God answered my prayer

Dear all,

Its going to be all my words tonight as I didn't get a chance to take pictures or a video of Isaac tonight.

God answered my prayer from last night as I feel a lot more at peace today.

I asked a friend to post on a Japanese preemie board to find out what other hospitals in Japan do with respect to feedings. She got some answers back and apparently the hospitals pretty much all have a similar approach. The one hospital that does feed the babies individually, they feed in the order of which baby cries the loudest. I think that is actually worse because at least when they let the babies try to eat on their own, they are getting something in their stomachs. NICUs are quite underfunded in Japan these days and they are all really full so there seems to be an across the board problem with nurse to patient coverage ratios.

I also talked to Dr. Ishii tonight. He didn't say no to my request to feed Isaac 3 times on weekend days yet. He told me he needed to talk to the head nurse next week as she wasn't in today and will get back to me. Although it won't start this weekend at least it wasn't a definite no. He thinks Isaac is becoming more stable. And we talked about the goals for Isaac to be discharged. He told me that he wants Isaac to get to 2,400 grams. (Isaac was 1,872 grams today.) And that he wants Isaac's SpO2 levels to drop only drop to the high 80s or the 90s when he cries. Isaac's SpO2 levels don't always drop below the 90's now when he cries but when it does drop, it drops to the low 70s and once in a while high 60s. At least now I have something specific to pray for. He thought it would be 1 or 2 more months. Please pray that Isaac will come home in September. My sister is coming to Japan early October and I really hope Isaac can be discharged before she gets here so that she can see Isaac.

Isaac was doing well tonight. He was his usual trouble maker self. He ate really well - but then pooped again in the middle of his feed, which of course made him cry and cry. So I had to stop the feed to change his diapers. But boy it was a massive poop! And then he pooped again when I was changing him. So in the midst of his crying and crying, he actually threw up a bit. The good news is his SpO2 did not drop too much despite his throw up. After I finally got him cleaned up, I was able to get the nurse to give us a bit more milk so Isaac wouldn't go too hungry. After the feeding and the burping (we finished his feed including the diaper change and cleaning up after his throw up in 30 minutes), he got to cuddle on mommy's chest for 30 minutes. He slept really well on my chest. He cried a bit when I put him back down but settled down before I left. I was glad to see him recover so well despite his throw up and his crying. Its also good to see him able to feed faster and not look so tired. Because I had asked about whether Isaac was getting enough milk, the doctor also agreed to start feeding Isaac 40 ml per feed now. :D

I thought a lot about Rachel on my way to the hospital. And then I thought a lot about both Rachel and Isaac and everything that has happened this year. I was once again reminded of how blessed we have been. Our little family is loved by so many more people now. There are so many people praying for us, especially for Isaac. I believe all the extra prayers Isaac is getting will really bless him for the rest of his life. I have made a lot of really close dear friends because of Isaac and Rachel. Friends I have never met in person but nonetheless really dear friends who I know love us.

I am so glad that God does answer our pleas for help. Just yesterday I was so angry and lost. But all I needed to do was to cry out for help and God stepped in and held my heart in His Hands and made me feel so loved.

Some days I really wish I could move Isaac to a closer hospital that has more liberal visiting hours. But some days I realize that it might be short sighted. Jong and I met with a pediatrician/neonatologist whose clients are mostly foreigners a couple of weeks ago. He pointed out that there are certain long term care we might want to keep getting from Toho. As other hospitals might not take in Isaac as he was not their "original patient". Apparently, there are very few slots for things like rehabilitation and physical therapy in hospitals in Tokyo for preemies and Toho has a pretty strong program. Even if Dr. Ishii was supportive of a transfer, most hospitals are probably just as, if not more, full than Toho so the chances of moving him is pretty slim as well. But without Dr. Ishii's support, its almost impossible as other hospitals won't even talk to us with out his recommendation. Its just how things are in Japan.

I feel good today though because I feel really blessed and loved. I am glad I have something specific to pray for. And there really seems to be an end date now. Sometimes I just need to remember how incredible a miracle Isaac has already been.

Thank you very much for your prayers. For bearing with me on my down days. And for rejoicing with me on my good days. Please pray specifically for Isaac to continue to gain weight at a good pace and for his lungs and breathing to get better and better so that his SpO2 levels no longer drop lower than the high 80s.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend,

Sonia