Baby Noah is home!

We got the wonderful news yesterday that Baby Noah has been released finally more than a month after his birth. Please continue to pray for his family as they make the adjustment to having their sweet son at home after such a long time in the hospital. Pray also that he will begin nursing better--he's gotten used to the bottle. Many thanks for your prayers and concern for the Picketts. God is good!

16 weeks, Ultrasound next week!!

16 weeks with twins

20 weeks with Emma

21 weeks with Charlotte

I had my 16 week prenatal appointment yesterday and everything is going well. I got to hear two strong heartbeats, each in the 140s. My uterus is measuring about 22 weeks, which means the babies are growing nicely. It also explains why I look bigger than I did when I was 21 weeks with Emma and finding out she was a girl. I haven't gained any weight but the doctor doesn't seem concerned at this point. And the best news--I'm getting an ultrasound next week!! Hopefully, by 2:30pm next Wednesday we'll know for sure if we've been blessed with two more sweet girls, boys, or one of each. You have until noon next Wednesday to submit your predictions. :)

Snow Days 2009

We've gotten around 9 inches of snow since yesterday, and for the first time since we've been in Indiana, IU actually closed campus because of the snow! That meant Chris could stay home today, (Anderson University also closed) and we were able to get out and play in the snow. Aunt Julie, our friendly snow expert, came over to show us how to properly build a snowman. Unfortunately, the snow is too fluffy to pack but maybe we'll get a chance tomorrow. Aunt Julie grew up in Michigan where snow like this is a regular part of life, so she came over prepared to pull the girls in a new sled and to show us how to really play in the snow. We also had fun going down the slide on the playset and slightly less fun making snow angels. Take a look.

The Honda before Chris dug it out

Chris demonstrating how deep the snow is

Emma knee-deep in snow

Aunt Julie pulling Emma on our street

Charlotte, trying to stay upright. She actually enjoyed falling over face first in the snow.

Sliding fun!

I didn't catch her making the snow angel but you can see she did a pretty good job if you look closely.

She had less fun when I asked her to do it again for a photo op. By this time there was snow in her pants.

My 32nd Birthday

Yes, I am now 32 years old. I remember being in college and having sisters who were 31 and 32 and my friends thought that was "so old." At the time, I didn't view my sisters as old, so now that I'm the one in her "early thirties," I guess that gets me off the hook of being "so old." Okay, okay, I know I'm old, but I really didn't see my sisters as old back then. I still don't see them as old, in case you're wondering, (Dorothy and Cindy), you're just my sisters. :)

I also remember watching the show "thirtysomething" when I was younger. It's hard for me to wrap my head around the notion that I am thirty-something now. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I do have two children with two more on the way. I've been married for nine years. And I hold two and 3/4 degrees. Can I say I have 3/4 of a degree? I think it's probably safe to say, sorry Mom, Dad, and everyone else who really wants me to finish, but the likelihood that I write a dissertation with four children is pretty slim. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. This post is supposed to be about my birthday.

This year I spent my birthday with my husband and girls at the Indianapolis Children's Museum. We purchased a membership (a true sign of being thirty-something) because it would pay for itself in three visits and with the membership the girls can ride the merry-go-round as many times as Mama and Daddy can stand it. We had a great time and have already been back once more since then. After the museum, we met up with Julie, Todd, and Jamie at Buca di Beppo and had a fabulous Italian family-style meal. I had a coupon for a free dessert (I chose the chocolate cake), and then they gave me another complimentary birthday cake that was red velvet. Our server and others sang to me, which Emma loved. It was lots of fun! The best part of the day was dropping into bed knowing that I have a wonderful family and great friends to share my day with, hopefully for many years to come.

The girls sliding at the preschool Jolly Days ice castle

Riding in a real Indy car

Charlotte playing in Babyscape

Riding the Merry-Go-Round (Charlotte was on the inside horse, so you can't see her. Sad.)

Another Baby Noah Update

Wonderful news regarding Baby Noah--he's been taken off the ventilator and is doing well breathing on his own. He's being weaned off the morphine he's been given and is beginning to learn how to drink by mouth. Once he's able to eat full meals from a bottle or even better from his mama, he'll be able to go home. His doctor predicted that could happen within a week. Thank you for all of your prayers--they are certainly being heard.

Here is the latest update from Noah's mama: "Noah continues to thrive on prayer. Today his cannula came out (hopefully) for good. He also graduated to a "big boy" bed. Yes, they found him a crib that he actually fits in. He looks a lot more comfortable now. Even more exciting is that the nurses started teaching Noah how to use a bottle. He is still getting his food through a tube down his nose, but they are starting to practice with small amounts in a bottle so he can learn how to do things like swallow without choking, etc.

The first attempt was quite hilarious as Noah was quite confused as to what he was supposed to do with this new object in his mouth. However, by 6pm this evening Grandma Greer was able to feed him a small bottle without a problem. Momma was a bit jealous that she wasn't the first one to feed Noah in the family, but very happy that her boy is progressing so quickly this week.

