Happy Easter!

Easter is upon us!!! We can probably be more thankful for Christ's resurrection, but sometimes it is hard to imagine how. Over these three weeks we have met so many parents who are happy, at peace, and loving their children; and their troubles make our trials look ridiculously simple... Some children are on their 4th surgery, some have another 4-6 surgeries left. Some have lost one of their twins, others have children who are near vegetables and yet they love and laugh and live life to the fullest... The inspire me and lift me when, really, it should be the other way around. The beautiful thing about all of this is Christ's Atonement covers the pains and sorrows we all feel, and that these children will live again and are saved... how beautiful!

The older children came home last night. We were late getting out of Boise, so we were just starting to put things away when they arrived. It is so good to have them back! They had a wonderful Easter and all could tell us the true meaning of the celebration--even when loaded on heavy doses of sugar and chocolate! (speaking of, they are all in bed and the malt-eggs are calling my name... :)

We were all able to be at church today, a nice attempt at normalcy :) Things went well. I didn't know how much I had missed my Sunday School class... they are such a bastion of spiritual strength and love; some would be scared to enter a room of 17-yr olds, but with the Gospel and such wonderful youth, there is every reason to rejoice. I just feel badly that our Churrasco fell through yesterday, but we are rescheduling!

We had a great Easter dinner with Jen's parents and then they were off to home... they have been just fabulous! And, while I haven't really spoken with her, I think Carlynn and family are recovering well from my children (except they may miss them terribly!!! :)

The local Ward is gearing up to help us. The Relief Society Presidency came over tonight and we went through the schedule: Jen with Ben, me with the other children. I'll take them to some very kind families for the mornings while I work in the office then I'll pick them up and work from home and at night. We'll be with Jen and Ben on the weekends (or other days where we'll need a break) to go to the zoo, Discovery center, or any other activities!

Ben is doing so very well. Tonight they are going to 14cc's of milk every three hours. He is almost 1,100 grams now http://www.google.com/search?q=convert+1076+grams+to+ounces (there are 16 oz in a pound :) OR do it yourself at http://www.mostonline.org/BirthWeightConvCombo.htm (the pdf chart is helpful). He is just growing and eating very well. They will continue to increase his feedings.

He is doing so very well on the CPAP! He still has "spells" but I figure that will just make him a good writer someday ;) *snigger* Really, they call them spells, but it is really ABCDP(and a number of severity of intervention) So...

• A is for apnea (20 seconds not breathing),
• B - Brady Cardia (or slow heart-rate, we have seen the 30s and 40s),
• C - color (is he still pink or some other not-so-good color),
• D - desat (do his O2 saturation levels drop), and
• P - periodic (does he stop breathing or breathe shallowly for less than 20 seconds).

Then, the numbers are

1. baby recovers on their own,
2. baby needs some prodding (e.g., massage, flick feet)
3. turn up the oxygen (he is on room air right now)
   
4. something more... (we hope we don't see this one much/ever!)
   

So he has some p2 or bp2 every now and again, but he pulls a 3 once a day or so. The time is coming, so we are told, where these spells become very frequent, but that by 34-36 weeks things should calm down and pretty much stop. He should be breastfeeding about then as well. So much to look forward to and seemingly so much time to wait. We know it will go quickly (in retrospect, anyway) and it will be a 'blip' in life. Right now we are just grateful for everything we have.