Chloe is Making BIG Moves!

Sept. 26, 2009 Good morning. It is a beautifully warm and sunny day here in Colorado after a week of rain and very chilly temperatures. I have spent the past two weeks moving from one house and unpacking in the other along with the many other things I do in this ever so wild journey that I find myself smack dab in the of. I live in a small town, Olde Towne Lafayette, and today is Celebrate Lafayette Day. As I sit on my front porch, there is a beehive of activity everywhere I look. We live three houses off main street and in about an hour a parade will begin. The tent at the end of the street is where the Apple Pie Baking Contest will be held and across from that is tent where live music will happen throughout the day. I am very happy to be in the middle of this celebration and all that goes with it. Why? It reminds me so very much of the Chloe experience so far! When we all began the journey of having Chloe in our lives, we were a small little group of family awaiting the birth of my daughter's third child. Just as the miners who built this town, we worked hard in our lives and dealt with the stressors of life as we built our relationships and community. This is a great little town and although our lives have changed, as has the town throughout time, both it and all of my family have reason to celebrate today. Times are tough here as they are everywhere across the country, but we all can still find moments or situations to celebrate. At least we should. We have become a community here in this group, supporting Jennie and Lance, Chloe, Sierra and Kadin and the rest of my family. I have met so many wonderful people through this group and we all try to lift each other up when there is a need. That calls for celebration! Just imagining the parade that will stroll through the street in a few minutes reminds me of all the people who have paraded through our lives in the past five and half months. Wonderful people like you, doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, community members, neighbors, and numerous others who have come to us through Chloe. Everyone has the best intentions in making this experience positive, looking forward each day to the best outcome for all involved. It's been a pretty memorable parade so far, and we are all much more intact because of those people who have registered to be in the parade. I celebrate them all today! It has been a long and sometimes grueling journey, but today...today is a good day! Chloe has been doing very well. In the weeks that I have not written she has been well. No unexpected illnesses have popped up, no new viruses, no shocking news in the middle of any particular day. Our Warrior Princess has begun to thrive and is playful, alert and gaining that most important weight we've been waiting for. She has held the 13 pounds and added to it. Those hard earned pounds have earned her the right to begin her home ventilator trial this coming Monday! This is such a very important moment in Chloe's life, and will require more prayers that I have asked for in a long time! If all goes well, Chloe will be kept in the NICU for a while, then moved to another floor OUT of the NICU to really prepare for her transition to her HOME. The target date is around Thanksgiving, which seems immensely appropriate to me. It still seems like a long time when you say it, but after this much time, it just seems like drop in the bucket, probably because the end result is such an exciting one. God is good, all the time, and Chloe coming home in a way that will ensure her health and continued growth has been in His hands all along. Sometimes his timeframe seems questionable, but not knowing the plan certainly doesn't mean it isn't a good one! Chloe has been nestled in the wings of angels since she took her first breath, as has the rest of this family. I know that she will be home, wrapped in the arms of her loving family when the time is RIGHT, undoubtedly! So, pray, dear friends, for the upcoming trials to run smoothly, for Chloe's continued growth and the family's good mental health along the way. Yesterday I spent some time with Chloe and had such a wonderful time. She was awake when I arrived, sitting in her bouncy chair, ready to play! I had some time to engage for a bit before the physical therapist arrived, but when she did, it was a beautiful thing to watch. She worked with Chloe on sitting up, holding her head up and strengthening her muscles. Little Chloe did very well and was happy the entire time. When placed on her tummy, she grimaced and showed some irritation for just a moment, but then decided she kinda liked it and moved her head back and forth to find me. It was fun and Chloe was happy! When the PT left, I held her and we played a while, I sang to her and she fell asleep in my arms, cozy and comfy in the crook of my arms, looking so content and loved that it made my heart sing! Soon, a team from Respiratory came in and started the change over from the vent they have there to the one that will replace it on Monday. They will gradually change it over and Monday's experience will not be too much for Chloe. It was a bit intense for me, as they were changing the tubing to bigger tubes and while that was done, they had to bag Chloe in order to continue her breathing support. They obviously knew what they were doing, as Chloe slept through the change except for one moment when she woke, but decided it was no big deal and went back to sleep! Such a warrior she is, sometimes I cannot for the life of me comprehend how tough babies are! So, the preparation has begun and hopes are high. This machine usually is not used until babies are at the 15-16 pound weight, so there is a possibility that Chloe is still too small for it. That is just a fact, but she has overcome so many other obstacles of great magnitude, we all believe that her need to go home will be the driving force for success in these trials. So, GO CHLOE! Show em one more time! That is my mantra for the time being. I will keep everyone posted more at this juncture. Is is so very important and I have my internet connection at my house again! I promise to give updates much more frequently. So, now I have a parade to attend! Just have to walk a block and the celebration begins! Remember dear ones, to find some moments to celebrate in your days! With love and light, Nancy