Take a look at our sometimes crazy but always blessed life as we homeschool our eight children, run a homeschool business, and serve God as He leads us. You can also follow our baby Noah as he struggles with some serious health issues - we covet your prayers for him.
Noah still isn't tolerating his feeds well at all, so it is time to get a Broviac. We had hoped to have the surgery today, but by the time the surgeon came by he felt it was too late to manage. We would have had to stop the feedings for at least 6 hours which would have put his surgery at the very end of the day, and it could have easily been bumped by an emergency.
Instead, we continued a tiny rate of feeding today (something is better than nothing) and Noah is slated for surgery at 8:00 tomorrow morning. He may still end up going a little later, but probably no later than midmorning. Jeff can't arrange child care to be here that early but my mom and stepdad are driving up to wait with me. The surgery should last about 45 minutes or so and Noah will have two fairly small incisions. The doctor will completely numb the area of the incisions so Noah *shouldn't* be in much pain when he wakes up.
We made more progress in the pain control area today. His oral pain medicine (actually goes in his tube) has been ordered for every 6 hours. Today, as usual, he was crying right at 4 hours after recieiving his medicine. I called for some Benadryl to calm him down and was suprised when the nurse actually brought more pain medicine. Turns out she used to work in hospice and is a pain management specialist. She said that this medicine doesn't last a minute past 4 hours and she got the doctors to change the orders! We hadn't even said anything to her about it, but she saw the orders on the chart and knew from experience that he wasn't going to get good control with that schedule. It was a huge blessing, and it was amazing to see how Noah would wake up or start crying almost exactly 4 hours after each dose!
That is really all that is new today. We had a pretty quiet, uneventful day. Jeff came up for a while, which was nice. When he left Noah and I napped together for about 3 hours - bliss! I got a shower AND a nap in the same day so I am starting to feel like a real human again.
Please pray for Noah's surgery tomorrow, of course, and please also pray for comfort and rest for tonight. Because his pain medicine is oral he can't have it after midnight when he needs to be NPO. He is due for a dose at 10:30 so we have discussed trying to help him hold off until closer to midnight. If he is fussy we will give it on time then give Benadryl if he starts hurting again. It is impressive how quickly that settles him down when it is given by IV. Even though it isn't pain medicine it really puts him to sleep so he can at least rest. We also need prayer that Jeff can make good child care arrangements. The poor guy feels like he needs to be here all of the time and at home with the dc all of the time and at work all of the time. Maybe we should clone him . . . . We are confident that there is a good plan for all of this and that God will make the right way clear.
I'm going to end with a few photos of Noah taken over the last couple of days. I was surprised to see how he has changed since his birthday photos a couple of weeks ago - but he is still as cute as can be!
Noah is so beautiful. He looks good. I love reading your blog. I am honored to be praying for you and your sweet family. Thank you for updating so regularly.
I will be praying for you and your precious Noah tomorrow.
Oh...that photo of him smiling broke my heart. I had to undergo some major abdominal surgery three years ago, but nothing like Noah. I pray for him, and you, and your whole family every night.
I'm praying for Noah and will keep him in prayer all day tomorrow. I will also pray that your dh gets some rest. I hope everything goes well and that you get some rest too.
Kate--you are so lucky to have such a handsome son! Keep in mind that this too shall pass...and he won't remember any of it. :) Praying for you in the Midwest.
My prayers continue to be with you all, especially with Noah. I'm so glad you made some progress in pain control at last! The pictures are wonderful - my heart goes out to your little fellow. I'll be praying that the broviac is at last able to provide him with the feeding he needs with no nausea or other discomfort, and that the doctors can finally figure out what is going wrong and how to fix it.
I am so glad that God sent that blessed nurse to Noah that got the order for medicine changed! Please let her know she gets a high five from me! I will be in constant prayer for Noah tomorrow. I am still thinking about the Toothfairy today... I don't know why. Gos bless her. I hope you an Noah will have peaceful sleep tonight (well, as much as can be expected when nurses come in and out of your room all night long).
