Sunday, December 27, 2009

Christmas and Myra's 3 Month Update

Wow, it's been a while since I've updated! December was VERY busy, but January has finally slowed down a bit....

"Miracle" had her umbilical hernia repaired on December 18th and had an anal scope and dilation done along with an MRI. Her umbilical hernia might have closed on its own, but her intestines were falling through the hernia and would likely not allow self-closure to happen. So, we opted to do the surgery earlier rather than later because it would be easier the smaller she was, and we felt she was having some discomfort from it, too. The scope was just to check for problems because Miracle had blood in her stool a few times, and I'm still not sure why he did the dilation. The surgeon mentioned anal fissures, but she only has breastmilk stool.... I guess to avoid future problems....?? Anyway, the surgery apparently went well, though they had issues during her MRI and had to hand-bag her the entire time since she was sedated. I'm glad the anesthesiologist was anal like I am and was with her every moment through surgery and the MRI to keep an eye on her. We will get her MRI results on January 21st. Here are some photos from the stay in the hospital:
Waiting for Surgery in the sling:
Right after Surgery:
Belly button before Surgery:
Belly button after Surgery:

Christmas was pretty laid back this year. I didn't put up the tree until days before Christmas and didn't do any extra decorations. It was fun to have 7 stockings hanging this year! We did our Jesse Tree, but Mommy dropped the ball a few days....oops! We were given lots of gift money with Miracle's situation this year, so we had a good Christmas for the kids. Probably the last one for a while. They each got a big present, a few little presents and a stocking full of little tinker things. And for the first time in 6 years, Mr. Prince and I got to purchase gift for each other! They were fun, cheap gifts but it was nice to get a gift from each other. It's something we need to do more often. Here are some photos from Christmas:

This ended up being Boo Boo's favorite gift, a cowboy hat!

Grandma and PopPop got the kids 63 piece puzzle and they loved them!
Sid is in his new GI-Joe costume, too.
The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is popular in our house...
mostly because we love to hear Boo Boo say, "Oh Tooooodles!"Princess Pea and Angelica Pickles have BEGGED for these PJs for MONTHS!Sid has gotten into GI-Joes recently
After multiple Christmas celebrations, PaPaw and Grammy and Cousin Kristan visited from Illinois! They even came bearing MORE gifts! My ornery children weren't very grateful as they opened clothes as their gift. The girls seems excited at first, but then Sid the Science Kid actually asked why they weren't getting toys. Boogers! So much for the unselfish Christmas I planned on... PaPaw then brought out the FUN gifts and they were a hit! Much better than Mommy and Daddy's gifts... =) It was nice to visit with my Dad and Step-Mom since we couldn't make the trip to IL this year. Our van just isn't big enough for a long-term trip with 5 kids! And Miracle HATES the car anyway....
PaPaw and Boo Boo
The same day my Dad headed out, I took the girls on a special trip to MI. Princess Pea's best friend, Kia, was having a Princess birthday party. Since we weren't making the trip to IL during Mr. Prince's vacation, I decided to visit Kia's family with just the three girls. They had a blast! Happy 5th Birthday Kia!
Princess Pea, Kia and Angelica Pickles
I helped with the cake. =)
Like I said, January has finally slowed down a bit and we are starting up some school finally, since Miracle's birth. Our first week it took me all week to get through each subject area at least twice, but that's better than nothing! I'm really going to focus on Math and Reading this semester, and our History and Science curricula will just be bonus features for now. I think the breaks we've taken, though necessary, have set Princess Pea's reading back and I'd really like her to move forward with that. She's ready to keep moving and doing great. Sid the Science Kid needs to focus on memorizing his addition facts better so we can move forward with carrying/borrowing and get ready for multiplication at the end of the year. The kids are BEGGING for school these days and our house really runs more smoothly with school structure in place. Looking forward to getting back to "normal"!

