July 2011 - Ruby turns 2!

Home again -

Friends,

Ruby was discharged from the hospital Sunday afternoon and we are now home again. We are home where there are flat beds, a carpet, space, privacy, quiet nights, and Ruby not strapped to a bed through monitors and tubes; all the mundane things that we collapse with gratitude for - having been without them the last two weeks.

We are grateful we got to go home :) - and with Ruby (!!). Thank you for your prayer and support. Ruby is still weak and not feeling well, but doing better than she was on every level. Doctors think it will take a few weeks for her to recover from the respiratory and digestive stress she was under while in the hospital.

We are transitioning home, which is also a challenge as Ruby was put on a 24hr regimen while in the hospital (for feedings/medication). We are home trying to figure out the best way to make it all work from here.

Thanks for your continued prayer support for our family,

The Lord bless you and keep you,

Make His face shine upon you,

And grant you peace.

Katie.

p.s. And now we begin our countdown to Ruby's 2nd birthday - July 10, which feels like an enormous gift after the last few weeks. Celebrate .....

June 2011

Friends,

Last Monday we brought Ruby to the emergency room with a few concerns. She was admitted to the hospital that evening, and was rushed to ICU within 48 hours with severe respiratory distress. After a few days of intensive care, she was moved back to the main hospital. We have been in the hospital with her for 9 days now. The doctors feel that she has some kind of virus that got into her lungs. However, they don't know for sure as tests have come back negative and her symptoms are persisting for longer than what would be expected with a standard virus. She is currently supported on oxygen, but has managed to wean significantly from the levels she required last week.

Its been very difficult to see Ruby suffer, and also hard to be faced with constant medical decisions. Alongside the hardship, we have also experienced deep deep grace in and through this time. The brightness of His presence is so evident in the thick darkness. It's real, and we really are experiencing Him in a new way - His goodness. We have shared tender and precious moments together as a family this week; moments before God that are re-shaping our lives for the better.

So ... we are here - living in the hospital - eyes peeled for all the beauty we can possibly take hold of in this pile of ashes. ... and it is definitely here ... grace and beauty penetrating through the pain, gems beneath the rubble ... in fact - the mining of rubies - yes - the finding of - ruby.

Thanks for your continued love and support,

and thanks for your prayers for Ruby,

Katie.

• Pray that Ruby would be able to breath again on her own without oxygen (that all congestion and obstruction in her lungs would be gone)
• Pray that the virus/infection would leave Ruby's body completely
• Pray for grace in feeding and growth for Ruby; that she will start to gain weight again
• Discharge from the hospital! :)
• This environment is exhausting in many ways. Pray for Mitch and myself that we would come through this with more peace and joy than we have ever had. ... I think that's very possible.

May 2010

Friends,

Thank you for praying for Ruby.

We celebrated graduation with Mitch last weekend and it was very fun. We were really grateful to have Ruby with us. Often times we are unable to do much all together as a family, especially when Ruby is sick. It was really meaningful to us that we could all be there together.

We had a bit of progress in growth the week before last (she gained a 1/2lb!), and it was the most wonderful thing as we have not seen any gain for a long time. After a few days, however, she got sick and the gain seemed to dissipate - way to fast. It was hard. At least we know that it is possible for her to gain weight on the schedule and feeds that she is on now. I think she just needs a break from other challenges (congestion, constipation, vomiting, teething) so that she has a chance to rest and grow.

Let's thank the Lord for that small bit of growth - and continue to pray that everything hindering Ruby's development would be moved out of her life - and she would be free to thrive in her physical body.

Let's declare in prayer over Ruby this month that she is "FREE TO THRIVE."

Thanks again for your support.

Friends,

Happy Easter!

I apologize for the late post this month. It has been a busy time for us with Mitch finishing up his graduate degree. (Yeah, Mitch!) We are doing well. Thanks for continuing to pray with and for us - we appreciate you.

Ruby has had a difficult time cutting teeth resulting in some more weight loss, an infection in her gums, and a lot of crying. She has cut at least 5 teeth in the last two weeks which has been really hard for her. She's such a champion, and I think it's all stopped for now. The last two days have been more calm for all of us.

PRAISES: We continue to celebrate Ruby's life - whose cute noises - and now teethy smile - delights our hearts so much. She really seems to be hearing more also; responding to noises more regularly which is a very big praise to God.

ASKS: Weight gain and growth have not been happening the last few months despite many efforts. It is concerning, and we're doing what we can while continuing to pray for a breakthrough in this area. Please pray that Ruby would GROW this month; both in physical weight and physical strength. If Ruby starts sitting on her own soon, holding her head, and so on - it is going to help so many things (like the curvature of the spine, digestion, etc.).

THANKS!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

March 2011

Friends,

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Matthew 8:3

Praise Reports: LIFE & JOY: We celebrated 20 months this week of Miss Ruby Joy. She continues to delight us with her laughs and smiles.

Prayer Requests: WEIGHT GAIN & HEALING FOR DIGESTION: We really need a breakthrough in weight gain for Ruby. Weight loss the last few weeks has been very stressful and hard. She has had some more severe digestive issues recently and we're not sure why, but feel like our efforts in addressing them are exhausted. We have also had some difficulty the last few weeks with the bracing treatment resulting in a number of visits for adjustments to the brace.

Keep declaring life and health - keep believing. "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would SEE the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

Peace,

Mitch, Katie, Ruby Joy

February 2010

Friends,

Thank you for your perseverance in love and faith for Ruby's life!

PRAISE REPORTS:

* A straighter spine: The bracing treatment has been miraculously successful so far in helping to hold Ruby's spine in a straight position. A few short months ago, this was a life threatening condition without a much hope in treatment options. After one month in a scoliosis brace, Ruby's x-ray showed the curvature had improved from 60degrees to 25degrees, bringing it way off the critical line of safety for her major organs. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING. She is wearing a brace now 22hr a day. Let's agree in prayer for the complete healing of her spine.

* Less vomiting: The vomiting is the least it has ever been at this point. She still suffers with it on occasion - but it is not nearly as often as it was at one time.

* Joy: Ruby brings us joy!

PRAYER REQUEST:

* Digestion and Weight Gain: Ruby has not gained weight for many months now, and has suffered some significant weight loss. Despite a lot of effort, we have not seen progress in this area for a long time. It's been hard and stressful as the low body weight carries with it some significant challenges. Pray with us that Ruby's digestive system would function normally and she would start growing again!

* Complete Healing: That Ruby would be "whole and healed" on earth as it is in heaven.

Thank you.

in FAITH,

in a God who HEARS,

and ANSWERS

YOUR prayer.

Mitch & Katie