We are BACK!

So sorry I have been MIA since we have been home with Joseph. We have been getting the hang of our new normal with little man. He has had such a transformational few months since we left the NICU. We had a minor scare the second week home and were hospitalized for 4 days but we came to the conclusion that he was not ready to eat 3 full ounces at each feeding and was aspirating on his spit up basically. After we went down to 2 ounces and added rice cereal with a reflux medication he was back to healthy. Every day for the first month felt like a learning experience, figuring out his signs and symptoms to look for was just part of the journey home for us. We have since been hospital free and gaining weigh/changing daily! He weighs around 9 lbs now and is 4months old or about 3 weeks gestation. Joseph is rolling over, periodically smiling at us, tracking things with his eyes, reaching and grasping at toys, has a hearty appetite and is starting to stay awake more during the day. He is now out and about with the family on a daily basis and his lungs are getting progressively stronger everyday. We are still on 1/16 of oxygen since we had the set back with aspirating but should be moving to 1/32 soon then off. We have seen the eye doctor, ear doctor, pediatrician and lung specialist every week to every other weeks since we have been home. His eyes are gradually getting better and we know that he can see although he still has minor ROP. He can hear out of both ears and the nerves are tracking from the ear to the brain on both sides also. He does have some fled behind both ears and the right ear is hearing better than the left. We will be tacking this and we believe with growth his hearing will be 100% on both sides soon. His lungs are developing and slowly getting stronger. We will continue to monitor if the crackling on the outsides of his lungs improving ( called minor BPD) and that his oxygen level as we wean from oxygen stay in good ranges.

We are excited to see the improvements he is making each week and continue to see that he is truly a gift from God. We know that God has placed Joseph in our families life and he is a perfect fit! The girls are madly in love with him and hold him all day. They don’t care that he was not formed in mommys tummy because he was formed in their hearts. The road through the NICU was not easy and since we have been home it has not been a piece of cake. Their have been many days I have doubted if I could do all of this and take care of him. I have been exhausted mostly since we got him in January but I also have seen God work in our family and in my life through these months. I know that we will make it through the constant doctors appointments, carrying oxygen around with us everywhere and not sleeping. I know this because this is the baby I prayed for. I may not have known he would come in this package but God did. I am beyond blessed this Mothers Day to be the momma to this little miracle. Because of him my girls hearts have been formed with a new kind of love that is the same love Jesus shows. Their brains will forever be changed because their hearts have undergone a transformation from our journey. Joseph will always know that he was created specifically for our family and to carry out the work of the Lord. Thank you for counting

   

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