The good news is ...

... Josiah is as cute as ever!  His smiles are amazing.  His oxygen saturation levels are within the acceptable range and he is breathing well.  The antacid medication has seemed to help his feeding issues due to reflux.  He took his first bottle from his Grandma without any problems whatsoever.  We are so grateful to know that he is always in God's hands. 

However, his feet are purple.  This was his first sign of increased cyanosis.  We had a surprise visit to Grand River Hospital yesterday to check his saturation levels (Isaac was such a patient big brother in the hospital room) and today we went to McMaster Hospital.  During an echocardiogram this afternoon the doctor quickly found the problem.  Josiah now has severe leakage in his one main heart valve.  The doctor called the valve a "sprinkler."  This means that there is decreased cardiac output and thus his extremities are often more purple, especially when he's fussy.  He hasn't been too interested in feeding today so that is also a concern.  We've been asked to go to McMaster's ER if he becomes sleepier, feeds less and has drier diapers. 

Leakage in valves generally increases.  This could certainly affect when Josiah needs to have surgery.  He is now two and a half months old and usually surgeons don't want to do the BPCS surgery until four months of age.


Prayer Requests:

• That Josiah's saturation levels remain in his normal range and that his breathing continues unhindered.  
• That the leakage in his valve decreases
• That Josiah will be able to wait until he is at least four months old for surgery
• That Graham and Elizabeth will have wisdom to know when to go to the hospital
• That Josiah will learn to take a bottle (he hasn't taken one at home yet)
• That Josiah would feed (and sleep!) perfectly and have good urinary output

It's sort of surreal I guess - to hold this beautiful gift from God in my arms and try to believe that his condition is life threatening.  Although all of his heart issues are extremely serious, there are also successful surgery techniques to help correct them.  However, my understanding is that there are not great solutions for fixing valves yet.  If nothing changes, our next appointment is on the 10th of July at SickKids (kidney ultrasound) and then back to McMaster on the 12th of July and then his first sedate echocardiogram at SickKids on July 24th.

Hopefully we will not need to visit the hospital for Isaac.  He has decided that he should try to climb on everything he sees.  He has also realized that if he places those objects near desks and tables, he can reach things that Mommy and Daddy have placed "out of reach."  He keeps us laughing and on our toes!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!  We serve a good God who loves us and gives us His peace and joy. 

Blessings,

Elizabeth and Graham