Timothy James

I was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 8th because my amniotic sac was leaking and I had begun to dilate. I was ordered to lie flat on my back until the baby came ( I was due April 2nd!). Well, on Dec. 17th my water broke at 7:15pm and Timothy James decided to come early. He was breech and already on his way out, so the doctor did an emergency C-section and at 10:20 pm he was delivered. He went straight to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and has been there ever since. Timothy was only 25 weeks along in his development (a "normal" pregnancy lasts 40 weeks) so he still has a lot of growing to do.

Psalm 57:1-2 "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me."

Age since Birth: 14 weeks
Gestational Age: 38 weeks
Weight: 3 lbs. 11 oz. * He seems to be kinda stuck here :-)

Praise - Timothy has had fewer "spells" during the last 36 hours
- he is not losing weight drastically
- mommy & daddy have been getting some practice at "bathing" him

Prayer - he has ups and downs with being able to maintain his own body temperature
- doctor will be consulting with a thoracic surgeon on Mon. to see about another surgery to help his feeding issue - he's having some trouble with reflux type sensations setting off bradycardia spells
- weight gain

Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."

Age since Birth: 14 weeks
Gestational Age: 38 weeks
Weight: 3 lbs. 11.9 oz

Good news! Timothy's bilirubin levels are decreasing!

He has also been taken off all antibiotics.

The gastroenterologists are still assessing the results of the tests regarding his liver. They have found an abnormal condition which they need to examine and decide how to proceed.

Feedings increased to 36 cc's every 3 hours (over 9 oz. in 24 hours)

Praise - Lower bilirubin levels
- fewer bradycardia spells
- no signs of infection in the liver

Prayer - continued tolerance of handling, he's still very sensitive
- continued weight gain
- continued maintenance of body temperature
- wisdom for the doctors in assessing the test results and further action
- healing of his liver

Psalm 37:39 "But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble."

Age since Birth: 13 weeks
Gestational Age: 37 weeks
Weight: 3 lbs. 11.4 oz.

Timothy had his eye exam this morning, and it showed that the abnormal growth of the vessels is progressing and they are now classifying it as Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). He will have another exam next Wednesday at which time they will decide if surgery is necessary, which right now, they are pretty sure it will be. If he does require surgery it will happen on Wed., Thurs. or Fri.

He is continuing to lose weight and having a little trouble maintaining his body temperature.

Praise - his body temp. was a little higher today
- he tried a few drops of breastmilk from a bottle today
- his lungs seem to clearer and doing pretty well

Prayer - he needs to learn to swallow when he sucks
- maintainence of body temperature
- weight gain
- healing of his eyes, liver, and brain (whether it be miraculously or through the minds and hands of the doctors)

Psalm 37:7a "Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him. . ."

Age since Birth: 13 weeks
Gestational Age: 37 weeks
Weight: 3 lbs. 12 oz.

Last night Timothy was moved out of the Isolette and into an open crib; however, after they moved him he was having a little trouble maintaining his body temperature on his own today, so they have put a special warming lamp over his crib to help him.

He has been having more bradycardia/apnea spells over the last 3 days. They are still not sure what might be causing them.

He has a follow-up eye exam tomorrow (Wednesday) to look at the abnormalities they saw last week. These exams can be a little painful!

Praise - he continues to tolerate the amount of breastmilk he is receiving at his feedings, over 8 ozs. total in 24 hours.
- God is in control! He is Timothy's Creator, Sustainer, and Healer!

Prayer - the eye exam would be quick and he would not experience too much discomfort
- healing and correct development of his eyes
- adjustment to being out of the Isolette and ability to maintain his own body temperature
- mommy & daddy - for sleep and strength and patience as we await test results

Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

Age since Birth: 13 weeks
Gestational Age: 37 weeks
Weight: 3 lbs. 14 oz.

Praise - The abdominal procedures went very smoothly today. Thank you to all of you who were praying!
- Timothy did not have any bradycardia spells during the procedure and his doctor did not have to put him back on the ventilator
- He is back on 100% breastmilk!

Prayer - healing of his liver and spleen conditions; even when they find out what is going on, the doctor's options for treatment may be very limited
- wisdom for his doctors and nurses
- he has been having more bradycardia spells during the past 2 days; pray that they will be fewer and his doctor and nurses may be able to figure out what sets them off and how to help him
- that he would begin to learn how to bottle/breast feed soon

Psalm 37: 4-5 " Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in Him and He will do it."

Age since Birth: 13 weeks
Gestational Age: 37 weeks
Weight: 3 lbs. 12 oz.

Monday is the day for Timothy's abdominal (liver & spleen) procedures. We won't know the actual time until sometime that morning. Good news - the doctor is going to try to have the procedures done without putting him back on the ventilator.

He has also begun to maintain his own body temperature. They are beginning to wean him out of the incubator and into an open crib/bassinet. They do this by gradually turning down the controlled air in the incubator (and checking his body temperature periodically) until it reaches a comfortable room temperature. This process will take several days, maybe even weeks. Hopefully, there won't be any setbacks due to the results from the abdominal tests.

Praise - Timothy has been resting well
- weight gain
- beginning to maintain his own body temperature
- fewer bradycardia (low heart rate) spells

Prayer - procedures on Monday would go smoothly
- that they'll be able to do them without putting him back on the ventilator
- no complications due to these tests
- wisdom for those analyzing the results
- he's been on breastmilk half of the time and a special formula the other half of the time. pray that after the results from the procedures are back, that he'll be able to go back on breastmilk 100% of the time