastian’s ventricals remains between 120 and 160 and that it does not drop below 100. This is very important. The next post will include information that would be good for you to read also.

11 am DC

Little One's name is Sabastian. He has now been with us for 17 hours and we are thankful for every one of them. Susan has had a verse attached to her phone that says, "Then they will know that it was God..." This morning at our church our pastor spoke of the story of Gideon. When God continued to dwindle Gideon's forces until there were few in number, so that all would know that the victory was not from man, but could only be from God. We know that Sabatian's life has been a miracle...the working of god. May God continue to give him life and healing as so many problems arise. Right now they are changing out his little feeding tube....earlier they were doing a sonogram of his heart. Pray that he would be protected from Satan and danger, from physicall and emotional harm. That God would support his little life in His Almighty hands. Earlier Susan went to see Sabastian. She has prayed with him...he held her finger with his tiny hand. She sang "Jesus loves Sabastian" to him. The doctors continue to be amazed...they say he is a little fighter. He has a "fan club" of sorts cheering him on and many there that have had their hearts won over by him. Thank you all for your prayers. They are more important now than ever. These first 48 hours are so critical and difficult.

5:30 DC time

Posted by Liz

As of this morning Little One is still in the NICU. He is undergoing an intricate proceedure to remove an air pocket from his lung. Things are still very touch and go. PLease pray for stamina for Rob and Susan. Recovery for Taylor. Wisdom and special skill for the doctors. Thank you for all of your prayers.

Posted by Liz

He came out crying...pink, not blue...the doctors were all amazed....all eleven of them! Praise be to our Almighty God!! He has been rushed to the NICU. It is, of course, very touch and go. Please pray that he will adjust to the feeding tubes and breathing tubes.


"To you they cried and were not dissappointed!"

Susan just heard from Rob. Little One has been born. He is alive... Rob said to give him a few minutes. We must wait.


In your good pleaseure, Lord, make Little One prosper....

He is being born this very minute.....


"To you they cried and were not disappointed..."

Taylor has developed an infection causing her and the baby's heartrates to be up. Susan is across the hall in Taylor's hospital room with Luke. Please pray for endurance as the night continues. Pray that fatigue will not overcome anyone...that they will all rely on God for their strength.

Posted by Liz

Rob called at about 10 pm to say that it is time. As we know there is a time for every purpose under heaven. God has known from the beginning the exact moment of Little One's birth and even now holds that sweet, dearly loved baby in His Almighty and powerful hands. Please pray for Susan's safe travel as she drives in the rain to the hospital in this hour. Pray strength and peace for Rob, Taylor, and Luke. Pray that the doctors have wisdom in every moment of this delivery and that the NICU people would be the perfect ones for Little One's situation. Pray that all would be amazed at the obvious movement of God's hand working in this situation and that hope would not fail nor faith falter at this hour.

"They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disaapointed"
Psalm 22:5

Posted by Liz

Just talked to Rob and the contractions continue – I don’t know any details. He is the hotel with Luke. I plan to stay here unless he calls and I am planning to go to church in the morning, then to Baltimore.......this could go on for hours or days or it could stop...as always only God knows....Thanks for your continuing prayers.

Rob just called and Taylor started having some contractions this morning. They have given her something which has stopped them for now.

“They cried to You and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.” Psalm 22:5

All appears to be the same. Their doc, who is out of town, plans to see Taylor August 1. Unless things change (which of course they can at any minute) they will decide on delivery then. I returned from Baltimore last night and am at their house in DC while Rob and Luke are there with Taylor and Little One. I will go back tomorrow so Rob can come into DC to work. I find it difficult to post updates while in Baltimore… please pray for us.

As we draw nearer to Little One’s birth, our looking to our God must become even more constant for without Him will we surely fall. Today’s prayer in Luke’s little devotional book is good for us all right now. ‘Lord, please help me not to fall, for You can help me most of all.”

Sitting in Taylor’s hospital room, watching Luke play with the train set his Daddy bought him, listening to Little One’s heart beat so strongly, I find it so hard to imagine anything but joy to follow in the days to come. Seeing and hearing adorable newborns all around makes us long even more for Little One’s lungs to fill with air so his newborn cries will join the chorus of these others.

Rob’s brother in Houston and his family are currently packing up to move from Texas to North Carolina- they plan to spend a few nights at our home in Memphis on their way. My NC sister is in Memphis now with our parents – her daughters will come there to visit next weekend.

