It's a long story - one with God's handiwork all over it, and I'll likely share more later, but for now we just wanted to share our joyful news of gaining a son this week! He was born on the day that marked our 14th year together as a couple, Wednesday, October 18. He was only 34.5 weeks, but we praise God for his solid birthweight of 5 lbs. and 5 oz!
Along with announcing his birth and the start of his official adoption into our family, we are also asking for prayers for him. He was born with Gastroschisis, a condition where basically his small intestines are outside his body. Even in just is his first few days of life, our feisty guy is making amazing progress. He's off the ventilator, has a successful PICC line in place, had his intestines lowered quite a bit, and is breathing well on his own. But our son will have a long journey of healing, and we're expecting him to be in the NICU for possibly up to three months.
We would love prayer for this journey, and if you prefer specifics, here are some right now:
- PRAISE GOD for his amazing life and connecting it to ours!! (There are a million more praises along with this too, but that's for another post.)
- his intestines to lower successfully into his body and for them to be fully functioning soon
- his stomach to be closed without surgery
- his agitation and pain level to subside
- his birth mom
- our family, especially the kids, as they adjust to having a new baby brother and having mom and dad gone at the NICU often, and not being able to meet baby brother for a while
- God's continued provision for all the needs that are coming
Far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. Thank you God, for this incredible gift!