Brody Update

Little Brody is hanging in there. He's in a Level III NICU (highest level of care) at a good hospital. Christine was able to hold him last night for the first time, but he didn't take well to the disturbance, so they're going to wait for him to get better before holding him again. His official diagnosis is pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum, which basically means a collapsed lung or air in the chest cavity. I have not heard anyone say collapsed lung, but he does have a small hole in his lung that is leaking air around the lungs and heart. They believe the pneumomediastinum could have occured during birth due to the change in pressure from being in utero (water world) to being in the real world. This is something that should heal itself, but it's a delicate balancing act because of his struggles breathing. They need to give him enough oxygen to keep his levels up, but if they have to start giving him more, it could be too much pressure on his lungs and make the hole larger. If that happens, he will need to be intubated. He needs prayers focused on healing the hole quickly, so he will have an easier time breathing and be able to get rid of the fluid in his lungs. We are praising God that all else seems to be healthy - no fever, infection, and all other functions are good! His nurses say he's feisty, and his doctor thinks he's the man. They rolled him over yesterday (at about 8-10 hours old), and he did three "push ups." Tough guy! Please keep Brody, his big brother James, and parents Steve and Christine in your prayers. And, pray for the doctors and nurses that are taking care of him and all the other sweet, precious babies in the NICU. He is very lucky and is one of the healthier babies there. I will be traveling there tomorrow after a work trip and should be able to spend a lot of Thursday in the NICU with Brody. Only two guests are allowed per day in addition to parents and grandparents, but I will only be allowed in with Steve or Christine. I will also have my birthday present, a Canon Rebel XS with me to try to snap some pictures of my little Brody man. He's covered in wires and breathing apparatus, but he is going to be my first (un)willing photography victim, errr... I mean subject.
More to come on the birthday and new camera later... (it was already purchased before our expedition to Serenbe below... he's psychic!).