Emma Update

Here is Emma with a couple of the important men in her life.  Isn't she something? I'm afraid there has been very little face-to-face time for Emma and Grandma, but I am patient, and know that will come. Here are some updates and prayer requests for this little darling.

Praises:

• Emma continues to amaze the doctors, and is without any serious incident!
• She continues to breathe on her own, maintain her own body temperature, and has been moved up from the critical care area of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)  into the less-critical area.
• Nikki is doing amazingly!  She has been discharged, but they have found her a room to "room in" for a few days so she can stay close and help establish feeding.  She has been brave and strong and amazing through this whole process!

Prayers:

• Emma's next big hurdle is to figure out the whole eating thing.  At 34 weeks gestation, she is just almost to the time that the capacity to nurse and swallow and breathe all at the same time is developing.  She is being "fed" through her little IV, and also, they added a little feeding tube through her perfect little nose yesterday, and she is getting everything her mama can provide that way, along with beginning to figure out the whole nursing thing. She has only lost 3 ounces (She is at 5 lbs 2 oz as of this morning), so at this point they are not worried about her weight.  Please pray that nursing can become established, and little Emma can do all the things she needs to be able to grow well. The pediatrician hopes she may be feeding and off the IV by this weekend possibly.
• Please pray for Tim and Nikki as they face going home without their daughter.  It is tough, but they understand the reasons for keeping her here, and have been blessed by the great care both Emma and Nikki have received. The doctor estimates she will be here another week or two, possibly more if there are any unexpected turns.
• Please pray for Tim as he tries to sort through work and family leave issues and keep both his job and his family on track. It's a lot of responsibility to shoulder, and he is doing it admirably!

And I am staying as long as I'm needed, and hopefully that will be long enough to get a little more cuddle time with Emma my Joy! Thanks for your prayers!  God is being very gracious to us!