Minor Set Back

Well, we returned home Friday afternoon from another week-long hospital stay. Apparently my affection isn't enough for Ned....he seems to want to continue to return to that hospital environment he learned to love so well where all the nurses are constantly fawning over him. I'm not quite as entertained by these little "field trips", but at the moment it looks like we've crossed another little hurdle....yoohoo!

Ned's diagnosis from his hospital stay is still a bit of a mystery. We originally took him into the ER because his respiratory rate and heart rate were pretty elevated and his breathing looked labored. By the time we got into the hospital, his O2 sats were dwindling, so I'm thankful we took him when we did. God's direciton overruled my natual tendancy to believe things will pretty much work themselves out and to avoid hospitals at all costs......good thing! That was about the extent of his symptoms? He did have a slight (99) fever at the hospital that night, but never again. His white count was way up there at 30,000 where it has pretty much remained even after a full course of IV antibiotics so they've pretty much ruled out infection. At one point last week, they was some talk of leukemia, but they ran some extra labs on Thursday that ruled that out. When it was first mentioned, I started thinking "surely he won't have leukemia....I just don't think I can take that kind of stress right now." But God reminded me that His power and provision is endless and He has provided so well for us so far, why wouldn't I trust Him now? Still....very thankful the tests came back negative.

So, other than still requiring a tiny bit of oxygen and his white count staying up there, Ned seems great. The best news is that yesterday at the doctor, Ned finally made it onto the bottom of the growth curve!!!! We have been trying to get back on the normal curve since April!! He weighs a whopping 14lbs. 10oz. He looks so much better with each pound he packs on. We're still not eating by mouth and our constant return trips to the hospital are really putting a kink in the feeding therapy sessions. If all goes well, we should begin next week!

Ned has started to laugh and smile much more and is quite the tickleish little fellow. He and Jack are so precious together, I can't hardly stand it. Things are moving right along and we're working on some developmental skills like sitting up and grabbing toes....major goals and objectives. I so appreciate everyone keeping up with Ned and continuing to pray for his progress.

Please continue to pray for April and Russell VanDyke. They are still coping and working their way through the loss of their son, Seth. If you want to take a look at the little cutie....here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbraxnhvEeI

Love and Blessings to you all,

Betsy, Travis, Jack & Ned