Noah is still pretty dependent on morphine, but the doctor started to give him doses orally instead of an IV. This is supposed to make it easier to ween him off of the drug. When he first gets his dose now, you can literally see his reaction. We admit it is very strange to see your 19 day old son "high" on morphine.

Prayer requests for the night:

1. Thank the Lord for His continued answer to our prayers

2. Pray that Noah would be able to come off morphine soon

3. Pray that Noah would continue to excel at eating (like his Mom and Dad excel!!!)

4. Pray that Noah could come home soon5. Pray that Noah's lungs would continue to heal"

Update on Baby Noah

Here is Baby Noah's first family photo being held by his mama, Lauren, for the first time at 11 days old. Since I last wrote, Noah has made good progress with a couple of bumps in the road. He began showing good signs by tolerating the lowering of his oxygen levels, so on Day 10, he was transitioned to a regular ventilator. He had been on a special oscillator ventilator. He had to move to the regular one before his parents could hold him. Unfortunately, his blood gas levels plummeted and his lungs collapsed with the change so they had to increase him back to 100% oxygen. Throughout the course of the day, they were able to slowly decrease his oxygen levels and his lungs began to reinflate. Yesterday he ended the day at 56% oxygen and for the first time he got to feel the warmth of his mama and daddy's arms. I can't imagine how hard it has been for his parents to not be able to hold their baby. A nurse also told Lauren and Brandon for the first time that he is getting better. They were very encouraged. Today, he's made slow but steady progress. His lungs have both inflated and he's being given his mama's milk intravenously. It could take a long time before he is completely off the ventilator, so please continue to pray for little Noah and his parents. Lauren specifically asked for the following:

1. We would not be discouraged during this process, but only be thankful for every day that God gives Noah- good days and bad days

2. We would be patient and wait on the Lord

3. Pray for progress in Noah's condition

4. Pray that Noah's lungs would continue to heal and start working on their own

Prayer for Baby Noah Michael Pickett

This dear baby is the firstborn of a young couple, Brandon and Lauren Pickett, who recently left Bloomington and our church and moved to Pennsylvania. Brandon and Lauren were members of our home fellowship group and hold a special place in our hearts. Their wedding was Emma's first at the ripe age of three-weeks old, and Lauren watched Emma for me the summer I was working tons before Charlotte was born.

Little Noah was born the day after Christmas, twelve days past his due date, by emergency c-section, weighing a whopping 9 lbs 6 oz and measuring 22 1/8 inches long. By many standards he is a strong, healthy little boy. Unfortunately, he aspirated meconium upon delivery and is very, very sick. He's been in the NICU at the children's hospital in Pittsburgh since his birth a week ago, fighting for his life on a ventilator. Lauren wrote this note yesterday, Day 6 in the NICU:

"Thank you all for your continued prayers. I cannot even begin to express how much they mean to us. Please keep the prayers coming. Specifically, please pray that Noah would have a good night. Pray that Noah would only stay stable or make progress. Pray that Noah would not regress. Pray that Noah would not need the ECMO treatment and that God would direct the doctors and nurses in their decisions. Pray that Psalm 91 would be a promise for Noah.

Today was a good day for little Noah. The ECMO treatment has been, for now, taken off the table. Of course, as we have found out, anything can change within a matter of hours. We are constantly being challenged to put our faith in God and not our faith in Noah's vital statistics. However, we are grateful for today's stats. All of Noah's numbers were much better today and the doctor's have once again started the process of weening him off the ventilator. They are taking the weening process very, very slowly now because Noah has been very sensitive to any changes made to his support levels.

I have been taking everyone's suggestion and singing hymns, kid songs, and silly songs I made up about how much I love Noah to him. I love him more deeply than I knew I could love another human being and it opens my eyes to the true sacrifice God made when He sent His Son to die for our sins.Please keep praying. Please send out our information to anyone and everyone- we gladly accept prayer from anyone who is willing."

A friend of mine shed light on the seriousness of Noah's condition when she explained that most babies that aspirate meconium are often better by day 2 and hardly ever remain on a ventilator for a full week. The ECMO treatment mentioned in Lauren's note is something that is only used as a last resort for babies who would die otherwise because it carries the risk of death itself.

Please add little Noah and his parents to your prayer list. Pray that he will tolerate the doctors weaning him off the ventilator and that he will not require the ECMO treatment. Pray for Lauren as she is recovering from a c-section and unable to hold her precious new baby. Pray for Brandon as he tries to provide strength and support to his wife while grieving so for his son. Pray that both would have faith during this time as they entrust their son to God and the medical staff. Please pass on this request to other believers who can add their prayers to ours. We know that God knew little Noah before his parents first laid eyes on him, and He has a perfect plan for Noah's life. God is good all of the time!