Henry's surgery

Henry and Harper are now three weeks old!  Praise God, for He is good!  Not a lot has changed this week, but our babies are continually growing and thriving, and for that we are truly grateful.  My mom and I got to visit with our sweet Dr. Samson today, the doctor who delivered H and H, and we all just sat there in awe of how miraculous these past three weeks have been.  We were all so scared in the beginning, and we still are, but we have a great deal more to be hopeful about than we did just three short weeks ago.

Harper has been taking her feedings now for the past week and her tummy issues seem to be a thing of the past.  She is steadily putting on weight each day.  Big girl now weighs 2 pounds and 15 ounces!!!  Just one little ounce away from 3 pounds!! We even scheduled a "bottle" feeding today with her speech therapist, but Harper refused to wake up for the appointment.  She needs her beauty rest, ha ha!  We are scheduled to try again tomorrow.  She is still the sweetest little girl.  She loves to be held, and I oblige her by holding her for hours.  She loves to be sung to, and her favorites are "You Are My Sunshine," Coldplay's "Swallowed in the Sea," "I Will" by Allison Krauss, and her absolute favorite is Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely!" (Just the chorus, because that's all I know)  We are more and more thankful everyday for this beautiful little girl and all the joy she brings us.

Our sweet Henry is doing about the same.  He has plateaued as far as improving goes.  The past few days, Henry has become more alert and curious.  His eyes look around and follow voices.  He is growing so tired of the tube down his throat.  Night before last he extubated himself and gave all the nurses a scare.  He's quite a little fighter.  He may give his spunky sister a run for her money.  He cries and pitches fits just like her, but it's heartbreaking to watch because you can't hear him.  The tube down his throat prevents the vocal chords from making a sound.  It's just pitiful.  Hopefully, once he has his surgery, we will be able to hear his beautiful little voice.  He, too, loves to be sung to.  He loves all of Harper's songs, but his favorite is the Tarzan song by Phil Collins, "You'll be in My Heart."    

Our big news is that we have scheduled Henry's surgery.  It will be this Monday, June 6th.  We don't know what time yet, and we may not know until the day before.  Mark and I are still praying for a miracle.  It is so scary to have a three and a half week old baby who weighs 4 pounds undergo such a major surgery.  We feel assured that the surgeons and the neonatologists would not hastily rush into surgery, but we are still so scared.  One of his surgeons said that he was "cautiously optimistic" that Henry would be fine and possibly have some viable lung tissue.  We are trying to be "supernaturally" optimistic.  We know that nothing is too great for our God.  Through Him ANYTHING is possible.  We pray that when they remove the tumor that Henry will have a perfectly healthy lung.  But ultimately, we pray for God's will.  We are also praying for God to fill Mark and me with a peace that surpasses all understanding and lots of grace to get through that day and the days to come.  Henry has a long battle ahead of him, but we know he won't be alone.  

Thank you for your continued prayers.  We are so grateful.

Much love,

B.J. and Mark

What a BIG smile!!!

Harper girl hanging out in her bed

Sweet Henry

Look how big I am!