1 John 4:9 NIV:  “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.”

Dear Friends,

Stephanie and I come to you with great tidings.  Praise be to God!  Alison had a room-air trial at home last night (removal of oxygen support to her lungs—to test her lung strength while being monitored) and she did quite well.  By order of Alison’s pulmonologist, we removed her oxygen support for 12 hours (with instructions to return the oxygen support at the end of the 12-hour trial or if her blood oxygenation saturation stayed under 88 percent for more than ten continuous minutes).  The only time Alison came close to the 10 minute limit was during her 8 PM breathing treatment; her lungs were otherwise quick (1-3 minutes) to recover on their own (when she became fussy or hungry).  During the vast majority of the night, her blood saturation stayed between 92-96 percent (without any oxygen support).  Thank you, Lord!  We do not yet know what Alison’s pulmonologist and pediatrician will decide from the monitored report.  We are not scheduled to see her pulmonologist until December 19^th.  Please pray that the Lord would continue to bless Alison’s lungs with His merciful healing.  Please pray that the Lord would provide Alison’s doctors with His understanding and wisdom of her body.

Alison went to visit her physical/occupational therapist today to review her motor skill abilities.  She said Alison seemed to be doing quite well.  Praise be to God!  Alison has strong legs; when Stephanie or I hold her steady, she can support her weight with her legs extended.  Her little arms and hands are strong. 

She is learning depth perception with her hands.  She helps hold her bottle at feeds and will sometimes push her bottle away when she is full.  She is beginning to learn to put her hands in her mouth.  She is gaining strength in trying to roll over on her own, but is not quite yet sure of that move.  J  Late last night, Alison gazed into my eyes for over 30 minutes, without looking away, while I was talking to her.  She is learning how to socially smile when we smile at her and talk sweet to her.  She is beginning to learn to communicate with short cries or grunts when she wants to tell us something.  She loves to look at the ceiling fans and Christmas tree lights.  We praise the Lord for all that He has made possible!  Please pray a prayer of thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for His mercy to Alison.

Alison had her first visit with her pediatrician.  Her pediatrician said that if she did not know Alison’s case history and see the oxygen tank and monitor (that remain by her side), she would not have known that Alison had such a rough start.  Praise be to God!  She bragged on how good Alison was looking and doing.

Alison had a follow-up visit with her pediatric surgeon to check the progress of her hand (where she received the IV infiltration chemical burn while in the hospital) and to see how she was progressing overall.  Alison’s hand is healing nicely (with a small visible scar).  The surgeon said her hand looked good, but that she would recommend we see a pediatric orthopedist just to make sure that the tendons in her hand are not being affected by potential scar tissue.  We will visit the orthopedist next Thursday.  Please pray that the Lord would bless Alison’s little hand with His healing to limit visible scarring or any potential scar tissue.  The surgeon said that she was pleased with Alison’s continuing progress.  Praise be to God!

Alison had a follow-up visit with her endocrinologist to check her thyroid levels.  She was pleased with Alison’s progress (Praise be to God!) and said that she would like to see Alison every three months until Alison’s third birthday.  In addition, we will see each of Alison’s doctors one-by-one for follow-up visits as required.

Alison was finally able to transfer from the Portegen milk to her mother’s milk.  Praise be to God!  This is a big joy for Stephanie.  Thank you, Lord!  She receives 100% mother’s milk (a little dry Portegen mix is added to increase calories) at each feed.  Alison feeds seven times a day. 

During the night, her feeds are spread out between 4-5 hours (to allow us all to rest); during the day, 3-3½ hours.  Alison nipples approximately 85-105 cc’s at each feed (30 cc’s = 1 ounce). 

She is finally gaining weight as well.  Praise be to God!  She weighed in at 9 pounds, 9.2 ounces, this morning (she was 5 pounds, 6.2 ounces, at birth) and measures a little longer than 22 inches (she was 17 3/4" long at birth).  Please pray that the Lord would bless Alison with a hearty appetite and sustained growth.

