JEHOVAH JIREH

PRAISE GOD! JEHOVAH JIREH (God is our provider).  This morning God provided $50 of free gas when needed it the most.  Money is tight around our house since we are trying to save up for purchasing some land and put a down payment on a trailer.  I get paid today, but I wasn’t sure when it would be deposited into my own.  I needed gas, but I thought I would try to make it to work.  It didn’t make it.  My gas light came on and I started panicking.  I pull of on the next exit and looked for a gas station, praying that God would provide. God put it on my mind to go to the BP station and try my ACRO card.  We received a gift card to ARCO (a division of BP) at our going away party.  I thought that I would have to wait until we were in California again in order to try it.  Well, God put it on my mind to simply try it and let God do the rest.  HE DID!  The card worked beautifully. And therefore, $50 of free provided by an Almighty God.
I have had trouble since we moved with the desire to give my family want the need, especially when it comes to having our own home.  Living with relatives can be stressful and as a man, I so badly want to provide a home for my family.  God has been teaching me this week, that He wants to provided so much more than me for His children. Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”  The free gas this morning was a huge answer to prayer for God to be my Jehovah Jireh.

Finding a home

Finding a place of our own here in MS has been a struggle. God has given us this test so we would trust in Him alone and not our own abilities or desires. First, we had to decide where to live. The last place we wanted to live was on any of our families land (no offence to anyone). We just wanted to be closer, but still have our space. God told us that Forest or Lake would be a good place to live. We like this because it would mean more frequent trips to family and less time in the car with young children. And I would stuck it up and have a long commute to work (45 mins to an hour).
About a month went by, we figured out we couldn't get a loan for a house until 3 years after our short sale and we couldn't find a place to rent out in the country. We had to turn and ask God again what He was up to.
Lynn and I got an answer on the same day: Stay on the land your on. I have called you to be with your family in Mississppi so you should stay where everyone is.
So the latest is to buy a trailer (mobile home / manufactured home, what ever you want to call it) and put it on the back of Lynns grandparent's property. To be continued...

2 weeks

Well, we have 2 weeks left in bakersfield, in california, on the west coast. It is an emotional time to close one chapter of our lives and start a new one. We have started packing up boxes and I'm sure we will continue this weekend. Our friends are planning a going away party and we are planning a few fun times with friends before we leave. It is going to be a busy time packing and spending time with friends for the next 2 weeks.

Moving to Mississippi

We are moving on May 31st from Bakersfield to Lake, MS. I have found a job working for Pickering as a Transportation Engineer. Life is crazy right now. Moving across town or across the country is a lot of work. Leaving our friends and family in CA will be the hardest part.  It is not easy leaving the ones you love. We do look forward to building deeper relationship with those in MS and we wait to see what God has planned. Right now the move scares us, but we know God is directing our steps. Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Kristi's Update Day 9

Her jaundice level is 10.5 today. She is off the lights for 24 hours. They will check her jaunsice level in the morning if it goes up then she will be put back on the lights pray that she eats, poops and pees alot so the jaundice will continue to go down. She had 3 desats yesterday so we have to wait at least another 3 days.
Pray for strength and energy for mom and dad. Tim is enjoying time with grandmother warkentin.

Kristi's Monday Update

Kristi is still under the blue lights for her jaundice. Her Jaundice went from 13.7 to 11.7. It has to stay under 12 or go down more for her to come off the lights. Her IV which started at 11 is now down to 1.5 today. She has to keep eating well and the IV will get to come off either tonight or tomorrow. She has not had any desats for 24 hours; one day down 2or 3 to go. When the IV comes out and she is not under the lights for her Jaundice she will have to complete the carseat challenge- She has to sit in her carseat for an hour, for that hour she has to not have any desats and bradys.

We appreciate all the prayers. Please keep praying with us for our Princess.
Pray that Matt and I will have energy.

