Update November 15, 2007 with SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST

Well, I didn't expect to have to post another update so soon. Yesterday R took Sierra Rose to the eye doctor. In the examination, he found cloudiness behind Sierra's eyes. He said that the optic nerve had been damaged. He was not very hopeful regarding her vision. In 3 months, Sierra will have another eye appointment. We should know more information at that time.

Right now, R and J are faced with raising a blind or mostly blind daughter unless God decides it is better to intervene. The very One who created the eyes can certainly heal them. He has already performed several miracles in Sierra Rose's life--we're asking for another miracle. Will you join with us in prayer? If He chooses not to restore Sierra's sight, please pray that He will give everyone the grace to accept His decision.

--MK

A NOTE ABOUT UPDATES

For those of you who have used this blogsite to know how to pray for Sierra Rose, thank you very much. As you know, she is out of NICU, out of the hospital, at home. We believe that God worked through the prayers of the hundreds of you that were praying for Sierra.

Please keep praying for Sierra Rose. Her brain still needs to develop properly. God did amazing work in preserving her life, and we believe that He can do more amazing work in restoring all her brain's functions.

Updates will no longer be posted every day. I'll probably post information about once a week or when information becomes available.

God bless.

--MK

Update November 12, 2007

Dear Friends,

Below is an e-mail that J and R sent out last night.

--MK

Sierra Rose is home! We are excited that she is doing well enough for her to get out of the hospital.

The power of prayer cannot be underestimated. We believe that the reason she is alive and doing as well as she is today is due to the power of God and of prayer. We thank you all for your prayer support.

We do not yet know how the areas of brain damage will affect her in the years to come. We will have to wait and see how God chooses to work. As a reminder, the three areas of brain damage were vision, executive decisions, and sleep. We are praying that God will continue to work miracles in her life and body.

Although Sierra has been able to take all of her feedings by bottle (much to the amazement of the doctors and nurses) she still has the gastrointestinal tube (G-tube). We would appreciate your prayers that she would continue to keep up with her feeding needs and that the tube would be able to be removed soon.

This will be the last email update. However, we still covet your prayers! We will keep updating the blog at http://sierraroseupdates.blogspot.com.

Thank you,

J and R

Update November 9, 2007--HOME SWEET HOME

Yes, you read that correctly. Sierra Rose was released from the hospital today! Fifty-two days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a rough way to begin life in the outside world.

Another blessing is that J's health is much improved. R and J had some bad carpet in their house so my family helped them rip it out. He has not been coughing as much as before.

Here are some prayer requests:
-Pray that Sierra Rose will remain healthy. It would probably be better for her not to have any visitors yet, especially with cold and flu season.
-Pray that Sierra Rose will not have to be readmitted to the hospital, as is the case with many babies who are released from NICU.
-Pray for normal physical movement and eyesight.

Thank you so much for sticking with us in prayer for the past 7 1/2 weeks. Early next week I'll try to post an update regarding Sierra's future care.

--MK

Update November 8, 2007

Sierra Rose is still doing well. It's great that she has been steady for quite some time.

At feeding times, Sierra drinks between 75 and 100 cc of milk. Today she drank 90 cc. She's allowed to drink as much as 118 cc. All this milk is making her gain weight. Sierra now weighs 8 lb. 12 oz. This is nearly 3 lb. more than she weighed when she was born.

Thank you for your prayers. Sierra Rose is close to being released.

--MK

Update November 7, 2007

Sierra Rose entered the hospital NICU on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Today is the start of her 8th week in NICU.

Sierra Rose continues to do well. Today her PICC line (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter--a long-term IV) was removed. She is no longer attached to anything (other than a monitor). She is able to take her seizure medicine with the milk in her bottle. She is closer to being released.

R and J had bad carpet in their house. After its removal this week, J's health is much improved. As a bonus, R and J now have some nice wood floors.

Please pray for Sierra Rose's continued health.
Thank God for J's improvement.

--MK

Update November 6, 2007

Sierra Rose is doing well again today. She has now been in NICU for 7 weeks.

