It's No Suprise to God

I got an email from one of my dear friends Shanna this week.  I must admit that I have read it, cried, and prayed about it about a thousand times this week.  It really has put things in perspective for me and has helped me deal with this entire unexpected ordeal.  This definitely caught Adam and I off guard- but I am so glad that there are no surprises to God and that he knows the beginning from the end.  Thanks Shanna for the reminder of God's amazing love and his desire for us to be victorious!  Below is the email that she sent.  I hope it can touch someone else like it has touched me and my family this week.

"But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph…"

2 Corinthians 2:14, AMP

In life, we all have to deal with the unexpected. Just because we're believers, just because we're good people or doing the right thing doesn't make us exempt from trouble. The scripture says, "The rain falls on the just and the unjust." In times when something unexpected happens, or you find yourself facing a crisis, you don't have to go into "panic mode" or fall apart emotionally. Remember, that crisis is no surprise to God. It may be unexpected to you, but God knows the end from the beginning. He has solutions to problems that you haven't even had. He has equipped you for every battle, and He goes before you making your crooked places straight.

Today, focus on the fact that He is with you. Remember that He is walking with you and guiding you to a place of peace and victory. No matter what has happened, He will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for your good! He always leads us in victory, so keep moving forward trusting in the good plan He has for you!
Our Prayer for Lawson:
Heavenly Father, I come to You with an open and humble heart. I thank You for the victory that You have in store for our family even when I can't see it. I choose to trust You and Your goodness knowing that You are faithful.
In Jesus' Name. Amen

Lawson's One Week Old!

Been having a some good days!  Fist of all, there are no IV's or catheters in this baby at all!!!  The only thing going into him is his feeding tube.  Also, Lawson's head ultrasound came back today and everything looks perfect.  The doctor said they do these ultrasounds on all babies but that he did not see any reason to do one for Lawson- but b/c it was standard he ordered it anyways.  It's such a relief to know that everything looks great.  I've put everything in God's hands- but I must admit that I've only slept 3 hours since they ordered the scan.  This faith thing can be a bit of a challenge for me at times.  Lawson spent a few days in clothes and swaddled up, but those dang jaundice numbers crept back up and they put him back on his light therapy yesterday afternoon.  His numbers were better this morning, but we decided that it would be best to leave him under his lights all day today and tonight and hopefully he'll come off of them on Friday morning.  The doctor thinks that he will have less of a chance of rebounding back up if we keep them on longer.  We agreed, but it was hard to do because after getting a taste of wearing clothes and being all snuggled up- he really doesn't like laying under his "tanning" lights in just his diaper. 

Feedings also seem to be getting better.  Lawson is eating 54 mL at each feeding (60mL is 2 oz.) so he is almost eating 16 oz. a day!  He's breastfeeding and bottlefeeding (breastmilk), and we are having to use the feeding tube less and less.  We'll keep the tube in for a few more days until he starts eating 62mL's at a feeding and we make sure the tolerates his feedings by digesting them.  I'm sure you don't need to see anymore pictures, but too bad.  We're in love so here are a few from his 2AM feeding last night.  Never mind a sleep deprived mommy and daddy- but look at that precious boy!

Right before they took that silly IV out- poor little boy looked like he had a transformer arm...

Tons of blond hair- Adam was concerned they got Lawson mixed up with another baby, but I have to keep reminding him that we saw him come out - he's really ours (even though he looks nothing like us, lol!)

Be still my heart, I couldn't love anything more!!

This was our first family picture- It's 3AM here and Daddy and Mommy have only slept about 30 hours for the entire week and Mommy's swelling has not gone away yet, but I would not trade this picture for anything.  My little family is complete!

Day 5 Update

Well Lawson made a lot of progress yesterday and he held his ground for the most part today.  We were told that his IV could come out Wednesday or Thursday.  That would be huge!  His jaundice levels rose a little today but not enough to put him back on light therapy.  The doctor did say that those levels usually peak on the 5th day of life, so hopefully they will go down again tomorrow so we don't have to worry about him going back on the lights.  Lawson is having a couple of issues with reflux.  This is not anything the doctors are really worried about at this time, but it is something that Lawson will have to overcome.  Today I was able to breastfeed him again and he took his full feeding from me this morning.  He's really a great breast feeder but it's much harder to breastfeed than bottle feed so he slept through his afternoon feeding and it had to be put through his feeding tube.  This was hard for us, especially after he had been making so much progress.  We were hoping that it was just a fluke, but he did the same thing with his next feeding.  He has bottle fed twice since then and finished all 1.5 ounces each time and burped on his own.  We're having to remind ourselves that he is still very premature and that progress is good- even if it is slow or even if we take a step backwards every now and then.  Please continue to pray that Lawson will be able to tolerate his feedings and get stronger everyday!

Lawson's First Bath

Mommy and Son (can you tell which of us is sleep deprived?!?)

Bright eyed and alert

All snuggled up and getting to wear some clothes!

NICU- Day 4

Today was an awesome day!  First of all, the jaundice levels came back and Lawson was able to come out from under his light therapy.  Also, Lawson's umbilical catheter was taken out today and replaced with an IV in his hand.  He was also taken off his oxygen today.  We are doing this "oxygen trial" to find out how he does.  So far, so good though.  He's been without his oxygen for about 7 hours now and we could not be any happier.  He is now eating a little more than an ounce per feeding and he seems to be tolerating it well.  We are praying that he will continue to progress with his feedings so that his feeding tube can come out in a few days.  He has made a lot of progress today- we are trusting in God that he will stay stable through the night and the day tomorrow.  We are hoping that his labs come back good tonight so that he can continue to stay off his lights and his oxygen.  Here are a few pictures of him today- he's getting more precious by the minute!

Sweet Boys!

No catheter  or oxygen- look at that sweet face!

Every few hours we have a new favorite picture.  This is it for right now- beautiful baby boy!

NICU pictures

Lawson on his birthday

Daddy and son for the first time

Lawson under his "light bright"

Getting to change a dirty diaper.  Lawson is really good at making those!

Lawson at 3 days old. 

Look at the light colored hair.  Who would have thought it?

Getting to take a break from his "light bright"

The sweetest thing we've ever seen- Praise be to God for this sweet angel!

...Not time for a real post, but here are a few pics of our little "fighter"

Opened his eyes for Mommy

The most precious feet I have ever seen!

God's Beautiful Gift to us- Lawson Edward

Born 9/16/2010