review of 3rd week in ICU (Oct. 31-Nov. 6)

When Emily and I walked into the ICU at Texas Children's on Monday, Dahlia was being rocked by her favorite nurse (and her very first "boyfriend"), Jimmy. He's just a young single guy who happens to be one of the best pediatric intensive care nurses around. Does he ever have a way with the babies! He has some mean baby swaddling skills and knows just how to comfort a baby. We sure missed him when we had to leave the 18th floor ICU to move to the NICU on the 4th floor. Since Dahlia is now considered stable, her space was needed by a baby who was in a more critical condition. (There are a bunch of other really awesome nurses here too, but we'll especially remember Jimmy.)

Also, on  Monday, Dahlia took another step ahead and was able to take her first nourishment by mouth. Considering this was the first time she ever had a bottle, she caught on real quickly and was so content after. She still was also on continuous feeding through the tube going into her nose and down to her tummy. (the gloved hand belongs to the occupational therapist who helped with that first bottle feeding.)

"I'm so interested in that rattle Momma got me."

"But I'm even more interested in looking at my Momma."

Wednesday was another good day in the ICU, and even better when Grandmother Gwen (Nana) came and had the joy of holding her sweet little one for the first time since the hospitalization. Between us two Grammies, there have been enough prayers said to move a mountain, besides enough tears to fill a lake.

Everyday this week, Dahlia has remained stable and has been making baby steps ahead. On Friday, the bottle feeds were increased so she needed only intermittant feeds through the tube, and finally she got a little break from that tube.



"What does a girl have to do around here to get a make-over?"

Sunday (Nov.6) End of 3rd week in ICU. Dahlia is now 6 weeks old. To me, each day has brought answers to prayers. This week she made much progress with her feeding, and is starting to finally gain weight. When Brian and Emily got home from the ICU tonight, they said, starting today, Dahlia is now being bottle fed every 3 hours -- no more tube feeding! (they will still keep the tube in her nose for a little while, just in case)  She has also tolerated the gradual weaning down of the intravaneous heart medicine -- replacing it with one that can be taken orally. They are going to continue to do so. We are praying that her heart function gains the strength it needs so she can survive without a heart transplant. She needs to be able to feed well by mouth (check), and to survive with the heart med. taken  by mouth to be able to come home. Thank you dear family and friends for all your prayers that help give this little baby and her family the strength needed during this difficult time.

sweetness in our sorrow

Sweet baby Dahlia, now 5 weeks old, has made many baby steps ahead since last Monday. She has been transferred to Texas Children's Hospital, where she has the best of care. She is off all supplemental oxygen, and is stable. It will be a rocky road ahead, as they wean her off one heart med. and onto another one that she can take orally.  Prayers have been answered to get her to this point, and she is need of many more prayers and miracles, as we take each day at a time, putting our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Our God is a God of miracles.





Dahlia is so happy to be in her Momma's arms.



Richard G. Scott, an apostle of the Lord, has said,"I wonder if we can ever really fathom the immense power of prayer until we encounter an overpowering, urgent problem and realize that we are powerless to resolve it.  Then we will turn to our Father in humble recognition of our total dependence on Him."  Thank you for all your prayers!

a hard, hard time for us

Love this new little grandbaby Dahlia with all our hearts. She's been in the ICU at Herman Children's Hospital  the past 11 days. If her parents hadn't rushed her promptly to the emergency room, she would have died. She has been diagnosed with a very rare heart defect, left ventricular compaction, where the left ventrical isn't able to pump as it should. She's been off the venilator these past 48 hours, and her parents have been able to hold her for the first time today. But it'll be a really rough ride, with plenty of potential set-backs, and could need a heart transplant.  So thankful for all the prayers on her behalf. We are really leaning on our Father in Heaven and our Savior during this difficult time, and placing our trust in Him. He has a plan for her precious life. We know He can work miracles for her.  We are so grateful for this very special spirit who has been sent to bless our family. She has already taught all of us so much. 

2 days ago, when sweet Dahlia came off  the respirator. She was so alert and just didn't want to go to sleep.

Bunches of Babies & a Baptism

In Texas, where everything is bigger and better, we have had a very big two weeks!
It all started on Thursday, Sept. 22, when Emily's 5th baby surprised everyone by arriving 2 weeks early.

Dahia, 6 days old -- the tail end of her first smile



Dahlia Eve is a very sweet, calm baby.  During labor, 6 lb. 12 oz. Dahlia turned into breech position.  It was such a blessing that Emily was able to deliver her easily without having a C-section.

Then, on Tues., Oct. 4, Lauren had her 5th baby!

8 lb. 7 oz. Lorelei, just 4 hours old

 Lorelei Anya looks so much like her momma when she was born. As I held her for the first time, I couldn't help but call her "Lor-Lor", which was what I called Lauren when she was a baby. Looks as if she will be  sweet and calm like her 11 day older cousin.


Grammy and Grandpa (he's not angry, just squinting into sun) with 11th grandchild, Dahlia



Grammy with 12th grandchild, Lorelei



On Sept. 24, in between these two births, sweet grandaughter Kyla was baptized !

8 year old Kyla & her Daddy



Stay tuned for more excitement next month, when Jeremy gets married and Grandpa and I wait to recieve our mission call.

Engaged

Here he is, our baby Jeremy J. (Jo Jo), son number three, the sixth child to join our family --


Jeremy with Grandpa when Grandpa was just "Daddy".



And here he is again, all grown up and very recently engaged to the girl of his dreams.

photo swiped from Jeremy's Facebook page (not official engagement photo)

Labor Day Weeked fun

                            Baby shower for Emily (my oldest daughter), hosted by one of her sweet sister-in-laws.

Among friends who came, was Tamara, who was a high school buddy and who now lives in the same town as Emily.

                                                    Her sisters were there to celebrate.

Lauren is also bursting at the seams, and is due to give birth the same time as Emily (end of Sept, beginning of Oct.) -- give or take a day or two.  It'll be a very exciting time for this Grammy. It'll be like having twins. They both are having girls.

The next day, we joined other family members for a delicious fish fry at Pat and Leslie's house. Here is Grandpa with his Texas siblings, (L-R: Stuart, Donna, Pat, and Sharon).

wrapping up summer

Before school started, we did our annual summer theatre outing with a few of the grandkids (and Jessica --just back from the Carribean). 

We were entertained by a very funny production of "Alice in Wonderland" at Houston's Miller Outdoor Theatre. Jessica for treated us to lunch at a yummy Asian restaurant in the Heights.

We squeezed in one last family outing with all our Texas babies (8 of them), and two baby bumps (Emily and Lauren are due just a few days apart from each other -- last week of Sept. and first week of Oct.)

Toledo Bend Park was a nice respite from the terrible heat and drought we've been having. It even rained the last night and morning we were there. We were hoping those rain clouds would have followed us home to Houston, but no such luck.