We are so very close to coming home. Little man has made some great steps forward this week and a few steps back. He is eating all of his bottles with no problems, which is so amazing! He is off oxygen and only using it while he eats. This allows him to not waste energy and burn calories, we are wanting as much gain as possible. He is up to 40ML each feeding and sometimes eats more if he is feeling energetic. Joseph now weighs a giant 4 pounds and 5 ounces or 1965 grams. He is in an open air crib with no help regulating his body temperature. We are continuing to monitor his oxygen saturation and make sure it stays a little higher than where he has been hanging out the last few days. Once he gets those levels back even and into the 90’s we will be good to go home. He will come home on a heart rate monitor and oxygen for feeds but other than that he is a free man. We will still eat every 3 hours on 24 calorie formula with added vitamins. We will see our pediatrician frequently and continue to see the eye doctor at his office every other week. We have a ways to go before he is without all monitors but we are getting very close, but remember his due date is not until April 25th!
The NICU said he is the fastest micro preemie to graduate out that they have seen, what a testament to our God. Joseph is a little miracle man and his life will be such a great witness to the name of Jesus. We praise the one who was, the one who is and the one who is to come, he is our salvation and our strength, without him we would be nothing. We give all our highest praises to him, what a blessing he has sent to our family. As we transition home we ask for your continued prayers for Joseph and the girls. It will be yet another change for their lives and ours.
Christ heard the cry of our hearts and came to save us, he gives his love with no restrictions and shows us how to love others the same way. We pray we can continue to show love through Josephs story and open the eyes of others, to have courage, to take that next step for what God has laid on their heats regardless how hard it may seem. Through Josephs stay in the NICU we have been opened up to heartache but the JOY far outweighs the heartache. Nothing has been easy but, he never set us up to fail, through each milestone he has been their to strengthen us. Thank you for taking the journey to get to Joseph and praying for him once we found him.
As the song open up by brilliance states so well:
Make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is darkness let me shine light and
May Your love cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
All that we do without love
It means nothing
Grant us the courage to give
As You’re calling
Make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is darkness let me shine light and
May Your love cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
Hope for the hopeless, Your love is
Strength in our weakness, Your love is
May we love, as You love
Hope for the hopeless, Your love is
Strength in our weakness, Your love is
May we love, as You love
(As only You can love, oh God)
May we love, as You love
May we love, as You love
So many answered prayers! He is so faithful! Praising our Lord for His constant goodness! We will keep praying for sweet Joseph and your family.
Thank you Rhonda!
He is so faithful! Praising our Lord for His constant goodness! We will keep praying for Joseph to continue growing and for your family as you navigate this precious journey.
OH, my goodness! If Joseph was born today, he would STILL be a month premature. And look at him – he is looking so mature – the opposite of pre-mature. Aren’t babies supposed to wait 2 or 3 months before they start smiling? And your little man has already smiled so much – we have all seen the pics. Oh, what wonderful answers to prayer. Thanks for sharing every step with us.