Celebrating @ 2 Weeks

It is our precious little person's birthday today.  He is two weeks old...definitely something to celebrate.  Here is a video we took of him while he was opening his eyes.  Sweet, sweet moments.



We were scheduled to meet with the neurologist today.  We hadn't met with her since the last MRI, and we didn't have high expectations for what she would say.  We knew we would be talking with her more about some of the long-term effects of the bleeding, and it wasn't a conversation I was very eager to have.  Based on the experience of past conversations about Jude's brain, I was prepared for some crying.

The conversation did not go as I expected it to.  Instead of another person sitting us down to make sure we know "what a long road ahead" we have...and how "grave" his situation is...she was surprisingly hopeful.  She said the MRI looked much better.  The bleeds are still there, but she said his brain tissue looks much more normal. Yes, there are four of them, and she doesn't like that number.  But, they're not symmetrical...which means that there is more potential for the opposite side of his brain to compensate for what has been lost.

Upon examination, he does really well.  He is responding as she would want.  He is using both sides equally well.  He doesn't seem to prefer one side over another.  His body seems to be doing the basic housekeeping it needs to do (such as breathing, motor skills, etc).  And, he's not having any seizures!  He has been on phenobarbital to prevent them because it would be a natural result of all that his brain has gone through.  The neurologist is planning another EEG to confirm.

There seems to be some confusion as to whether three of the bleeds are actually on top of the brain or within the tissue.  On top of the brain (a subdural hematoma) is better than within the tissue.  Please pray that that's the case.

The neurologist said that she's hopeful, and she encouraged us to be hopeful as well!  She also told us "congratulations!"  That is only the second time we've heard that from a doctor here, and it is pure music when I hear it. 

Thank you once again for your prayers.  Our Father has been so very good to us, and He has answered prayer after prayer after prayer.  What a sweet experience this has been...to see the hand of God all over our little boy's life.  Thank you once again for praying for us.  :-)  There still aren't words...