Elijah Update...

Hi everyone, it has been a while. Elijah was recently sent for a MRI of his head since he hasn't had one since he was born. The doctor called me today with the results. The good news is that that most everything looks the same as it did with his last MRI. There are some concerns that he may have a some excess fluid, just a small amount though, but something his doctor wants evaluated further. We are now going to be sent to either Duke or Wake Forrest, depending on who can get us in the fastest. I am so worried about this, Elijah has been through so much.



I'm just upset, and yes I'm angry. I'm not angry at God, I am just angry about the way of this world. I am angry that my child has suffered so much, I'm angry that there is such a thing as Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, that I lost two children to it, and that TTTS is the reason Elijah still has problems. I'm angry because my life is so stressful. I get angry when I see people going about their lives with their healthy children and I hear them complain about the silliest things. I don't want to be this way, I understand that I used to be just like those people. Once, not so long ago my biggest worry was whether or not I would get a A in one of my classes, or whether or not my child would be a football star or a genius.

Now before you get mad I am not saying that you or anyone else for that matter doesn't have a right to worry yourselves with things like this. I am saying just be thankful if that is all you have to worry about. Give God the thanks he deserves for all of the blessings you have. In spite of it all I will still Thank God for my blessings, because I do have blessings.



I am thankful, because I know that even though things seem bad, they could always be worse. I know God has a plan for Elijah's life, I know that Elijah is a miracle and that he will be used to glorify God, he is living proof of the fact that YES, God does still perform miracles.



When Elijah was born he was pretty much as close to death as anyone can get. He couldn't breathe on his own, he was brought through life threatening illnesses and surgeries, even when man had given up hope, God brought Elijah through. I will never stop praising God for all he has done for Elijah, and I trust him to bring us through this valley and to the top of the mountain once again!

Elijah several months ago at a birthday party....

David

I have always felt bad that I never put a picture of David on here. Since David was stillborn we only have one picture of him, I wish I had more but my surgery was so bad and my husband was so upset at that time. We didn't even have our camera with us, since we had no idea we were going to be in Florida for four months and that our babies would be born there. I hesitated to put this picture on here since it was taken after his death. But he was such a lovely little boy, perfect in every way. So I wanted to share him with you. It helps to imagine him and Lucas in heaven, perfect little children laughing and following Jesus. I know they suffered so much in their short time here, David was left in the birth canal for 4 days and he fought to live, I agonize over that sometimes. But, I wasn't myself due to the Mag and whatever else they had me on. The doctors did not want to deliver him because they said it would mean the death of my other boy's. But God is victorious, Praise God they will never hurt again. They were perfect and will remain that way, sin will never touch them.
I am thinking of them a lot lately, since we are fast coming up on their birth date. I thank God for Elijah and I know we will be with his brothers again someday!

A Big Event is coming up!

Hi everyone, it has been a long time. Elijah is doing well. We have a appointment for him in Charlottesville at UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville next week. He will be seeing a Cardiologist that specializes in Pediatric Cardiomyopathy. Elijah will be 11 months old on March 12. His current weight is 16 lbs. He is still recieving PT at home and we are looking forward to the Spring and his first birthday in April!

I have started a team, Team Elijah, Lucas, and David for the March of Dimes, March for Babies. This event is coming up in May. I am looking for sponsers, please visit my page for more information, it can be found at http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?si=5060648C-5A65-43A7-ABB8-1B659217D747&prefill=

Moving right along....

Hello everyone. Well first I'll give you an update on Elijah. He is doing well, he is now eating 40 mls every three hours from a bottle. That is a big deal for him, especially with his bowell issues. He is tolerating the feeds great so far! One concern right now is that he is retaining alot of fluid. He is so puffy. The doctors think it is from the (HAL) the fluids that give him nutrients, he has been on it pretty much since birth. It can cause problems with the liver, which should resolve when he goes off of it and the doctor said he may be off of that tommorrow! They just have to make sure that the fluids don't effect his lungs so they are keeping a close eye on that and giving him meds to decrease the fluids. That is why we can't seem to get him weaned off the oxygen.
About the going home situation, it is sort of at a standstill (but I'm still trusting God)! The doctor told me he wanted Elijah to go home on a monitor and maybe even oxygen, the problem with that is the monitor companys here don't want their stuff going out of state! So the doctors and social workers have told me to appeal the insurnace companies decision not to transfer Elijah, the doctors have wrote a new order for him to be transferred to JCMC as opposed to me traveling 12 hours with him. Then he could be discharged from JCMC as soon as possible. So everyone please pray for us to hear something from the insurance very soon about this. Last time it took 3 weeks for them to just tell us no. I don't want to have to leave my baby here but am going to have to get home soon. School starts back in August and I miss Alex and Dillan so much. My mom is sick again(pray for her) and Brian is struggling to try and find work! I know God will see us through this!
Even when the baby comes home it will be a long road for us, we wont know if he has any lasting effects of prematurity for months or even years. But, whatever happens, Elijah is a gift, he is so sweet and precious and I know I have been truly blessed by God, just by the fact that he let us keep Elijah. I miss his two brothers and what might have been, but it's like my mom told me, even if I live to be 90 and my kids are living their own lives, I'll always have those precious babies waiting for me in heaven! What a blessing, that God found me worthy to love those two little boy's even for such a short time here on earth, but for a eternity in Heaven!

NICU notes....

Elijah is doing so good. We may even get to come home in a couple of weeks as long as everything continues to go well! He has recovered nicely from surgery and is starting to eat now. He is able to take 5 mls from a bottle! He has come so far from 1lb 80z, he now weighs 6lbs 8 oz! I hope and pray he continues to do well so that I can go back home. I miss the mountains and it is hard to be 12 hours away from everyone I know and love. But, I am thankful to God for bringing Elijah so far. The NEC could have killed him. That is what took his brother Lucas. I find that when I finally let go, and put it all in God's hands, that's when things seem to start going better! I'm so thankful to have my little guy, and his big brothers! I know God will continue to bless our family!