Seeing Improvement

Rachel seems to be improving. The medical staff now has her pain under control. We have been able to get acclimated to the G-Tube in her stomach. She still will not take a bottle, though. Please pray that she learns that the bottle is no longer her enemy! I have to praise God for all His faithfulness and all of His blessings. We have been through the fire but Jesus has been that unfailing "fourth Man in the fiery furnace" once again. I kept telling Rachel over and over before they whisked her away that even though I could not follow her to the operating room Jesus would never leave her side. How precious are His promises! Your continued prayer is so very valued. We appreciate it more than words can express. How could I ever explain how much it means to me to have someone intercede for my precious Rachel? Please keep her big sister Samantha in your prayers as well. She has been through so much without having her parents at her side. God has made her a strong little lady and for that we are so grateful. (I'm going to pay for it when she is a teenager, though!) God bless you and we love you!

Urgent Prayer Needed

Please be much in prayer for Rachel. She was in pain most of the night last night and cried uncontrollably most of the time. This has made her tummy quite sore as you can imagine. The surgery went well but the epidural they gave her for pain management came out some time during the night and no one knew it. She finally got some morphine at 7:30 this morning and went to sleep. After that wore off they gave her Tylenol with codeine. They both work, but not for the duration so she is still battling the pain. Please pray that God would intervene and she would have more manageable pain or even no pain...God can do either one!
Thanks and God bless!

Surgery Today

Rachel will be having her surgery at 1 pm today. It should last about 2 hours. Please be in prayer for her. Also, Rachel's Poppy is having some health issues that require immediate care. Please be in prayer for him as well.

Thanks and God Bless!!!

Upcoming Surgery

Baby Rachel has had many, many tests to find the cause of her eating issues. It has been determined that her Reflux is bad enough to require surgery. One of the tests (called a ph probe) measured how much acid is going back into her esophagus. In a 24 hour period little Rachel had 170 episodes of reflux. A surgery called the "Nissen" procedure should correct this problem. It is a procedure where the surgeon takes her stomach and wraps it around her esophagus. Then he attaches the stomach to her abdomen wall and puts a PEG tube into the stomach. She will be able to eat through this tube if needed. Please pray that the surgery is successful and without complication. Pray that God keep her safe and that she will have a speedy recovery. Please pray that she will not be in too much pain after the surgery and that she be protected while they administer morphine and Tylenol with codine. She will possibly have the surgery as soon as Monday. To God be the glory for all things. We praise Him for answered prayers!

Life at Richland

Rachel is now at Richand's Children's hospital undergoing various tests. Since her recent weight loss the doctors decided to try to find out why baby Rachel has so much trouble eating. Her weight has pretty much plateaued in the last couple of months. She has had a variety of blood tests and urine tests (praise God she didn't have to get a cath!). She is currently in the middle of a test called a ph probe. She has a tube (about the size of a feeding tube) run into her nose and down her esophagus. It is hooked to a little computer that measures the acid in her esophagus. This will determine how severe her reflux (or GERD) is. The test lasts 24 hours so we should know something tomorrow. The staff here at Richland is great. She has 7 different doctors checking her progress daily. They are all informative and helpful. The nursing staff is also a blessing. It is hard to be away from home and away from Rachel's big sister, but god has been faithful in keeping our spirits up! Baby Rachel has been such a trooper threw this entire process. God has given her a special touch to make it through. He has also been with both Daddy and I and for that we are eternally grateful! We want to thank everyone who has helped us during this week! Jen, thanks for taking Samantha at a moment's notice. Thanks to Dayna for keeping Samantha at home and taking her to school. Nanny and aunt Shellie, thanks for keeping Sam, cleaning and for everything else you have done. Thank you Mammaw and Pappaw for keeping Sam as well. Thank you Susanne for getting Sam from school and keeping her for us. Thanks to everyone who has called, came to Columbia to visit, sent flowers, and most importantly, thanks to everyone who has prayed!!!

A Bump in the Road

Baby Rachel was doing well, praise to Jesus! She has hit a bump in the road. She has lost more weight. Monday she has to go back to the doctor for another weight check. If she has lost weight again, she will be admitted to an out-of-town hospital for a few days for testing to see what is going on inside her little belly. The next resort is surgery or a feeding tube inserted into her naval. Please pray that she gains weight and gets better! To God be ALL glory, honor & praise!