Success!

We're so thankful! Jack took a bottle on his first try! This is a huge step towards being discharged, which we are told is only a few days away!!

Slow Progress

Jack continues to slowly make progress!  He really looks good!  He's been wooing the nurses with his eyes.  They treat him extra special.  They brought in Christmas lights and gave his whole room a Christmas make- over.  Even so, Jack was being cranky on Christmas day.  He has well developed facial expressions beyond his weeks.  He was smiling at us a lot today, but when he's mad, he will grimace his whole face real tight and turns beat red, which would probably really scare us if we didn't already have all of his vitals tracking out on the monitor.
We're hoping that he can be discharged in about a week. Sometimes these babies take a while learning to feed by mouth (he's been getting milk by his nasal gastric tube), we'll be introducing that this week, and he's still being weened off some of the meds and the oxygen support.

Thanks to the MD.s and the RN's, to our friends who cooked for us and to the pray-ers, and to the Quakers who volunteer at the Ronald McDonald room and to the people who donated Christmas presents to the kids in the PICU.  And to the plowman who cleared our driveway.  Glory to God for hope in tough times.

Jack, Santa & his nurse Deb on Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

We all had a great day! Jack's breathing tube was successfully removed, the girls were able to visit him and I got to hold him! It was a wonderful Christmas Eve. ~Rebekah

Another great day!

Jack is having another great day! His chest tube and RA line (directly to his heart) were removed without a problem!! He is easily being weaned off medications and the ventilator. We are so thankful!

--
~Rebekah

Holding steady

He has had a good day! All his vitals are holding strong. Jack is
responding well to the medication and losing more fluid which will get
him off the breathing machine quicker. Please keep praying that he
remains strong and recovers quickly!

Chest closure

Jack had his chest incision closed up this afternoon. His oxygen saturation levels dropped ( PB and heart rate were ok). They finally gave Him the nitric (sp?) oxide and that stabilized him. But gave the drs a scare. Please pray he stays stable while they try to wean him off meds and nitric oxide. They hope is passing reaction to stress. We thought we were past this and did not expect it nor did the dr.

--
~Rebekah

Sunday Update

Jack is doing great! He is quickly losing his extra fluid and we're hoping his chest can be closed up tomorrow!! We're so proud of our little guy. He's responding so well to changes in medication & the ventilator. We're all sleeping a little easier and looking forward to him coming home in a couple weeks. 

--
~Rebekah

Good day!

Jack had a good day! They are weaning him off the ventilator and
nitrous oxide slowly. His swelling is also starting to go down which
is necessary before his chest can be closed up. His vitals are holding
strong!! We are starting to breathe a little easier. :)

Jack update

Jack had a stable 12 hours! He really needs a good 24 more. Yesterday
was difficult. The surgeon was called out of the OR so that he could
consider emergency surgery for Jack. Jack was failing, although you
wouldn't have known it just looking at him. His oxygen levels dropped
way down. Before that event it had been a fairly good day. This drop
could have been caused by any one of dozen factors low bp, vasospasm,
a clot, a vent obstruction, a collapsed lung, a failing stent ... etc.
He ended up back in surgery with a better stent and cleared lungs and
a boatload of new stresses on his heart. Afterward the nurses set us
up with a hospital bed and asked us to stay close. He kept scaring
them through the night, maybe now that is all behind us.

We continue to be impressed by the staff here, our surgeon and nurses.
We watch as they huddle together for hour long reports on his
progress. We feel like he is getting the best care possible!

We have been so touched by everyone who has reached out to us. Knowing
that Jack has prayers coming from all over the country continues to
amaze us! Thank you and keep it up! We know that our great God is
hearing us.

Jack is out of surgery. The new shunt appears to be working. Thanks
for praying! Please pray for a good night.

Jack is going back into surgery...

Just got a message that Jack is going back into surgery because they're concerned that the shunt isn't working well.

Please pray!

-Laura

Jack has been stable all day! He still has a long way to go though.

New hat

Update

Jack is stable this morning. His o2 levels dropped last night and gave
us a scare. The surgeon was called back in and stayed with him for
hours. It might take a few days until we know why that happened.
Please pray that he remains stable and that he comes off some of the
medications well. Thanks.

Jack is stable in the PICU. please pray for a quie...

Jack is stable in the PICU. please pray for a quiet night for him.

Jack is Recovering in the OR

Good news -- Jack is done with surgery! He's still in the OR "drying out," and Bekah and Josh hope to meet with the surgeon in an hour or two to see how everything went.

Please pray for his recovery, for his meds to be effective, for him not to get an infection, and for continued peace for the family.

Thank you all so much for praying -- praise God everything looks ok!!

Update

So far the reports are good. Keep praying...

Prayer Sign-Up for Jack's Surgery Tuesday

Hi Friends,

As Jack is scheduled to have open heart surgery tomorrow, we've organized a prayer sign-up page here.  If you have time, and feel burdened to pray, please join us in praying for Jack, our family, and the medical professionals that will be helping.  

Many, many thanks for the prayers.  We are extremely grateful to God for all of the loving support!

-Laura

Our little man is doing great!

i got to hold him! he's doing great. :)

Day 3 Update

Jack is doing well! The doctors are very pleased with his vitals. :) I was able to come home this afternoon and as difficult as it is to be away from him, it helps that I love his nurses! 

Please pray that he remains stable and that surgery can be pushed off until tuesday. 

Thank you!

~Rebekah

Jack's Second Day

Jack is doing well and is super cute!  We love his little expressions. He's stable and is now responding well to the medication he's on. The surgeon is leaning towards operating early next week, probably tuesday. The girls have enjoyed seeing their little brother! Thanks for all the support and prayers. 

~Josh and Rebekah

baby jack day 2

Jack is here!