1 Week Old

Today Kristi is one week old and has been through a lot more than just eating, sleeping, and pooping although she has done plenty of that too.  After 12 hours on the CPAP machine is was breathing just fine on her own.  They had her little hand hooked up to an IV for antibiotics and fluids. Every baby that comes through the NICU get antibiotics right away and for at least two days until they get the test cultures back.  Praise God, Kristi didn't have any infections after 48 hours (Wednesday) and they took her off the antibiotics and kept her on the IV fluids. By this time, Kristi was a pro at breast feeding and Lynn milk was starting to come in.  On Thursday, her Bilirubin were too high and she got a blue light bed to sleep on, as of today, she is still under the blue light, but her counts have went down, so we are hoping that see is done with the blue lights soon.

The biggest obstacle that now stands between Kristi and coming home is her Bradys (her heart rate drops) and Desats (her oxygen level drops).  Usually these happen together.  In the first few days of her life this come happen at anytime, but now I typically only happens when she bottle feeds.  Which puts lots of pressure on Dad to watch her for these "episodes" as I call them in order to do all the right things to help her recover.  The NICU nurses are training me well and Kristi is improving her eating skills everyday.  The nurse said she must go 4 or 5 days (depending the Doctor) without a Brady or Desat in order for her to come home.  Yesterday (Sunday) was the first full day without her having an episode which is very exciting and now the count down start, hopefully lots more days without an episode.

Kristi Lynn Warkentin

On Monday, September 19, 2011, Kristi Lynn Warkentin was born at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield, CA.  She weighed 5lb, 11oz and was 19.5in long.  She spent 35 weeks and 2 days forming in Lynn womb and then God decided to bring her into this world.  Since she was born early, her lungs and other functions with breathing weren't developed complete.  She got to spend about 30 minutes hanging out with mom until being taken to the NICU.  There she was hooked up to a CPAP machine for about 12 hours which helped keep her lungs inflated to help her breath.

Prego!!

On Wednesday evening February 16th, 2011, Lynn found out that she was pregnant. October 22nd Timothy will have a sibling.

My 15 Month Check up!

My Mom had me go to the doctor on my birthday! On Tuesday July 13, 2010, I had my 15 month shots. Ouch!!!!!!!! Those needles sure do hurt. I cried a little but my mom had the milkbottle ready. My measurements for my 15 months was ......drum roll please......Height: 31 3/4 in Weight:22lbs 1 oz.

2 front teeth for Christmas

I got my two front teeth in by Christmas. Now I am working on my I teeth. They broke through the skin today. I have been a little cranky for my parents but it's only because I love them.

Growing UP!

On November 21st I started crawling. On December 3rd my 1st tooth broke though the skin. Now that I am crawling I am into everything I can get my hands on.

Timothy is Two Months!

Timothy was two month on Saturday and today at the doctor he weighed in at 10lb and 14oz, with a height of 23.25 inches.

False Teeth

So, last week, something white started growing out of my son's gums on the top of his mouth. The first thought was "he is growing teeth." I thought this was kinda early, but I didn't want to under estimate my son. So, I did what any respectable dad would do and googled it. I found out that the bottom teeth are supposed to come in first at 4-6 months (not weeks) and the top ones are supposed to come in 6-10 months. Just to make sure that Timothy is not super grower Lynn made a doctor's appointment. MY CHILD DOESN'T HAVE TEETH. Apparenatly, his gums are sheading. Crazy huh? Actually, everyone's gums shead, but adults brush our teeth and brush away this sheading of skin, therefore we never notice. Unless of course you go 6 weeks without brushing your teeth.

Circumcision

It wasn't on the 8th day, more like the 24th, but Timothy finally got circumcised last Thursday (7th). National prayer day. It was a surprisingly easy process and our pediatrician explained everything really well. They took Timothy out of the room for about 10 minutes, which seemed like forever, the doctor did his magic, and then they returned Timothy back to us. Timothy was strong and wasn't crying or anything. Since then he has been more fussy and needy, but won't you be too. The doctor will check Timothy, this Thrusday, which is when Timothy should be all healed and back to his normal self. We are praying for a quick and normal recovery for our son. Our friend Anne told us a story of a man who had to be circumcised when he was 80 years old and it made us thankful that we took care of our son as soon as possible.

