handsome Austin

Austin's kidney tests were done yesterday. We don't have the official results back yet, but the nurse who did the test said she didn't see anything wrong. Pray that this will be true and we'll get a good report from the doctor.

Here are a few new pictures of Austin for you to enjoy!

Austin's kidney test...

Pray for Austin today. He's having some tests done on his kidneys. They're trying to find the cause of his Urinary Tract Infection that he had last week and make sure there aren't any other problems with his kidneys. Pray that the doctors will find nothing wrong. Pray that Austin will do well through the tests. Pray for Andy & Heather as they go through the day today.

Austin is doing so well!

Austin has had a GREAT week! It's been so good for him to actually be home, get into a routine, and enjoy his Mommy & Daddy 24 hours a day, with no nurses poking around him. Smile.

The good news is that he's eating very well the past few days! This is huge! We're so proud of him! Pray that he'll continue to eat well and stay healthy. Pray for Andy & Heather as they enjoy every moment they have with Austin. Pray for their ease of mind as they continue to give Austin all of his medicines, check his heart rate, oxygen levels, and etcetra. Pray that God will continue to give Andy, Heather, and Austin all the strength they need.

As I've said before, Thank you for all your continued prayers and support. It definitely makes life a lot easier knowing that we have all of you praying for us. Thank you!

Loving it at home!

Austin looks so cozy in his warm giraffe outfit! And he even got a little tummy time yesterday. It's such a blessing to finally have him home!

Couldn't ask for any better!

"I couldn't ask for any better!"... these were the doctor's exact words today. The doctor was very please with Austin's progress and how his heart looked today! Yay... he's a fighter! He's doing well!

Keep praying!

at home...and loving it!

Austin is loving being at home, and his Mommy & Daddy are loving it even more!

Austin continues to do well. Keep praying for him, and for Andy & Heather.

Austin has a routine doctor's appointment tomorrow morning with his cardiologist. Pray that all will be well. We're trusting that it will.

Thank you for your continued prayer and encouragement!

Home Sweet Home, Part 2

Austin is home! Austin was discharged from UAB this morning, and is doing well at home this afternoon! Andy & Heather are thrilled to have him home! And Austin is enjoying being at home as well! Pray that they'll have an uneventful week and things will continue to go well.

Austin has a few doctor's appointments this week, pray that they'll all go well and doctors will be pleased with his progress. Also, please remember to be praying for his kidneys and the test being done on his kidneys this week.

Going Home (Again) Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the magic day! Austin will be discharged tomorrow morning. He'll go home on antibiotics to continue treating his urinary tract infection (UTI) and to help make sure he gets well. His appetite seems to be better now, and he looks great. The sore on his arm is still healing, but looks a lot better than a week ago.

We have a huge praise to share! Austin's paralysis in his face is improving!!! He is now responding to touch when we touch that side of his face, and he's able to move his left eye more than before. This tells us that the damaged nerve is healing and he's doing well! It isn't healed completely, but it's showing improvement, keep praying!

In relation to Austin's UTI, one of his kidneys seems to be larger than the other. This could be temporary and caused by the UTI, but doctors aren't sure. Austin will go this week for a test at the doctor's office that will help us know more about exactly whats going on with his kidneys. Let's pray that when Austin goes to the doctor they find nothing wrong with his kidneys. Let's even pray that the UTI is gone and they can't see any difference between his two kidneys. God, we know you can do this! We trust you!

Continue praying for Andy & Heather. Especially, let's be praying for Heather. She ended up in the ER this week with an infection and very high temperature. This is a very stressful time right now for them with Austin in and out of the hospital; life is very stressful right now. This is taking it's toll on Andy & Heather. They're both doing amazingly well, and it's because of your prayers. Don't stop, keep lifting them up before the throne of grace.

We look forward to the day in a few years when we can look back at this journey and see all that God is bringing us through. It is our desire and prayer that God receive all the glory for everything He is doing in and through Austin's life.

We hope to be back at home this weekend

Austin continues to do well, and Andy & Heather are also doing better. There is light at the end of the tunnel and this is encouraging for us all.

Austin is responding to antibiotics and seems to be doing well. His appetite is lower than usual due to the medications, but he's still eating and gaining weight, this is good!

The goal for tomorrow is that his IV will come out and hopefully he can go home this weekend. The sore on his arm is healing some, it's still an open sore, but the redness is gone, this is a good sign of healing. The doctors have found an urinary tract infection which is also being treated by antibiotics, and should be gone soon.

Thank you for praying! The little guy is hanging in there!

Hanging in there...

Austin is still at UAB, but he continues to do well. Doctors still aren't sure exactly what's going on with his right arm, but they're treating him with antibiotics and keeping a close eye on him. As of right now, the doctors believe they'll be able to send him home in a few days.

Pray that Austin will stay strong and his arm will start to heal.

Austin is back in the hospital

Austin was discharged on Sunday and spent some precious time at home with his Mommy & Daddy on Sunday afternoon and Sunday night. Then on Monday his sore on his right arm got worse, and his stats dropped some. They visited the doctor, and ended up in the ER late Monday afternoon. Austin was transported from Shelby Hospital and ended up back at UAB.

He is currently in the NICU at UAB, and doctors want to keep him for a few more days. They're trying to treat his arm and figure out if it's infected or just scar tissue from where an IV was in his arm during surgery.