I have picked up a few little projects this month. Miracle was in need of a winter hat to fit her tiny head that didn't squeeze it, so I crocheted and knitted a few. I am also in the process of making some leg warmers for the girls' ballet class. Here are Miracle's hats:


I didn't ended up liking this one on Miracle, so Angelica Pickle's doll took it.....
On of my favorite photos of Miracle!
Miracle Myra will be 4 months on the 24th....whoa!! I can't believe it's been that long! She is about 9.5lbs now and finally moving out of her Newborn clothes into 0-3 months!!! I thought my last three were tiny.... She is actually doing Great! She sees her First Steps therapist once a week and Mommy does therapy with her multiple times a day. She is cooing and smiling more every day, she is improving on her head control each week, she is tracking better and is becoming interested in more things, her range of motion is excellent compared to what is was when she left the hospital and in the normal range now, and her therapist has been very happy with her progress. She seems to like therapy and massage, which is good. I have been very encouraged with her continued progress, despite the fact that her head doesn't seem to be growing right now. We are still waiting for God to move and take control of this situation. There have been so many verses I've read, stories I've heard and sermons I've listened to lately that have been encouraging. Remember and hold onto the promises God has given you. Don't give up on your child's development because God hasn't and won't. Don't listen to what the world is telling you because God's power is greater than this world's. Believe. Pray. I've taken it all in and feel very confident that God was specifically speaking through all these avenues straight to me to encourage me. He has done amazing miracles in Myra's life so far and I have no reason to think He's done moving. I love John Waller's song:
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

Happy Girl

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Myra - 2.5 months old

Myra has had such a rough start, poor little girl. What an amazing story we will have to tell her someday, though...

We actually ended up in the ER with Myra last weekend because she had her first seizure since 1 day old. They were weaning her off her seizure medication in hopes that her seizures were just due to her traumatic birth, hoping she didn't actually have a seizure disorder from brain damage. It's still to early to tell, but she will be on medication for at least a few years now, possibly for a lifetime. Unfortuantely, her debut as baby Jesus didn't happen, as we left for the hospital just minutes before she was to be on stage. Thankfully, we had planned a back-up baby for each performance in case one baby was fussy. Oh well.


Myra seems to slowly be getting back to her normal self. It took a number of days. But, she is back to tracking well, cooing some, smiling occasionally, and even grabbed onto my shirt a few times while nursing today.....all great accomplishments! We are working on tummy time, range of motion, and stretching out her neck (because she prefers the right side) with her physical therapist currently. She is still seeing a neurologist, pediatrician, physical therapist and chiropractor regularly. She has surgery for her umbilical hernia scheduled for December 17th. This week her intestines were falling through her hernia and seemed to be bothering her a lot. The surgeon said we could do the surgery any time, and we opted to do it sooner rather than later. Since she has to be under sedation for her MRI also, we are doing the MRI the same day. Unfortunately, it won't be until the end of January when we get those results. Her head has grown some more lately. It was 33cm at birth and is now 33.6cm. Something is better than nothing!! So far she seems to be developing normal, but there is still lots to wait and hope for. So, for now we take one day at a time and celebrate the little things. And each time I kiss my other four kids on their heads, I thank God for their big noggins that hold a perfect healthy brain. You sometimes don't know all the things you truly should be thankful for until it has been taken away...

Here are some photos of Myra now that she is 2.5 months.

Mommy has splurged on dresses now that I'm realizing this may be my last little girl!!!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Myra's Testimony

One of my church pastors asked Paul and I to share Myra's testimony at our Thanksgiving service. Though nervous, I am honored at the opportunity to share what God has done for our little girl. This story is not in it's completion; I will some day write out every little miracle we've seen. But, it's a story to share with the world on what our God is capable of, willing to do and desires to do for all of His people.

For our 5th baby we had a home birth planned. We had a successful homebirth with #4 and were looking forward to the experience again. When I was 3 days overdue I had started some light contractions. My last two children were 10 and 15 days overdue, so I figured I still had another week. After slowing down from my day that evening, I felt uneasy that I hadn’t felt the baby move during the day. Within 30 minutes of calling my midwife concerned, my water broke and our baby had, had a bowel movement due to some form of stress. My water was thick and green. I called for childcare to come immediately and headed to the hospital as quickly as I could. I called a few friends and family members to be praying. On the way, I begged God to be able to hear my baby’s heartbeat. I told Him that I wasn’t ready to let this baby go, and I didn’t know if I would be able to delivery a baby knowing it had died. I didn’t care if they gave me a c-section, I just wanted to see my baby alive. I felt numb. The fact that my water had broke was a miracle. I was then alerted to the fact my baby was going to need significant help after birth that I would not have been able to provide at home.

When we arrived at the hospital they hooked me up to a monitor and I heard my baby’s heart beat. My midwife, Paul and I praised God in that little room.

