Full Term

Grace was officially term as of last week Saturday (this week Saturday -today - she actually turned 38 weeks). While full term is 40 weeks, babies born after 37 weeks are still considered as such. What an amazing miracle of life she has been! She is now 5.5lbs, and developing right around where she would have been at in the womb at this time. God is so good!

We have had a number of big changes over the past week! Now that Grace is regulating her own body temperature consistently, she was able to be moved to a crib as she no longer needs the overhead heater to help her when her temperature dips. The only downside is she really hates her sponge baths now because she gets really cold. I think once her PICC line is removed and we can give her submersion baths in nice warm water she will like them again.

A big girl crib!

Grace also got switched from CPAP - RAM to High-flow. The difference between these two is she went from having air forced into her lungs with pressure, to having a warm flow of oxygen given to her that she has to breath in herself. She started on level 6 and has been bump down to 5 as of yesterday. When she was on CPAP she normal sat at 21% oxygen (room air) but requires a bit more on High-flow as she is now doing a lot of work and gets tired out.

Finally fits the hat gifted to her from our OCS family!

She continues to deal with reflux, however it has improved since switching to a higher volume of milk fed less frequently (every 3 hours). I had been asking for them to make this move for a while, as I found she often hadn't even finished digesting her previous feed before the next one was given to her every 2 hours via her g-tube and the pump. Now she is actually hungry when they feed her which is nice to see, instead of being force fed. She dumped a bit on the first day after the switch, but has since improved.

Speaking of dumping, Grace also went for her L,oopogram this past Wednesday to see if she was ready for her reattachment surgery. This surgery is necessary, so she will stop dumping and we can increase her feeds and lower her TPN (which is hard on her liver as it's nutrients going straight into the blood stream without being broken down and processed by her stomach). Thank the good Lord that the Loopogram showed that her bowels look really good and there are no blockages! Dr. Chou said she is ready for surgery and has been booked in for June 13 (the day before her original due date). Because it appears to be a fairly straightforward surgery for Grace the doctor estimates that her recovery will be about two weeks! After she has healed from that the Neuro team will start planning for her shunt.

Update family photo

This week my sister and mom visited again which so great! My mom and I even did a bunch of meal prepping at Ronald McDonald House while Nat and Sam hung out with Grace. On Friday I got to head to Grimsby for Riley and Devonns wedding! It was so wonderful to see friends against, celebrate their marriage, and spend time outside of the hospital. Sam stayed behind so as not to risk us both catching something and getting sick, as well as to give me a worry free night away. I will say that it felt very strange not to go to the wedding with my best friend, but I was so thankful he was willing to stay with Grace. Thankfully he had some company though with his Appa and Amma visiting and bringing him some home cooked Sri Lankan food.

Mom reading Grace the cutest little book we were gifted from Irene Burns

Sam's mom spending quality time.

Dear friends, Sarah and Adolfo

We also got a surprise gift in the mail which was such an unexpected blessing! It's from a couple we have never met, but who have heard about us and Grace through a mutual friend of ours. They mailed some adorable clothes for Grace, as well as an incredibly encouraging card. Thank you so much John and Connie! We are so thankful for all the love people have shown to us and for all Grace's prayer warriors.

Surprise mail!

Prayer Requests:

• That Sam and I's prayers would be answered for a boy named Archer. We have met his mom on this journey and they are having a rough go of it. Pray that she would get some answers in regards to his liver and genetic testing, and that the doctors can have the wisdom to know how to help.

• That we can be a light for God here in the NICU. That others would see us and wonder what's different.

• That I can be bold in sharing my faith and Jesus' love with those I meet every day.

• Strength to keep showing up, stepping out in faith, and ignoring the lies of the devil.

• A spirit of courage and not one of fear or anxiety