Happy 2 month birthday!!

THIS PICTURE DEFINATELY IS WORTH REPEATING!

Well, we have made it and fortunately it is going by fast! The kids 2 months old today. To celebrate I thought that I would just list some of the things that they have overcome, I am sure that I will miss something. There are a lot of things! But heregoes:

DAWSON JOSEPH:
Pulmonary Hypertension, adema, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, many infections, heart surgery at 2 weeks old and about 2lbs. 14oz. to repair a PDA (valve in his heart that needed to close), went through intubation for ventilator, came off ventilator to get on C-PAP, got off C-PAP to go onto a nasal cannula, got cannula out and breathed all on his own. Got a severe infection needed 2 more transfusions to add to many previous ones. 2 very intrusive radiology sessions, many more exrays. Diagnosed with NEC (infection in stomache that causes some of the bowels to die and need to be surically removed. Brain bleeds (grade 3 & 4, the worst you can have), reabsorbed the grade 4 on his own with very small amount of damage to the brain matter, many transports to and from Primary Childrens Hospital for tests and surgeries. 2 days before his 4 week birthday and at just over 3 lbs, he had Brain surgery (placing a reservoir into the ventricles to help drain blocked cerebral spinal fluid) which is not longer needing to be tapped because he is absorbing it all on his own for nowand ventricles are returning to normal size slowly but surely, and bowel surgery, where the bottom 3rd, which is only about 8mm of his small intestines were removed. He got an ostomy (small part of the intestine is poking out of his tummy and a bag is attatched to collect all of his "stool". Re-intubated for all of this and then back to CPAP and finally now breathing on his own again. He has added another couple of blood transfusions, had way to many blood tests to count, is now being treated for a urinary tract infection, which he will overcome also. He is really doing good at nursing and sleeps almost constantly.

STILL TO OVERCOME SO WE CAN GO HOME:
No more A's & B's (apnea and bradycardia-holding breath and dropping heart rate), All feedings coming from mom or a bottle and gain weight, get into an open crib by holding his own temperature, gain a little more weight (about 4 more oz.), one more bowel surgery, the much anticipated putting his gut back together, and a speedy recovery. This is all fairly easy stuff!!


MALLORY KAYLA:
Pulmonary Hypertension, adema, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, many infections, heart surgery at 2 weeks old and about 2lbs. 10oz. to repair a PDA (valve in her heart that needed to close), went through intubation for ventilator, extubated put on CPAP, reintubated and on ventilator, extubated and CPAP, had to try 3 different types of CPAP to find one she wouldn't tear out, nasal cannula, breathing on her own. Many Xrays and blood tests, many blood transfusions. Diagnosed with two grade 3 bleeds in her brain, and at 1 day before 4 week birthday and just over 3 lbs. has brain surgery to put in a reservoir to help pull the CSF fluid out of the clogged ventricles. She is now being tapped about 1 time a week and that could be getting even less frequent. She was re-intubated, extubated and put on CPAP 2 times before getting that down, put on a cannula and now is breathing completely on her own. She is now overcoming a small cold and doing pretty good at nursing. She is a little worried and feels like she is out of control when ever she gets milk and she will stop nursing, but I am sure she will pick i back up soon. Controling her temp and she is now in an open crib and has gone 7 days without A's and B's and is now 5lbs 6oz.!!

STILL TO OVERCOME SO WE CAN GO HOME:
All feeding to come from mom or a bottle and gain weight, no longer require having her reservoir tapped, and pass her next eye exam in two weeks.

As you read this it is a little overwhelming to think about what these two sweet babies have gone through! I want you all to know that I believe with all of my heart that they were sent here for all of us. How sweet it is that my Father in Heaven loves us enough to send to our family two babies that are willing to Glorify their Heavenly Father and help others testimony and faith in Him be strengthened no matter how hard it has been and might be for them. These first months of their lives are to testify to all of us that the Priesthood has been restored and that by its power and through faith, healings can and are happening and that our Father is Heaven hears and answers our prayers and that He loves us more than we can comprehend, no matter our imperfections! Most of you knew me when I was about 19 years old and making some horrible choices. I am sure that many of you spent much time praying that I would change. Ryan and I truly can testify to you about the power of the Atonement, because of it our sins were forgiven and I would say forgotten. How can I not know that the Lord loves us when He has and continues to bless us so much.

I hope that as this experience continues all of us will look at these sweet babies that love their Father in Heaven and all of us enough that they would be willing to experience all of this to inspire us to be more faithful and mindful of the Lords will and his Love, and try a little harder to do what is right so that He can continue to bless our lives!

We love you all and thank you for your prayers and your love!

Love, The Lindstroms