Christmastime is Here.

So the picture at right is the closest we were able to get to holding David today. We both got to put a hand under him and rub on him a little bit. As you can see he has a massive amount of more tubes, IV's, and other things going into and out of his body. He is covered up for two reasons: 1. To keep him warm and 2. To cover up his open chest. But as you can see he is very fragile looking right now. It is hard to see him this way but in many ways, and people who work with kids can attest too, he is so much stronger than Cole and I could ever hope to be. He has shown tremendous fight and he continues to amaze us at how awesome he already is.

David has had a good day, we are now 30 hours post surgery and things continue to go good. We aren't saying great because things can change so quickly but so far so good. The doctors and nurses are happy so we are too. Usually after a surgery like this babies are put on an ECMO machine that helps the heart and lungs rest and begin to start back up, it is risky but at times vital. David so far has not had to go on it at all! He just keeps fighting and showing grit. He is starting to breathe more and more on his own and could lose the respirator in the next couple of days as well as closing his chest. Then he will continue to slowly start the process of waking up more and more. Here it can get scary because as he cries and does things babies can do that can work the heart can affect the shunt. One of the nurses said you will spoil him but you have too. So it's weird to have an excuse to spoil a baby. I can't wait for someone to speak about our parenting skills or lack of self soothing and give them a doctor's note! :) But honestly we will have to take special precautions that we have never thought about before but that is part of our new life. David has also retained quite a bit of fluids (He gained 2 pounds last night and didn't eat a thing, so yeah we can't complain about our holiday weight gain). As soon as some more of the lines come out David will also be able to eat and Cole is really excited about that and I am too. Not only the nutrients that he will get but also the bond they will be able to have thru that makes me smile. So as you can tell David is going good but he is not out of the woods yet, he still has a long road to go down but he is a fighter and we love him so, so much.

Many of you have asked how we are doing. Seeing him has made our hearts happy. Seeing him breathe normally has brought us peace. getting to "hold" him today made us smile. But we are still mourning and grieving the situation, that David has to go through this. We are still in the process of adjusting to what our new life brings and sometimes it feels like a punch in the gut and sometimes it's tears of joy. Either way we know a couple of things:
1. We love David with all our hearts and souls. Providing a safe, loving home that seeks to do the work of God is all that matters to us.
2. We know that God has been with us, loving us, and holding us.
3. Our families have been great. It's been a stressful situation but they have been awesome about giving space up when needed and being right there when we need it on the flip side.
4. Our friends have lovingly respected our decisions, prayed over us, loved on us, and made sure we are ok.
5. David has made an impact on the Kingdom of God already. It seems like people are uniting behind him no matter how large or small it is. People praying for him, looking to help, wanting to be there for him and us and our families. People living the way Jesus has asked us to live.

So on this Christmas Eve Cole and I are sad, we wish and want to be at our home in Bowling Green watching the snow come down in front of our tree holding David. Yet we are thankful that David is doing so good right now, that he has loving friends and family, that the doctors and nurses are becoming family to us and him and that his life has already and will continue to be a remarkable one. Please keep praying for David and us that God's peace will envelope us, that God's healing and grace will be poured out. Also let me wish you all a Merry Christmas from our family to yours. Joy to the World! The Lord has come!

D