Our daughter Liz and her eleven-month old Libby plan to come to DC from Memphis next Saturday for a few days. It will be so very good to see them……..my husband plans to come when we know the date of delivery

I have beautiful hymns playing on my computer as I write this. They bring such peace and joy and hope. One of Taylor’s favorites is “ Lo, He comes in clouds descending.” It is about Christ’s return and below is the last verse. I can almost hear her beautiful sweet voice singing the words………..

View Him smiling, now determin’d,Ev’ry Evil to destroy!All the nations now shall sing him,Songs of everlasting Joy!O come quickly! Allelujah! Come Lord, come!

Now one of my favorites has begun…

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,And with fear and trembling stand;Ponder nothing earthly minded,For with blessing in His hand,Christ our God to earth descendeth,Our full homage to demand.
Rank on rank the host of heavenSpreads its vanguard on the way,As the Light of light descendethFrom the realms of endless day,That the powers of hell may vanishAs the darkness clears away.
At His feet the six wingèd seraph,Cherubim with sleepless eye,Veil their faces to the presence,As with ceaseless voice they cry:Alleluia, AlleluiaAlleluia, Lord Most High!

Little One is God’s creation. God loves him far more than all of us together could ever possibly love him. He is the One Who makes that little heart beat so strongly. He is our Lord…the One who gives and the One who takes away.

But most of all He is the God of Hope.

As “Amazing Grace” familiar to all of us plays now….

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.

So for now, we humbly wait for our merciful Lord. Please continue to pray for us all.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,And with fear and trembling stand;Ponder nothing earthly minded,For with blessing in His hand,Christ our God to earth descendeth,Our full homage to demand.

Thank you.....

I write stories many weeks...below is this weeks ...please pray for us as you feel led....

I am headed to Baltimore so rob can come in to work...will likely be there wed and Thurs nites...will try to post if I can..........


Code Red
July 19, 2006

Taylor is in the hospital at Johns Hopkins and has been since Friday and will be until Little One is born. Rob has a room at a nearby hotel so he can work.

Yesterday was a day! The men came to install the carpet in the basement. They were installing carpet because the DC floods a few weeks ago caused the previous carpet to be drenched, moldy and eventually removed leaving a concrete floor which the current tenant has not found to her liking. Surprise, right?

Rob got a kitty when he first moved to DC over ten years ago. She is loyal to him and to Taylor and is not particularly fond of anyone else. Skittish is probably a good word to describe her. The workmen had been told to be careful of this kitty, to be sure she did not escape.

Well the door was left open and the kitty was not to be found. I wandered the neighborhood in 100 degree temps looking for her. Rob and Walter (the workman) had a bit of a run in over the situation. I felt caught in the middle. Rob decided to come back to DC because of the situation, so he left the hospital.

Soon the cat was found. I called Rob.

He said he could not return to the hospital because there was a Code Red and all entrances were blocked.

The danger of fire lurked about. No one was allowed in or out.

There have been so many situations like that since we have found out about Little One that you would think we would get it.

These situations have not just occurred with Rob and Taylor, but also with Jon and Allie, and with Liz and Clay, and with Mick and me.

Just yesterday Jon told me that he and Allie have painted several rooms of their house the boring realtor beige they were told to paint it, so it would sell more quickly since he is supposed to start work at UNC in two weeks. A small scratch was on one of the walls and Jon got a cloth to wipe the scratch off. The paint came with it. He tried another area…same thing. The paint simply washed off! What is that!

Of course trying to do all of this with their five year old and a three year old is a task in and of itself.






But I have not yet learned to clone myself so I can be there to help as well. As even Jon said Little One’s life and the activities surrounding it take precedence over everything right now.

Today is Jon’s and Allie’s anniversary….happy anniversary!!

I was talking to Liz last night and she said that for weeks their house always has three or four flies in it. Even if she kills three or four, there are still three or four just waiting. A few weeks ago it was ants. Three year old Nathan would bring his mommy reports of other ant findings so she could do her thing and destroy them.

I won’t bother you with the details of Mick’s and my situations, but suffice it to say we had to call the police on a tenant at a house we rent out because he got drunk and started destroying walls.

But that is just one little story from each of our four families. And keep in mind they are the little stories. There are innumerable little stories and a few big ones as well.

