Too Much Information...

Just wanted to document, that Gavin had his first major bowel movement in the bath tub tonight. I was in the other room, when I heard Adam yell "Faith COME HERE!!!!" Most of you know Adam doesn't handle this subject very well, many joked with him when I was pregnant about how he was going to handle the diaper changing. But let me say he does a great job! However, I did have to clean the tub out. Just thought I would post something funny since we have had a serious week...

(Instead of a tub picture, I thought you all would enjoy a picture of Gavin in his PJ's)

Gavin wants to give a shout out to his Uncle Jon, "Happy Birthday, I can't wait to meet my new cousin in March, Love you"

Tired Boy!

Gavin hasn't been feeling his best this past week. He has had a cold and yesterday when we were driving home, we turned around to find Gavin like this (in his new car seat, an early birthday present from his grandparents and great grandparents, Gavin says "THANK YOU, THIS IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE OLD ONE!!!")...
He has finally started drinking out of a sippy cup, well kind of a sippy cup. It still has a rubber nipple like a bottle, but hey one step at a time! Gavin seems to be feeling back to himself today, still sleeping a lot but no fever or yucky cough. Thanks again for all the prayers and supportive comments, just another bump in the road...Love you all!

MRI Results

With out getting into too much detail.... Gavin's MRI came back abnormal. Gavin's ventricles in his brain are enlarged. The doctor is not too concerned yet. Gavin has been referred to an opthamologist to check the pressures in his brain. Gavin will continue to be evaluated and have more tests. So basically, more waiting! Please continue to keep him in your prayers... he really is an amazing little boy!

Can you say Barbara?

**BTW: Barbara is my Grandmother, or "Granny".... so yes we know someone named Barbara! ;)
Some people didn't believe us when we said Gavin can say "Barbara"... Here is the proof. Notice the smiling Gavin does in the video? That was the winking smile he did when he escaped out of his car seat. He also does that anytime you get a camera out! Enjoy!

Update from MRI

The MRI went great, we got to come home a couple of hours after the test. The anesthesiologist said Gavin's stats stayed within his normal range the entire test. We were happy to come home and not have to spend the night in the hospital. Gavin has been really tired since the test, but he is doing great. We should get the results next Tuesday, thanks again for the prayers!

Baby Max

I read Max's blog a couple of days late and didn't realize he was sick, but please check it out and keep him in your prayers! Max and his family have been through a lot, even in his one year of life! Max's mom has been an inspiration to me, she found our blog when Gavin was born, then we realized that we have mutual friends! Send prayers their way! We love you Max!

11 Months!!!!

**UPDATE: Gavin did have his EEG this morning, but to make a LONG story short, Gavin's MRI was rescheduled for this coming Monday at 630am! So one test down, another to go.... Thanks again for the prayers!**

I can't believe that next month our baby will be one!

Gavin at 11 months...

*You like to do the "Tarzan Crawl" as fast as you can (Gavin gets on his feet and hands now instead of crawling normal, have to get that on video!)

*You like to push the open/close button on the DVD player

*You have started "singing"

*Words/Sounds: "Dada" "Barbara" "Papa" "Moo" "Mama" "Bubba" "Baba" (Bye Bye)

*You are starting to drink out of a sippy cup, but you still have to have your bottle at night time, and several times during the night

*Favorite Foods: chicken, sweet potatoes, peaches, mangoes, pears, green beans, carrots, mashed potatoes, cereal bars, cereal puffs, dried fruit

*You like it when we read books

*You started "dancing" by waving your arm in the air and bouncing when music comes on

*You raise your arms up when you hear "touchdown"

*You wave bye bye

*You like to play "fetch the ball" (you throw a ball and the chase after it, and start over, you could do this all day)

*You are starting to get clingy, it makes me sad when I leave and you cry, but it also makes me feel special ;)

*You like to remove your diaper and crawl away really fast so you can keep it off (PICTURE: CAUGHT IN ACTION!)



We love you buddy!
XoXo,

Mama and Dada

Please keep Gavin in your prayers tomorrow, he is having and EEG and a MRI under anesthesia at St. Francis. We received the results from his tests a couple of weeks ago, Gavin has severe GERD (reflux), so they are running more tests to rule everything else out. Thanks for the prayers!

Happy Grandparents Day to the BEST Grandparents in the ENITRE WORLD!

To My Nana, Grandpa, Mimi and Papa...
I love you all very much! XoXo, Gavin

Baby Bennett

This is one reason I am thankful for Gavin's blog, it gives us the opportunity to reach out to others who are going through a hard time. I know that there are a lot of people who read Gavin's blog and pray for Gavin, so I ask tonight that you pray for Baby Bennett... I have added him under the links for children to pray for. You can read more about Bennett by clicking on his link. You can send them messages to let them know you are praying...

Family and friends,
I know we've said this before, but now is the most crucial "hour" for our precious boy. The next several hours and throughout the night will determine many things.
We just met with the wonderful team of doctors again. His lungs have responded better than they thought they would to being temporarily taken off ECMO. The lungs haven't responded anywhere near perfect of course, for they are still too weak. But the lungs did respond, so the decision has just been made to remove Bennett permanently from ECMO. There were a few other reasons why they wanted to take him off ECMO, including the fact that the machine had a major clot in it, but the main ones are because his lungs are functioning a little better now and to reduce his bleeding. Once he is off ECMO, he cannot return. This will significantly reduce and/or eliminate his bleeding, but it will also significantly reduce the assistance he was receiving. It's now entirely up to his lungs and heart.
So, can you see where we need prayers right now? Two main organs: his lungs and his heart. They now have to carry the burden of sustaining him, so please pray for the strength of his lungs and his heart. His heart is also of major concern because it now has to start acting like, well, a heart. But his heart has been hibernating over two weeks, so there is significant concern about how his heart will respond to the "shock" of having to work again. They will be giving his heart several drugs and steroids soon to try to kick it in gear.
The surgery option right now is still just an option. If his lungs continue to expand and strengthen, then surgery may not be needed. This would be ideal. But even if surgery is performed, the risks are much lower now because the heparin and excessive bleeding should no longer be issues. As you can imagine, so much is happening right now, and it's happening very quickly. Essentially what it boils down to is the healthy functioning of the lungs and the heart.Before the doctors re-entered the NICU to head over to Bennett, we told them that we and several hundred people around the country are praying for them and for Bennett. They thanked us for that, and reminded us that faith is essential during times like this because their expertise can only go so far. Your prayers are sustaining us, the incredible medical staff here, and our precious son, and we ask that you once again join us in prayers for the doctors and for Bennett's lungs and heart. His has fought like a warrior, but his strength will be tested now more than ever.
We will most likely be here for the majority of the night, and as more updates become available we will let you know. As always, thank you for all your love and support.

Love,Travis, Kelly, and Bennett"