15 Days

Hey Folks,
Just wanted to give a quick update. Yes, Cohen was 2 weeks old yesterday and we took some good pictures, but the best intentions sometimes fail, so we didn't get them on the computer to upload yet. Cohen is still doing well. He has gained weight another day (now 5lb 12oz) and still off oxygen and air supply! We had a lot of discussions today with doctors, nurses, therapists, and the NICU social worker...plus a 3.5 hour CPR class. It's been a long day. It looks like we are headed for a possible discharge date for Monday, but it could change a little bit. They are currently recording his oxygen levels continuously as opposed to spot checks and are going to review the data to see if he needs to go home with some oxygen for special situations, like riding in the car seat, physical therapy, etc. We are really excited about the progressions, and also a little nervous about being his parents, doctor, and nurse while at home with him. Tomorrow was to be the day he was born, and we are very proud and grateful to be where we are now compared to where we could have been. Passion week and the celebration of Jesus and his life, death, and accomplishments therein are very neat to view from our vantage point. So much of the studies we have been doing at Grace have been centered around the ministry of Jesus, and His miraculous power. We often wondered what it would look like to see God work in such tangible ways in the here and now. Now we know, and we are so thankful and undeserving. When asked for signs of his authority and power, Jesus said none will be given because even if they were, we would not believe. It's easy to downplay God's miraculous provision in a medical issue like Cohen's where new diagnoses are always handy. I'm not discrediting a genetic diagnosis at all...God is the God of genetics too. A name like Odontochondrodysplasia or Thanatophoric Dysplasia is not news to Him. But genes aside, we asked God to let us hold Cohen and he did; we asked God to protect his head from expected abnormalities and he did; we asked God to allow him to live and He did; we ask God to carry us and He did. We don't know why He has been so good to us in the exact way we asked...but we'll never forget that He did...and if you ever think we have, please slap us. -Chris, Emily, Cort & Cohen