Making Progress!

This morning we had such a great surprise!  The doctors took out all 3 chest tubes, the umbilical line and he will be extubated by noon!  We are praising God for such a remarkable recovery.  The doctor commented on how strong Stephen is and we told him it is the power of prayer and God that is giving our child such great strength.  To Joe and I he actually is starting to look "good".  He looks like a baby again.   He has color, he moves, and is hooked up to nearly as many lines as before.   The past 2 days have been very difficult.  Up until the surgery we were in his room every waking hour minus 20 minute for lunch and dinner.  We had him in our arms, we fed him, we read to him...we felt like parents.  The last two days we only visited him for 5-10 minutes 3 or 4 times a day.  The surgeon and nurses said it would be a good time to see our other 3 children and let him rest.  Seeing him was hard because he didn't look like my son and his body didn't look like it had life in it.  Today I was elated to see him!  He is looking more and more like himself.  He still has a ways to go, but once the ventilator is out we will get to feel like parents again.  We will get to sit and talk to him, read books, and touch his hands and feet.  Last night when I was talking with a nurse about how hard it is to not be able to physically help she reminded us of something that we can only give...love.  She can can medically speaking do more but he knows our smells and our voices and I am so ready to shower him with more love!
God is good.  We still won't ever know why we are going through this but I am grateful for each day that God gives us with our son and that he has entrusted us to be his parents while he is here on earth.  Stephen has touched my life deeply and I know God is going to use his special heart to advance His kingdom and let His glory be known.
Here are some specific prayer requests

• Please continue to pray for his recovery and that the extubation goes smoothly.  
• Pray for no infections.  As lines and tubes are pulled out there is always a risk.  
• Pray that he has no vocal cord damage.  It is a side effect of heart surgery and can complicate eating.
• Pray that he will remember how to eat.  We were so blessed that he was able to eat before surgery.  Babies have to learn how to eat and not all are fortunate enough to get to eat before surgery.  We pray that he will eat like a champ!
• And remember to PRAISE GOD for miraculous works!

Our kiddos just arrived so I am ging to go play =0)  Thank you all for your love and support.  We tell all of the doctors and nurses about the many people praying for our family.  You have such a great impact...thank you!!!!

In Him

The Russells