Dear Friends,

Stephanie and I come to you with great tidings!  Praise be to our wonderful Lord!  Yesterday, Alison’s attending neonatologist shared that they plan to send her home sometime next week (probably Tuesday)!  There are still some logistics to be worked out; and of course, we need to prepare (thoroughly clean) our home for her arrival.  Please pray that the Lord would guide us in preparing our home for Alison’s arrival.  Please praise our Lord with deserved thanksgiving for what He alone has made possible!

Alison’s doctors told us that we will need to isolate her at home from dust and germs to help protect her from the seasonal colds and flu viruses that will be going around.  Her pulmonologist said that he will re-evaluate her status in May (after flu season).  He warned us that if Alison were to get a cold or the flu, it would set her recovery back.  In order to help protect our daughter, we will have to limit her trips outside of and visitors to our home.  Please pray that the Lord would protect Alison from flu, colds and other viruses.  Please pray that the Lord would bind the evil one in his attempts to harm Alison.

Alison had a breathing test yesterday to help gauge how strong her lungs are.  Without any oxygen support (her attending respiratory therapist removed her low-flow nasal canula), Alison was able to maintain her blood oxygen saturation for five hours.  Praise be to God!

During a similar test Sunday morning, Alison was able to maintain her blood oxygen saturation for a little less than two hours.  She continues to grow stronger!  Praise be to the Lord!

Alison needs to be able to support herself for 48 continuous hours before her oxygen support will be permanently removed.  Please pray that the Lord would strengthen Alison’s lungs where they can fully support her body without any oxygen support.

Alison is now nippling all her feeds—with minimal spit-ups.  Praise be to God!  Alison has not responded well to the change from Portegen (medical milk) to her mother’s milk—she does not seem to like the taste.  The biggest change that she has been willing to accept is one-quarter breast milk and three-quarters Portegen.  If you give her more than one-quarter  breast milk, she will fuss and fight until she wears herself out (while not eating).  The nurses have also tried to transition her to a regular formula with the same result (she does not seem to like the taste).  She is a stubborn little girl with a distinct palate!  J   Praise be to God!  We will continue to work toward a slow transfer of milk at home.  Please pray that the Lord would strengthen Alison’s ability to nipple and digest each feed.  Please pray that the Lord would bless Alison with the ability to adjust to her mother’s milk.  Please pray that the Lord would heal any hidden weakness in Alison’s lymphatic system or digestive tract.

Alison will have home healthcare professionals checking on her at first.  We are not sure how often and how long at this point. 

They must first come to our house and teach us how to use a heart and breathing monitor and an oxygen support machine that Alison will come home with. 

Until Alison is able to breathe on her own, she will remain on a low-flow nasal canula.  We will also be going to see the neurologist, pulmonologist, cardiologist and pediatrician on a monthly basis. 

Please pray that the Lord would provide His wisdom and knowledge of our Alison’s body to each professional who will care for her.  Please pray that the Lord would place a special love and concern for our daughter on each professional’s heart.

To the wonderful folks at Woman’s Hospital who have cared for our daughter, Stephanie and I can only say thank you.  Through you, our Lord has completed many amazing works.  We have enjoyed making new friends and being able to witness what a tremendous blessing you are to our region.  May the Lord continue to bless your work!

Please pray that the Lord would continue to bless these dedicated professionals’ work.  Please pray that the Lord would continue to reveal Himself as the Great Physician to these fine folks.

Dear friends, you have been such a blessing to Alison, Stephanie, the wonderful folks who have cared for Alison, and me.  As Thanksgiving approaches, we praise God for your friendship and ask that you continue to stand in the gap for our family (especially Alison).  Although the location of care is changing (Praise be to God!), our journey is not yet over.  Alison still has some work ahead of her to finish being made whole, but our road is growing ever shorter.  Praise be to our Lord!  Your prayers to the Heavenly Father remain the cornerstone of our Lord’s mercy to our daughter.  From our family to yours, thank you.

Blessings to you,

Langston and Stephanie

11/17/06 9:30 AM Update

Our Alison ran out of energy during the night.  She did not gain enough quality rest during the day and kept falling asleep during her night feeds.  The attending primary nurse had to feed her by a stomach tube to allow her body to rest and maintain its' proper nourishment.  The nurse said this is a normal part of a sick baby becoming well (building endurance).  It is our hope that she will be able to nipple her bottles today.  Please pray that the Lord would grant Alison quality rest.  Please pray that the Lord would grant Alison the necessary strength to continue her healing process.

11/20/06 1:30 PM Update

Alison is doing much better (she will turn 15-weeks old today at 2:21 PM).  Praise be to God! 

Alison had difficulty remaining awake during her feeds Thursday night and Friday night.  The attending neonatologist modified Alison's feed schedule Saturday, and she seems to like the change.  She is eating one less feed during the night (to allow her to sleep longer between feeds) and is eating an increased amount of Portegen during each feed.  She is sleeping better and is once again nippling all her feeds.  Praise be to God!

Alison is currently undergoing a room air trial (her oxygen support has been removed since 9:30 AM) and is doing better than expected.  Praise be to God!  Please pray that the Lord would strengthen Alison's lungs where she can remain off the oxygen support.

Alison may still go home this week, but it would be Wednesday at the earliest.  Due to her earlier struggles to stay awake during her night feeds and due to her room air trial today, she will need to remain at the hospital for an additional 36-48 hours to make sure she remains strong.  Please pray that the Lord would grant Alison His rest and strength so that she can go home in time for Thanksgiving.