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 139:13-14 "For You Lord, formed my inward parts; You wove me together in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well."


Regarding Timothy's Age: You will notice a change concerning the way we list Timothy's age now that he is past his due date. You will see the following listed each day:
Actual Age = the number of weeks/months since his birth
Adjusted Age = this uses his actual due date as the starting point and
is a more accurate time to refer to in terms of his
expected behaviors and development

Actual Age: 17 weeks
Adjusted Age: 1 week

Timothy has been resting very well while on the ventilator. His blood pressure has been lower and he seems more comfortable.

His arm is expected to heal quickly, within a week or two. In 2 weeks they will take another x-ray to check the progress.

Feedings of glucose (sugar) water were started today. If he tolerates these they may try milk again on Sunday or Monday.


Praise - lower blood pressure
- congestion of right lung has cleared
- red blood cell count (hematocrit) is good

Prayer - low platelet count, he needs to begin making his own
- needs to lose weight, has lots of swelling (edema) still
- healing of the right arm
- continued healing and functioning of stomach and bowels
- continued healing of his eyes
- opportunities for mommy and daddy to shine the light of Jesus

Just a quick update: Timothy had a much better day today! He rested and his vitals/numbers looked good most of the day. I'll give more details later. Thanks for your prayers!

Psalm 138:7a, 8 " Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me. The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD is everlasting. Do not forsake the works of Your hands."

Timothy had a very difficult day Thursday. He was not doing well on the CPAP and having more severe bradycardia spells. This afternoon they had to do CPR on him to bring him back. That was extremely scary! They decided to put him back on the conventional ventilator and put a larger tube down his throat to better oxygenate him. They also suctioned 5 large mucous "plugs" out of his lungs and found that his right lung is very congested again. Now that they know, they can treat this and work toward weaning him again.

On top of all that has already gone on in his little life, they found out today that his upper right arm is broken! This is due to a conditon called rickets which is caused by poor nutrition and causes the bones to be very brittle. They have wrapped his arm to immoblize it as it heals. The pain from his arm, may have been causing a lot of his discomfort over the last 2 days and the elevation in his blood pressure for the last day.

During his eye exam on Wed. they found that he has a bleed in his right eye, a common complication of eye surgery. They prescribed eye drops to clear it up and will perform a follow-up exam next Wed.

Praise - they were able to clear the mucous plugs out of his lungs
- he is much more comfortable
- they found the bone break

Prayer - correct healing of the bone in his arm
- healing of the bleed in his eye
- that he would be able to rest comfortably and heal
- potassium level is low again, needs to be much higher
- low platelet count
- peace that passes understanding for mommy and daddy (especially mommy!)

Psalm 124:8 " Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

Age since Birth: 16 weeks
Gestational Age: 40 weeks

Praise - Timothy was put on CPAP today. This is the next step on the way to being weaned off the ventilator completely. It helps him breathe some, by delivering a steady flow of oxygen with some pressure through nasal prongs. No more tube down his throat! Yea!
- he lost a good amount of weight yesterday
- he has had several bowel movements

Prayer - maintain good blood gas levels on CPAP
- continued low blood pressure
- continued weight loss
- for feedings to be resumed and for him to tolerate them

Psalm 121:5,7 " The LORD is your keeper. The LORD is the shade on your right hand. The LORD will protect you from all evil. He will keep your soul."
We know that He is doing all these things for Timothy.

Age since Birth: 16 weeks
Gestational Age: 40 weeks

Praise - he continues to have good blood pressure without medication
- the results of the immune system tests do show low levels of certain chemicals that he should have more of, but this condition does not require treatment right now. The immunologist will be following his case.

Prayer - he gained more weight so he needs to lose a lot still
- still working to wean him off the ventilator
- follow-up eye exam on Wed. to check success of eye surgery
- he needs to have a bowel movement so breastmilk feedings were stopped until they know the bowels are functioning correctly
- needs to manufacture more red blood cells and platelets. His levels are low. He received a red blood cell transfusion today.

Psalm 121:1-2 " I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth."

Age since Birth: 16 weeks
Gestational Age: 40 weeks

Praise - Timothy has not required medication to bring down his blood pressure for 24 hours. It seems to be holding within a normal range.
- began receiving breastmilk through his "tummy tube" today
- higher potassium level

Prayer - he will be weaned off the ventilator within a day or two and be able to stay off
- freedom from any infection
- we are still waiting to hear specifics regarding the results of the tests done to check his immune system

Psalm 119:50 "This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me." God has encouraged us through so many verses in the Bible that this verse describes exactly how we feel!

Age since Birth: 16 weeks
Gestational Age: 40 weeks

Timothy is slowly beginning to lose some of his post-surgery weight. He had gained almost 1 1/2 pounds of excess fluid weight! Bad! As of tonight he has lost about 1/2 a pound.

He is now receiving medication to help lower his blood pressure until he stablilizes on his own and it seems to be working.

All his electrolyte levels are looking better.

Praise - blood pressure medication is working
- higher potassium level
- weight loss
- he seems to be adjusting to life without sedation and resting fairly comfortably

Prayer - continued weight loss
- that they will be able to begin feeding him breastmilk through the special tube in his tummy this week
- that they'll be able to wean him off the ventilator this week