Going Home! -- Yeah and Yikes!

We had a big consultation this morning with all the doctors and nurses. Here's the bottom line: Paton's going home by the weekend! We are nervous, but we are thrilled. The neurosurgeon is convinced that the swelling on his back is not a build-up of cerebro-spinal fluid, but just swelling from the surgery. He feels it has gotten a little better, and will completely go away over the next few weeks or months. We'll have to keep a watch, but at this point it looks as if there is no hydrocephalus, and therefore no need for a shunt! This is just amazing, as 80-90% of spina bifida kids have to have one. Of course, it could happen later. But for now, we're good. He cannot have any pressure on his back until it heals, so it will take some adjustments with sleeping, feeding, holding, trasporting, etc. He will have a specialized car seat (bed), and specialized positioners. He will also go home with an orthopedic boot on his leg to help correct the clubbing. We just finished infant CPR -- kind of scary.

Thank you all for praying. Many of you have prayed for God to give wisdom to the doctors. That prayer, in particular, I think He's answered mightily. Most of the doctors were pretty sure he needed to be shunted, but the neurosurgeon kept insisting that we wait. I believe that was clearly the Lord's doing. Please continue to pray for us as we make the transition and try to keep in mind all the many, many things we are learning in the process. God is good.