Thursday, April 8, 2010

rain, rain go away

i heard that the weather was nice today. from the window i didn't see any rainclouds or evidence of wet streets, but in here, we were singing that little rhyme "rain rain go away, come again another day." tracee woke me up this morning at 5:50 scared about some twitching she was experiencing due to a mild epileptic condition that she has. she hasn't had any issues in about a year but they are brought on by stress, fatigue and anxiety. hmmmm...have we had any of that? i need to be better about making sure she gets the rest she needs but quite frankly i was so excited to be getting her back to normal that i didn't think much about it. so we shut it down hard core here today - no visitors, and signs posted on the door stating "mom sleeping." her and i both did so. i was able to lay in bed with her today and both of us got the best sleep we have had in weeks. even though we won't be bringing gavin home with us, we are excited to begin to get some things back to normal and having a chance to live again.
it looks like gavin will continue to be on the oscillator for another week or so but they were able to bring down some of his oxygen levels through that machine and still keep his oxygenation rate in the range they want which is exciting for us! he isn't on any more dopamine and was able to get his first feeding today (as i said, a micro amount) and that seemed to go ok. they only introduce food to their little guts at this age to begin to get them ready for some real nutrition later on. tracee was able to provide his feeding! she was able to get a couple of mL's into a bottle but that is all it takes! a couple of nurses were telling me how adorable they thought he was and i agree. :-)
one of the moms in there today was telling me about her baby who is one of gavin's podmates. he is 36.5 weeks old now but was born at 26.2 and was 2.5 pounds. he now weighs 5lb.14oz. although he wasn't really growth restricted like gavin, it is exciting to see how much he has grown and that he is in a position to go home in a few weeks after being in there since January 26th.
gavin remains under the spotlight and his lungs are still hazy on the xrays, but we remain steadfast in the Lord and rejuvenated by those who provide scripture to us and words of encouragement. i pray over his little giraffe incubator everytime i go and visit him. every little detail about him is perfect. God didn't make any mistakes. He is now using gavin to grow tracee and i. my son is ministering to us and that isn't exactly how we had planned it. nevertheless, we desire to just take it day by day. you can specifically pray for his lungs to open up some more and that he will continue to tolerate his feedings. you can pray for his blood pressures and an upcoming blood transfusion that he will most certainly need. you can pray for tracee's improved health as we begin to approach a discharge date and time. you can pray for rest for me and calm in the storms of my family. thank you dear friends and others that we don't know who read, it is an encouragement to us.
God bless you all.

jeramy

10 comments:

  1. Little G .. you are doing an awesome job! Just rest and let the Lord heal you and grow you. So, a giraffe incubator, AWESOME! I bet it's the best one on the 'block'!! Think sweet thoughts and know that the world outside is praying for you. You are a gift from God and we treasure you immensely. Love Lisa

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  2. Jeramy, I am so thankful for the time and energy you put into these posts. We were talking at school today about how we all wait by the computer daily as late as we can for the latest word from you. And your words are so beautifully written. We miss Tracee terribly from our little "community" in first grade, and our hearts are wholly with you all there. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Peace, love and prayers to you all.
    Michele R.

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  3. Jeramy,
    I'm a friend from Tracee's from school - Keri. I am praying for you all. I too look forward to hearing every update through your beautifully written blogs.
    I just wanted to send you peace, rest, health and love,
    Lots of love,
    Keri

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  4. Thank you so much for keeping these updated. I look forward to knowing how you guys are doing every day and you strength is the Lord is so encouraging! I can't wait to meet little Gavin! Philippians 4:6-7 (This verse has been on our refrigerator for the past week and is a great verse to meditate on...) Love you guys! Melanie

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  5. I am so glad that the two of you were able to get some much needed rest today. I am so thankful that Gavin continues to do well! You are so right, God had his hand in all of this and is holding you all in the palm of his hand.

    :) Ashley Bohlman

    Psalms 139:13-16
    For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
    __________________

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  6. Go Gavin Go!
    Jeramy, God bless you for loving our daughter and grandson so much. Your season of trial is being filtered daily through the loving Hands of our Omnipotent Creator!
    Mom Nikolin

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  7. Hello Williams 3!
    I love this original version of the Serenity Prayer and I hope it brings you some peace. There are times we don't know what or how to pray and this may be a great prayer for your back pocket, it is in mine! Count on us to pray when you are weary~
    Love ya~ Andy & Nicole


    God, give us grace to accept with serenity
    the things that cannot be changed,
    Courage to change the things
    which should be changed,
    and the Wisdom to distinguish
    the one from the other.

    Living one day at a time,
    Enjoying one moment at a time,
    Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
    Taking, as Jesus did,
    This sinful world as it is,
    Not as I would have it,
    Trusting that You will make all things right,
    If I surrender to Your will,
    So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
    And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

    Amen.

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  8. Coach B - Karen (Heights)April 9, 2010 at 6:37 AM

    Tracee my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Gavin will pull through and I have a lot of faith that God will take care of all of you. I miss you and your smiling face. Take care my old friend from Heights. Have faith, I was a preemie too and look how good I turned out! :) God Bless

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  9. We've never met, but I work at Phoenix Christian and I just heard about your little guy. I pray that our gracious Lord will continue to comfort and sustain you. What faith you have to realize that God will use this situation as you continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

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  10. OLD(!) song by Babbie Mason has helped me in many struggles. "Trust His Heart"

    Here it is, if you've got time to read:

    God is too wise to be mistaken
    God is too good to be unkind
    So when you don't understand
    When you don't see His plan
    When you can't trace His hand
    Trust His heart

    All things work for our good
    Though sometimes we don't see how they could
    Struggles that break our hearts in two
    Sometimes blind us to the truth
    Our Father knows what best for us
    His ways are not our own
    So when your pathway grows dim
    And you just don't see Him
    Remember you're never alone

    He sees the master plan
    And He holds our future in His hand
    So don't live as those who have no hope
    All our hope is found in Him
    We see the present clearly
    But He sees the first and the last
    And like a tapestry
    He's weaving you and me
    To someday be just like Him

    He alone is faithful and true
    He alone knows what is best for you

    God is too wise to be mistaken
    God is too good to be unkind
    So when you don't understand
    When you don't see His plan
    When you can't trace His hand
    Trust His heart

    ♥ you! ~ Melody

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