Update 1/24/08

Hello everyone,

There isn't much to update, but as they say no news is good news. Ryan started his epogen - the medicine that will increase his red blood cells yesterday. It is a series of injections that he'll get for 10 days, then they will test his hemoglobin (the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen) and hematocrit (the concentration of red blood cells in his blood). If his numbers are up, then he won't need the blood transfusion.

They've also started to fortify the breast milk with calories. Breast milk typically has 20 calories per ounce so they are going to fortify it to 22 calories, then 24 calories which will enable him to put on weight. The nurses say that typically when the babies get the fortified milk they "pack on the pounds" so hopefully Ryan will pack them on.

I've been able to "kangaroo" Ryan everyday and it really seems to help. All of his numbers on the monitor are always better when he's on my chest!

So, please keep the prayers coming - they are really working. If you have an extra moment, please also pray for baby Jackson, another baby in the NICU. He's not doing too well (I don't know the details, but he's hooked up to a vent and they've called a priest in to baptize him) and I think he needs some prayers, too.

Thanks again for everything!