Yesterday as I drove to their home after being at the hospital in Baltimore, I was listening to a classical music radio station. As I pulled in, all of the sudden this one beautifully orchestrated piece began to register with me as one I know. I began to sing the words that I remembered…

“…still that ancient foe doth seek to work us woe…his power and might are great….and armed with cruel hate…on earth is not his equal…”

Although it is a most familiar hymn, it took a moment for me to remember it as Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress is Our God’…

As the orchestra played on, I remembered another phrase….”one mighty blow shall fell him…”

I am sitting at Rob’s and Taylor’s house and will be heading back to Baltimore shortly. Luke spent the night with his Daddy.

There are many jokes about the red suited devil. But he is out there. He does seek to destroy. He is not a myth. He is real.

Since March I have had no doubt his hand has been at work in the life of Little One. Maybe Little One is the next Billy Graham. Only the Lord knows. But I do know one blow from my God can fell him!

It is a little after eight Tuesday night and I have been given the night off. Taylor is in the hospital and Rob took Luke down to the inner harbor for dinner, then back to his hotel room. I drove back to DC, stopped and bought a few essentials and returned to the house.

So often when I have been in other difficult times, so many other things just seem to prevent me from being able to think much about the difficult time. For instance today Rob’s and Taylor’s beloved cat got out when the workmen were here to lay the basement carpet that has been missing since the flood a few of weeks ago. Even right now I am trying to write this and their dog is whining from her kennel. We prayed and Kitty was found. And the dog is quiet for a moment.

But in many ways those distractions are so very helpful. They keep you from thinking.

Yesterday Taylor lay with the heart monitor attached to her belly and we all listened to Little One’s perfect heartbeat….doing just what a little heart is supposed to do. Today Taylor was talking to her Mom on the phone and said that Little One was kicking at that very moment.

The men come to repair the plaster ceiling tomorrow from the new central air unit that leaked into their master bedroom from the attic a few weeks ago. The people who were to mulch the yard must have gotten too hot with the record highs the whole country seems to be having. So I guess they will be back. The lady who cleans the house should come too. The nanny will come late to keep Luke who will not be here. But she can instruct the workers who will be here while I drive back to Baltimore with mail and other things.

Then I suppose I will return to DC with Luke tomorrow night.

For now we wait…….. and cherish the moments we hear Little One’s heart beat so very normally…… and of hearing Taylor say he is moving about.

They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.

Luke and I went to church this morning and sang “Amazing Grace.” Then we packed up a bunch of things and drove to Baltimore where we spent the day. We have returned and he has just had his bath and gone to bed, hopefully for a bit. He will likely wake up within an hour or so and come into bed with me. Although he wiggles, it is nice to have him nearby.

Rob and Taylor seem as well as can be expected. As long as there is no more bleeding, it seems the docs will let them wait. So they will remain in the hospital until delivery which could come at anytime.

After Luke played with toys in the room for a while and entertained his Mommy, he, Rob, and I went down to the inner harbor and ate some chicken fast food and walked over to Best Buy so he could buy a small refrigerator for her room. Rob has gotten a hotel room nearby so he can go there during the day to work.

It is now about 9PM Sunday night. It seems so odd not to have Taylor down the hall, not to have meals to prepare, laundry to do, snacks to bring her, errands to run, so odd not to have Rob downstairs working or busy doing something.

For this moment things are a strange quiet…..

Rob asked for specific prayers that there will be no further complications for Taylor or Little One, that they can delay delivery, and that Little One will truly be God’s miracle Little One born completely healthy with functioning lungs. Thank you.

515pm DC time

Rob called earlier and said the doc wants to take Little One. The NICU people are saying they have never seen a baby live who has gone without fluid so long. It seems this morning’s call indicated delivery might be soon.

Calls were made, emails were sent. People began praying and things seem to have changed once more. The bleeding has stopped. Rob says he and Taylor have decided to wait for now. It is a moment to moment decision. I asked why they were waiting. He said he was not sure. Our most gracious and merciful Lord tells us to call out to Him and He will hear us.

Our verse for Little One this entire time has been Psalm 22:5
They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed

As of now unless things change they will not yet take Little One yet. PhD son Jon is sending some research he had found earlier to a doc at Hopkins. Please pray docs will have God's wisdom. Hubby Mick just scheduled flight to come tonite but will wait for further word. Please join us in thanking God for His faithfulness

The docs have decided to keep Taylor at the hospital.

They are meeting with NICU docs to see when is the best time to induce.

It could be as early as today. Thank you for your continuing prayers.

