Standby

Today is a great day!
Today is day 6 and Rex was taken off his ventilator and doing great!
He is still requiring oxygen through his nose for breathing support but he is doing great on it. Up until this last week I never understood the severity of a ventilator until this whole process. I never understood that a machine is actually breathing for you because you do not have the strength to do so yourself, I never would have known that a nurse was required in your room every minute of every day. This whole process has provided Dan and I with more knowledge than we would have ever wanted but it has allowed the ability to empathize with people. My heart still aches when I look at my little boy. I desperately want him to be up and running around.

Now that the ventilator is out they have started to ween him off of his medication that causes amnesia to the whole event and keeps him sleepy. It is comforting as a parent to know that he will not remember all that has gone on these last 6 days. But as he comes off of it he whimpers a lot and has a sad cough. It is hard to watch him cry and have some tears and not be able to pick him up and comfort him. They told us that his throat will be incredibly soar from having that tube down there for so long. He is able to move a lot more than before and always tries to flip onto his stomach when sleeping, his favorite position at home!

I am supposed to get to hold him today but have not gotten to yet. He has been breathing pretty fast still and they don't want to disturb him too much. I'm pretty sure if they were not constantly watching him I might have to grab him and pick him up!

Quinn and Myla are so anxious to have him home and things back to normal. That will be an awesome day! Yesterday Dan was told still 5-7 days before they anticipate us going home. I'm pretty sure that still sounds like an eternity to me but at least without the ventilator in we can interact with him a lot more and I was told maybe even get a smile out of him tomorrow! That will be beautiful.

It is unbelievable the stories that Dan and I have heard while being up here, it makes up continually grateful for the progress that Rex has made and continues to make. It makes us cling all the more to our Lord and Savior in our time of feeling helpless and it makes us not take forgranted the hugs and kisses that we get from Quinn and Myla. It seems like a month in the NICU was a breeze on our hearts compared to the last few days.

We have not wanted to post a picture of Rex until today. He didn't look anything like himself and I don't want to ever remember what he looked like through all of this. Today however he looked extremely precious and so glad to be able to be somewhat on his stomach. What a handsome little guy! I could not use a flash so it is a little blurry.

We continue to be supported by amazing people here in Des Moines. We do not however need anymore food!! We have food coming out of our ears and for that we are truly grateful. Thank you everyone for all of your prayers. It really does help and the Lord really does hear them. Believe me, we have seen tremendous answers to prayers this last week. If anyone ever is wondering if the Lord is real and a personal God, HE IS! Dan and I are truly grateful for the Lord's love and peace through all of this.

We are anxiously awaiting taking another picture just like this one!

I hope this update brings joy to every one of you.
Today has been such an encouraging day for us. Hoping to hold him soon and get a smile!