Ups and Downs

Ups: Hayden's pooped without a suppository yesterday morning!
Downs: He hasn't pooped in 34 hours.

Ups: After fighting a fever above 38C for close to 72 hours, Hayden is finally back within the normal range at about 36C.
Downs: I have no clue what that means because I don't know how to convert using the metric system!

Ups: Hayden's weight is up to 2590 grams, which is the highest it has been since he was born at 2770g. On the morning of the 20th, he had dropped to 2580 grams, with his lowest weight being 2415g on 1/23.
Downs: I have no clue what that means because I don't know how to convert using the metric system!


Ups: Having the great opportunity and experience to stay at the Ronald McDonald House in West County. What an wonderful place. It is 2.5 years old, was the 300th RMH in the nation, and it is truly an amazing place filled with wonderful volunteers and great dinners.
Downs:  Getting used to "community" living where people don't pick up after themselves and some people think running a bowl under the sink and using their hand to swish water around it for ten seconds is cleaning the bowl!

Ups: Getting up early and being able to start the coffee at the Ronald McDonald House.
Downs: Getting up early to start the coffee, trying to help a guy who speaks zero English make coffee and then realizing he wasn't using the coffee maker to make coffee. He was using the coffee pot to put a packet of hot chocolate in, put cold water in the pot, swishing it around, then set it on the coffee pot warmer to heat it up. I tried to help, but couldn't bridge the communication gap. I let that one go and opted for a Mobil On the Run coffee on my way to the hospital.

Ups: Seeing my boy smile and make cute little noises.
Downs: Leaving him at night, even though I am only about 15 minutes away and I KNOW he is in excellent care.

Ups: Spending some excellent, quality time with my wife.
Downs: None here!

Ups: Being able to show God's love to our "next door neighbors."
Downs: Absolutely none. We have been so blessed with God's love and mercy. Our friends and family have lifted us up in so many ways. It was so amazing to be able to do that for somebody else and let them feel God's love.

Ups: Seeing my parents transform into grandparents. It has been amazing how God has been working on their hearts and turning two already amazing/wonderful people into even more amazing people!
Downs: Kicking them out of the NICU when they are visiting. They love Hayden so much, it always hurts to see those you love "hurting." They are not really hurting, they just don't like not being around him, seeing him, and hearing him.


Our life down here is like a roller coaster. As I said to a gentleman at breakfast at the RMH this morning, this morning was such a great day! Hayden's temperature had finally gotten back down to the 98.6 area and his weight is back up to 5lbs 11oz (it pays to have a conversion app on your iPhone!!!) Tomorrow will probably be a day that is a struggle. However, we continue to thank God for what he has done for us, even when  it involves things that we wouldn't choose or ask for ourselves.

I am truly amazed at the people who are following, praying, and sending love to Kelsea, Hayden, and myself. My jaw hit the floor when I looked at the stats and saw how many people have viewed the different posts on this blog over the past 24 hours. It has truly been a humbling experience. One that we are still learning how to deal with and accept. We don't always get to thank everybody for your kind words or gestures, or respond to your e-mails, or your Facebook posts. However, know that we are seeing them, Hayden is seeing them, and they are lifting us up every minute!