Henry again

Here's Henry's newest news:

"December 16, 2008

Hey friends and family,

Well, here we are...the week before Christmas! We hope you are all enjoying this special season and ready to celebrate our Savior's birth!

We're doing pretty well...but we could use some prayer for our sweet boy and his feedings. As you know, we made the difficult decision to start bottles in addition to the breastfeeding, in an effort to get us home as quickly as possible. Those were going OK at first...but as they increased the number of bottles he was getting each day, he started to tolerate them less and less. His heart rate would drop ("brady") and he'd leak lots of milk out the sides of his mouth. They thought maybe he was getting tired, so they asked if we would be willing to decrease the number of breastfeeds each day, to let him focus the majority of his energy on what he is "best at" right now. Reluctantly, we agreed. Unfortunately, he was still having a bit of trouble with his bottles, so they decreased those as well, in case fatigue was still the issue. That didn't seem to help much, so they decided to add a thickening agent to his milk, in case the problem was managing the large volumes of milk that come out of the bottle. Apparently, these thickeners often help quite a bit with the bradys, as well as the leaking. Unfortunately, it seems that this new consistency is just not his cup of tea (er, milk). He fought and spit and gagged and thrust the bottle out with his tongue for the first four attempts. They stopped mid-bottle on #4 and switched it out with a bottle filled with the natural consistency milk...and he did the same thing with that bottle now. I personally think he was expecting the same thickened milk, so he wasn't willing to try the new bottle. So, because it seems like the thickener was the change that coincided with his refusal of the bottle, that has been stopped and we're praying that he begins to take the regular bottles again tonight. Needless to say, we're a bit frustrated. It was a very difficult decision to begin the bottles in the first place...and now it feels like we've created an even bigger problem. Please pray that our sweet boy miraculously takes his milk by mouth very soon...in whatever way the Lord intends.

He has to take all of his feeds by mouth for us to go home...this is all that we are waiting on and working towards. The nurses who've all along sung a song of us being home by Christmas seem to be quieting down a little these days. But, we've assured them that we are just fine being here in Little Rock this year. We are thankful that we are all together...and we can celebrate Christmas just as enthusiastically here as we can at home.

I also have a special prayer request for Steve and I. We've been so blessed that these past three months have brought us closer than ever...praise God for that! But, it seems like the past few days have seen us both a little more on edge and sensitive. I think the time here is taking it's toll on us (and the enemy is taking advantage of that, of course.) We're both ready to go home and get back to normal. I can't speak for Steve and what is specifically challenging for him right now, but I know that I am having a hard time lately with feeling sort of displaced from my job as the mama of the family. Henry's nurses take care of him much more than I am able to (particularly in the area of feeding...which is hard for my still very tender feelings about our breastfeeding difficulties)...and Steve has (necessarily) had to take over most of An Na's care since so much of my time and focus is at the hospital. I'm just ready to go home and be the mama again! I know that I am far from enjoyable to be around a lot of the time. Anyway, any prayers you could say on our behalf would very much be appreciated.

Thank you, once again, for your prayers for our family. We love you.

Nikki (Steve, An Na, and Henry, too!)"