Kaela's Visitors

Kaela continues to improve. Her x-ray this morning looked clear, so the doctor is starting her back on breast milk - slowly again. She is getting 6 mL every 6 hours to see how her bowels handle it and we'll go from there. This means that the majority of her nutrition will continue to be from TPN and lipids through her IV, which doesn't last long in babies. She's on her third site in 3 days, and they've had to stick her several times each time they have to restart it - so tonight they are going to put a PICC line in so they don't have to start any more IVs until she's back up to full feedings. Her stool cultures came back negative - which is good - so we're waiting on the blood cultures tomorrow. According to the nurses, Kaela is still on a little bit of oxygen, but every time we've been up there, she's had it pulled out of her nose and is sucking on the tube! Guess she's hungry. =) I think we have another pacifier baby - she sucked on hers the whole hour we were up there this evening, and got mad at us if we didn't hold it in. It was so adorable!

It's been fun this time around to be able to take people into the NICU to "show off" our little girl, since we can't do that at home yet. It's a blessing to be able to share her with the people who are doing so much for us right now. Andy said to everyone, "I want you to see her, because this is who you're helping when you're helping us."

So, these past few days, we've shared her with friends and family. Here is Kaela meeting some of the wonderful people in our lives:

Aunt Faith

















Uncle Aaron


















Ms. Ellen

















Mr. Justus

















And one picture of Christopher's visitor this weekend - Baby Justus. We finally got to meet him. =) Christopher had fun entertaining him, though he was frustrated at times that Justus didn't listen and get up and walk when he told him to "get down" so they could play.

















Ms. Esther

















Mr. Josh






















Ms. Cortny

















Mr. Thomas

















We've been overwhelmed with blessings as people have been dropping off meals almost daily, babysitting Christopher during the day and night, grocery shopping, cleaning our house, and calling and emailing with words of encouragement throughout all of this. Thank you all so very much! We couldn't do this without each of you - even those who aren't here because I know that you're all praying and we need that too!!!!!

About the only "quiet time" I've been able to find in the past 2 weeks has been when I get up to pump around 1 or 2 am. After the first two nights when I struggled to keep my eyes open, it dawned on me that this would be the perfect time for my devotions...so I turned the light on - woke up a little more, and now keep my Bible and a devotional book beside my pump. These have been some of the best minutes in my day, and definitely a source of encouragement and strength. I can truly feel God wrapping His loving arms around me and holding me through this tough time. Also, I love praise and worship music. During various difficult circumstances in my life, I've felt the most in communion with God through different songs...somehow the perfect song seems to come on the radio or pop into my head when I need some encouragement and strength. This past weekend, when everything was going on with Kaela, EVERY time I turned on the radio on the way to or from the hospital, this song was playing. It's beautiful, and I wanted to share it with you now.

I WILL LIFT MY EYES
By Bebo Norman


God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near calm my fear and take my doubt
Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

God, my God, let mercy sing
her melody over me
and God, right here all I bring
is all of me
Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

'Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
the Lover I need to save me
'Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
so hold me now

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now

I thought it was pretty awesome that it ends with "your beloved needs you now" when that's the meaning of Kaela. Thank you Jesus, for your everpresent help in times of need...for your love and strength and mercy, for hearing our prayers, for calming our fears, for drawing us in, and holding us near. Amen.