8 weeks and counting...

Devin will be 2 months old on Tuesday!  Where has the time gone?  So much has happened since we last updated the blog 3 weeks ago.  In our last update, it felt like progress was happening at a snail’s pace; we were taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back.  Over the past week, things have really started to progress.

One week ago Devin was moved from the ICU to the step-down floor.  This was both intimidating and exciting.  Exciting because that means Devin is improving, and that means we are getting closer to going home.  Intimidating because that means Dan & I are involved in much more of his care, and that means we are a step closer to going home.  So, in his first few days on this floor he was able to wean completely off of oxygen and has been off oxygen for a week now.  That is something we were doubtful of 3 weeks ago as we looked at his x-rays each day with little to no change.  Since Devin had vocal chord paralysis as a result of his open heart surgery, we couldn’t hear Devin cry at all for several weeks.  His vocal chords now sound as if they are healed and we can actually hear him cry like a normal baby would.  He’s got quite the lung capacity now to let us know when he’s not happy about something.  And that’s very important in our house for him to be able to scream if he needs something, since his 3 brother’s tend to abundantly fill any silence.  As of this week, he’s also been starting to take a little milk from a bottle. He hasn’t mastered it, but it’s a good start for someone who’s only ever been fed by a tube.


We are hoping and working to take Devin home within the next few weeks.  There is a LOT that Dan & I have to learn to do before we can go.  We’ve been to CPR classes, learning to place his feeding tube (that’s as fun as you can imagine it is), give meds, check his oxygen saturations, etc.  We are feeling pretty confident about most of these things while we’re here; but feel a little more overwhelmed knowing that when we are home we only have 3 crazy little boys backing us, not a team of highly skilled medical professionals.

For all of this progress & healing, we can only thank God for his abundant mercy over sweet Devin.  For so long we had prayed for his lungs, his diaphragm, vocal chords, and weight gain.  All of these prayers have been answered, and we are in awe.  He’s wowing the therapist’s with his tummy time skills, and charming all the nurses with his big eyes.  He’s quite the little handsome dude.

So we thank you again & again for your prayers and support!  Please pray that Devin would continue to do well as they wean him off certain meds, and get his feeding where they need it to be in order to come home.  Please pray for the boys, and Dan & I, as we begin to transition to being a family of 6 at home.  This inter-stage period until his next surgery (around 5-6 months of age) is very crucial when he will be at the greatest risk.  Please be praying that the Lord would protect and continue to sustain him during this time.  We are all excited, but a little anxious for the road ahead!