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

3April2011 1030

Stacey and I had been woke up at 1030 by the Dr to hear that our lil man was having a hard time breathing. She began to tell us that he had to be put back on oxygen and that he was not able to eat due to that fact. The Dr told us that she had done an xray of Jrs lungs and that they found a large grey area in his chest cavity. Stacey and I were crushed. Our lil man was only about 3 ½ weeks early. She told us that they were going to have to run some tests on him and that hopefully, those tests would give us some answers. She told us that she thought he might have a hole in his lungs. We were scared to the fact that he was so tiny and could have issues with his lungs. She did tell us that if he did have a hole in his lung, that it could be repaired. She said that they would run the 2 tests on Jr and then we would know for sure about his condition. The first test was another chest xray. If the chest xray came back with the large grey area, they would have to do a light test on his stomach. If there was a hole in Jrs lungs, we had 2 options. First one was that they would puncture my lil mans side and relieve the air, the second was that if the hole didn’t close, they would have to insert a chest tube and connect it to a pump so that the air going into his cavity could be relieved. I was terrified that this was happening. After the Dr left, I did my best to calm Stacey down. I told her that we would be strong for him and that the good Lord had him in His arms of strength.
I then went to the bathroom and closed the door. I went to my knees and prayed to the Lord. I did this because I didn’t want to upset her more than she was already and that I was falling apart and didn’t want her to see it. First, I asked the Lord to lift us up from this and keep us safe. I prayed for my sons health and all the babies in the NICU. I asked him to take my strength and health and give it to my son. I told him that I would do that for him, he did it for me.
I must say that hitting my knees was the best thing I could have done, for all of us. After I put myself back together, I came out of the bathroom with a plan.
Our plan was to not give up and to not give in. We would not let our new little boy know any different. We would act as if nothing was wrong. We headed down to the NICU and seen Jr.
This is my very first testimony.
This is also the day that Jr started his recovery.

April 2, 2011 2:50 p.m.

I was in my room visiting with my parents. Rob came in and asked if I wanted to go visit lil man. Of course I did!! This would be my 1^st time getting to see him since I gave birth to him. I was so anxious to see him. He rolled me in there in my wheelchair. Josh was sitting in the recliner and had my lil man. I could tell he was just so in love with him already. So I got my wheelchair set next to him. Josh struggled to get the recliner down so he could pass lil man to me. He couldn’t figure the chair out….lol. Once I got lil man Josh went back up to the room to visit his office..lol. And Rob stayed with me while I had my visit so I wasn’t there alone. I was a lil nervous holding him cause he is so small and fragile. All I could do was just look at him!! He is just so beautiful! I can’t believe how much he looks like his big sister!!! I gave him kisses and just talked to him. Told him mommy was there holding him and that I loved him. I was overjoyed that I finally got to hold him.

Josh came back down and a few min later Rob decided that he was going to go. My arm started to get a little tired so I switched arms. As I held him he would make the cutest lil faces and move his lil mouth. It was just oh so cute! He kept spitting up a few times. So the nurse thought we should unwrap him and put him on his belly. So that’s what we did. He looked so cute laying there with his lil bottom up in the air. He had opened his eyes and I was excited!! Then we decided that we would let him rest cause I had a pretty long visit with him.

2April2011 time unsure of

Stacey’s brother Rob came to visit us. I took Rob down to the NICU. Rob got to see our Lil Man. It just so happened that we made it in time for a feeding. I was able to feed Jr. I was very excited. Next, I got to hold my lil man. Oh, it was awesome. I talked to him and rubbed his face. I was in heaven. I looked over at Rob and asked if he would like to hold him and he replied that he would be honored. Rob held the lil fella for quite some time. I ended up getting him back so Stacey could come down and hold her baby. When Stacey came down, I immediately gave him to her. I had to leave to make an office visit.

2April2011 1130

I took MaKenzie Mae down to meet her brother for the very first time. We cleaned up and walked into the unit. She was amazed to see all of the equipment. I walked her over and picked her up. She looked at her brother and said “Hey brother, this is your big sister“. I just about melted. Then, I got to hold Jr for the first time since walking him over to the unit. The tears flowed as I held my lil man. He then opened up his eyes and I started talking to him. I brought punkin over and she was just a talkin to him. Then I made her day by letting her hold him. She sat in my lap and I assisted her into holding him. I could tell this is what she wanted. The tears flowed some more. We sat there for a good while and just talked to him. She made sure she kissed him and told him she loved him before we left.
This by far was the best I had felt in quite some time.
WOW

2April2011 0840

Stacey & I did not sleep good the 1st night. We both woke up around 0730. I had to wait until the NICU reopened at 0830 to go visit. I went down to the unit at 0840, talked to Jr's nurse. She said he had been sleeping well. And had been spitting up some. I didn’t get to see his eyes that morning. He did seem to be peaceful. I stayed with him for a good while.
I came back to the room and told Stacey that he seemed to be doing fine.

2April2011 0300

I had put Stacey down to bed.  I decided that I would take a stroll down to the NICU.  I walked over to my lil man.  He was calm and I had noticed that the oxygen had been removed.  I reached over and said "What's daddy's little man doing?"  He opened his eyes, looked right at me and grunted.  And i told him Daddy's here.  I could see that they were a dark color.  I stayed and talked to Jr for a little while.
His nurse said they had been trying to get a peek. But I got the first one :)) She also told me that he had been breathing on his own for a while.  His levels are coming up. And hopefully he will get out soon.  I was overjoyed.  Jr's stats looked really good.  I stayed in there with him for quite a while. 
I came back to the room and Stacey was still awake.  I told her that i got to see his eyes and that he grunted at me. And gave her an update on how he was doing.

April 1, 2011

The day he was born.
Stacey was 36 weeks and 5 days.
It was just a normal day. I was just relaxing and laying down on the couch.  Sat up to go upstairs to pee.  And as i walked up stairs i said to myself "man it feels like i just pee'd on myself".  I get to the bathroom sit down and yep i (what looked like pee) had pee'd all in my pants.  When i stood up i felt like i had to go again.  I called Josh and told him i think my water had broken.  After i got off the phone with him i called Cobb Hospital.  Talked to the nurse and she said it sounds like it broke, but just come here and get checked out to make sure.

We arrive at the hospital around 9:00 p.m.
Water was broken and they are doing emergency c-section.

Joshua Aron Jr. was born at 10:47 p.m.

5 lbs 14.1 oz  18 in long.

After he was born, the doctors were checking him out due to the emergency c-section.  They noticed that he was laboring to breathe.  They worked with Jr for about 15 minutes before they decided to admit him to NICU.  I walked him down to the NICU while Stacey was getting stabilized and they worked on him for another 18 minutes.  They determined that Jr was in dire need of oxygen.  His levels were extremely low.  After they gave him the oxygen, he started to calm down.  Jr was a lil on the premature side.


Stacey had been taken to her room.  Got all settled in and was visiting with family and friends.

Mak was telling me to get a good nights sleep.

Welcome to Joshua Jr.'s Journey

We created this so that we could keep everyone updated on everything that happens while he is in the NICU. After every visit with him we will post the update on here along with pictures from that visit.  God is soo good and we know he is in his healing hands.
May god bless you as you follow his journey thru life. And watch our little miracle get better each day.
Love,
Josh Sr, Stacey
MaKenzie and Joshua Jr.