a bit sleepy

Fergus is doing better and better, adjusting to home. I finally slipped away to come to the library and update you on what is going on. He is finally used to the lack of hospital noise in the home and is resting more and more. His teething issues, as for all babies, keep him crabby at times but when there is relief, he's fine. We are doing all the therapists say to do - the ones at the hospital and the in-home therapists (therapy 3 times a week). He is holding his head up better, swallowing easier and faster, moving his knees more, and if put on his side, he will roll unto his back. These seem a bit insignificant but each little step is a milestone for us. The developmental stage that he is at is newborn for most things. I am now trying to incorporate all of the stimulation he needs along with his appointments, splints, feedings, and medications. Life is definitely becoming a bit more normal for us with him at home.

with a grateful heart, esther

No Place Like Home

I'm writing through a few tears that just won't stop. This past week we've been running between home and Ranken Jordan, getting ready to take Fergus home. I've cried many times with joy, thinking about him at home but the day finally arrived yesterday. The joy of bringing a child home is like no other. I was elated all day yesterday and then, after we settled him in and unpacked all of his medications, feeding 'stuff', and other miscellaneous things, both Matt and I felt the exhaustion hit us from the past few months. We've been waiting for this day.

Last night was a reminder of all of the work the nurses have been doing for him on a daily basis - it's a lot. He didn't sleep well and kept Matthew and I up most of the night, but overall didn't seem too discontented: home is a lot quieter than the hospital and he knows us. He loves to be rocked and the kids have already helped out with taking care of him. The kids love to make him happy. In this picture, Ian is playing with him while his feeding tube is going. Fergus has started this past week to really enjoy being played with. He still loves looking at books, having us read to him, and watching things move slowly (like leaves on a tree, or a ribbon on a balloon) but now, he likes for us to use stuffed animals to make noise or touch him.

Thank you for all that you have done for us. We would not be able to move ahead like we have without you. God is gracious to us and has shown us faithful mercy and love through you.

Please continue to pray for his ability to move around. He gets bored and frustrated not moving around and we try to encourage him to move more by keeping him on his belly on the floor (he can move his arms and legs a little).

I'm heading back to talk to the nurse that will oversee our home care. Thank you for all that you have done for us.

with more gratefulness than can be expressed, esther

his trach is gone!!

My God is so good to us. It was wonderful to hold Gus again without watching out for his trach. He is obviously more comfortable. This picture I took just after they pulled the trach. He was very content.

Thank you for praying!! We don't have a discharge date yet. They will watch him carefully for the next few days and sees how he does before deciding when he can come home.

with incredible joy, esther & matt

soon and very soon

Fergus is doing well. He has been capped since last Wednesday and doing great. He had his testing over night on Sunday to make sure that he is breathing well and he did fine. They are now waiting from the ear, nose, & throat doctor to say that he thinks it is okay to take out the trach. We hope by tomorrow to have it out. Then, we can plan on him coming home before two weeks are up. Deborah, the kids, and I are scurrying around the house to get it ready for him to come home.

We are all excited and yet really nervous. He's not a normal baby anymore and we aren't sure how different it will be. Any prayers about adjustment and continued healing would be appreciated.

Thank you for your prayers, gifts, kindness and mercy to us through all of this. God has supported us and held us together through your acts of love and kindness. God has been and continues to be merciful to us.