Sierra's milk intake can be as high as 118 cc every three hours, but the doctor wants it held around 78 cc. Earlier today, Sierra was able to drink 80 cc.

Sierra has been in good health for several days now. Pray for her continued health.

--MK

Update November 5, 2007

Sierra Rose is still doing well today. Wednesday will be the 10th day on anti-biotics. After that, she should be able to have the PICC line (IV) removed.

Thank you for your prayers--everything is looking pretty good right now.

--MK

Update November 4, 2007

Dear Friends,

Here’s the latest information regarding Sierra Rose. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’ll try to respond within a reasonable amount of time (if I don’t reply within a few days, please ask again).

--MK for the Family

THE PREVIOUS UPDATE
In the last e-mail update, we reported that Sierra had an infection at the incision site for her surgery. We also mentioned that Sierra was drinking 15 cc of milk every 3 hours. Today’s e-mail will bring you up to date on Sierra Rose.

CC
“What’s a cc?” Everyone asks; no one knows. “CC” is short for “cubic centimeter,” a unit of volume used in medical and automotive terminology. It is equivalent to a milliliter. For comparison, a fluid ounce has about 30 milliliters. A typical 12-ounce can of Dr Pepper has about 355 ml. For more information about the cubic centimeter, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_centimetre.

INFECTION AND MEDICATIONS
Sierra Rose has been receiving anti-biotic medicine through her PICC line (intravenous line). The medicine has helped her body to heal from the infection. She will be coming off the anti-biotic medication soon. Previously, Sierra had also been receiving her seizure medicine intravenously. A nurse tried administering it orally (in her milk) and Sierra took it without any problems.

IV TUBE
Because Sierra will not need the anti-biotic medicine and because she was able to take her seizure medicine with her milk, she could have the PICC line removed this week.

MILK AND WEIGHT
This evening, Sierra drank 71 cc of milk. She should be drinking 75-120 cc of milk every 3 hours. Read the above section called “CC.” If my math is correct (not often the case), Sierra Rose is drinking roughly 2 cans of Dr Pepper in a 24-hour period. All this food is making her fill out—she’s a pleasantly plump baby who tips the scales at 8 lb. 9 oz.

AREAS OF PRAYER
-Sierra Rose still has some abnormal physical movement. We’re not sure if this is due to myoclonus or something else. Pray that these movements would cease permanently.
-We’re still not sure how well Sierra can see, if at all. Pray that Sierra Rose would have vision.
-Pray for J’s health. He has been sick for several months.
-Pray for R’s endurance. Going to the hospital to see a sick baby every day is wearisome.
-Thank God for all of Sierra Rose’s caretakers. Doctors, nurses, receptionists, and many other people are all contributing in one form or another. They have tough work, but they do it well.

Thank you for your prayers! We keep saying this, but we really are blessed to have praying friends. Read some of the early e-mail updates to see how far God has brought Sierra Rose.

--MK

Update November 3, 2007

Sierra Rose is drinking more milk. Earlier today she had 64 cc.

Sierra wasn't experiencing the abnormal physical movements today. Pray that these cease permanently.

Please pray for J also. He has been sick for about 2 1/2 months.

--MK

Update November 2, 2007

An area of prayer is for Sierra Rose's physical and mental health. She has been having some abnormal movements this week. Please pray that these would not be serious and that they would go away.

Sierra is no longer receiving hyperal--she's just on milk and dextrose (sugar water).

Sierra Rose has been doing a pretty good job of drinking her milk. Sometimes the milk she doesn't drink has to be inserted through the feeding tube, but she is usually able to finish all of it. Earlier this evening she drank 55 cc.

Thank you for your continued prayer and emotional support. This whole situation has lasted much longer than any of us expected, but God is giving His grace.

--MK

Update November 1, 2007

Sierra Rose is still doing well today. She drank 46 cc of milk earlier. The doctor wants to keep increasing it a little at a time.

Update October 31, 2007

Sierra Rose was up to 34 cc of milk, I believe. If I understand correctly, that amount will be increased to 45 cc. When she is able to drink 45 cc of milk, she'll be evaluated to determine how much she needs.

Please pray for continued health--it seems like everybody is getting sick now that Fall is here.