I labored for 3 hours with a baby’s heart rate that wasn’t ideal. Suddenly, baby’s heart rate dropped during a contraction. It recovered that time, but the next contraction it didn’t recover. I was rolled away immediately for an emergency c-section with general anesthesia. Neither my husband nor myself watch our little girl being born. Which proved to actually be a blessing in disguise.

Myra was born not breathing with no heart rate and was put on full life support within minutes of birth. Some time between when her heart rate dropped and when she was born, 10-15min, she had suffered severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

She was hooked up to 2 large ventilators and had at least 7 IV meds going into both hands and her belly button.

At 4 hours and 24 hours she had uncontrollable seizures.

When people called and asked how she was doing, all we could say was that the doctors weren’t expecting her to live.

We visited her often in the first 48hrs. I felt strongly ever since I heard her heartbeat when we arrived at the hospital that she would live, and I believe God gave me a supernatural peace throughout this whole experience. But, that hope was sometimes hard to hold onto whenever we talked to the doctors.

On Day 2, the NICU doctor and pediatric neurologist sat us down and went through her body systems to explain her condition:
-she had no reflexes due to severe damage to the central nervous system
-her pupils were not responding
-she had no breathing efforts
-she was on blood pressure medication to regulate her heart rate
-her blood was having a difficult time getting oxygenated because of the pulmonary hypertension
-liver enzymes were leaking into her blood stream causing ongoing damage to her body
-her EEGs at 8hrs and 32hrs showed severe suppression of brain activity and deterioration from
the 1st one to the 2nd one
-her blood sugar and platelets were not stabilizing
-and her kidneys were not functioning at all and she was beginning to swell and retain water

The doctors told us that she was not likely to survive because there was nothing they could do to make her organs begin to function like normal. She was starting to swell and they said we should consider signing a Do Not Resuscitate paper or consider turning off her life support machines. They said she would probably swell up very large and then her heart would eventually give out. And because her EEGs showed little brain activity, if she did survive, she would likely be in a vegetative state for life.

It was that afternoon that Paul and I went back to my hospital room and sobbed, begging God to help our little girl. I believe God spoke to us through many songs and scriptures during this time. We listened to the song “Porcelain Heart” by Barlow Girl over and over. It says, “You pray, this can't be the way. You cry, you say something's gotta change and mend this porcelain heart of mine.” It was the hardest moments I have ever been through, and I still can’t listen to that song without crying. I told God we were helpless and needed His strength.

That day God showed me Isaiah 29:14, “Therefore, once more, I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder.” and gave me hope again. This verse has been proven over and over again these last 2 months.

And He shared Psalm 33:18-22 with Paul,
“But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.”

That evening we brought our four other children up to visit Myra. We weren’t sure they were going to have another chance to ever see her. Also, that evening Paul and his father put together a prayer time with our immediate family. Kevin brought his guitar and Paul and him stood over Myra praising God and proclaiming healing into Myra. At the same my mom, mother-in-law and a few others were praying in the lounge. At this point we understood that only a miracle would allow Myra to live. We were also able to pray for single mother who’s daughter had been in the NICU for almost a month with down’s syndrome and a plethora of other issues. He allowed us, in our suffering, to minister to someone else and it was Awesome.

It was the very next morning (Day 3) we went down to visit Myra, and the nurse told us she had began to urinate! Her kidneys seems to be functioning out of the blue. We got an email later that morning from a friend whose healing team has been praying for Myra. One of the members of the team said “God had her pray that the heavens would open up and that childlike in appearance angels were descending with all the organs that Myra needed from the warehouse of heaven. That the organs would be supernaturally transplanted into her and God himself would rub those organs and that she would produce urine that day.”

It was from that day forward that Myra began to get better, miracle after miracle. The doctors seemed to be amazed as each of her organs started functioning. There were many times they would report happy news and actually state they weren’t sure why or how that part of her began to work normally. We knew.

On day 3 she had her first voluntary movement
On day 6 Myra opened her eyes & yawned for the 1st time
On day 7 her blood pressure stabilized
On day 9 we were able to hold her for the first time
On day 12 she cried for the first time
On day 17 her lungs were completely healed

Those are just a handful of the many miracles we witnessed.

