Thought you might want to see the view from Jacob's first room. We are now in our fourth room and I love this one because I have a desk to sit at and post pictures. We had roommates in the other rooms and I didn't have much room to work since I brought the house with me.

The Dome
On the third floor there is a Play Deck on the roof for children to play

Isn't this beautiful? At this time I was wishing to be outside with my boys.
Can find James? I put a sign in the window with his name on it so he could find us.

More pictures from mommy

Papa A and Grammy with Jacob
Papa A and Grammy with James on the Play deck
Aunt Roro and cousin Ronnie with Jacob
James and cousin Ronnie playing with the bubbles. Jacob loves this.

Aunt Roro

Uncle Ron

Aunt Roro and cousin Joshua
Granny showing Jacob how Curious George takes his medicine.
Papa loving James
Papa loving Jacob

Yea, Mommy got new but old pictures on the blog.

Daddy, Mommy and Jacob after first surgery
James making sure Jacob is ok
Big brother giving everything will be okay kisses
Papa and Gran sitting with Jacob

An additional prayer and praise for today

Please pray for Jacob as he has been diagnosed with para flu. This seems to explain why he has had a lingering cough now for awhile. It is a viral infection, which basically has to run its course, so we pray that he will heal soon and that there will be no delays in his recovery.

On a separate note, there was talk that Jacob would be released from the hospital, but still have his pins and fixator in. Courtney and I were very concerned about this for a number of reasons. However, one of the pediatric doctors, who has been a tremendous advocate for us, has worked it out to where Jacob will not be released from the hospital until the pins come out. As of today, we are still looking for that to occur on 10/7. Our praise is that we did not have to have the additional "stress" of trying to care for him while these pins remained in. We certainly are eager to have him out and able to come back home to Chattanooga, but not with all of the "metal" still in.

To Him, who leads us by power,

Daddy BA

Mid Week Update - Prayer and Praise

We praise the Lord that yesterday, Jacob's two stints (tubes) were removed, leaving only the main catheter tube still to come out (he also has a ureter tube that will soon be his primary means for urination until later in his life). The plan is for him to have an Ultrasound today to examine his bladder and see how things are going there.

We also rejoice that Daddy BA has graciously been donated an additional 10 days of vacation from his Employer. This is truly a blessing from God and will hopefully permit me to go back up to Baltimore here shortly and stay there until we can all come home.

Please continue to pray for Jacob, especially with regard to his fluid intake and the cough that seems to be lingering a little. Also, please pray for Mommy CA as she has been at the hospital every night this week and is pretty exhausted. Also, please lift up James and those who are sacrificing to help take care of him (Gran, Aunt RoRo and Uncle Ron).

May the Lord be glorified in these things and may that be the ultimate desire of our hearts.

Daddy BA

Prayer and Praise Update

Daddy BA arrived safely back in Chattanooga last night and plans to work this week before returning to Baltimore. Just before I left yesterday, though, we got a call that the main catheter tube that runs into Jacob's bladder had come out. We ran down to the hospital and one of the Urologists on call was able to successfully put it back in place. There was a small amount of pain involved for Jacob, but we rejoice and praise the Lord that he did have to return to the Operating Room. Today, we received some additional good news from the Urology team. They think that they may be able to remove all of the additional tubes that go into Jacob's bladder and kidneys (a total of three) sometime this week. He will then be down to one tube that will remain in place for urination purposes. We certainly praise God that we are reaching these "milestones" in the recovery process. Also, as it stands now, the pins and fixator are scheduled to come out on 10/7 and we hope to be able to come home (all of us) shortly thereafter.

We do ask that you continue to pray for all of us, specifically for Jacob, as he has again developed a pretty bad cough. Even with the cough, though, we are thankful that he has begun drinking more fluids now and the doctors have taken him back off of the IV fluids.

It is great to see that the end of this journey in our lives is almost in sight. The Lord has guided us according to his plan and used the prayers of so many to sustain us during this challenging time. May we continue to trust Him and lean solely on His strength, rather than our own.

Daddy BA