Fearfully and Wonderfully made...: 21%

What is this 21% you ask??? Well that is the level of oxygen that we all breath with room air, and guess what? My sweet baby started room air today and is doing amazing. She had one little episode and bounced right back. I really wish I could call and get an update from the NICU tonight but alas one of the "rules". So, Karis is doing so well. I think she is finally the "big girl" in our area of the NICU. It has really been helping me to hold her everyday, and that she is not just sleeping while we are there. So we have made BIG strides this week and are so thankful.

Some of you I am sure you have noticed the little spot or strawberry that has developed on Karis' nose. At first I thought it was a mark from her cpap. They told us in the past that Karis' face is bigger than the Japanese baby so the nose mask was tight. Well the little spot has gotten bigger and bigger. I actually thought maybe it was just a beauty mark. A couple days ago my sister said, have they told you anything about the hemangeomia on her face. A hemangioma is an abnormal buildup of blood vessels in the skin or internal organs. Um actually no, they just said it is no problem. Ok, so I looked it up and wow, I got a little freaked out. Freaked enough that I cried the WHOLE way to the hospital that day. So, I guess most of the time these little strawberries are already on babies when they are born, or appear very shortly after birth. Also, something like 30% of babies have them, and they are VERY common among preemie, caucasion, girls. Well Karis is half caucasion so, hmmmm. Well after looking at many, many internet pictures and blogs and seeing all the worst cases, I kinda was in the "depths" if you know what I mean. I guess in some ways I have been waiting for the other shoe to drop. You know the one where we have some major problem with our precious little miracle. I think, I often go to the worst case senario with good reason. It is strange to have a mixture of the "worst" Judah and how pProm affected his life, and then Karis and how she is a little miracle and thriving even with a rupture and very low fluid in utero. Maybe I will always go to the worst first, until I give it to God. Anyhow, this little strawberry on her face, could be a challenge to her vision if it continues to get bigger. Also, as her Mama it is hard to think of what is could become on her face. It could become raised and ulcerate, it could impair her vision, she could need steroids, or even surgery. All of that is the worst, when I first started researching I just kept crying out to God, "Lord, I can't do this" "Please not this. I can't handle anymore." and on and on. Maybe some of it is just post or current trauamatic stress. But I do know, I could do it and will if it her strawberry is "the other shoe". But I am asking that you please pray on Karis' behalf about this. It isn't a major organ or life threatening, but it is something that could truly impact how others see her here or anywhere for that matter. So my friends please pray with us about this, that it would go away and not have any lasting affects.

In other news, Karis is gaining weight well and doing much better on a pump taking her food. She is also the darling of the NICU (at least in my opinion) Not much more to say, except no news is GOOD NEWS. And now for the pictures and video, I just love this little girl!!!