One Month Old!

Today Elora is one month old!  It's hard for us to believe all that has happened over the last month. But, today as we were looking at her, we were amazed at her growth and how healthy she is looking. Her skin is no longer so translucent and now has a healthy soft pink hue. Her movements are more fluid and intentional (she is getting a strong grip!). Also, she opens her eyes wider and for longer.

She truly is a miracle.

Today she received her first bit of milk! They put a feeding tube in her nose that runs down into her stomach. Through it, she is being fed 1 ml of breast milk every 6 hours. Eventually the quantity and frequency will increase as she can handle it. Once she has grown bigger, she will be able to take a small bottle, then eventually nurse. We thank the Lord for this step of progress. Now that she is eating, her growth should take off and her body parts should strengthen - especially her lungs which still need maturing (she is still not breathing completely on her own and it on a ventilator).

She weighed in at a whopping 2 pounds, 4 ounces today!  As small as that seems to most people, it somehow seems quite big to us!  She has started taking a pacifier and has outgrown some of the little hats she wore when she was born. We are so proud of our "big" girl :)

How can you pray for Elora?
1. Pray that her digestive system continues to work and develop properly (and praise God for the progress that already has been made!)
2. Pray that her respiritory system would mature and that she would be able to get off the ventilator soon and smoothly
3. Pray for other developing parts (e.g. her eyes) that there would be no complications
4. Continue to pray that the blood in her brain would continue to lessen and lessen

We are humbled each day by God's mercies on our family and His love for us. I pray that Peter and I would not have scars from this experience. Instead we would walk away with rich and deep markings of character, a greater knowledge of how to love God and love His people, and how to be the best parents possible to Elora.