This has gotta be it....

I have been away from my blog for what has been a couple weeks. I have been awfully eager to return because of so many depressing days. I HATE sad news and I am simply tired of relaying so much negativity.

So here it is I have an entire post of nothing but exciting and miraculous events.

Well it all starts the weekend of Easter April 3. David and I decided that we would go to the cabin and celebrate Easter up in the mountains with our families. It was a huge decision for me and the first day that I wasn't able to visit Emerson since he has been in the NICU . I decided this weekend would be entirely Strattons and he deserved a weekend with David I all to himself. I visited Emerson on Friday and Sunday when we returned but on Saturday we spent the full day with Stratton visiting the Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunting and fun with the cousins. Our great friends Mallory, Tim and their beautiful baby Alex made a suprise visit and stayed Saturday night with us at the cabin. It was such a great weekend and just what the three of us needed.

When I had left Emerson was still on the ventilator and supposed to remain that way for 2 more weeks. The day before, Dr. Lilian discontinued his Verset a medicine that helped to relax him and considered placing arm restraints on him. He was constantly gagging and irritable from the ET tube placed down his throat. He knew he did not like the tube and was determined one way or another to pull it out. Well .... The weekend got much better when Carlene, Emerson's primary nurse who we love more than we should called me and said that Emerson had done exactly that. While she was at lunch he extibated himself. Just as she was returning from lunch the Dr.s were making a decision that they did not want to re intibate him. Instead they would have do to a tracheotomy to prevent further damage to his already highly damaged airway. Carlene begged the Dr. to just give him a chance she said, " I think he can do it!" because Carlene has been there so many years and is highly respected the Dr.s decided to give Emerson a chance. He not only did not need to be re intibated or have a trach but he did not need any Oxygen at all. He was sating at 95- 100% and still is a week later. Hooray for Emerson........you are incredibly amazing!

Feeds were started and stopped several times over and Dr.s and nurses told us that possibly there is more strictures and another operation would be needed. I was not convinced and with enough prayer and confidence in the Lord I decided I wasn't going to believe that for a second. I knew in my heart there was no way that Emerson would be physically able to undergo yet another surgery and have to be re intibated. It simply was not going to happen.

Over the past week Emerson has started feeds and tolerating them extremely well. The Dr. Started at 5cc's and began aggressively increasing the volume. Tonight as I type this he is at .......FULL FEEDS! He is tolerating 75 cc's every 4 hours and is continuing to eat and poop like a normal and healthy baby! It is a complete and miraculous success!

An amazing excerpt from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk , Terror, Triumph and a Wedding Feast

"God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future—to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities.

God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe."

The Lord has blessed us with hope and understanding that no matter what Emerson will be well taken care of. I never once have quit believing in the love that our Heavenly Father has for Emerson and our little family. I trust Heavenly Father and will continue to pray in gratitude and admiration for his tender love that he has continually showed us.

When I was finally able to place all of my trust and faith in Heavenly Father the entire situation started to change and things quickly began to move forward.

A great quote from Kent D. Watson ...

"Peace of mind comes from strengthened faith in Jesus Christ."