Kate, Thank you for keeping us up to date. We are praying for you and Noah. Our hearts and prayers truly go out to you. Lord Jesus, touch Noah. Heal Noah. Give the doctors wisdom and use them to help Noah's body function exactly how you intended it to. Take away Noah's pain and give him peace and COMFORT, physical and emotional. Lord, you are our Healer. Noah is your child, Lord. Bless him and take whatever is wrong with his body and make it right. Do a miracle in this child so he can begin healing and growing like he never has before. Give Jeff and Kate and Noah rest and strength. Prepare them for tomorrow and help everything from the surgery to child care go Super-smoothly. Thank you, Lord, for this family and for using them in all of our lives. Bless them and take care of their every need. Thank you, Jesus! Amen
Also thankyou for updating us so regularly. You have so much on your plate. Prayers for tomorrows procedure. Prayers for pain control through the night and plenty of rest for both of you.
What a brave little boy : ) I just love the one where he is smiling! I'll be praying for Noah's surgery tomorrow morning, the much needed rest tonight, for your husband as he balances being home, at work and at the hospital, and for your continued strength.
Hugs,
BChsMamaof3
Kate, there is much about Noah's expressions, the big eyes and great grin, that remind me of our youngest. Many times a day I will catch a glimpse in an expression of J's that remind me to stop and pray for Noah. Glad today was a quieter day and praying for the night without pain meds as well as surgery tomorrow.
Dear Kate -
May the Lord's Will be done where Jeff is to be - tomorrow?? Please - Lord, put someone on the "doorstep" so that Jeff can be by his bestfriend's side!
Just remember - God is good and he will be right there with you and with the surgeons. We will pray that this WILL work.
Those pictures are adorable. That little stinker - with his big blue eyes - he needs to hurry up and get better and go HOME!!!He needs to get ready for his little sister!!
Give him a hug and a cuddle from the Kiessling family in Fresno,Calif.
Kate, as always my prayers are with Noah, you and the rest of the family. Thanks for the pictures. He's such a cutie!
About cloning Jeff... With my recent move unfortunately I've lost my cloning equipment or I would loan it to you... :o)
Love,
Noah continues to be in my prayers. Thank you for posting pictures of him, even though I'm in tears. Poor little guy - all he has been through and what a beautiful smile. I know it hasn't been all smiles, but he is such a beautiful little bunny, it just breaks my heart to know all that he's gone through. I cannot imagine how it breaks yours to see and hear him cry. But God is greater and He's still in control - and as much as you guys (and all of us praying for him) love him, God loves him ever so much more. (((Hugs))) for you and for that big-eyed boy.
Praying for Noah's surgery tomorrow. These photos are precious. Praying for strength for you and that the pain meds don't wear off as quickly as they normally do over the course of the night before the surgery.
Thank you for the photos. He is adorable and in someways looks so "mature." My heart goes out to that lovely little boy that has dealt with SO much. Of course you and the rest of your family are in my prayers and thoughts too. I hope the operation will be a success and that it won't be too long before him and you can be home with the rest of the family.
Dear Kate,
Noah looks as adorable as ever... that he has to go through so much pain just rips my mama-heart. Praying for the surgery today, and that the Lord will meet all your current and future needs...love, Miiko
Kate,
I'll be praying for him this morning! Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures of your boy. He's such a cutie! His eyes are so beautiful!
Always have Noah on my mind..and our family is praying...
~andrea watson, (MOMYS) in Minnesota, mom to 5 lil boys, lil girl due in Dec.
Kate and Jeff,
Just had to comment on how sweet he looks!!! He looks much better than we thought he would! What a trooper he is!!!! Oh to just scoop him up and squeeze him!!!!!
You are all in our prayers. Love, Vicki and family in ME
Dear Kate,
I am praying for you all. As a mother, I was wondering if they could give Noah an injection for pain mangement since they can't give him anything orally. Just a thought. Christine
Praying that his surgery went well. Praying for you dear Kate, Jeff and all of your children. May God abundantly bless you and give you wisdom, peace and healing!
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