Pray that Andy & Heather, pray for their strength! Pray for little Austin, pray he'll remain strong. He is doing very well right now, except for his arm, so pray he'll continue to do well. Pray for doctors as they try to figure out exactly what is going on with his arm.

Home Sweet Home!

It's official! Austin was discharged from UAB today! He's home! Pray that he'll adjust to being at home and settle in. It'll be very different for him being at home from being in the NICU at UAB. Pray for Andy & Heather that they'll be able to treasure every miniute! Pray that Austin will remain healthy and continue to recover from his surgery.

Stay tuned for more updates!

One more day...

One more day, and Austin should be at home with his Mommy & Daddy! We're so excited! Pray that he'll have a great night tonight and everything will go smooth tomorrow. I'll update tomorrow afternoon once Austin is home safe and sound.

Keep praying... your prayers are felt here!

Pray for Sunday

No more IV!!! Austin had his IV removed today and is doing very well! He has had a great day! And he's enjoyed getting to have more milk and enjoy his Mommy and Daddy without so many wires hooked up to him. Smile. The magic day is Sunday, as of right now Austin will be discharged from the hosptial on Sunday. For the first time in his little precious life, he'll be able to leave the hospital and head home sweet home with his Mommy & Daddy.

Pray that no more complications will arise, and that Austin can be discharged on Sunday. Andy & Heather are afraid to get their hopes up, incase Austin can't go home on Sunday. Let's join them in praying that they can take their sweet baby boy home Sunday!

Please remember once they're home we still need to be very careful about visitors. (See the note below about visitors)

Austin LOVES his milk!

Austin is doing so well taking his bottle! Yay! They're still only giving him a little milk at a time, but he always wants more! Our goal today is that he can come back off the IV and have more milk!

A funny story to share...as of 10 p.m. last night Austin hadn't pooped in almost 24 hours and the nurse told us that when the doctors came around they'd probably give him a supository to help his bowels move. The doctors were checking on the baby beside us and all of the sudden Austin pooped in his diaper! We all laughed saying that Austin heard the doctors coming and didn't want the supository so he pooped in his diaper! It gave us all a good laugh!

Continue to pray that Austin will improve. Pray that he can come off the IV fluids today and increase his bottle feedings. Pray that he won't have any more blood in his poo-poo, and if it does continue, pray that they can find the cause. Also, remember to continue praying for Andy & Heather.

God is using Austin in a mighty way, he is already such a blessing to us all. Thank you for being a part of his life through prayer!

Happy Birthday Andy!

It's Andy's birthday! Austin says, Happy Birthday Daddy!

Austin is having a pretty good day today. He was finally able to have a bottle today, it was only a little bit of milk, but its helping build his stomach back up. Pray that he'll be able to tolerate the milk and continue to be able to have more as he builds his strength. Pray that Andy & Heather are able to relax and enjoy today.

We've had a stable day so far...

So far today Austin is doing well. He's still in the incubator and they're still trying to stabilize his medicines. But hopefully in a couple of days he can go back to the crib and will be stable enough to think about going home soon.

Andy & Heather were finally able to hold Austin again today! This is healing for everyone: Daddy, Mommy, and Austin! Smile.

Visiting Austin

Andy & Heather have asked that I share a few things regarding Austin having visitors. Right now while he is in the hospital he isn't really able to have many visitors other than Mommy & Daddy, smile.

But once he goes home we need to be extra careful about visitors. Austin must stay well so he can have the second surgery on time. This means that Andy & Heather must protect their home and keep it a healthy clean environment. I ask that you please respect them and do not visit unless Andy & Heather say it's okay.

Austin cannot have any sick visitors, even a small minor cold could make Austin very sick, so please please be sure that you are germ free. Also, we have to be very careful with Austin being exposed to cigarette smoke. We don't want to mess up anything to do with his heart, making him weak, or postpoining his second surgery. Please please respect this. I know it is hard, we all want to visit baby Austin and love on him, but we must respect his health right now.

Remember, please please contact Andy & Heather before you visit them, and make sure it's a good time to visit. This applies to when they're in the hospital, and even when they go home. We have to be very careful!!! Also, when you visit, be prepared to wash your hands very good. We want to keep Austin as healthy as possible, so he can be strong and ready to face surgery #2 in a few months.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding! It means a lot! Thank you!

Austin had a few small setbacks...

Once again, it's been an up an down weekend... originally the doctors said Austin would get to go home on Sunday (today), but then some things changed, and now they're waiting to see how he will improve.

Austin is back in an incubator and had some blood in his bowels over the weekend, they believe it is being caused by an infection. And they're treating him for the infection. He also still has an irregular heartbeat. Dr. Knott-Craig came by and saw Austin yesterday, he has changed some of his meds and we're hoping this will make a difference.

Andy and Heather are so ready to be settled at home. This constant up and down roller coaster is taking its toll on them, continue to pray for Andy & Heather, and especially for Austin. We want him healthy, but would also love to have him home!

Keep praying!!!

No news is good news!

Austin is the same... he's doing really well. He enjoys looking around in his crib, checking out his toys. And especially enjoys looking around at people. He's very alert and aware of those around him, it's so cute! Doctors continue to adjust his medications and regulate his stats. Hopefully he'll be home in a few days.

Keep praying! Austin is doing well!