2 Weeks Old

Becky and I would like to thank each of you for the prayers, emails and phone calls. Your support over the last 2 weeks has been wonderful.

Titus is 2 weeks old today and is holding very steady in the NICU at Medical City. There have been many evaluations over the last week. The CT Scan showed that he is a candidate for the jaw distraction surgery. Since Titus is breathing and maintaining on his own, they have decided to perform this surgery when he is a little older and bigger. That could be in 4 weeks - or could be in 3 months. We do not know the timeframe at this point. The initial genetic testing came back negative on the 10 major syndromes they are looking for and his blood has been sent to Houston for a chromosonal test. This will take 2-3 weeks before we get the results back. There are other items that have been detected that could be an issue later on or will never be an issue - at this point, there is no way to know. But the doctors and therapists have been encouraged by the strength and development they see Titus exhibiting over the last week. He is arching and moving his head like newborns do, fussing when he is uncomfortable or pooping, reaching and grasping with his hands (and very long fingers).

Titus will have surgery tomorrow to install a G-Tube for feeding. Currently, he is being fed through a tube through his nose, but in order for Titus to come home, a feeding tube will be installed directly into his GI tract. Surgery is scheduled for 12:30pm tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 29. Although the surgery is considered minor and should only take about 20 minutes to perform, the main concern is putting him under anesthesia and making sure his breathing is maintained during surgery. Once he is out from surgery, they anticipate another week in the NICU before he will be able to come home. But, once Becky and I are trained on taking care of the feeding tube, he will come home on a monitor. We are thrilled (and a little nervous), but the doctors have stated that Titus will do much better at home than he will at the NICU.

Becky and I want to share this - Titus is a blessing to us and God made him exactly the way he wanted him to be. There are times when discussing the congenital defects with the doctors that it can seem overwhelming. Titus will have numerous surgeries, therapy, and issues to deal with as he grows older. We can only face them one at time when the time arrives.

As I was driving home tonight from the hospital, I reflected on Jeremiah 29:13 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, Plans to give you hope and a future". Nowhere does it say that those plans include a defect-free body, or completely healthy life or a future that will not have obstacles and bumps in the road. But it does say that God KNOWS and that God has a PLAN. Our faith (and Titus' faith when he gets older) will be to trust and obey the plan God has for Titus.

We will update you as we know more - thanks again for the prayers. It has truly provided a peace during this time.