Friday Update

On one hand, there's not much to report: Isaac needs to give up his addiction to oxygen, and it is taking an eternity. Last night he made it on .15 liters--the smallest amount to get him through a night yet.

We've tried to take him off oxygen at least three times, but have not been successful yet. He always ends up in the upper 80's when he's sleeping. While he is awake, he usually does great, but the deep sleep time is a struggle.

After reviewing the data from the Ph probe, the GI doctor diagnosed Isaac with mild to moderate reflux. We hope this is the little bit of information we need to get him through this never-ending final push. He started on Prevacid and Reglan last night at 6:00, and they say it can start helping within 24 hours. The current theory goes something like this: Isaac's reflux was the worst during the night, when he presumably gets laid down sooner after feedings and gets more to eat at each feeding (he'll often go four hours between feedings then, whereas he does about 3 hrs during the day). His sats, similarly, are the worst during the night. In an ideal world, once the meds kick in, that will solve two problems at once: no more reflux problems, and no more nighttime drop in sats. We hope. We hope. We hope.

Mary flies back to Oklahoma tomorrow. That will be extraordinarily difficult, though I think we're learning to accept this reality. There are no words to express what a gracious gift her presence has been to us. I'm home with the kids today so Mary could go up to the hospital. Please pray for our strength as we say good-bye to her tomorrow.

I could write a lot more, but I should try to rest a bit while it's quiet around here.