Continued Progress

Luke continues to make progress. Today he had a follow-up echocardiogram which looked good so they will be weaning him off the ventilator more agressively. He is now eating a normal amount of milk for his size so they may take out his umbilical line tomorrow. Today he had a very sleepy day - but that is good for his working off the ventilator. He can get so upset when he is messed with! Our prayer is that Luke will be able to get off the ventilator easily and quickly! We are ready to have him at home and be able to hold him.

Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

To God Be The Glory...

...great things he hath done.

We continue to watch Luke progress. Today we found out the test they did on his spine was read as normal. They took his ventilator setting down a bit overnight and he did fine on the new settings. They increased his feeding amount again today and he is still tolerating it well. Today I just sat and watched him sleeping. He was doing that smiling thing babies do in their sleep - so cute to see that. He was also sucking on his feeding tube. It was so precious to hear a little sound from him. (We have yet to hear him cry.) We continue to pray for his lungs and for him to be weaned off the ventilator.

AMAZING NEWS!

This morning Sydney was writing a sentence for her spelling words and wrote "God is at work in the world."

We have definitely seen him at work today in our world. The doctor told us this morning they have ruled out achondroplasia. At this point Luke's bone x-rays are looking normal.

He is eating and napping and working to get off the ventilator.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Progress

Luke continues to make baby steps. Today he began eating through a tube into his stomach. He tolerated the milk well and seemed satisfied and napped after he ate just like a normal newborn. He had a very peaceful sleepy day. They are beginning to try and wean him off the ventilator slowly. The next big hurdle will be to see if his lung size is sufficient. That is our prayer tonight - specifically for his breathing. We have seen so many blessings along the way, from my easy recovery to the daily progress we see Luke making. We have been blessed by so many phone calls, emails, cards and prayers. We feel all your love. Most of all we know we serve such a powerful Saviour who holds Luke in His hands. We hold on to the resurrection power that God has and look to him for complete healing of Luke's lungs.

Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

Good News!

The doctor just called to say the medicine they have Luke on that was to help close this hole between his lungs and heart is working! Praise God! They were trying to reverse some pulmonary hypertension and it is working. We thought he looked better, so it was good to get some reassurance. This is a video from this morning.

Luke is still doing okay. He has been getting some medication to close something between his heart and lungs. They will be doing tests today to see if that is working. We just love to be able to spend time with him when he is awake and we got to have some quality time with him this morning. He just loves to look around. There is a lot to look at in the NICU! Here is a picture from yesterday when he was resting.

Welcome to our Blog

God has blessed us indeed this week with the arrival of Luke Edward McLeod Heim. He arrived Wednesday at 12:48 p.m. weighing 5lbs. 13 oz. He immediately had some respiratory problems and was put on a ventilator in the NICU. Luke was then transferred to Piedmont in Atlanta where he will be for a while. He continues to make progress with his lungs. We are learning patience and that this will be a baby step at a time as we watch his progress. We want it to happen in our time, but know God is in control and will do this in the right time for Luke. It seems (with a preliminary diagnosis ) that Luke has achondroplasia - a form of dwarfism. We know God has created him especially for us and we are ready for anthing. Our family has walked by the verse Jer. 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " We know that Luke is part of this plan and God has created him especially for us. Psalm 139:13-15 is a special verse to us also. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place." My brother Rob recently posted on his blog how special Isaiah 43 was to our family. We know we are walking through the waters, but God is with us.