Praying for....poop?

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." 

- Romans 12:12

It's not very often you get to make a public prayer request about poop, but that is exactly what we need to do at this point.  Nothing would be a better indicator of healthy intestines than seeing little Celia have a dirty diaper.  

Celia will be spending the next few days in sedation as her abdomen heals.  She has already awoken a few times to the surprise of the nurses!  Little Fighter has been opening her eyes and wiggling her fingers and toes, requiring them to give her more medication to make her sleep so she won't tear her stitches.  Please pray that Celia will be able to go poop, that bile will no longer be draining from her stomach, and that her incision heals nicely these next few days.  

A tough day

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

- Psalm 139: 13-18

 -

It was another day of amazing parenting from Alex and Julya.  It was also a day of learning experiences, which provided them with lots of opportunities to gently "coo" to Celia.  After several failed attempts to switch the side Celia lays on, we discovered that she has a VERY good reason to favor her right side.  She has been having trouble breathing when situated in any other position.  Please pray for little lungs to handle the pressure of having her intestines back where they need to be.  She has a significant strider ("wheeze") and has to summon the help of all of her accessory muscles to get enough lung power to supply oxygen to her tiny body.  She will most likely have to be on a ventilator after her surgery, but we're hoping this won't be necessary!

    

Celia has begun to figure out ways to soothe herself.  Her petite hands often slowly scan over her face and tubing, and they just discovered how SOFT her hair is!  A good majority of the afternoon she spent with her hand in her hair.  She has three other cousins who have been obsessed with feeling hair, so this may run in the family!  She also has a good grip with those toes, another possible family quirk we find amusing :).

It is very difficult seeing little Celia knocked out on pain medicine lately.  It helps her sleep more soundly, but it breaks our hearts to see her in such a vulnerable state.  Since she has so much personality, we don't like when she's not able to be alert, and we also don't get to see those big beautiful eyes on days where the only rest she gets is that induced by fentanyl or morphine.  However, we are grateful that the staff knows what they are doing and that she can find relief.  The nurses have told us that years ago doctors didn't believe babies could sense pain - so little ones of the past had to go without!

Surgery should be happening in the next few days to close up Celia's abdomen.  Please continue to pray for healthy intestines, liver, and lungs.  Also, take time to praise God that her platelet count is within normal range at 250,000 - one less thing we need to worry about!  

Captivation

"God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others." II Corinthians 1:3-4

If there is one word to describe baby Celia it is this: captivating.  The moment anyone sees this little one they are instantly mesmerized by her distinct personality, chubby cheeks, and animated facial expressions.  Every one of her visitors always say the same thing: "I could stand here and simply watch her all day."  When she isn't surrounded by family and friends the nurses, too, seize their chance to huddle around Celia and stare as she sleeps.  One of their observations we found amusing is that she is "pretty compact."  And who wouldn't be if they were only born only 40cm (15 3/4") long.  

Each day Celia's surgeon checks on the condition of her intestines and gently squeezes some of them back into her abdomen.  This has begun to cause her soreness, and though she has been needing less pain medication, she still has spells of discomfort that we can't even imagine.  Last night mom and dad were up from 1-5am trying to soothe her cries.  About a week from now when this process is finished, they will be able to wrap their arms around her in comfort for the first time!

Doctors have warned that Celia's health will be a roller coaster ride.  Today seemed like the first wave of it, as we are extremely grateful for the progress God has blessed us with.  She is in stable condition.  After her second transfusion, her platelet count has gone up to 127,000.  The healthy parts of her intestines remain pink and tubular.  Her strong cries prove a mighty set of lungs.  Messages of support and love have flooded in from everywhere and Celia's story has been on the lips of MANY prayer warriors.  Yet still, the long wait unsettles our spirits.  It will take several weeks, and possibly months, to know if there are obstructions in her intestines and how to repair them.

In the meantime, we accept God's blessings and Celia will keep up with her daily routine:

Spending mornings with Daddy

Getting kisses from Mommy

Having her hair done

Glossing her lips

Drinking water via sponge

 
 Please continue to pray that God will revive Celia's intestinal tissue and that there will be enough of it to absorb nutrients.  This is our number one worry right now.  Additionally, tests indicated that her liver is under stress from the TPN.  This is normally not a major concern for babies with gastroschisis, but since she will take longer to recover, her liver is something to watch carefully.  Ask for Celia to experience comfort which will allow rest for Julya and Alex.  Pray for wisdom for the hospital staff and thank Him for the great doctors and nurses that He has sent to this precious girl.