The Latest Update on Elijah

Well, we can finally close the "Julie's is pregnant and in and out of the hospital with pre-term labor" chapter of this journey and begin the "How long before Elijah can come home?" chapter.  We sure are familiar with Mercy Hospital.  I know those color zones like the back of my hand.

Here is the latest on Elijah:

• He is doing well in the NICU but is not stable enough to be detached from fairly extensive monitoring. We have not yet been able to hold himm but hopefully once his blood pressure, blood sugar, and breathing stabilizes once and for all here in the next couple of days, we will be able to do so with regularity.  
• Remember that he was only 32 1/2 weeks developed, so even though he is over 4 pounds, he still needed some time in the "oven" before he was ready to be served.  
• The initial forecast was 6 to 8 weeks in the hospital before coming home and yet I heard one of the doctors's mention a month so...who knows?
• Tonight when the family arrived, Julie was in a wheelchair in his NICU room sitting at his feet while he was in the plastic box.  She was talking to him and touching his feet letting him know we are here. 
• Also, tonight he met his zealous family (all five siblings) and his world will be much louder than David's was.  He really is a blessed boy to have the brothers and sisters he does who love him and want to care for him and help raise him up.  
• Julie is recovering well from the c-section and is probably being released on Monday.  She will stay at Mercy in the NICU with regularity.  How much exactly is yet to be determined...one day at a time.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement to us.  We are blessed.  We are so thankful for our family and their wonderful support.  We are very thankful for our friends not here in St. Louis, who continue to cherish us and work to maintain friendships with us in spite of the time and distance between us.  Also, we are incredibly grateful for our St. Louis family, brothers and sisters in Christ, who love us and care for us as family.