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 146:5 " How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God."

We are truly blessed to have the Lord as our source of strength on a daily basis, through the ups and downs!


Actual Age: 4 months
Adjusted Age: 2 weeks (completed)

Timothy has been having some bradycardia spells again. Sometimes he resolves on his own, but sometimes he requires some stimulation and extra oxygen to come back up to safe heart rate and oxygen levels.

G-tube feedings have been increased to 11 cc's per hour (8.8 oz. a day)

Timothy has been diagnosed with CLD (chronic lung disorder) also known as BPD (bronchopulmonary dysplasia). This will be a long term condition and means his lungs have a more difficult time functioning correctly and he has a harder time breathing on his own and requires more oxygen. Over time (usually years!) this condition improves as the lungs develop and generate new undamaged tissue.

Praise - we practiced breastfeeding again (for about 2 minutes); however, because he is not swallowing yet, he doesn't know what to do when the milk hits the back of his throat and he panics and his heart rate drops drastically so we have to stop so he can recover.
- his kidneys seem to be functioning better today

Prayer - the frequency and intensity of the bradycardia spells would decrease
- learn to swallow/breastfeed
- continued healing and development of all his body parts and systems affected by his prematurity

Psalm 145:8-9 "The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works."

Actual Age: 4 months
Adjusted Age: 3 weeks

Timothy is sleeping a lot! So much so that we don't have too many opportunities to practice breastfeeding. But I am praying for at least one opportunity each day.

Some of you may not realize the extra challenges of breastfeeding a premature baby, especially one who's been on a ventilator. Let me take a minute to explain. Babies who have been on the ventilator, especially as long as Timothy was, have a difficult time swallowing because their muscles in their throat "shut down" while they are on the ventilator tube so they don't try to constantly gag it out. Because of the shutdown, they have to relearn how to swallow and get those muscles functioning again. The other challenge is that they have only had negative experiences with things going down their throat so they are resistant to letting anything down there. My job is to re-train Timothy and help him to have some positive sensations with regard to swallowing.

Praise - bowels are functioning well so G-tube (the tube that goes directly into his stomach) feedings are being increased. He is up to 8 ounces a day.
- he is getting good rest
- platelet level is rising on its own with no transfusions
- electrolyte levels are good

Prayer - learning to swallow; positive oral experiences
- healing of the right arm with no more broken bones
- healing of the right eye
- proper kidney function, they seem to be slowing down a little
- his weight is still balancing and there are daily ups and downs; when it stabilizes we'll keep you posted

Psalm 145:17-18 "The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth."

Actual Age: 17 weeks
Adjusted Age: 2 weeks

On Tuesday Timothy was taken out of the oxygen hood and put on a nasal cannula (2 very short prongs which provide him with oxygen, just like they use for adults). So far he seems to be tolerating it well with very few bradycardia spells.

We tried breastfeeding today - we have a long way to go! :) He needs to learn how to "suck, swallow, and breathe" instead of "suck, swallow and choke"!

His eye exam went well today. His left eye looks good and indicates that the surgery was successful. His right eye still has a bleed, but less than last week. They had to do an ultrasound of his eye to see how it's doing. They'll be conducting another exam next Wed.

Praise - I was given the go ahead to begin working toward breastfeeding
- partial success of the eye surgery
- he is still tolerating breathing on his own and getting some better rest (without drugs)

Prayer - that he will learn how to swallow and tolerate his feedings by mouth
- that he would thrive on the nasal cannula and begin requiring less oxygen
- healing of the right eye
- healing of the right arm

Psalm 139:15-16 "My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance, and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."

Actual Age: 17 weeks
Adjusted Age: 2 weeks

It has been a very exciting day! Timothy was extubated at 6:00 pm and is no longer on the ventilator. An oxygen hood (kinda like a clear tent) was placed over him and delivers a small amount of extra oxygen into the air space around him if needed. Tonight he was doing all the breathing! Praise the Lord! We give Him all the glory for this wonderful progress! They will be doing blood gas tests throughout the next few days to make sure that he is tolerating it well.

Feedings of breastmilk were started again. He is receiving a constant drip at the rate of 5 cc's per hour (30 cc's = 1 oz.) into the "G tube" which goes directly into his stomach through the abdominal wall.

Praise - so far he is tolerating breathing on his own
- bowels and kidneys appear to be functioning well
- mommy got to hold him again tonight after 2 1/2 long weeks of waiting!
- God is good all the time!

Prayer - open airways so he can breathe well
- rest, as he can get quite agitated and it's difficult to calm himself down. they'll give him a sedative to help, but we'd rather it happen naturally (or should I say "supernaturally" ? :-)
- wisdom for his doctor as she makes decisions regarding the timing of his progress
- continued healing of the arm and no more broken bones!