Prayer and Praise

We are thankful that Daddy and James made it home safely after an enjoyable, but certainly out of the ordinary, Thanksgiving week. Praise the Lord for safe travel.

We also have a prayer request. Tonight Mommy noticed some redness and the appearance of possible infection developing around Jacob's SP tube. Thankfully, there is a nurse on site who was able to check it out. Please pray that it will not get any worse and that we can get it properly treated without a trip to the ER.

Jacob does have an appointment with Dr G early next week, so we would love to be able to keep things flowing smoothly at least until then.

To the God of all gods - the Great Physician - be all praise, glory and honor.

Mommy and Daddy

Happy Thanksgiving

This is our first Thanksgiving spent away from our extended families, yet we still have so much to be thankful for.

Jacob continues to improve each day.  He still struggles with some pain, likely due to bladder spasms, but on the flip side, he is starting to walk a good bit and desires to get out of his wheelchair more frequently.  His output from the tubes has been decent and his colostomy still looks great - no prolapse.  He has also been sleeping well at night.  Thank you, Lord.

We are thankful for so many things today and wanted to share a few:

1.  That Gran was able to come and have  Thanksgiving lunch with us today.

2.  We were also blessed to have Mams, Aunt Roro's grandmother, stop by for a quick visit, along with Uncle Ron, Aunt RoRo, Ronnie, Joshua and Kate.

3.  For Mr. Joe and friends, who prepared a delicious meal for us today.

4.  For the Children's House - making this Thanksgiving away from home better than we could ask or imagine.

5.  For all of the families here that we've had a chance to meet and get to know.

6.  For all of our doctors and nurses at Johns Hopkins.

7.  Most of all, we are thankful for our Lord's love, grace, mercy and power.  We are witnesses to these, every day and     every hour.

"Morning by morning, new mercies I see. Great is Thy faithfulness."

"Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the one who has given Jesus Christ, His Son."

PS - here are a few pics from the last couple of days.

Jacob, James and friend Sophie with Therapy Dog ( Sherman)

Jacob with cousin Joshua and Mams

Jacob with icing mustache. We had a birthday celebration for one of the children at the house today, right after a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch.

James with cousin Ronnie

 

Uncle Ron telling Jacob a secret. 

This is one of several large Christmas Trees that have been put up at the Hospital.  It is only a few short weeks before we celebrate the greatest gift of all - God come in human flesh - Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and King.

Jacobs Birthday Party

Quick update

Daddy and James arrived safely yesterday evening from Chattanooga.  Today (Sunday) we had an early birthday party for Jacob with our Maryland family, Gran, and a couple of wonderful friends - Sherrie and Sophie.  We'll post some pics tomorrow (Monday).

Jacob is doing a little better with each day.  He took a few more steps today and spent a good deal of time out and about in his wheelchair.  

Please continue to pray that he will drain sufficiently through his three tubes and drink plenty of fluid.  These tubes can become clogged with mucus and require more regular irrigation (which is uncomfortable for Jacob).  Also, we will need to begin weaning him off of some of his pain meds, soon,  but for now, he still needs them on a semi-regular basis.  

His newly revised colostomy continues to perform well - no prolapse and no dilating.  

Praise The Lord.  Let the earth hear His voice.  

Mommy and Daddy

Checking out - Praise

Praise the Lord - Jacob is climbing into his chair and he and Mommy are heading to the Children's House.

We were unable to get the X-ray done today, but do have an appointment with Dr. Sponseller in a couple of weeks. We'll get one done at that time.

May Jesus Christ be Praised.

Mommy and Daddy

Prayer request

Jacob is getting close to being released from the hospital, however, due to the leg and back issues he's been experiencing, we have ordered an x-ray. Please pray that we can get this done today, prior to him being discharged.

Thank you for faithful prayers.

Mommy and Daddy

Taking a few steps

Jacob again had a good day overall.  He was able to get out of bed and take a few steps with help.  The plan is for him to be discharged from the hospital today (Friday).  Here are a few prayer requests and praises:

1.  Praise  - we are so thankful that thus far, just about every aspect of this surgery has gone smoothly and ahead of schedule.  God has been so gracious and merciful.

2.  Pray - that we do not become presumptuous of His good favor and instead continue to come diligently and boldly before Him in prayer.

3.  Pray - for Jacob's back and legs.  There have been signs of some weakening his left leg and possible back (tethered cord) issues.

4.  Praise - if there does turn out to be leg and/or back issues, we have close access to both his orthopedic and neurological doctors/teams.

5.  Pray - for Mommy (and later Daddy) as they learn and begin the process of flushing the stents and keeping up with various steps involved in post op care.  

6.  Praise - that we have a room at the Children's House - yes, this is a repeat, but one that we are most thankful for as it puts us right next the hospital.  

7.  Praise - that he continues to eat well and his colostomy looks very good.  See below for a picture of one of God's faithful instruments (surgeon), Dr Lau.

Thank you for faithful prayers and for a God who is able to use these prayers to do more than we could ask or imagine.

Mommy and Daddy

 

Dr Lau with Jacob.  It is good to see him (Dr Lau) smile because Jacob's stoma/colostomy has definitely been a challenge over the past few years.

Wednesday's update - yoga, bingo, scrambled eggs and more

Jacob had a very good day - lots of action and never a dull moment. If things go well, he may be released from the hospital as soon as tomorrow.  Here are a bunch more pictures to give you a visual of all of the day's events.

First "real" food in about a week - a little scrambled egg action

Kiki drops by - even though Jacob no longer is able to stay on the floor where she works, we still love when she comes by for a visit.

Dr G stepped out of the OR for a few and stopped by to visit.  Jacob is here with Sophie, who had the same surgery as Jacob just a couple of days before him.

How about a little bingo in bed?

Dr. Dicarlo, a member of Dr G's ped urology team, also stepped out of the OR for a few to check on Jacob.  He provided her with the complete Angry Birds story.

How about a little yoga?  Jacob changed up his pain meds and seems to feel more like moving and shaking now.

To help Jacob gets his lungs back up to speed, the nurses had Jim blow on this glove.  Jacob seized the moment and decided that this was his very own miniature inflatable.  Watch as it slowly inflates, just like Frosty and the Turkey.  

Love having clean teeth.  

Capping off the continence stoma with nurse Laura - preparing for the next phase in recovery and moving closer to eventually using the catheter only.

Thank you for your prayers.  As you pray, we ask that you also remember to thank Him for his grace and mercy - new every morning.

Mommy and Daddy