Thursday, August 6, 2009

Samuel Update -- Aug. 6, 2009

Bryan and I are at Egleston again today. On our drive here this morning, we were remarking how unbelievable it is that Samuel is only 4 days old. It feels like this is already our routine -- driving here in the morning, spending our days at the hospital, and driving home at night to sleep. I could easily believe we've been doing this for 2 weeks already.

Despite the weariness of hospital life and waiting for more news, we are holding up remarkably well. We spend a lot of time at Samuel's side laughing, singing songs, praying, telling him stories about his wonderful brothers, and genuinely enjoying ourselves and our precious time with our newest son. Last night Bryan made up a hilarious song about bilirubin, and we laughed a lot singing it to Samuel. I hope he appreciates his father's humor as he gets older!

We are tired, for sure, but we are trusting our God, and most moments our hearts are genuinely calm and peaceful. We know that God has given us this son, and He loves Samuel even more than we do. Samuel is not ours to hold in clenched fists; he is ours to trust into God's care. However there are certainly hard moments like when his alarms go off signifying that something isn't as it should be, or when he heads to the heart catheter lab, or when we kiss him good night and then leave him here and go home without him. There is something terribly unnatural about leaving my newborn. We long to hold him, feed him, introduce him to his brothers, bring him home, and put him to bed in his own crib. I can't wait to get up in the middle of the night to feed and hold him rather than to pump more milk. But in this season of waiting, God is sustaining us. And I am convinced that the prayers of our many faithful friends are upholding us. THANK YOU!

So far the news on Samuel today is not very different from previous days. The good news is that his lungs look really good today -- open and not full of gunk. Hooray! They just put a pic line in his arm b/c his umbilical lines are starting to close. We were kicked out for the procedure, but they just called to tell us it went well and only took 1 stick. We are expecting a few more days of waiting before we know more about the heart. We heard again this morning that surgery next week is likely. I am hoping that in the next days Samuel can begin to get breastmilk through a tube in his nose and that he will be able to get off the ventilator. He is under the bilirubin lights for jaundice. He has a light below him and one above him, and they are blinding. Bryan and I actually brought sunglasses today to shade our eyes. Samuel has little eye protectors on, and with the tubes, tape, and neuro-sensor thing, we can't see much of his face. Hopefully his billirubin count will go down, and the lights can be a thing of the past. Or as Bryan's song says, "Go away, Bilirubin!"

Ok, I will probably let Bryan do the next update. His are much more medically accurate and informative. Thanks again for praying for us, friends. We are beyond grateful. And thanks to the secret helper who mowed our front lawn last night. We are blessed by all of you. Many, many thanks!

16 comments:

  1. Great idea to start a blog! It's great to be updated on Samuel, how I can better be praying for him, and for you two. I so wish I could be with you all at this moment in time. May God's hand of mercy and peace bless your family.

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  2. You could try destroying the bilirubin...with a cutty-cut!

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  3. Kathryn & Bryan--We are praying for you guys (and Samuel)! --Chuck & Becky Hendricks, Dallas

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  4. So blessed to have such a strong, fighting, miraculous little nephew and an amazing, believing, and courageous brother and sister-in-law. What a lucky little man Samuel, Caleb, and Joel are to have to have such loving parents. Love you guys to the end of the numbers.

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  5. Thanks for doing this. I worried that I missed something so now I can look at any time. Waiting like this is hard for me. I imagine it must be doubly hard for you. I love and miss you guys.
    Dad

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  6. Thank you for this. So thankful to see God magnified and glorified through this beautiful family. So blessed to call you friends. Prayers will continue and I'm so glad this will help guide them. Love you.

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  7. We will be following and praying daily. Scott M

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  8. My mom sent me the link to the blog...so glad that we can keep updated this way. Samuel is precious (and Kathryn you look great!). Praying God will sustain you in the coming days...so glad you have so many people there to lend a hand:)

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  9. Kathryn and Bryan, This is a great was to keep people informed. We are praying for you all and knowing that you are in His hands. Samuel is blessing so many people every day. Love, Vicki, Tim, Skyler and Savanna

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  10. Dear Bryan & Kathryn,

    Please know that the Connors family are continuing to pray for Samuel and you all. Thanks for the updates and please let us know if there is anything we can do on this end.

    Love ya,
    Uncle Pete, Christine and Jodi

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  11. Thanks so much for keeping us updated. Our prayers are with you all! The Baileys

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  12. Oh, Lord, grant YOUR wisdom to the doctors. Let them understand how this heart is formed so that they can help it work perfectly. Shine YOUR love on Kathryn and Bryan and baby Samuel today. And grant them peace and hope and joy. Grant the doctors great wisdom...speak to them even in their dreams about how to help this little baby. Amen.

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  13. Mom/Sam & Uncle Homer send their best. Please know that we are beside you even though you can't see us. We miss and Love you guys very much! Lindsay, Matthew, Thanh, Richard, and probly the Cat's and Mace :)

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  14. KC and Bran, Your thoughtful updates are appreciated immensely. Bryan, it's a real gift the way you are able to put medical facts into words. Loved seeing Samuel's eyes open. Continued love and prayers, xo Jeanne

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  15. Hi Momma K,Bryan,Caleb,Big J,

    I think now that I have gotten alot older with kids I realize what my mom must have been going through when I had cancer. Not knowing is a scarey thing.
    We are all praying for you guys - I have a few people really pulling for this...Uncle Homer, Mom, and my buddy Frank at work - hope they and everybody else will push this to a sunrise horizon. Even though it's been a while it's kinda wierd w/o "ya'll" here. Much Love

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  16. Hi Brian and Kathy, Thanks for sharing Samuel with us. We will continue with you in prayer. May our Good Lord continue to give you his peace.

    Bridget and Jude Aidam, Maryland

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