Quick update (3/13)

Here is a quick/brief update of where we stand and what the next steps are for Thatcher. (updating on my phone, sorry for typos or other weird grammatical errors!) They have confirmed seizure activity, he struggled last night when they took him off the ventilator, and he is very tight, he holds his muscles almost constantly in a flexed state. His breathing is still shallow but has maintained a structured breathing pattern since yesterday (except when he becomes apptic (stops breathing). They introduced a stronger seizure medication today so he is resting the rest of the evening as his body begins to adjust to the new medication. The side effect of this is that it is a sedative, so he has been out of it most of the day. Now that Thatchers vitals (heart rate, blood pressure, breathing pattern, oxygen levels, etc.) are stable they will be focusing on getting his seizures under control. This is basically a trial and error process where they will test different levels of medication while he does an EEG exam to determine if it is helping suppress the seizures.

I don't remember what was said last night or even that was last night that we posted, the days run together here, but they confirmed the brain attrophe and have said that he will not progress beyond basic functions of breathing blinking heart beating and the like. We know God is in control, however, an He is not limited by our "technology" or our imaging techniques or our diagnosis. Thatcher was supposed to be 5 lbs te day before he was born, he was born 6 lbs 1.5 oz of all beauty/handsome child of God. Each day there has been something that we believe is God saying "I'm here, I'm in control, I love Thatcher and am holding him in My hands". Yesterday was the hardest day and night so far, but God allowed us to hold Thatcher for the first time, God also opened Thatchers eyes most of the morning so we were able to talk to him and look into his beautiful face. Thatcher even reached for Eric's face which was the most amazing thing. We have been able to hange bis dirty diapers, and take his temperature, weve had the blessing of interacting with our son and to help him even with those little things. We have seen today that Thatcher has the ability to breath deeply; when he gets secretions and gunk around his breathing tube he coughs and uses his lungs to a much greater capacity, we know that his lungs are fully formed and they are clear from the X-ray they performed several days ago, so we just pray that he will recognize the need to breath deeply and that God would fill his lungs with praise.

We have been touched by all of the comments messages emails and the like, and God is contuing to use the church to provide us with encouragement and to speak to us and teach us, so thank you church for praying on behalf of Thatcher. Our hope is in the Lord, and we will wait on the Lord, and we will trust in the Lord. Thank you lord for continuing to provide us with encouragement and evidence of your presence, we know that You are in control, we trust that You continue to hold Thatcher in your hands. God we pray that you would give Thatcher the desire to breath deeply, and with purpose. We praise you that you have shown us that his body has the ability, and we trust that you will provide the nudge and your presence would drive him to breath with praise. Lord, would you heal his brain, would you remove whatever hindrance ther is in his brain that has caused it to stop growing, we know that you are unhindered, and we know that you can heal Thatcher, God, we beg you to heal your servant and child, our son Thatcher. Please fill that NICU room with your presence, allow each of the babies to feel your presence and allow each of their stories to be stories that glorify You. Would you wrap Thatcher up in your arms and hold him tight when we are not with him. God we love you, we thank you, and we need you. May you be glorified through Thatcher. It is in the powerful name of Jesus that we pray. Amen.