Four weeks old!

Benjamin Grant is four weeks old today! He is doing really well and at his doctor's appointment this week he weighed in at 8 pounds 6 ounces (up from his birth weight of 6 pounds 15 ounces)! We are so thankful that he is growing and thriving. He is really aware and loves to stare at all the fans in the house and at our faces. He also gets really big eyes when his brother B leans in to kiss him on the forehead. Barrett is adjusting slowly to our new family and struggles to be in charge of whatever he can (which of coarse is partly because he is two). We have ventured out a bit this week and took Barrett and Benjamin to the Zoo on Sunday (Benjamin is in the sling if you wonder where he is in the picture of the tractor). We also went out to lunch on Sunday with our friends Bill and Cindy and both boys did really well.

Next week is a big, big week for us as we head back to Children's Hospital for a week of tests. On Tuesday he will have a second Esophagram to check for any stricture in his esophagus. On Thursday he will have to be put under General anesthesia to have an MRI done to check his spine for any abnormalities. We are praying for good reports and for protection during all the procedures.

If they see any narrowing of the esophagus on Tuesday then they would do a dilation and balloon procedure to increase the size of the opening of the esophagus on Thursday while he is already under General anesthesia for the MRI. Please pray for all the details and that Benjamin will have a smooth week of testing. Also pray for us that we will have peace and not be anxious as Benjamin is under anesthesia again for his test. They will have to vent him for the MRI which means they will put a tube down his trachea to help him breathe. Please pray for this to go smoothly and that none of his surgical sites would be disrupted by the procedures.