Friday, July 29, 3:05 p.m.

Eden's surgery was successful.  One of her fallopian tubes was trying to "knuckle through" the hernia on one side, so there were more problems ahead without the surgery.  She woke up from being under anasthesia just fine. 

Now it's the effect of the anasthesia and surgery on her apnea spells that we're watching out for.  I think stacking up some days without any spells is the main thing that has to happen before Eden can come home. 

Thanks for praying. 

Friday, July 29, 8:30 a.m.

We appreciate your prayers this morning.  Eden is in surgery right now for what has turned out to be for a double hernia operation.  The operation will probably take several hours.  Eden is under general anasthesia, which carries an incidence of death.  Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, July 28, 8:50 p.m.

Robin and I watched Eden get a bath and feed some from a bottle tonight on Skype.  At the end of her feed she "spelled" again, and did the same yesterday too.  The attending nurse opined that she was just getting more tired from feeding by bottle only for some time, and tonight from the bath (and the fidgeting and squeeking protests about it).  The feeding tube is back in. 

However, she is up to 5 lbs., 7 oz.

Her hernia surgery is scheduled for early tomorrow morning, 7:30 I think.  The anesthesia is a concern, so we really appreciate your prayers. 

Monday, July 25, 4:42 p.m.

Eden has reached 5 lbs. now.  Praise the Lord for that - twice the weight she was no so long ago.  And yesterday she graduated from the isolette and is in a regular crib.  I think the key to her remaining there will be her ability to maintain body temperature. 

She will have a surgery to repair a hernia on Friday. 

Thank you so much for your prayers. 

Wednesday, July 20, 1:25 p.m.

Nursing went well today.  Bloodwork shows that Eden is quite anemic, and her iron levels are as low as they can be without a blood transfusion.  She is producing red blood cells well, however, and her iron levels may come up.  Her tube fed milk is being fortified as much as possible.  They are going to check her next week, and if her iron isn't up a blood transfusion may be in order. 

Also, she may have a hernia, and a surgeon is being called in to have a look.  So there may be a surgery before Eden can be discharged. 

Thank you for your prayers.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 9:15 p.m.

Eden up to 4 lbs., 13 oz., two pounds above her birth weight.  Eye exam showed no change since the last exam, but no worries so far about her eyesight. 

Rebekah's pain is pretty much gone except for episodes, and she now is able to lay down to sleep.  Still easily winded when walking up stairs. 

Thank you for your prayers.  We are so thankful for the answers to our prayers and yours. 

Tuesday, July 19, 11:40 a.m.

Josh sent us this yesterday afternoon.  If Eden gets better at this and nursing, she could be free of that little tube in her nose.  And she would be glad for it - she has a bad habit of pushing it out.

Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, July 17, 5:15 p.m.

Eden is up to 4 lbs., 9.9 oz.  For some reason she had several "spells" (apnea - stopping breathing) this morning, perhaps from a problem with her feeding tube being partially pulled out.  She had a better afternoon.  She does not appear to be sick in any way. 

Rebekah actually layed down to sleep last night - a first since the embolism. 

Thanks for praying. 

Wedneday, July 13, 11:45 a.m.



 Eden now weighs 4 lbs., 3 oz., still gaining although not as fast as before.  The caloric intake will be increased today.  Here's another pic from about a week and a half ago. 

Also, Eden has had a little trouble retaining body heat, so she will remain in the isolette (looks to me like a space-age incubator) for the time being. 

Still, there's nothing alarming going on with the baby and she is progressing well.  We're thankful for that, to say the least.

Rebekah is off of pain meds other than Tylenol during the day and can drive herself about.  She is working at being able to lay down without pain and shortness of breathe.  Progress has been slow, but not unexpectedly so. 

Thanks for your prayers, past and future. 

Monday, July 11, 8:26 a.m.

Eden's feeding is going well so far, and if it continues so they'll be ready to try nursing in a day or two.  Robin spoke to Rebekah last night, but before Eden's evening weighing, so we don't know what the baby weighs but she is gaining weight rapidly, as you can probably tell.  The pic is from three days ago. 

Rebekah is seeing a doctor today, and is planning to ask about continuing symptoms with her pulmonary embolism.  She is now on pain meds only at night so that she can sleep, and the daytime pain is not nearly as severe as it has been (being off of the pain meds during the day allows her to drive, too).  However, she still cannot sleep lying down.  This whole time she has been sleeping sitting up in a chair.  When she lies down, she says it feels like her "lungs collapse." 

Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, July 9

Eden's PICC line was removed last night, which means that all of her nutrition will be intestinal instead of intravenous.  Praise the Lord that she has been able to come this far from the dreadful condition she was in just a couple of weeks ago.  The last weight I heard was 4 lbs., 1 oz. 

Rebekah is about the same with her embolism. 

We are more thankful than you can know for your prayers. 

Thursday, July 7, 8:12 a.m.

Eden is up to 4 lbs., 1 oz. 

There is a small issue with the tape coming loose holding her PICC line still - they don't want to remove and retape because it increases the chance of infection, so if I've got the story right it is preferable to just bandage over the existing tape perhaps?  I'm not sure if or why there is any potential downside. 

Increasing the feeding volume is back on again. 

Rebekah is status quo on the embolism symptoms. 

Lots of good indications and developments lately.  Thanks for your prayers. 

Wednesday, July 6, 2:00 p.m.

Eden weighed in last night at 3 lbs., 15.8 oz. - so perhaps reaching the 4 lb. milestone at tonight's weigh-in. 

Thanks for your prayers.

Tuesday, July 5, 5:20 p.m.

Just got this text from Rebekah:

"Edie had her eye exam and did beautifully - everything looks great, she'll get another one in 2 weeks.  Also digested all of her food from her noon feed, so they are going forward and will continue feeding.  So far no more spells.  I'm holding her now."

What they call "spells" are episodes of apnea when the baby stops breathing.  Apnea is common with premature infants because the nervous system is not developed enough for nonstop breathing.  The baby starts breathing again after a few to 15 or so seconds either on her own or when touched or picked up.  Eden had dozens of "spells" when the NEC was first diagnosed and being treated.  There is no treatment for apnea - babies just grow out of it. 

Thanks for your prayers. 

Tuesday, July 5, 4:40 p.m.

Late this morning Eden was given some eyedrops to prepare her for an eye exam, and in in her fussing about it vomited up breastmilk from her 8 a.m. feeding.  That she had not digested milk given a few hours before may indicate more intestinal trouble.  Of course, the biggest concern is a reoccurence of NEC, that serious intestinal condition Eden's been getting past for a couple of weeks.  At present, she is not on antibiotics.  Eden was scheduled for an increase in feeding volume today, but that increase has been suspended for the time being.  For now the plan is to continue the present feeding schedule, and watch carefully for any further signs of intestinal trouble before ratcheting up diagnosis and treatment. 


Rebekah's condition is about the same. 


Thank you for your prayers for Eden, Rebekah, Josh, and the Wilson and Bunn families. 

Monday, July 4, 10:30 a.m.

Eden up to just grams short of 3 lbs., 13 oz., almost a pound over her birth weight.  Feeding going well; and amounts will be gradually increased.  Rebekah and Josh and Josh's folks will be visiting this morning only because of the massive crowds expected in downtown Boston tonight for fireworks & a Sox game, so maybe an update later. 

Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, July 2, 1:40 p.m.

I want to thank many of you for checking the blog so often (I can tell by word of mouth and by checking the blog stats), and I apologize if you've been anxious for updates.  It's just that the last few days have been blessedly uneventful, and a few days we haven't even heard from Josh or Rebekah in Boston.  When that happens, we know that no news is good news. 


Rebekah reports today that Eden is up to 3 lbs., 10 oz., and more importantly, appears to be digesting small amounts of breastmilk properly.  The attending nurse last night said that Eden would be moved to a crib soon, since she is holding her body temperature better.  She gets her second bath today, which seems a lot more country than one would expect for Boston, her first bath having been last Saturday. 

Josh's dad, Dave Wilson, got to see Eden for the first time last night, direct from the airport to the hospital.  Also Josh's brother Nathan.  Josh's birthday is Monday, which the whole country celebrates with parades and fireworks. 


Rebekah's symptoms from her pulmonary embolism continue with barely discernable improvement since released from the hospital.  She'll have her blood pressure read later today. 


Thank you so much for praying.  Rebekah and Eden are in so much better condition than when this all started early last month, and while we are thankful to and for all of those who are caring for them, we do not underestimate the efficacy of the direct appeals of so many to the Great Physician.