3April2011 1800

Stacey and I took my mother down to see Jr. We walked in the NICU to see lil man. My mother was extremely nervous. When we got to him, I could tell that he was resting. She had also told us that they had already had an xray on the chest tube and it was in the correct spot. We didn’t stay with him very long because I didn’t want to disturb him and wanted him to be the most comfortable during this process. We left the NICU.

3April2011 1500

Stacey and I went down to visit lil man. This was the very first visit since the insertion of the chest tube. We walked in to see him and I felt a feeling of peace in the air. We walked over to Jr and noticed that he was sleeping well. The nurse told us that they had given him something to relax him after the insertion of the chest tube and that he would be groggy if woke up. Stacey and I just looked in on him and told him that we loved him and that this was going to help our lil man to breathe. I told her that from then on we would make our visits very short so that he could rest and heal.
On our way out, I noticed a picture on the wall that I had passed several times. This picture touched me so much that I had to take a picture of it.
It was a scene from the NICU. It was a beautiful painting!!! There was a baby laying in a medical crib with a nurse assisting him. That was pretty cool. What got me was the angel flying above guarding the lil fella. I immediately said Praise God, because I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was in there with us and was watching over our son.
After thinking about the painting, I asked the nurse who painted that beautiful pic??? She began to tear up. She told me that a lady who worked in the NICU had painted it. It was her vision. I was intrigued. She began to tear up more because the painting had a special meaning to it. A very nice lady that worked there had passed and she was remembered in the painting. This is a special piece of artwork.

3April 2011 around 1445

We were visiting back in the room and the phone rang. Stacey answered and told me that the call was for me. I took the call and it was the nurse calling me to tell me that JR had just had the chest tube inserted and that he had done just fine. I was truly excited. She said he might be sore for a few days and that he would need to rest. She also said that he was breathing very well on his own. We went down to the NICU to visit him.

3April2011 1400

We walked in the NICU. We were met by lil mans nurse. She began to tell us that Jr was definitely feeling better. She said as soon as they relieved the air, his breathing slowed down because he wasn’t having to occupy his whole chest cavity. This was great news and we didn’t mind hearing it. We didn’t visit long because I wanted him to recuperate. We left him to sleep. That was good news.

3April 2011 around 1330

We were sitting up in the room visiting and the phone rang. I answered it and it was the Dr telling me that they had relieved 120mL of air from lil mans chest cavity. She told us that as soon as the air was gone, his vitals went to perfect. We were completely relieved. She also reminded me that if he didn’t get better quick, he would get the chest tube. I told her that we would cross that bridge when we got there. I got off the phone and told everyone the news. This is what I had been praying about. An answer. Now that we had a problem there was a solution. That was when I prayed to the Lord and told him many thanks for the answer.
Stacey and I went to visit Jr

3April2011 1300

My father came up to see us. He brought Jr a gift basket that Elaine had made and a vase of flowers and a teddy bear. We talked for a bit and then I took him down to see Jr. We walked in the NICU. We walked over to Jr. My dad said he looked just like me. All we did was look in on him. I told my dad about the options and then as we were about to leave, the Dr stopped me.
She told me that she had some news for me. She immediately had my undivided attention. She began to tell us that Jr did in fact have a hole in his lung and that they were going to puncture his side to relieve it, and that after this procedure was done, Jr would be able to breathe. I was totally excited. We had an answer. I went back to the room and told Stacey the good news.

3April2011 1100

We came into the NICU. We walked over our lil man. I told my wife that we were going to be strong. We looked in on him. He looked just as peaceful as he did before. At this point the only difference was that Jr was wearing the oxygen tube. We were only able to visit with him for a short time because the xray tech showed up to do the xrays. We stayed and watched the xrays. After they were done, we walked to Jr and helped to calm him. I reached over to him and kissed him and told him that God was in control. Stacey and I left so that he could get some rest.

                                                  Before diaper change

                                                  After diaper change