Pictures of Emily Grace

Emily is in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in the Children's Hospital next to Abbott. She is stable. She does some breathing on her own but needs a ventilator. She has a tube down her throat for that. A tube through her nose goes into her stomach to pull gastric juices out. She has a catheter in uretha for urine. Another tube goes through her umbilical cord into her heart and takes
measurements, administers the water and nutrients she needs, and gives her medication to keep valves in her heart open, another to strengthen the beat of her heart and there are others that I don't remember. In a day or two they will possibly take her off the prostogladin which keeps her bypass open. They will moniter her breathing and oxygen saturation to see how she does on her own. At that time they will also be prepared to do open heart surgery if the numbers aren't good. Please pray she won't need surgery!

Otherwise she is doing good. We enjoyed the times we had to touch her today. She hardly opened her eyes so we got in real close when she did. Her eyes aren't as puffy as in that first picture. She's got beautiful skin. And her mouth is only distorted in the pictures because of the tubes. She cries, but it is silent because of all the tubes in her throat. That's heart-wrenching.

Joshua and Rachel and Papa (Renee's dad) came this afternoon. I think Joshua 'gets' it, he was pretty quiet around Emily. Rachel was more interested in Emily's fuzzy pink blanket like her own. Joshua got to push Mama in the wheel-chair. Later just Papa and Neena came to visit Emily with us. They are here now helping us figure out a plan. James had to return to Indiana tomorrow. Renee gets discharged tomorrow. But... the Carpenters have asked us to stay there with them. They are wonderful and totally giving like Jesus.

Renee (who I forgot to mention before was absolutely beautiful through the whole thing) is doing very well. She looks very good and should be in street clothes tomorrow.

Enjoy the pictures!

She cried!

Thank-you Jesus for that little voice!
Emily arrived at 1:27 today, June 2. She was taken immediately to a NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) next door to the delivery room. We could hear her screaming through the thick door. After a few minutes I (Joel) was allowed to see her. They placed a breathing tube down her throat. She doesn't always remember to breathe they told me. Into her bellybutton went a tube that goes right into her heart for medications and taking blood. Just before she got trollyed over to the Children's Hospital Renee got to see her for a moment. I went with her through the tunnel. Eventually she was placed in the Pediatric ICU. The x-rays and fetal ECHO (ultrasound) showed that her heart is still abnormal. She will stay on the breathing machine and medication to keep the bypass that still allows blood to get to the lungs open, for a few days. Then they will take her off the medication and see what happens. If she can't push blood through the proper avenues they will surgically place a shunt in her heart. Renee was eventually wheeled over to Children's (a ten-minute trip). She was pretty weak so we came back to Abbott and placed in a recovery room. I think Renee will heal very well. But she is feeling kinda lost and lonely being separated from this girl she's spent the last nine months with. Emily is so wired up we can't even hold her yet. But hopefully we'll have a lifetime to connect with our daughter. Thank you for praying us through labor and delivery. We'll keep you all posted. Grace, Joel
P.S. Renee reminded me of some important things to share! Emily Grace was 19 1/2 inches long (just like Joshua and Rachel). She weighs 5 lbs 15 oz. She's got dark fuzzy hair - a little more than the other two did. And despite all the tubes and wires and stickers, she's adorable - looks very much like Rachel did as a newborn. Even the rest of her body and the way she lies is just like the other two. Back to Renee - bye.

Scenes from Minneapolis

While Joel and Renee are in labor, Renee's dad has the computer with the pictures, so he is posting for them:

.Room at the Hospital.

We're on our way to the hospital now, there is room for us to deliver Emily.

.Sunday.

Yesterday Ryan and Emily were married in Richfield, MN. It was a beautiful wedding, with about 175 people. The ceremony was glorifying to Jesus, we could tell immediately that Ryan and Emily both have hearts completely in love with Jesus. It was very refreshing. Reception followed, seeing family and friends and acquaintances. I (Renee) don't do too well in these kind of situations, but it went alot better than I anticipated.
One more day with Joshua and Rachel, then tomorrow - if there is room in the hospital - Renee will be induced. Please pray for courage and trust in God as we come to the hardest time of this journey yet. Whatever you are doing Jesus glorify your Name.