Update on Aevi

Talked with friends in Thailand this morning and heard that little baby Aevi is doing well. She is now 600 grams and the neonatologist told Ae and Joe that though she is the smallest baby in the NICU right now, that she is the strongest. Of course there is still a long road ahead with many months in the NICU and more developmental milestones to pass, so we continue to ask for your prayers for them.

In the meantime we are soaking up our last days with Rusty's mother who is not doing well. She is now not able to speak, and barely opening her eyes. Pray for a peaceful passing for her and for our family as we prepare for our final goodbye in the next few days, or week ahead.

My sister Melody, and cousins Trent & Trina, and their little baby Tipper Olive came out to visit us in Washington this weekend for my 30th birthday. It's been so good having them here. I'll try to post some pictures of life before too long.

prayers for little baby Aevi...

My heart is heavy as I write this post and wishing I could be in more than one place at a time. Two of our dearest Akha friends in Thailand, Ae and Joe are in need of prayer for their little baby. Ae and Joe are the dorm parents for the 56 children who live at the Akha Youth Development Center, where we lived and worked.

After trying to get pregnant for three years, they were finally able, and due with a little girl in September. Last week Ae was having some complications with high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia) and was hospitalized until they could get her blood pressure under control. Two days ago we got word that the last ultrasound showed that the baby had an enlarged heart and the amniotic fluid level was very low so her OB was transferring her to Chiang Mai Suandok Hospital (3 hours away). Yesterday morning as they were leaving Ae started bleeding, and after arriving in Chiang Mai she was rushed into an emergency c-section because the baby's heartrate was dropping.

Their little girl is named Aevi and only weighs 550 grams, born at 27 weeks. Ae hasn't been able to see the baby yet, and Joe isn't able to sleep with her in her hospital room due to hospital rules.

Please be praying for sweet little Aevi, as these first 72 hours are especially crucial. Our hearts are breaking for them and we are wishing we could be there to support them.

It's been a while...

Since last writing we have moved back to the States to Lynden, WA and are living with Rusty's parents here. As many of you are aware his mother was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (the most aggressive form of brain cancer) this last fall. We made the decision to move back to the States to be able to help with her care and take advantage of the precious time we have left with her. Between taking care of Henry, caring for Colleen, continuing in my studies, and continuing with my work for the Child Sponsorship program for the foundation we work with in Chiang Rai, blogging has been placed on the back burner for a while.

Henry is almost four months now and getting to be so much fun. He is 19.5 lbs and full of smiles and energy. We are loving having him in our lives and so thankful to have such a healthy guy. I'm still breastfeeding which means waking up every two hours throughout the night to feed him, and get pretty jealous when I hear about other babies his age already sleeping through the night!

More thoughts to come later, but for now it's back to a crying baby waking up from his nap!

Luka's mother (Apee Pae) singing a little jingle for Rusty