Look at those eyes!!! I love them. We loved taking pics of Sam's eyes even when he
was in the NICU.
As I get on Ethan's blog several times a day to check his progress and look for specific prayer requests, I realized how connected you are to the situation through these blogs. I remember people emailing me wanting more pics of Sam and more information. So...I apologize for not updating near enough. I have videos and pics galore but haven't found a time to consistantly add new posts. I'm going to really try to be better about that. (for me too, I like to go back and see God's powerful hand throughout this journey)
Sam is almost 25 weeks and he is coming alive. He will laugh out loud and smile at you like crazy. (only when he wants to, he doesn't work well on demand, I hear this is normal for kids) He is eating oatmeal cereal twice a day (morning and night) and drinking about 4 oz of milk at a feeding. He is eating every 2-3 hours. He has had a bad stuffy nose over the past couple of weeks so he seems to really get tired during his bottle. He still takes little naps during his bottles. He is grabbing things and he automatically pulls them to his mouth. This was a big thing for us. The dr asked at this last visit if he was grabbing things yet and we had to say no, but it wasn't long until the began grabbing the toys on the carseat. He loves riding now. He talks to himself in the mirror every morning on the way to school. He has also realized how to stick out his tongue, but we're not sure that he knows how to control getting it back in this mouth as well. He will stick it out and even smile with it sticking out...it's quite funny. I thankfully report that he officially slept through the night!!!! A couple of nights ago we put him to bed around 9:30 and didn't get up unitl 5:30!!!!! Yay. We repeated this little routine for 3 nights and then last night.. not so much. We got up at 3 then at 6 then at 7:30. It's ok though, he sure was sweet everytime. His fussing for a bottle is more like talking instead of crying so I laugh at him a lot. I think he's yelling at me and since I can't really tell what he might be yelling at me, he won't get a spanking for it until they are words. =)
As I read Ethan's blog everyday I am reminded again about how far we have come. Seeing the pictures of tubes and reports of feedings and residuals floods my mind with memories from the 42 days in the NICU. Oh how great is our God!! I fail to give Him enough praise for all He has done for us. I know that each breath that Sam takes is a miracle and blessing from Him . With each new day Sam does things that I prayed he would be able to do. When you know the risk of being on a vent and sedated for a while without feedings, you pray for things some people might never think of with a newborn. Our God is faithful and gracious. He heard our very first cry to Him and He has overwhelmed us with His love for us. We know that Sam is a special little guy and I believe that He has great plans for him. Even though we still have many more developmental and eye appointments to go, we are overjoyed and thankful for the things that Sam can do. Please remember to lift Ethan and his family up in your prayers. They got to see Ethan's eyes last night and I remember how exciting that was. Those babies seem to talk to you through those eyes. :) Ethan has a blog you can follow to get his specific prayer needs and rejoice with them as the Lord continues to give them strength for each new challenge. (a link to his blog is on the right side of Sam's page)
