Settling In

Hi all. Just wanted to update you on Hope’s condition. She is fighting a staph infection right now, which she got from the bacteria on her own skin. This is apparently very common in these little guys and they have her on antibiotics to treat it. Babies usually respond very well to these antibiotics. If it weren’t for the fact that she has catheters, they would expect it to clear up in a day or two. However, because the catheters can be sites for the infection (if I’m understanding correctly), they expect it will take a little longer. Please pray with us that she kicks the infection quickly. Once it is gone, they anticipate being able to take her off the ventilator and start feeding her. At that point I will also be able to start kangaroo care. After a week of absolutely hating going to the NICU because I have been so terrified, I find that I am really looking forward to going and being with Hope again. Nate seems to be just about over his cold and no one else has shown any more symptoms (Praise the Lord!), so we may start getting back in there to visit her in a couple of days.

As for how the rest of the family is doing….. The kids are really happy to be up here with us. Mike, however, is having a hard time caring for Andy in particular, and I can’t help much because I can’t lift him. For instance, yesterday morning Andy had completely soaked all his bedding and playpen with pee. When Mike took off his outfit, we realized that Andy had pulled his penis out the side of his diaper. So his diaper was completely dry. Good job, Andy. Neat trick. So after Mike scrubbed down the playpen and washed all the bedding, he took the 3 boys out to Fred Meyer to go shopping. He was standing in line to check out when he realized that Andy had pulled the same trick and peed all over the shopping cart. Let’s just say, Dad was not feeling warm, cuddly feelings toward our youngest. We could really do with a couple of days where we don’t have any incidents. (By the way, Andy is now only allowed to wear onesies with pants regardless of how hot it gets.) I asked the oldest kids if it would be okay to go home for a little while and give Dad a break, but the answer to that was a pretty definite “No!” They really want to be with us right now. Mary sobs at the idea of leaving us or her baby sister. The boys were pretty upset at the prospect too. So they came up with all kinds of ideas to help Dad out instead. They are going to try not to fight (good luck with that one) and try to play with Andy more. They also want to go out and buy Mike a bunch of presents. While we’re shopping, they want him to go out to Starbucks by himself for a treat. They want to spend their own money on him and help out with all our bills. I explained that we are actually doing fine and have an emergency fund set up for just this reason, but they still want to help. I have good kids. I don’t deserve them.

As for me, I think I’m getting better. I don’t panic everytime the phone rings now. As I said, I’m really looking forward to being with Hope now. My body is recovering well, though I think I’m still inclined to push it a little. It just feels so good to be up and about after being stuck in my house and on bed rest for so long. My brain may not be firing on all cylinders yet , as evidenced by an innocent question by my 6 year old. “Mommy, are you still on medicines that make your brain not work right?” But overall, things are looking up today.

Thanks again for all your prayers on behalf of our little Hopester. We really look forward to the day when everyone gets to meet her and love on her in person. We are so blessed by all of you.