January 29, 2008
Here in the Philippines, if you don't pay your hospital bill for a birth, then the hospital may not release your birth certificate. We received the boys when they were about two months old but the hospital had not released the birth certificates yet so we had never seen them either.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has since obtained the birth certificates from the hospital and we just received our copies today.
The most striking thing is that Jerald is not Jerald but Jerard! I suspect that he has not learned his name yet but we sure are going to have a hard time relearning it!
Jerard was born first on October 26th weighing 1936 grams (4 pounds 4 ounces). James was born a minute later weighing 1800 grams (3 pounds 15 ounces). They were the 8th and 9th children of the family.
January 29, 2008
Jerard's head is a full two inches smaller than it had been a week ago. Last Wednesday, prior to surgery, his head circumference was 19 inches. Today, at his one week post-op check up, it measured 17 inches!
Next Wednesday his bandages and sutures will be removed!
He picked up a urinary tract infection while in the hospital which is being treated. Please pray he heals well from that.
January 29, 2008
Because of Jerard and James' birth,
their mother's death,
their aunt being willing to care for them as much as she was able, their rescue from where they were living;
my friend's ministry staff are now able to present the gospel to this community in a way they couldn't before.
The door is opening slowly to hear of the love God has for us just as an aunt has for her nephews and foster parents have for twins not their own biological children.
God has used the birth and life of these two little boys to get His Word into a community formally not open to Him!
As my friend, Kim, says..."all these two little ones have done is sleep, eat, and poop and look at how the Lord has used them to shine His love..."
"....think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise ...; not many were influential; ......not many from noble birth......
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame
the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame
the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him...."
1 Cor. 1:26-29
Pray for this community, a squatter area known as "Taa-ee" which means 'poo' in Cebuano. It was so named by city officials because when it first was built there were no CR's in it.
Pray for Kim and her ministry staff as they share the love of Christ with this urban poor community.
Pray for their hearts to be open to God's Word and His love.
Pray for their salvation and healing.
The body of Christ, working together, brings His love.
Two little boys only 3 months old are instruments of His love!!!
January 26, 2008
We just arrived home from the hospital about two hours ago and it sure does feel good to be home. Jerald came home with two wounds from the shunt operation, one on his head and the other on his abdomen as you can see in the pictures.
He is still occasionally spiking a fever and he will continue several medications at home. We will see both of Jerald's doctors on Tuesday for a checkup.
January 25, 2008
Hi, I'm home from the hospital for a short break before going back up there for the night.
Jerald is spending one more night at the hospital as early this morning from midnight - 6 or 7 a.m. he was running a fever and having loose stools frequently. That has all cleared up now.
They'd like him 24 hours fever free. He also lost his IV vein last night and had to get another one started.
His head has gone down 1.5 inches since surgery. His face is filling out and looking much like his brother's.
It looks like he will be released tomorrow morning (Sunday our time.)
I can't wait to post a photo of him for you all to share in our joy at the improvement he is making since surgery.
Pray that the visual center of his brain will develop. He only occasionally focuses for a second on objects or faces. Mostly his eyes wander back and forth.
Thanks for all your prayers.
