It is hard to believe that Briella is almost a week old. Mom and Dad have sure enjoyed holding her and talking to her and her sisters look forward to every visit to the hospital to see their little sister.
Briella is doing great. In her first few days of life in the real world she had to have some helps with oxygen, an IV, a platelet transfusion, and got to suntan under a lamp for a few days for her jaundice. Now, besides all the tabs on her for monitoring, the only help she is getting is from a feeding tube down her nose into her belly. Through her tube she has worked herself up to a full dose of milk every 3 hours which for her weight is a tablespoon and a half. She has maintained a steady 2 pound 12 ounce weight, slightly down from her birth weight but good for the first week. Now we pray that she will start packing on the pounds, or rather the ounces.
Lori is doing really well too. She was released from the hospital as a patient a few days ago but has been staying with Briella in the hospital snuggling with her daughter and providing milk for her. Lori will be going home this evening for the first time to have a meal with the family and take some needed time away from the hospital.
The doctors and nurses have been great and have worked with Briella and our family in every possible way to make sure we have what we need. We have also been blessed with encouraging emails and visits from some of you. We praise the Lord for how He has undertaken for us.
Also this week we did get an update from the Patpatar believers in Papua New Guinea. Since the beginning of August they have been having heavy rains and strong winds. Unfortunately, since the church meets as a group outside, many of the meetings have been cancelled. It would be wonderful for them to have a type of shelter to meet in, but for that they must first have some land. Land rights in the tribe belong to the clan and though the believers are unified the others are not and having a place to build on is one of the most disputed areas among the Patpatar. Maybe you could join with us in prayer that God would provide for the church in this area.
Aaron for the 6 of us
Fact: In a few of the pictures of Briella it looks like she is wearing a silver bracelet. It is actually daddy’s wedding ring! I have posted a few more pictures to our website if you want to see our little girl www.ntm.org/aaron_luse.
