today's mercies

Dave visited Kyren today by himself, for some Father/Son bonding time. Christian, Gramsy and I stayed behind to have some down time together of our own.

The doctor said that Kyren's potassium level is down, his kidneys are functioning much better, and they are looking healthier. his skin is beginning to strengthen, so he is not losing as much sodium as he was. They are going to do a second brain scan tonight to check for bleeding. So far there has been NONE. Please pray that that remains the case. He said that after the first 7-10 days, the chances of bleeding decrease greatly.

One of the biggest needs for Kyren right now is something that is considered very common for preemies, but is still a big deal. Please pray that his ductus arteriosus closes. It is a small duct leading out of the heart that is open while babies are in the womb and closes naturally when they are born and begin to use their lungs. Because he is so premature, his body doesn't know that it needs to close in order to avoid over-stressing his heart.

Though the doctors will be administering ibuprofen (to constrict blood vessels) to help this process along, it is so delicate, so intricately designed by God for such a specific reason, it can only, in my mind, be mended BY God.

We believe that, again, this is no problem for the Creator and Great Physician -- but we do want whatever He wants. Please pray that way, as you think of Kyren.

On the homefront, my spinal headache is slowly receding, and i got to spend a lot of the day resting. Christian is having a little bit of a rough time adjusting back to being home. He is easily frustrated, and seems to be very needy of my attention. Yet it is his effervescent light that shines brightly throughout the day, reminding me to be thankful for every healthy breath he takes, and delight in just snuggling him close. he keeps us laughing and marveling with his ever expanding vocab... which today, out of the blue, includes "purse" and "frank". (frank is the name of the firefighter in his fire truck book)...

In the back of my mind i recall the doctors' words that there is often a honeymoon period in the beginning of a preemie's life, and that one step forward, two steps back is often how things tend to go. And while i don't want to sit around waiting for the bad news to come, i do want to be prepared that tomorrow this feeling of relief and rest could easily be replaced by a sense of fear or insecurity. So we end today refocussing ourselves on what we know to be true. Today has enough trouble of its own-- and God has faithfully brought us through it. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. And He loves Kyren and knows his frame more intimately than we ever could. What better hands to entrust him to? And what better refuge to find ourselves hidden in as we fall asleep tonight?