August 12, 2010~

Hard to believe, but Connor Dallas is still with us.  He continues to grow (weighs 3.5 pounds now!) and surprise everybody in the NICU with his courage and will to live.

While still hooked up to tubes and monitors, Connor is proving to be a little fighter.  That is the norm here in the NICU; that way, little babies can be watched over by ever vigilent nurses and doctors, and treat them immediately whenever a problem comes up.

So far, other than some apnea spells (stoppage of breathing), Connor is fighting with everything he's got in his tiny body.  He hasn't had any brain bleeds (which can lead to stroke, cerebral palsy, or brain damage) or any other issues.  It's been nothing short of miraculous.

I kiddingly tell Amelia (my wife) that our son inherited my strong genes.  LOL

Other babies here haven't been as fortunate as our son.  Others have sickened or died, and it breaks my heart each and every time because while their children have died (for whatever reason it was), my son is still here, even though he was born one of the tiniest, at 1 pound, 1 ounce.

To pass the time to when we can visit our son (an hour twice a day), I go to the snack bar with Amelia, or we go to the gift shop and look at the stuffed animals and contemplate on what to buy.  Or I look at the magazines or crossword puzzles.  Or we go to the cafeteria and just sit and talk.

Sometimes I go home to check on the mail or, perhaps, do a load of laundry.  Or I take a nap for two/three hours, which always seems to refresh me.  I then go back to the hospital to be with Amelia and Connor, praying all the way there, for my son (and my wife).

I know my boss at my job is concerned:  he calls us just about every day, to check up on things.  I tell him I will be back at work as soon as Connor is strong enough to leave the NICU (probably in a few weeks).  I am getting paid leave, so it does help, knowing that we have money still coming in while I am not working.

I just wonder what I am going to do when the medical bills start coming in.  Thank God we have insurance, which will cover a good part of it, but we will still have to pay quite a bit of money to cover the cost of our baby son's medical care.

All I can do now is continue to pray and put my trust in God to get Connor (and us) through this particular situation.

Well, I am going to go outside for a smoke and to stretch my legs (as well as get the day's paper and get some fresh air).  I will write in here again, as things develop.  Just continue to cover Connor Dallas (and us) in your prayers; we would all greatly appreciate it!  Thanks in advance!

~To be continued.~