Grant and his friends from far, far away...

Grant with his friend, David, who came all the way from Norway to visit! (In case David thought he was going to steal the show, Grant took action)

Grant with his future wife, Hailey, who currently resides in California

A trip to the feeding specialist

On Friday we went to Ann Arbor to see a "feeding disorder specialist." It went great. She gave us helpful hints on how to fatten Grant up (add olive oil to his veggies and butter to his fruit) and was very encouraging. She thinks that Grant has great "straw skills" and is encouraging us to keep offering Grant water with a straw throughout the day. At this point he can only take a few sucks and then spits much of it out, but the doctor thought this was great. So, we'll keep at it.

She wants us to keep "dream feeding" Grant as long as possible. She also really liked the fact that we were giving Grant chicken broth by syringe. She said that this is what they do in Asian countries to wean their babies and it is a very good practice. Who knew?! She thinks that we're going to be able to avoid a g-tube in his stomach because he's made so much progress in just the last few weeks. (She watched a dvd with him eating over the course of the last month.)

The doctor had a few concerns about Grant's health (other than the feeding stuff), but nothing major. She thinks he's lacking in upper body strength (he has never really liked "tummy time") and that his lower legs are too tight. (He stands on his tip toes.) So, she is contacting a physical therapist to come to the house to work with Grant a few days a week. Over all, these things would probably correct themselves, but she wants to be proactive about them. As long as they come to us, I'm okay with it. Grant loves meeting new people so he'll be delighted.

Health Update

Grant: On Tuesday we went back to Beaumont to get follow up chest x-rays to make sure Grant's pneumonia was gone. Unfortunately, the x-rays show that his lungs are no different than when he had pneumonia two weeks ago, even though he isn't showing any symptoms. The doctor said that this is okay, because sometimes even after the symptoms go away it takes a while for the lungs to heal. Please continue to pray for full healing for his lungs.

Shannon: Remember the ankle that I sprained 4 months ago? Well, I've been doing physical therapy ever since I got my cast off and it still doesn't feel better. So, after visiting the doctor twice in the last week they've decided that surgery is my best option. So, on August 30 I'll have ankle surgery to repair the torn ligament. I'll then be in a nonwalking cast for 2 weeks, followed by a walking cast. I'm wondering how I'll keep up with Grant since he is only days away from being "on the move"... Gosh, when I told God I needed a break I didn't think He'd take me so literally. :)

I love my "grant-sized chair!"

Almost crawling

"I love to eat!"

We still need some improvement with the fluid intake, but here is a brief look at today's menu:

2 cups of grandpa's barley soup
3/4 of a banana
1 piece of string cheese
1 oz. goat cheese
5 apple wheat puffs
1 oz. of soup broth via syringe
1/4 cup avocado
1/4 cup rice cereal
1/2 cup squash
1/4 cup green beans

Wow! And we still have one more meal to go....

Feelin' Better!

I wanted to share this song by Elisha Hoffman that I read today in my prayer book. It brings me great comfort.

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning, leaning on everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on everlasting arms.

A good report

Grant has turned the corner! Today the doctor said his lungs sound better. Thank you so much for all your prayers. This was such a scary experience. I never want to go through it again, but it helped to know that so many were praying for us. Today we are celebrating 7 months with Grant.

A visit from the nurse

Our visiting nurse came today to check out Grant's lungs. She said that there is a small pocket that sounds faint (for those who are nurses I'm sure there is some more scientific way of explaining it), but it is good that there is some noise coming from there. When he was first diagnosed with pneumonia there was no noise in one part of his lung (I guess this is where all the fluid was hanging out). So, there seems to be an improvement. He has now been on antibiotics for 72 hours. He is laughing again, which must mean he is feeling better. I guess I never knew how much those smiles kept me going until he stopped smiling. :)

Grant is still dangerously close to being dehydrated. Our occupational therapist also came today and was trying to get water down him with a medicine dropper. (It felt like the old days again.) She gave us some tips to work on Grant's swallow because even when he sucks he often spits the water out again. He has obviously been out of practice because he is only used to sucking while he's sleeping. Unfortunately, our dream feed days are numbered. He barely has a suck now while he is sleeping. Babies supposedly lose their sucking reflex in their sleep at about seven months. He'll be seven months tomorrow. We're praying that he keeps the suck long enough to master the water bottle or sippy cup.

No major changes

There are no major changes in Grant's health. He is still coughing a lot and it seems as if this causes him a lot of pain because he always starts crying after he coughs. (Which makes him cough more) The motrin seems to be helping with the pain. A nurse is coming to our house this afternoon to listen to his lungs. Thanks for praying.

Still suffering

Grant really appears to be suffering. We went to the doctor today and there has been no change. But, Grant's cough seems worse to us. He's miserable and tonight he choked on his snot and turned purple. We put a humidifier in his room and he finally went to sleep. Please pray for some peace for us so we can get some rest as well. It is so hard to watch Grant struggling like this. Please pray for wisdom for us too, so we would recognize signs of if/when we should take him to the ER.

Sick, but smiling

This morning around 6:15, Jim and I looked at each other and wondered why we hadn't heard Grant yet. Usually by that time we'd hear him playing in his crib or crying because he wants out. When we got to his room we found that he was crying, only it was so quiet we didn't even hear it. He has lost his voice and can only squeak. It sounds something like a baby seal being tortured. Or maybe a mouse who is being squeezed really hard. (This are the visuals I think of when I can't sleep...)

He did smile when he saw us, which was a good sign. But, he is still coughing really hard and then choking on what comes up. It is really breaking our hearts to watch him suffer like this.

Our other challenge is keeping him hydrated. Yesterday he only drank about 5 oz. total (while asleep). His goal is 28 oz. This morning I got about 4 oz. in. He is having such trouble sleeping because of his cough that we can't keep him asleep long enough to get the formula in him. Please pray that he would start drinking more from his sippy cup.

He is on an antibiotic, which should start helping him soon. Our visiting nurse comes this afternoon, so she'll be able to listen to his lungs and see if there is any improvement.

Urgent prayer request

Grant took a turn for the worse overnight. We just got back from the hospital. He has pneuomia. We'll go back to the doctor tomorrow and continue to monitor his breathing closely. Please pray for total healing to come quickly.

still going...

Grant is still coughing and sneezing up a storm. Please keep praying that it doesn't go to his lungs.

Back from the doc

I took Grant to the pulmonolgist today. He said that Grant's wet cough appears to be in his throat, not his lungs. Thank you, God.

Grant's cold

It seems as if Grant's condition has gotten worse overnight. He has a really bad cough now and it sounds very wet. He is pretty miserable and is not breathing as well as we think he should be. We'll be calling the doctor when they open to go in for a re-check. Please continue to pray for total healing for his cold, cough and lungs.

Still battling a cold

Grant has his first cold. I'm still out of town, but Grant went to the doctor yesterday and he said his lungs sound okay. Please continue to pray for this cold to go away and not turn into anything more serious.

Grant's cold

Grant has been up most of the night with a cough and cold. I am running out the door to visit a friend who was just diagnosed with cancer. Please pray for wisdom for Jim and healing for Grant.

Grant is doing great

It's been a while since I've posted...because there is no new drama to speak of! :) Grant is eating well (he has a tooth) and learning how to drink out of a water bottle. He seems to be capable of eating enough calories in solid foods alone, so now it is just a hydration issue. If he can improve a bit sucking the water bottle, then we can stop the "dream feeds" and get rid of the bottle all together. Please pray that he would make quick improvements with the water bottle!

Also, please pray for Jim and Grant as they navigate their first weekend without mama....(I know you guys will do great!!)