first bath - mohawk!

Maria and I did our 3a visit to be there for "touch time."  We were surprised to find that the night nurse had removed his catheter and given him a sponge bath.  His hair was clean complete with a spiky hair do - mohawk!  He was looking at mom for the first while, and then he went to sleep holding mom's hand.  The nurse said that they would like to see him being more active as a newborn should be.  "He really didn't like when I was bathing him - his face was crying but his arms and legs weren't fighting me quite as we would like to see.  It did tire him out though, and now he is sleepy from the experience!"   He still has his white tape mustache - in other words he still has his breathing tube down, but we have told that should come out today!  What a difference that will be for us to see his face without any tubes other than the tube into his stomach that is giving him his mother's milk.  His dad along with his mom are in there now, and we have yet to hear from the neurologist about the results of the EEG.  We are learning the lesson that nothing goes quickly, and that is for Patrick's good usually.  There are probably not many answers yet either.  There was some mention that the swelling in better in his head, so the EEG could be repeated for more accurate results.

Maria was handed a special milestone in this week of Patrick's life- the nurse told her that she could change is diaper!  We cheered to see that it was wet and poopy... way to go Patrick!  WE see more and more that Patrick's body is wonderful and healthy, and the prayers need to concentrate on his brain!  The lesson we learned with John is that if you have a young and healthy body to fight the good fight - it is huge in recovery and healing!  John called on Sunday and shared that at mass and morning prayer he had decided that he was paying it forward to Patrick - all the blessings and graces he has received through the spiritual army of prayer warriors that surrounded him!  He went from not knowing where his faith was at to FAITH in Jesus, and His Bride, The Church!  In the spiritual journey he wrote in preparation of entering seminary he shared that he asked God to challenge him so that he would turn to his Faith and make it his own - "I was hit in the head by a 2x4 named Cancer!"  John now KNOWS that his Faith is the center of his LIFE and his LOVE!  The resemblance between the battle for brain health of John and Patrick is making this journey a very familiar and trust and faith filled one! 

Lord, in the first reading today we are blessed with the reminder of the Fruits of the Spirit..."love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."  Galations 5: 18-25  The one that really jumps out to us over and over in this battle is Patience!  How we need to trust and find the Faith we need to wait for your timing, Lord.  And to know without any doubt that you are in control and that Patrick is a tiny precious Lamb in your arms.  We are reminded of the Spirit by the generous gift of Kara being here to help us out with the kids.  Tomorrow she will be leaving to return to her new husband, Sam, in Houston.  We are so grateful to them to sacrifice their time together as newly weds to help us out at this time of need.  We see the fruits of the Spirit at work in the lives of those that are bringing us meals, gifts, rides here and there, and caring for the kids...  Most especially we "feel" the prayers of those that are surrounding us... masses said, visit to the tomb of Blessed JPII, religious communities that are lifting up Patrick in prayer - the Poor Clares, The Community of the Lamb, The Handmaids of the Merciful Heart of Jesus, John's seminary, the Catholic School where Mary is in 1st grade and Simon is in 2nd grade... such powerful prayers of children!  So often, Lord, when I am with Hallel's community of the Lamb, they share how this saint of person was a Lamb - went willing to be sacrificed in Faith - how true this is for little Lamb, Patrick!  We love you our Lord and his Bride, the Church!   We ask for Patrick's brain to be healed by YOU.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"The Lord is my light and my help;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

before whom shall I shrink?

Though an army encamp against me

my heart would not fear.

Though war break out against me

even then would I trust.

I am sure that I shall see the Lord's goodness

in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord!"

We trust and find your LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GENEROSITY,FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL!  St Ignatious of Antioch pray for us on this your feast day with all the saints at the foot of Jesus!  Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth, we are filled with LIFE and LOVE thanks to your YES!