Late Monday Night - A Josiah Update

(Josiah @ 11:30 PM Sunday May 27th)
... totally lounging with daddy

(Josiah @ 1:00 PM Monday May 28th)
... sleeping peacefully

I only consider it Monday because I haven't gone to sleep yet, but it is technically Tuesday :)

Josiah has been doing really well. Thanks so much for praying about his panic attack episodes. He hasn't had any for the last couple of days which has been so amazing. He'll still really get upset for unknown reasons (like most babies I suppose) with his heart rate cranking up to the 200's, but he is 'sat-ing' a lot better. Josiah has been able to sustain himself for longer periods of time on his 'Swedish Nose' (the filter attachment for his trach that also keeps his air humidified), which is HUGE because once he can do well with that (and we get all our home medical equipment in) we can get day-passes to take him out of the hospital! WooHoo! When the day comes it will be the first time out of the hospital since the day he arrived on a helicopter. Bizarre, mind-boggling, frightening, joyous ... so many words ...

Josiah's still nocturnal, but last night he did a bit better - I think it's because I held in the evening (I still have that 'sleep' power I guess). But two nights ago he was awake the WHOLE NIGHT, just sucking his soother looking around - what a crazy guy.

It's neat to see how Josiah is growing and developing. For example, he's learned pretty quick that if he wants to be picked up all he has to do is cry really hard :) So many times in the past few days he'll just BURST if we put him back in the crib before he's ready, and then absolutely calm down in seconds after we pick him up.

Josiah's trach ulceration is getting better but still needs the medicate dressing. The stomach incision is also still improving. Josiah may be getting his yeast infection again under the chin so we're praying for healing there. We're really excited for Josiah being on the 'Swedish Nose' for longer periods because it means he has less moisture being blown over his neck.

Josiah's also demonstrating his sense of humour. There have a been a couple of "You should have been there" moments this week. Yesterday Marie saw him turn his butt to her, put his hand down there and fart in her general direction. She had a long laugh over that. This afternoon Marie and I were playing crib in Josiah's room while he was sleeping. I had a good hand so I turned to Josiah (who was still asleep), put my fist in the air and said, "Give props to Daddy, Josiah". THAT SECOND, Josiah threw his arm in the arm in the air and held up his fist for a moment - he gave his old man the props (he gets mid-sleep jerks like a lot of babies do). Marie and I nearly DIED with laughter: she was snorting so much and my jaw almost seized up because we were laughing so hard. I'm not sure what the nurses were thinking, but that was the funniest thing that Josiah has done yet.

It's definitely getting late and my eyes (contacts) are drying up from staring at the screen for too long. Thanks to our visitors who have come by this week and have shared in our joy: Leanne D., Ellen F. and Lorrie, Joanne & Lindsay L.

Please pray that Josiah will develop and heal to the point where he can go home and have a full, rich life. Pray also that Josiah will be able to swallow without having secretions go into his lungs, and that he'll pass his swallowing test in a few weeks.

Blessings all. God is good.
- Andrew, Marie & Josiah