Surprise, Surprise!!

I know everyone is astonished...I'm quite shocked myself!! Ned has had an eventful week, so I really had to share. We'll cover the good news first:

Ned has made major strides in his physical therapy this week. He is rolling onto his stomach (assisted), and tolerating it very well. He's even moving his little legs like he want to go somewhere. He is also holding his weight on his hands and knees. I suppose he'll be wanting to start crawling soon, I'm just not sure how we're going to manage that since he's connected to feed and oxygen all the time. That will be a little project for me. Ned has also been sitting up all by his self this week. He doesn't sit very long, but his endurance and strength is definitely improving. I've been so proud!

On the downside, we're back to gagging and yacking up spit again...not tolerating feeds. I'm starting to think it is another stomach ulcer? The doctor called in some medicine for it yesterday so I guess we'll just see how it works? Please pray about it. I'm so hoping he can continue to tolerate and stop the spitting up so we don't have to change is feeding tube to the one that keeps him on continuous feeds....that may really slow him down as far as mobility.

Travis and I have been asked to be a part of the radio-thon in November to help raise money for the UNC Children's Hospital. I am so excited to be able to share with people and raise awareness for CDH, as well as, praise the doctors and staff there who were so wonderful with healing Ned and in their treatment of him.

Please keep the three CDH babies currently in the hospital in your prayers (links to their websites are above): Nayeli in San Fransico, Carter at Duke and Lizzy Jo at UNC.

I hope to post some Halloween pictures of Jack and Ned, but it all depends on Ned's mood this afternoon.....it hasn't been all that pleasant this week.

Much Love and Many Blessings
Travis, Betsy, Jack and Ned

Just Can't Get Into the Swing of This

I'm sure nobody will believe this, but I have the best of intentions of posting on this blog everyday, but, somehow, it just isn't making its way into the routine very well.  I'm gonna keep trying though...so bear with me.

So, what we finally determined was ailing Ned several weeks ago was pleuricy and a stomach ulcer.  By the time we caught both he was on the mend and has been doing much better.  No more screaming his head off night and day...it has made life much more peaceful!  Just in the past several days, he has started that y

acking again and I'm starting to think that was more related to the stomach ulcer and possibly, he has another one.  His white blood count and platlet count has risen quite high again...I'm hoping to talk with his GI docotor tomorrow to see if this could all be related and hopefully find a cause for the recurring problem.

Ned is growing though...currently weighing in around 18lbs...he's quite the heafty one.  He is starting to sit up better, rolls to both side and endures tummy time a bit better.  He is mostly interested in standing though.....I told him it was okay if he skipping the crawling, but it was essential that he learned to sit on his own.  He's not seeing my point of view at the moment so we're facing off over that one.  He is also completely obsessed with his tongue and sticks it out when he grins (I would love to post a picture, but the camera light is way to distracting for him to ever maintain the smile during a photo).

Other than that, things have been pretty "routine" around here, although that isn't a word I would use to describe our household at all anymore. Tonight, Jack stuck the head of a miniature spiderman up his nose...it got stuck.  It put him in a little panic in the bath when he had to tell me it was up there...we eventually blew it out...really gross stuff!  As you can see, we're currently in the "super hero" phase.....

Please pray for baby Nayeli and Carter.  They were both born recently and are working their way through recovery.  Also there was a mom being induced at Chapel Hill today (no website)...her little name is Lizzy Jo, how cute!  I'll update everyone on her condition as soon as I hear something.  These families are facing a very tough battle, they need your constant prayers because they need the presence and foundation of their savior.  

Anyone want to take bets on how long it will take me to post again?  I'm gonna aim for Friday?!