18 MONTHS TODAY!!!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?!

Isaiah is growing quite quickly into a little man, and has a bigger than life personality! He already knows how to work the crowd, especially the ladies!) He is very funny, likes to make us laugh, likes to torture his older brother. It's never a dull moment around here!

Quick update on his G-tube: We were at CHOP Main 3 times this past week to have his site examined. There is a sore at the surgical site that is starting to tunnel down into where the tube enters the stomach. It is draining, and the doctor had it swabbed for any bacterial infection. It also has granulation tissue growing, which is similar to scar tissue that inhibits healing. Thankfully, the culture came back with a mild bacterial overgrowth that is NOT serious enough for oral antibiotics. We are able to treat the mild infection topically with an antibiotic ointment. Plus, the doctor was able to cauterize the granulation growth. So, now he is hopefully on the mend. We go back to see Dr. Collins on Sept. 1st for another evaluation. She'll determine at that time if she needs to change out the whole tube.

Thank you for continuing to pray, providing meals, sending words of encouragement, and helping out in other ways. We could not have made it through all of this without you!

QUICK UPDATE...

Isaiah is having trouble with his G-tube site. He now has an ulcerated area around the surgical site. This is causing him additional pain. Every time we hook up his feeds (which is 3 times a day) it rubs against the open area. It's really hard to allow the area rest, and to keep it dry and clean when we have to use it daily. We now have to travel down to CHOP on a weekly basis to see his general surgeon, Dr. Collins. This is adding a lot of additional stress to all of us. Please pray that this sore heals and that it won't become worse.

Isaiah is also still having a lot of trouble eating and drinking. He's at the point he doesn't even want to try. Dr. Collins seems to think that after a couple of weeks, he'll want to try eating again. He continues to throw up every night, and we are dealing with constipation and bloating. Chris and I are tired, and I'm sorry this note doesn't contain good news. This is just our reality right now.

We need an extra dose of grace and energy right now from God. We know what God promises in His Word, but we really need to believe it and rely on it. Pray that not only will Isaiah quickly be healed, but that we will make these following verses our own: "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take this away from me. But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong," 2 Corinthians 12:8-10. Thank you.

HOME SWEET HOME!!!!!!

We made it safely home late Sunday afternoon from CHOP. We are doing really well, just tired. We were supposed to come home Saturday, but Isaiah still had not pooped and we were having trouble with his G-Tube site. It was leaking and no one was sure why. Finally, we determined that the one extension set was cracked and the other one was loose. Once we exchanged out the sets, the G-tube stopped leaking. Then after Isaiah pooped, we were given the green light to go home. He is still not eating by mouth and continues to throw up often. It's incredibly frustrating, but there are worse things. We just have to learn to focus on the positive. We are hoping that after this surgery Isaiah will eventually learn to eat and tolerate food. Please continue to pray for this with us.

Isaiah was a favorite amongst the nurses. Many times we would find him at the nurse's station flirting away, giving the 'Surprise Face', helping out with their charts, or he'd be down in the play room entertaining other patients. He is quite a character and has made many of them laugh. Daily, nurses would come into his room for a hug/smile/kiss/or a surprise face---It's something Isaiah likes to do to make people smile or laugh.

Josiah came home at about 6pm on Sunday night. It's always a wonderful feeling when you've been separated from your child, and they come running into you with lots of hugs and kisses! We are so glad to be back together as a family. Thank you for praying for all of us. Thanks to the Ekstrom and Miller families for watching Josiah this past week, and thanks to those who have been providing meals. You've been an incredible help and have alleviated a lot of stress and extra work.

HEALING NICELY...

God has been faithful and little Isaiah is doing well. Dr. Collins was very pleased with how Isaiah did during the G-tube placement. She was able to place the tube without difficulty. Dr. Collins said she was able to examine the duodenal surgical site (from when he was 6 days old), and it looked great. There was only one adhesion that she had to cut through.

Isaiah had a tough time recovering from anesthesia again, but we were prepared for that. The biggest problem Isaiah encountered was pain management. He was in excruciating pain post-op, and it took about 4 hours until his pain was under control. It was heart-wrenching to see him in agonizing pain and not be able to do anything about it.

Today, Isaiah has been out of bed (in a wagon) and has been playing in the game room. He is still having pain, but it is easily controlled. They started giving him some formula through his G-tube (about 2oz.), and he was able to tolerate it without difficulty. Tonight, they will give a larger amount of formula through a continuous feed into the G-tube. He will probably be discharged on Saturday if all goes well.

We finally made it into the Ronald McDonald House. We are very happy to finally be there. The first night we were at a couple's home near CHOP. Last night we stayed in a hotel, and tonight we were planning to sleep at the hospital. But, on our way to the hospital, we got the call for an opening at the Ronald House---Praise the Lord!!!! God provided for us yet again just as the Bible states, "My God shall supply all your (my) needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus," Philippians 4:19. Thank you again for all your prayers! God is listening!!!

SURGERY TODAY, AUGUST 4TH

Isaiah is currently in the OR getting his G-tube placed. We had to be at the hospital at 10am, but he wasn't taken in to surgery until 1pm. It is a 1-2 hour procedure. Please pray for Dr. Joy Collins as she works on him, and for no complications during the surgery. Pray that this new tube in his stomach will help him want to eat. Also, we have not been able to get into the Ronald McDonald House yet. We are still trying and hopeful. Right now, we are staying with a very nice couple that live only 5 minutes from CHOP. They don't have air conditioning, so we are a bit toasty up on the 3rd floor. I guess you could say we are a tad spoiled;)We are just glad we are close for now.

Thank you for all your prayers!