4 Weeks Old...

It has been a little while since the last update.  Zach is 4 weeks old today and will already be a month old this coming Saturday.  His due date wasn’t until September so he is still not considered full term yet.  There have been a lot of small ups and downs (to be expected in the NICU).  Here are some things to get everyone up to speed…

Zachary has made a few positive steps this week. His broken arm is healed and the bandage was removed. He is expected to be off of breathing assistance again by the end of the week.  The nurses had to give him an IV again to administer some medication over the last couple of weeks but that was removed this week. On Tuesday, Zach’s doctor determined that he was ready to try feeding from a bottle.  He took to the bottle like a pro and drank 17ML of milk the first try!!  They will continue working with him until he is taking all feedings from the bottle. 

 On a less positive note, Zachary has been loosely diagnosed with congenital muscular dystrophy. His doctor has been very concerned about his lack of muscle tone & movement. There are still more tests pending that will confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of his condition.

 Blair and Keri are staying positive overall but need your prayers while they await more answers and information on their baby boy.  They have been very pleased with the care that Zach has been receiving at Scott and White.  At this time, they still do not know how long his NICU stay will be.

Blair and Keri cannot express their appreciation for your many prayers & encouraging messages during this difficult time.  Knowing that so many prayers are going up for their family really helps them get through the difficult days.  

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed , for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Specific Prayer Requests:

* Zachary's breathing stays strong
* Zach will have continued success with feeding
* Blair & Keri receive knowledge and strength to make the right decision about Zach’s health on a daily basis


Nurse Sydney (The nurses are having so much fun dressing Sydney up)
This is a picture of Sydney after she helped change Zach's diaper



Keri and Zach after his bottle feeding yesterday



Zachary's 2nd Week

Blair and Keri want to again thank you for your continued prayer for Zachary & their family. We are thankful that Blair and Keri received the blood work/test results they were awaiting and all were negative.  This was an encouragement to Blair and Keri. Zach's doctor is concerned about Zach's muscle tone & movement at this time. Tests targeting Zach's muscles will begin this week. The return of these tests could be anywhere from a few weeks to months. Specific prayer requests include:
* Speedy return of muscles tests
* Zach may have comfort while undergoing tests and for continued health improvements
* Blair & Keri may have strength & courage to face each new day
* Patience and understanding for the entire family




Now I have to show off some beautiful artwork that Sydney made to hang next to Zach's hospital bed.
Isn't she just the sweetest???  She loves her baby brother!
(I'm a pretty proud Aunt)

Weekend Updates

First things first…. Mommy and Daddy got to hold their precious baby boy this weekend!!!

 

The doctors approved Blair and Keri to hold Zach for the first time on Saturday and they, of course, jumped on the opportunity. They were elated to have their sweet baby in their arms after a long week and a half (I’m sure it felt more like an eternity) of not being able to hold him!  I was so honored to see Keri hold Zach for the first time and he seemed so happy in his mommy’s arms.  He even let out a little “coo” when hearing her voice. J  And by the looks of the picture, he looks very happy in his daddy’s arms as well!   Sydney has been the best big sister!  She loves to look in on him and has made some beautiful artwork to hang near Zach’s hospital bed.

Since the last update, Zach started having some heart rate drops that were mostly remedied by stimulating him and repositioning him slightly.  Sunday night he had a couple of significant drops in heart rate and his doctor decided to put the oxygen tube back on his nose, which gives him minimal breathing assistance.  Blair and Keri are still awaiting blood work/test results that were taken just after Zach was born.

Blair and Keri want to thank you all so much for your continued thoughts, caring words, generous offers, and most of all your prayers.  They have definitely been feeling the power of your prayers over the past couple of weeks.  We ask that you please continue praying for baby Zach, Blair, Keri, and Sydney.  

I will continue to post updates with any new information.  Thank you! 

Zachary's 1st Week

Blair and Keri want to first thank each and every one of you for your continued prayer, concern, and love.  Nothing has gone unnoticed but they are finding it difficult to have time to answer everyone’s questions about baby Zach.  They asked me (Keri’s sister, Sheila) to start this blog so they can direct everyone here and I will be working with them to keep this site as up to date as possible.

I will start from “the beginning”…




On Wednesday, July 25^th, Keri and Blair went in for their 34 week pregnancy check-up and the doctor had concerns that baby Zach may not be thriving as he should in the womb, so he made the decision to take Keri in for an emergency C-section. 

Zachary Charles Jones was born Wednesday, July 25^th at 6:38 pm. He weighed 3lbs 6oz and is just as handsome as can be!!! J  Keri is healing very well from surgery and feeling good.



Here he is sleeping so peacefully... handsome boy!



This one is from today (after IV was taken out) :-)

Since Zach was 6 weeks early, he was immediately transferred to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) where he receives 24 hour care form nurses.  After he was born he was unable to fully breathe on his own so he was put on a respirator machine that breathed for him.  One day later the doctors determined he was strong enough to breathe with minimal assistance and they took him off the respirator machine.  They placed a tube on his nose to give him minimal assistance with breathing.  This was such a big step! Shortly after birth his doctor realized that his left arm was broken.  Nurses have bandaged and secured his arm and it is in the process of healing.

Over the weekend Zach had a small setback and was put back on the respirator machine and had to be given a blood transfusion.  Zach took very well to the blood transfusion.  As of Wednesday, August 1^st, the respirator was taken back off and he is fully breathing on his own (with NO help from the nasal tube)!  Also, today Zach is having his IV and pic line taken out… This means the only nutrients he is now receiving is breast milk (through his feeding tube).  He has gained a whopping pound in the last week so he is now weighing in at 4lbs 6oz!  This is also amazing news!  

Blair and Keri are still awaiting results from some blood work/tests that were taken after Zach was born.  They are hopeful that Zach’s doctor will return the results to them sometime next week.  At this time there is no indication of how long Zach will stay in the NICU.  There are no other updates at this time.

Blair and Keri want to reiterate their thanks and appreciation for the outpouring of concern and prayer for them during this difficult time.  As much as they want to talk to everyone individually, they just cannot answer all calls, messages, and texts at this time.  They feel that they need to focus every ounce of time/energy on Zach, Sydney, and of course prayer right now.  They cannot express enough how thankful they are for all the offers to bring meals/food but due to being at the hospital so much of the day they unfortunately cannot accept all offers.  They are also still respectfully requesting no visitors at this time.  Thank you so much for your understanding in this matter.   

Many people have asked what specific things they can pray for… 

Please pray about the following:

-For Zach’s body to get stronger everyday

-That he will have continued success with breathing

- For his arm to heal well

- That he will continue to gain weight at a healthy rate

-For encouraging test results next week

-For God’s comfort for Blair and Keri as this is an extremely stressful time for them

-For God’s comfort for Sydney during this confusing and difficult time

-And most of all give thanks for the positive steps already taken in Zach’s health

Philippians 4:6-7

“6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

~~You are encouraged to leave comments on the blog and

Blair and Keri will check them periodically~~