I am with Rob and Tyalor’s 20 month old Luke. This morning’s children’s devotional is entitled “Help with Problems”. Ther is a pic of two little kiddos with a big doggie in a wagon. One kiddo is pulling the wagon, the other is pushing it.

“Oh, no! Parker and jack have a big problem! They are trying to help move the dog, but he’s too heavy. Even when we try to help others we can still have problems, we can still have problems. Even if we learn a lot about Jesus, we can still have problems. God never said that we won’t have problems. But He does promise to help us when we do.”

The verse is …we may have many problems, but the Lord will solve them all.

The prayer is, “Lord, thank you that you will help me today if problems or troubles come my way.”

They have decided to admit Taylor and keep her for at least a few days. The bleeding has slowed down but has not stopped. Please pray they will receive wise counsel. Their wonderful doc is out of town and is most difficult to be reached. Rob has sent her a text message in hopes she will get it. There is one other doc very familiar with Taylor’s situation. Thanks so much for your continuing prayers and support.

It is 9PM and Rob and Taylor are on their way to the hospital once more. Problems began around 6:30PM. Their normal doc is out of town and the one they have been told to call said to come on in.

If you have the Streams in the Desert devotional, the July 15 entry is most appropriate for tonight – ( I “accidentally” read the wrong day.) If you don’t have it, the verse is, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

This is the third time my children have driven the over an hour drive to Hopkins in almost as many weeks. Each time they go, I relive the Friday night Rob was out of town and the docs wanted to take Little One.

The devotional goes on…..“To trust in spite of the look of being forsaken; to keep crying out into the vast, whence comes no returning voice, and where seems no hearing; to see the machinery of the world pauselessly grinding on as if self-moved, caring for no life, nor shifting a hairbreadth for all entreaty, and yet believe that God is awake and utterly loving; to desire nothing but what comes meant for us from His hand; to wait patiently, ready to die of hunger, fearing only lest faith should fail – such is the victory that overcometh the world, such is faith indeed.”

My prayer is that our Lord might give us all that kind of faith…that kind of trust….


They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.

Here we are at week 32!

Just a few weeks ago on a Friday night Taylor and I were at the hospital and the docs were ready to take Little One...... yet our Lord truly and miraculously saved him!

My quiet time this morning was about the disciples wondering if the Lord was not concerned that they might drown because of the horrible storm that surrounded them and He was asleep! When He told the waves to be quiet and when He rebuked the wind, the disciples were terrified!

"Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"

Some of you have asked about the delivery date and right now we don't know.

They will have several appointments over the next weeks and right now the doc is saying they will decide on August 1.

If they wait until week 36 that could be Aug 11 or the week of Aug 14.

I am sure God knows when it will be...........

Rob, Taylor and Little One left Luke and me to go to Hopkins early this morning for their 7:30am appointment.

After the nanny came to stay with Luke, I went down and sat by the river to be alone with God.

I felt I should write or something, because I always do. But there were no words and a pesky fly would not leave me alone. I wrote a sentence or two, tried to sketch a pic of the beautiful scene I was so blessed to be seeing.

Then I just wrote….”trusting you, Lord…”

About noon Rob called and excitedly said they were home and had the best appointment ever. I talked with both of them…..more details. Seems Little One has grown! All measurements are now consistent with 31 weeks! No longer is he is the bottom 3%. Taylor said even the doc seems excited! So the good news.

Then the other haunting concern. They explained that swallowing the seeming missing amniotic fluid stimulates tissue to produce necessary capillaries, which do not continue to grow after birth. The docs saw lung tissue, but cannot tell if the lungs are mature.

Taylor has a fairly bad sounding cough and they told her to begin an expectorant.

We do praise our heavenly Father for today’s good report and we continue to pray without ceasing for the miracle of Little One and the health of this little family.

They cried to You and were saved, in You they trusted and were not disappointed.

There is a group of women who are in a situation similar to ours where there is little or no amniotic fluid. Daily we share stories and concerns. Below is a recent one followed by my response. I share it because I believe it will help you better understand the situation.

Hi All,

Well I was kinda hoping that mine would be one of those miracle stories, however it wasn't meant to be....I went into labour in the early hours of wednesday 5th July (at 37 weeks exactly) - and delivered a beautiful baby boy who we named Ben by c section at 10am.

Unfortunately he had pulmonary hypoplasia and they couln't get oxygen into him, he died very shortly after birth.He weighed 7lb 15 oz and was perfect in every way, except his lungs didn't work.