Alison has been a good sleeper overall.  Praise be to God!  We are required to wake her up at night to insure that she receives her feeds and medicines as scheduled.  We have been told that when she gets to 13 pounds that Alison may be able to sleep through the night without being awakened.

Our miniature schnauzer, Bayley, continues to be sweet to Alison.  He sometimes shows mild signs of jealously (pushing his food bowl, trying to steal things off the sofa tables, etc.), but has never shown any aggression to Alison.  Praise be to God!  We think he is beginning to realize that she is not leaving anytime soon.  J  Please pray that the Lord would continue to build a love, dedication, and trust between Alison and Bayley.

Alison’s grandparents, uncles and aunts continue to show their love for the first grandchild on both sides of our family.  My mom, dad, brother, and sister-in-law were able to come down this weekend to visit Alison.  Stephanie’s mom, dad, her oldest brother, and sister-in-law spent Sunday afternoon at our house to visit Alison as well.  Needless to say, she received a lot of lap time and love. 

When Monday rolled around, Alison let Stephanie and me know that she was not pleased with the amount of lap time she was receiving.  J  You might say she is beginning to show early signs of being spoiled by her grandparents, uncles, and aunts.  We praise God for the opportunity to share Alison with our families!

Our families have been constant sources of strength, strong prayer warriors, have lent their support when needed, and have loved on Alison and us whenever possible. 

To our families and what they have meant to us, thank you.  You are a blessing from the Lord above!  We could not have made it through this storm without you and what you have taught us.  Our relationship with our Lord and Savior is a legacy that you made possible.  Praise be to our Heavenly Father!

The many fine women and men who cared for Alison while at Woman’s Hospital continue to send us notes of encouragement and tell us how much they miss Alison.  To Alison’s primary nurses, therapists, support workers, and doctors, thank you.  Your legacy of work, kindness, and love that shines in our daughter and family is greatly appreciated.  We would not be where we are today without your professional and personal dedication.  We certainly miss seeing you each day, but we are truly thankful that we are home with our precious daughter.  Woman’s Hospital is truly a blessing to our city.  Please pray that the Lord would bless these wonderful folks for their willing sacrifice of self and training that they put into each baby and his or her family.  These fine folks lend their hearts to each baby as they care for God’s greatest and most vulnerable creation.

We look forward to being able to share our daughter with you when it is safe for her.  Her doctors have cautioned us to withhold her from public places, friends, extended family, and children (particularly children under eight) to help protect her from the flu and common cold that are going around during winter.  Alison’s pulmonologist recommends that we keep her isolated until early May in an effort to help protect her.  He warns that if Alison were to get sick, it could greatly set back her lung recovery.  Please be patient with us until the time is right.  Please pray that the Lord would protect Alison from the flu and common colds during winter and early spring.  Please pray that the Lord would protect Alison from the evil one.

Dear friends, thank you for your continued willingness to stand in the gap for Alison and our family—you remain a tremendous blessing to our family. 

Without your prayers, would the Lord have been as generous to our Alison as He has?  We will never know, but the Bible reminds us that there is power in collective prayer (our Alison is a testament to this truth). 

Matthew 18:19-20 NIV: “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in Heaven.  For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them.”  If we learned to pray collectively each day for our families, our friends, our leaders, our nation, and our world, what would the Lord do on our behalf for His kingdom and glory?  1 Chronicles 5:20b NIV:  “They cried out to Him in battle.  He answered their prayers, because they trusted in Him.”  2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV:  “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  Our Heavenly Father is a faithful and merciful Lord!  Praise be to God!

As we prepare for our first Christmas with our daughter, we are reminded what a miracle she truly is.  Thank you, Lord!  The head neonatologist at Woman’s Hospital told us that Alison should not have been born alive, she should not have stayed alive, and she should not be in the condition (whole) she is.  Thank you, Lord!  It is only because the Lord chose to mercifully smile upon our collective prayers that she is with us today.  Praise be to God!  As we celebrate the miracle of Alison’s life, may it be a tender reminder of our Heavenly Father’s loving gift of His only Son, Christ Jesus our Lord!  Merry Christmas!  

Blessings to you,

Langston, Stephanie and Alison