Walking for Faith across the country!

Our friends Daryl and Sara walked for Faith in Richmond, Virginia today. On the walk they met a family who had a story just like ours- their little boy had eye surgery and was on the vent for 3 months! He is now a happy, healthy 4 year old! Thanks for walking Daryl and Sara! That story really gave us hope!

Faith is NOW 12 weeks old (we miss counted last week!)

Faith has made it over 24 hours without pulling her tube! To clarify when we say "pulling" it doesn't necessarily mean she physically pulls it. Faith is swaddled extra tight to insure her hands won't interfere with the tubes. What is happening is Faith has a lot of secretions (due to the ventilator) the secretions lubricate the tube, thus the tube slides easily with movement. When Faith feels these secretions she starts moving her head around, which makes the secretions worse and the tube more likely to come out. They are suctioning her very frequently to keep these down, but like almost everything in the NICU it is a catch 22- the more you suction the more abundant the secretions. She is also being heavily sedated. They have increased her sedation levels- so she is pretty zonked out every time we see her.

The past few days she has had blood in her stool, which could be a sign of infection. They are motoring her close by taking blood samples frequently. So far her lab work is "ok" (she is low on things, but that is typical Faith) and nothing has grown in her cultures. They think it was an intolerance to the high calorie fortifiers she was receiving (to boost her growth). They have been giving her pedalite then straight breast milk for the time being. We will keep you updated on that. Right now our biggest struggle is keeping that tube in. Please continue to pray with us that it will be kept in!

Thanks!
Brian and Jen

Walk America 2007: Fighting for Faith!

Why we walk: Faith cuddling with her March of Dimes bear.
Well, we did it! (All 6.2 miles of it) Today we walked for Faith and babies everywhere in hopes that one day there will be no such thing as preemies or babies with birth defects. We had a great time walking together to save babies. It was very moving and inspiring to see families and friends walking together for this cause. Many families were walking with their toddlers, kids, and teenagers who started out just like Faith! It really gave us hope! Thank you to everyone who walked with us and/or donated to the March of Dimes. Together team Fighting for Faith raised over $700!!!! Wooowhooo! We cannot wait until next year's walk when when Faith will be walking WITH us!!!!

Thanks again!

Brian and Jen

PS: Faith keeps pulling her tube!!!! It is happening almost everyday, which is really bad. Please pray that the tube stays in!

Day 83

As we see more and more babies go home on their due dates in the NICU, we are becoming restless as we know that we still have a long time before Faith will be able to come home. Back in Febraury we were just counting down the days until May. Now that May is approaching, it seems like there is not an end in sight. Someone told me this week that we always want to be on chapter 7, when God has us on chapter 2. (Thanks Marcella!) When I told this to Brian he said, "chapter 2 has been a really long chapter!!!!" :) Nevertheless our little girl is surviving.

She keeps pulling out her vent tube (we figured out she's not using her hands to do it, but she trashes her head against the mattress which pulls it out). Every time the tube goes in and out it creates more scar tissue. Brian has been spending the night (not sleeping!) next to Faith to make sure the tube stays in. You can tell she just hates the tube- it is very uncomfortable!
The eye Doctor that did Faith's last eye surgery examined her a few days ago. He is not confident that she needs surgery right now- he wants to wait another week to see if the blood vessels keep growing. This means more time on the ventilator! Ugh!
So right now we are just waiting- it is a little frustrating because we are "on hold" -meaning no progress is being made (nor can be made when she is on the vent).
Please pray that the tubes will stay in!
Brian and Jen

We are starting to feel like Job!

Lately when it rains, it pours (which is literally happening in Colorado right now!) and today was another monsoon. Faith had an eye exam today- she needs another eye surgery. :( Lately we've been feeling like our prayers have gone unanswered but as you know His ways our not our ways- perhaps this is the reason why Faith has been staying on the ventilator. If she did get off of it last week, she would have to be reintubated for the surgery again- so maybe this is just saving us more heartbreak. It is very unfortunate Faith has to go through another surgery- but we'll tell you what- she's one tough cookie. The plan is to have the surgery within the next week. They are also keeping her on the vent for another week- if she pulls her tube out the tube is going right back in. Her airways need time to heal. It is sad seeing her on the ventilator- as she is getting bigger she looks so uncomfortable. They are giving her Tylenol and morphine when she needs it. Thank you for continue to lift up Faith in prayer- as the song goes we are going to "praise Him in this storm."
Brian and Jen

PS: "Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how BIG your God is." (Thanks Aunt Susan!)

Another dip in the rollercoaster

We received another middle of the night phone call. Faith is back on the ventilator. Her nurse held her for hours last night trying to calm her down- she just couldn't do it anymore. She was working too hard to breathe. They put her on the vent to avoid what happened last week. This is beginning to wear on us- she was doing so good until she had to have the eye surgery. Today she is 37 weeks old- we have never seen a baby in the NICU that has been on the vent this long- please, please pray that her airways will heal- we do not want Faith to have to go through another surgery!

You can do it Faith!!!

Isn't she a cutie? Faith's nurse took this picture of her yesterday after her bath- untubed and all! Weeeeeeeell- she is starting to make us nervous. Late this afternoon her heart rate and oxygen levels began to dip- if it happens more she will be back on the ventilator. At that point we are stuck. Her problem is her swollen airways- the ventilator increases the swelling, but she needs it to breathe. We are going to stay positive and believe that she won't need to go back on the vent. Please pray that Faith can get through the night breathing on her own.
Breathe Faith Breathe!!!!!
Brian and Jen :)