He looked just like his big brothers and when I held in him my arms he just looked like he was asleep. I held him in my arms for the rest of the day and I cherish that time so much (this is something I am so glad I did).

I sat and kissed him, cuddled him and stroked him and studied him so much so that I can see him now when I shut my eyes. He was lovely.I thought I could imagine how this would feel, however there is no way I could of imagined the pain I feel right now. My heart goes out to anyone who has gone through this or will go through this.


Dear

I have read and reread your email and the outpouring of love and concern from these wonderfully supportive ladies.

Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful story of Ben. I am sure there are more people than you can imagine who are so full of sorrow for you and with you…. more than you can imagine who are praying for you….all of us wishing we could give you more than cyber hugs.

As a grandma living this day to day with my son and daughter in law, living in their house, going through the challenges of now 73 days of bedrest for Mommy, and Daddy trying to work and be a husband, having a delightful 20 month old who keeps us so often from going into the doldrums, I remain hopeful for a miracle from God as you did. Taylor has had no measurable fluid the docs can see the since week 12 when she only had a three.

We are now at week 31 waiting for delivery at week 34 or 36.

Once again I say thank you for sharing your story of Ben. Although I cannot imagine his face as you can, I imagine the picture of the two of you and it is a beautiful picture.

Regardless of what God’s plan is for our Little One, I will hold onto words like those of the hymn we sang at church yesterday. May such words help you too.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you that for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed!
For I am thy God, and will give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous omnipotent hand.”

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine”

The soul that to Jesus hath fled for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”

As a woman who has lived a lot of years and has seen her son go through many trials, this is truly one beyond my wildest imaginings. At first the pain of what seemed inevitable was unbearable. To see your child in such anguish is unbearable without God.

Now it is as if God has actually taken this burden onto Himself.

One thing keeps striking me too. If it is His purpose to take Little One to Himself at birth, then I know we have not lost Little One because we know where he will be.

An older, wiser friend also told me to know in my heart and mind that Little One will either live here or with God, for no matter what he lives.

So it is with Ben. He lives.

And we will see him again. For we grieve, but not without hope. May you feel God’s everlasting arms beneath you as He sustains you.

Please forgive my lengthy email, but you have been on my heart so much and I wanted to give you words to comfort you, in addition to the prayers I lift up for you and your family.

May you know His comfort and peace today and always,
Susan

....

Tonight Rob and Taylor returned from their emergency rush to the hospital this morning and all seems well. The doc said they may even wait to deliver Little One at 36 weeks which would be Daddy’s birthday, August 11!

This afternoon I read these words in my Bible, “Jesus was troubled in spirit.” It was so comforting to be reminded that even our omniscient Lord could be troubled in spirit.

I read on to where He told His disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.” Four months ago when we first began to realize the situation with Little One, God encouraged me not to be troubled, but to trust Him.

Isn’t it amazing that in one verse He is described as troubled in spirit and in just a few verses later, He is telling His disciples not to let their hearts be troubled? As Taylor said tonight, He was truly man….

July 7, 2006

This morning Taylor was rushed to the hospital once again due to complications. I spent much time in prayer and during that time God showed me this verse: "Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." Proverbs 25:25 So, I waited for that cool water. A couple of hours later came the call that mommy and baby were fine. Thanks be to God! They will most likely keep Taylor overnite, but she should come home tommorow. Please pray that there will be no further complications and that Taylor and baby will make it to the induction date on July 28th. Also pray that there will be no further disruptions at home and that the next few weeks will be calm...without workmen, storms, flooding, or other added stresses.

posted by Liz

Just want you to know all continues to go well with Little One and his family. I am in DC and long for the day I can return home and do as my verse this morning instructed, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." We continue to pray for another of His miracles and thank you for joining us in that prayer.

But say the word and my servant will be healed Luke 7:7 Jesus said, " I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Luke 7:9

(Note: The centurion seeking to have his servant healed illustrates his faith by a comparison taken from his own profession, and is confident that Christ can as easily command away the sickness of his servant as he can command any of his soldiers, can as easily send as angel with commission to cure this servant of his as he can send a soldier on an errand. Christ has a sovereign power over all the creatures and all their actions, and can change the course of nature as He pleases, can rectify its disorders and repair its decays in human bodies; for all power is given to Him....Matthew Henry)

Lord, may all Your people, including my loved ones and me, know that You need only say the word and Little One may be healed. May we have such great faith. In Your Name Amen