Happy To Report

Last week we received the results of Nathan's MRI and I am happy to report that the extra fluid in his brain is greatly reduced! The neurosurgeon said that his body is absorbing it. This was great news because we were previously told that if it continued to get bigger, they would drain it. I was actually fully prepared for Nathan to be admitted into the hospital last week. However, God was so good to give us this gift.

As far as the abscess goes, it is still the same size. The doctor's aren't sure how much smaller it will get. It's currently 1.7cm which is just over 1/2 an inch. We were told that some of the size could be scar tissue. He doesn't have to have another MRI until October. That means he will continue to be on the IV antibiotics every 8 hours until at least then.

October will turn out to be a busy month because his cardiologists want to do his next heart surgery in October as well. We are hoping and praying that they will combine the next two surgeries into one larger surgery so that his brain will be protected from bacteria and he will be less prone to blood clotting. They have spoken about wanting to do this but it will depend on how well he is doing. We hope he is well enough that this becomes viable. He is still on his blood thinner medicine along with several others.

Besides that, he is actually doing really well. He loves riding his little tricycle and he has learned to pedal and steer! He can climb up a slide (a wonderful fact seeing as walking was an issue not too long ago). He eats most anything and often asks for food right after a meal. He loves hair cuts. He loves to go in the car (I cannot overstate this fact). He loves babies and will announce, "baby" whenever he sees one. He copies nearly everything Isabel says or does (or tries to). The two of them get along great. Isabel adores him (this is not to say that they don't have their squabbles but it's all very normal).

I'd like to mention that Nathan has been a part of our family for nearly 9 months! In many ways it seems much longer but I know his hospital stays have contributed to that. Having said that, he has been out of the hospital for three months making this the longest stretch he has been at home without a hospital stay. It fees SO good to say that (and even better to LIVE it). Our home care nurse told me yesterday that one day this will all be a distant memory. Oh to think that one day that will be true.

Thanks so much for all your prayers. We are so thankful to all of you who have stood beside us during this time. You are all blessings to us.