Balance
And so real life continues. Over the last several days we have been slowly stepping back into our "real life" while still living life in the NICU. This can be a very delicate balancing act finding ways to not let one area consume the other, but focusing on the task in front of you while still keeping the other in the back of your mind. The blessing of this is that, for me at least, the Lord has used the two worlds to keep me from getting too consumed with one. He also is using the prayers and encouragement from each and everyone one of you to allow me to let down a little, because I know that in the moments when I feel I can't fight anymore, there is an army of people fighting on our behalf. My mom taught me years ago that when the Lord brings someone to your mind you have basically three options you can ignore the reminder, you can check on them if that is an option, or you can pray for them. Over the last several days I have gotten surprises, words of encouragement, and songs from many of you that I had no idea I even needed. Each one of those have helped carry me from the morning until the end of the day.
As of today Teagan has remained stable. They have attempted to increase her tube feeds, reduced her dependence on the ventilator, and her body seems to be regulating better. Life in a NICU is an extremely delicate balancing act of ups and downs that can change from one hour to the next. As one fluid is changed another rises, as that one is adjusted another might decrease and so forth and so on. She was slightly dehydrated a few days ago so her iv fluids were increased but we had also increased her feeds at the same time which has caused her sodium to go down, so right now her doctors are very gingerly working to increase it while not affecting anything else in her little system. In the morning the plan is to attempt to switch her from the tube in her throat to what is called a nasal cannula that will simply be inserted in her nose to help her breath. This is a big step for her and we are praying hard that she is ready, but at the same token we do not want to do this if it is going to be too much on her system. Tonight we are calling on you all to pray with us. Pray that Teagan's levels will all regulate again and will not cause her any additional distress. Pray for a successful extibation attempt in the morning that will allow us to fully extibate her. Pray also for an increase in alertness as we move into the days ahead, we believe God can and pray He will continue to allow healing in her brain in spite of the excessive damage that has occurred. And lastly we ask that you would continue to pray for strength for us as we are traveling this road, and that we would not get discouraged by the set backs but focus on the joys. Thank you for fighting with us and for us in this. We cherish you all
The Stratton's
As of today Teagan has remained stable. They have attempted to increase her tube feeds, reduced her dependence on the ventilator, and her body seems to be regulating better. Life in a NICU is an extremely delicate balancing act of ups and downs that can change from one hour to the next. As one fluid is changed another rises, as that one is adjusted another might decrease and so forth and so on. She was slightly dehydrated a few days ago so her iv fluids were increased but we had also increased her feeds at the same time which has caused her sodium to go down, so right now her doctors are very gingerly working to increase it while not affecting anything else in her little system. In the morning the plan is to attempt to switch her from the tube in her throat to what is called a nasal cannula that will simply be inserted in her nose to help her breath. This is a big step for her and we are praying hard that she is ready, but at the same token we do not want to do this if it is going to be too much on her system. Tonight we are calling on you all to pray with us. Pray that Teagan's levels will all regulate again and will not cause her any additional distress. Pray for a successful extibation attempt in the morning that will allow us to fully extibate her. Pray also for an increase in alertness as we move into the days ahead, we believe God can and pray He will continue to allow healing in her brain in spite of the excessive damage that has occurred. And lastly we ask that you would continue to pray for strength for us as we are traveling this road, and that we would not get discouraged by the set backs but focus on the joys. Thank you for fighting with us and for us in this. We cherish you all
The Stratton's
Strattons, I see so much strength in you and Austin. You may not sense it in the low times, but it's there. I am sharing in these prayer requests, and I am putting Teagan on my church prayer list. Thank you for the updates. Blessings, Lydia Gober
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