Restful Day for Max

Today was a restful day for Max. The kept him on the phenobarbitol so he would not have any seizures and so that he would be able to rest. Kelly and John were able to be with him a greater part of the day. The doctors and nurses have been so great in their communicating with Kelly and John and the rest of our family. They have been honest but they have also been encouraging. They have not made any promises or given us any indication of what type of long term effects we are looking at, simply because they do not know. The newborn brain is so immature and so resilient. There is a physical therapist coming tomorrow morning to evaluate Max and determine if Kelly and John should start some exercises with him. Early intervention is the key to a precious child like Max reaching their full potential. Before the newborn brain gets mature and set in it's ways it can be taught to develop other pathways to compensate for deficits. This morning apparently the doctor made a mistake when he said that one side had a grade 2 bleed. It is actually a grade 3. It is not that it got worse through out the day, He simply misspoke. The main prayer request for Max that we have at this moment is for this to not increase to a Grade 4 as the other side has. The doctor feels that it has stablilized and he does not anticipate the increase however, he cannot make any promises. He told John and Kelly tonight that he is "cautiously optimistic." My husband spoke with Kelly's OB doctor tonight and he said according to some blood work that was done immediately after delivery that it did not appear that Max had gone without oxygen. This to me is a very good sign.

Max is going to be such a special child and he already has so many people who love him and can't wait to meet him. We so greatly appreciate the comments, thoughts, and prayers that you have left. I read them to Kelly tonight and she was so thankful to each of you for your encouragement, love, and constant prayer.

Kelly and John were unable to stay in the parent sleep room tonight. However, thanks to some good friends who had connections they were able to get a room at the Baptist Hotel just across the parking lot. A special thank you to some very special friends who have seen a need and lifted the burden of the financial strain of staying in the hotel. I know that Kelly and John thank God everytime they think of you, as do we. Please pray for the family that got their parent sleep room because their baby must be more unstable than our sweet Max.

More tomorrow, please keep praying.
karie