Praise and Prayers

Thank you, everyone for your prayers and encouragement for our family. I am so happy to report that Gigi is thriving beautifully at home! God has given her such amazing strength and a very sweet personality! We are all so happy to have her home, and have so many wonderful things to share. I honestly wish I could climb to a mountaintop and just shout and sing praises to God for His faithfulness! It's overwhelming to look back and reflect upon the many ways His hand guided us and carried us. Our journey continues, and we know the road will have bumps and curves, and He will be there.

Gigi's Christmas Eve homecoming was so wonderful.. praise God for His perfect timing! Kelly and Conor were so surprised when they saw what was in the big red gift on the porch! Later when we read the gospel of Luke recounting the first Christmas night, I couldn't help but compare the quiet arrival home of our baby to the humble arrival of Jesus. I had always pictured that Gigi's homecoming would be a big celebration. But because it was Christmas Eve, and our friends were at worship services or away visiting family, it was very quiet. God blessed us in that peaceful time. It's hard to believe it has almost been a month since that night!

Gigi is now almost 5 months old (2.5 months when we account for her prematurity). She now weighs about 8.8 lbs and has adjusted very well. She is surprising us each day with new things and we've celebrated many "firsts".... first smiles, first roll this week, coo-ing & squealing, reaching for objects, focusing with her eyes on faces and objects and now following us aroung the room with her eyes. She loves to sit up supported and watch with wide-eyes all of the action in our house... especially when Kelly and Conor are playing. This budding curiosity has really helped develop her head-control! We are so richly blessed to be able to celebrate these firsts in her life. She is beautiful and happy and overall a joy! Most of all, she LOVES to be held and cuddled. Naturally, we are spoling her and making-up for 4 months of Gigi-cuddle-time!!!

Her doctors have been very pleased with her progress... praise our Lord!! We have witnessed great healing through Him! Her shunt is working well, and we thank God for Gigi's neurosurgeon Dr. Magram.

We ask for your continued prayers, as Gigi will need another procedure this week. She will be admitted to Fairfax Hospital Wednesday(1/24) to undergo another surgery to extend a 2nd drain to a fluid-filled cyst in her brain. This drain will feed into her current shunt and reduce the fluid in this cyst. The cyst was present previously, and we were counselledled early-on that this procedure might be needed. An ultrasound of her head last week showed that the cyst was increasing in size.... so we will procede Wednesday.

Please pray for wisdom and skill for Dr. Magram, and for healing and protection from infection for Gigi. We will not have the "comfort and security" of returning to the NICU, where we had such wonderful care previously. Gigi will now be admitted to a Pediatric unit.... lots of potential for viruses & infections from the "outside world" that she has never been exposed to. Please pray for God to surround her with a hedge of protection!

Please also lift Kelly and Conor in prayer.. for peace and understanding as they go through this again. We are expecting a very short hospital stay (1-2 nights).

We are so blessed through our family and friends, school and church family who continue to support us, and know God will carry us through each time!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28