Update 1/21/08

Hi everyone!

Well, Ryan continues to do well. He's put on more weight (he had dropped down to 2 lbs from his 2lb 4oz birth weight) and is now 2lbs 2.6ozs. He continues to put on weight, which is a good sign. He also had a second head ultrasound today as a follow up and it also came back normal.

I was also able to hold him in what is known as a kangaroo hold. Basically, I had a zip-up top on and I unzipped my top and the nurse laid him on my chest and zipped me back up. This helps both Ryan and me in many ways. It keeps Ryan warm, and as he listens to my heart beat it reminds him of being in the womb and it helps to regulate his own heart rate and breathing. It helps me (and Bill, down the road) b/c it's reassuring, allows us to hold our son and it stimulates the "good stuff" for Ryan to eat. It was an amazing experience to feel his little body against my skin and I can't wait to do it again.

Ryan will also start a medication that will stimulate his kindey to produce bone marrow which in turn will increse his red blood cells.This usually occurs naturally in the womb, but since he was so anxious to come out it didn't have an oportunity to take place. This procedure will hopefully prevent the need for a blood transfusion. The nurses told me that they can't remember the last time they had to do a blood transfusion and that this medication is pretty succesful in stimulating the kidney.

So, Ryan continues to grow and as mentioned before, we believe that the power of prayer is really working, so keep those prayers coming!