30 Weeks Gestation

Today Grace turned 30 weeks gestation, or 6 weeks, old! What a milestone it was, although I didn't actually get to spend it with her. Today she had some father-daughter time, as I went away for the first time to a dear friends bridal shower celebration! It was lovely to see something different then the hospital walls and the streets of downtown Toronto. It was a day filled with friends, flowers, and family. As well as lots of chatting and some really cute lambs. Although the journey meant lots of traffic it was worth every second!

One of John & Sarah's six new lambs (I was picking up farm fresh eggs while I had the chance!)

Flower arrangements by Heather

Craft at Bridal Shower: it will be a mini picture frame magnet

Sam spend the day with Grace, getting to hold her, help with her handlings and mask/diaper changes, and with her feedings. It was a long but fulfilling day!

This past week, on April 3rd, we got to witness first hand Sick Kids celebrating their 150th anniversary. SickKids was actually started in 1875 by a group of church women, let by Elizabeth McMaster, who were all part of the same bible study group! At that time almost half of recorded deaths in Toronto were those of children under 10, so this group felt that something needed to be done as they were called to be compassionate and take care of children. They opened the doors for the admission and treatment of all sick children', regardless of their financial condition. We are so thankful God led this group to start this hospital, and that they listened to this call on their lives. While SickKids doesn't align itself with God or the Christian faith we know God works through this place every day, preforming life saving procedures on his precious children. And now Grace is one of the millions of children they have helped!

Some specific things to be thankful for is that so far no culture has grown from the CSF they removed from Graces brain, which means that as of now the Meningitis has been cleared. Grace will continue antibiotics for at least 2-4 more weeks to make sure there is no risk of the bacteria growing back. Grace has also started to have her pressures on her non invasive oxygen machine slowly weaned down as she is currently only requiring room air (level 21 of oxygen) which is what we all breath. The main reason she needs the machine still is to help her little lungs take in the air and to remind her to breath. Remember, she wouldn't normally have even needed to use her lungs for another 10 weeks! Grace seems to have perked up even more these past few days and continues to make swings at the nurses as they change her!

Sam promises he didn't put her hand like that 😂

Grace was making funny faces while they were changing her mask.

Some prayer requests:

• That Grace doesn't start having more frequent Bratties which would require another brain tap (at least not over the weekend). The longer stretches between this procedure the better!

• That no culture grows from now until the 5 day cut off.

• That Sam and I stay healthy so we can keep going to SickKids each day to spend time with our daughter. Or at least that our bodies can heal quickly!

• For the other children we have met along the way, specifically Hanu, Aliana, Archer, and Gloria (and their parents).

• That Sam and I can figure out work, EI, and other financial things. It's something that's hard to make the head space for and even harder to navigate and trust the Lord in.