Well, we sure didn't make it far into 2009:( Lilah is back in the hospital. Her swallowing study on Monday revealed that she was aspirating, which is medicalese for 'getting food in her lungs'. This is a big deal...hard on her body, causing lung damage, and setting her up for infection. Praise the Lord for protecting her from getting pneumonia up until this point! So, we are at Children's doing some more pre-operative tests and awaiting surgery for a permenant gastric (G) tube.

We've done everything possible to avoid this outcome. It makes me so sad to think of my sweet baby with a hole in her belly and it removes the one thing that makes her like a "normal" baby--eating. And I don't think that hanging a bag of formula, on an IV pole, hooked to a pump is going to give me quite that 'warm and fuzzy bonding' thing that happens when you feed a baby. But, like so many other things, I'm going to have to get over it. It is comforting to feel certain that this is the right choice for Lilah....she's definately aspirating and it's no longer safe to feed her.

Please pray for us through this. The hospital is a hard place to be and I find myself fearful of the downward spiral that can happen as one procedure leads to another. Memories of coming in for an ear infection last Septmember and finding ourselves in the PICU with heart failure are still very fresh. Pray for God's protection over Lilah and for wisdom for her doctors and nurses. Also, please pray for Garrett. Our sweet boy has endured a lot of change and uncertainty in the last few months. I wish I could be two places at once, giving both of my babies 100%. Pray that Garrett would not feel anxious or fearful, but secure and important. We are still waiting for some test results, but it looks like the surgery will be Friday at 1pm. I will update when/if things change. Thank you, sweet friends, for loving us well.