5/6 update

Does she know how to rest peacefully or what?!


Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16


How true that has been for us the past 4 weeks since we started on this journey. Our Heavenly Father has been faithful to meet this promise. We started this 4 weeks ago in Dr. Eckhardt's office in The Woodlands and wound up there again today for Pamela's post c-section checkup(where we found out he played football for a large state university in Austin...but I digress). From the first day through today we have never come up short in mercy or grace thanks to our loving God.


Carissa had another good day today...and it started with great news. Since her platelet transfusion over the weekend Carissa has had her platelet count tested Monday and Wednesday morning and they both came back higher. If that doesn't get your fire going then your wood is wet. I can almost hear your shouting, hallelujah'ing, and even whooping. We'll take them all. We still don't have results that give a root diagnosis but we have progress on the biggest challenge and we Praise God for it!

Carissa is up to 54 cc's now per feeding. She is still in the incubator but they have turned off the heat and she is maintaining her body tempterature on her own. It seems that her area is the coolest and draftyist (that's a word now if it wasn't before) in the NICU and that may have contributed to her temperature problem last weekend. Carissa also received her marching orders to transfer to Level 2 today and her nurse tonight wisely decided to order her crib but leave her in her incubator until she moves so that she isn't in the cool draft all night. Nursing did not go as well today but Pamela was not able to try at the afternoon feedings when Carissa is usually the most alert. I am sure we will try for that tomorrow. Do you realize how many of the previous prayer requests we get to check off as answered within a few days or less? How awesome is that and how awesome is He!

Pamela had a good talk with Dante's mom today and got to tell her of y'all praying for him and even asked her for specific things we all can pray about for Dante. We won't be in the area with Dante much longer so pray that Pamela or I can follow up on him regularly by seeing his mom. We cannot just ask about another baby because they are not allowed to tell us anything because of privacy issues.

• Please thank God for His continued mercy and grace and directly answered prayers for Carissa.
• Please pray for Dante's lungs to mature and for his vital signs to stabilize which will prevent more brain bleeds.
• Please pray for Carissa to keep producing platelets and for her to be able to keep maintaining her temperature.
• Please pray for Carissa to be able to progress on feeding orally and that her breathing will slow to help that and that she will even be able to start being weaned off the nasal cannula (y'all are doing such good work praying and God is doing so amazingly at answering that I thought we would just ask for about everything she needs)
• Please pray that God keeps getting the glory and for boldness of everyone telling Carissa's story to tell of the directly answered prayers from our merciful Redeemer God.

Thank y'all so much for your prayers and please keep them coming. They are both effective and greatly appreciated.

Your and His,

Terry