First Family Walk

Today we lots of fun. It was the first Saturday that Timothy was home, so we decided to take him out on the town. We ran some errands and then went out to lunch a KFC. Timothy had milk and Lynn and I had chicken. What a big surprise I know. Then, we had our first family walk. We went to the bike path near the river walk park and had a stroll. We loaded Timothy up in the stroller and headed out to enjoy the nice sunny day. I'm sure Timothy enjoyed it too, even though he was a sleep the whole time. I can't wait to have more fun walks as a family.

First Doctors Visit

So, Timothy had his first doctor visit today. The bad news: he had to get naked and that means Timothy got fussy. The good news: he is healthy and well and has gained 4 oz. in 2 days. He is now 20 1/4 inches long and 6 lb 8oz. Our first office visit took a little longer than we wished because the doctor had to find out why he was in the NICU. Timothy took this time to take a nap with mommy while she read all the books in the room to him. All in all, Timothy did really well and wasn't terribly fuzzy.

TIMOTHY IS HOME!!!

I can't express in words how Lynn and I feel taking our son home. We are overjoyed at the blessing that God has given us and thankful to God for giving us the strength to endure these last two weeks of Timothy being in the NICU. Here is the story of his homecoming:

I got a call from Lynn about 9am on Monday, April 27th, while I was at work in a meeting with Ian (my boss) reviewing some plans. I took the phone call and Lynn told me what I wanted to hear, "Timothy is coming home today."
So I grabbed my things and hurried out the door. Sheila and Brenda asked me as I was headed out the door, "How is Timothy doing?"
And I joyfully answered, "I'm going to pick him up right now!"
I rushed over to the hospital, trying not to speed. Once I arrived I pulled the car to the front entrance of the hospital, grabbed the car seat, and headed up to the NICU. When I arrived, we received some "take home" instructions which mainly outlined the reasons we needed to call our doctor. Then, we unhooked Timothy from all his monitors and placed him in the car seat. He looked some cute and so small in his big car seat. I got to carry the car seat down and Lynn carried a few belonging that we had in the NICU. It was so glorious to walk out the hospital doors with my son in hand. I felt like I just won the biggest game of my life, the crowd was cheering, and there was a huge grin on my face.

The drive home was very peaceful. One, knowing that God had healed our newborn child. And two, Timothy was fast asleep the whole time. About 10 minutes after getting Timothy home he woke up and opened his eyes. He looked all around at his new surroundings with great curiousness. Then, it was time to change his first diaper at home. I gave Lynn the honor of this. Once his diaper was changed, it was time for feeding. Lynn nursured him and he fell fast asleep. As my sister Melissa said the cycle will continue: sleep, poop, eat, and sleep again.

I can't say thank you enough for all of your prayers and support through these last two weeks. God has healed our son and brought him home to us. We are so blessed.

2 down, 1 to go

So the doctor told us that if Timothy is stable (meaning no drops in his heart rate) for three days then he gets to come home. Timothy was stable on Friday and Saturday, so today is the last day he needs to be stable. If he continues to do well (I am so proud of my boy) then he will get to come home tomorrow. We are hoping and praying that nothing happens to Timothy and that we will get to enjoy his company in our home tomorrow. So tonight is the last night of freedom, and I can't wait to lose my freedom to my son.

Well, I hope I am writing tomorrow about the great joy it is to have our son home, but until then we are trusting in God to deliver Timothy to us on His timing.

Slow but Hopeful

Thank you all for your prayers. I can feel God's peace and hope in my life and I know Lynn is feeling much better as well. God is truly teaching us a dependence on Him I have never had before. We now trust our son's health in God's hands and know that the sovereign God with protect Timothy through what he needs. It is definitely a growing process.

As far as Timothy's health, he is improving. As far as we know, he only had one bradie (heart rate drop) while eating yesterday. It is exciting to see Timothy developing his skills. We can't wait to hear from the doctor today and see what he thinks of Timothy's improvement.