On day 16, Michelle King put together a world-wide prayer vigil for Myra through Facebook, of which hundreds of people attended from their homes. We prayed specifically for her suck, swallow and gag reflexes to start working, for her brain to be unaffected by this event and for her head to grow and the bones on her head to stop overlapping.

Four days later, one day before her surgery to place a g-tube in her stomach for feedings, she began to suck on a pacifier. In less than a week after surgery, the g-tube wasn’t being used at all for feedings and she was full-time breastfeeding in the hospital, a very special answered prayer.

After recovering from surgery, Myra came home on Day 30. She was given 22 diagnoses in those 30 days, almost all of which have resolved. But, the miracles haven’t stopped. Since she has been home:
-her tremors have gone away completely
-she is weaning off her seizure meds still with no seizures
-her gas issues related to her surgery have subsided
-her tone issues have improved on their own
-and she is tracking movements --- her eye doctor said her eyes seem to be normal after the CAT scan had showed the greatest damage to her brain was in the area responsible for vision - PRAISE GOD!

So, as of right now the only things we are still praying for are her brain to grow and move her skull bones so they aren’t overlapping, and for her brain to be unaffected by her birth trauma. Just yesterday her pediatrician said her head has grown .3cm!! Another miracle!! The doctors say she could still have severe handicaps and only time will tell. After all the miracles we have witnessed, it’s hard to even believe she isn’t going to be just fine. And we continue to pray and believe for God to completely heal Myra for His Glory.

Nicole Nordeman’s song “Gratitude” has really put much of this in perspective for me. Her lyrics say,
“Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need
So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today,
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .
We'll give thanks to You, With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
We are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace
But Jesus, would You please . . .”

For the remainder of Myra’s life we are going to trust God that He will use her miracle testimony to prove His love to us, to prove His power over this earth, and to strengthen the faith of anyone who hears her story. And no matter what her outcome, we are going to praise God and trust in His greater plan.

This verse has become dear to our hearts, as we feel as Paul did when he wrote to the Christians of Corinth. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, “...We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”

Please continue to pray for Myra, and to praise God for His faithfulness in her name. We give Him all the Glory for her continued healing and are thankful for His many blessings this holiday.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Puzzle Mania


The Klan was very proud of finishing this 3x2 puzzle with 300 pieces the other day. MommyK does NOT like puzzles.....but still helped put together the "easy" parts, as Mr. Prince would say. Mr. Prince and the Klan finished the rest before dinner. I was proud, but happy to have my dinning room table back, too!

BTW, sorry....Angelica Pickles is almost always naked.....

Friday, November 20, 2009

Family Photos


Myra 6 weeks

The girls



The Boys



The Klan


Christmas Photo - Myra is screaming and I don't like the pose, but oh well!


The girls in their outfits - this pictures didn't turn out the best, but I love their dresses!

Myra Stylin' in her New Nappies

We got Myra's BumGenius XS AIO cloth diapers in the mail this week! I had to force myself to not get all PINK because I know I will use them for other childREN. According to Mr. Prince, we are only having ONE more, but I have different plans....HA!


Isn't she so cute in them! We've used the BG one-size diapers since baby #2, but they are still huge on Myra. My other babies were 8lbs at birth and 11 or 12lbs by 1 month, so they moved into the one-size right away. Myra is still so dinky and the one-size hits her g-tube. So, anticipating buying another $100+ in diapers, we decided cloth would be better and an investment for the future. And PaPaw and Grammy were nice enough to purchase them for a "birthday" gift for Myra.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Myra Update : 8 weeks old


Myra has continued to do well these last few weeks. In a few days she will have now been home just as many days as she spent in the NICU - 30 days. These last four weeks went by a lot faster than the first four, that's for sure! And they have been much more enjoyable. =)

The children love to hold Myra. Boo Boo knows we use the Boppie to hold her, so he throws it on the floor, sits on it and then holds his arms up to hold her. He doesn't quite get why we use the Boppie when we hold her....ha!

Myra is having a lot more happy awake times than even last week. I think much of her gas issues are starting to work themselves out quickly (Praise!!). We have opted to not use the g-tube for burping so we can get it out next month (Praise!!). I think it's going better than I expected. We also have been giving her Zantac, but aren't sure if that's helping or not. I'll probably try to wean her off that in a week or so to see if her demeanor changes.

She has still had no seizures, as we wean her from her Phenobarbital. Praise God!! A seizure disorder was one thing I truly thought I could handle if it was controlled with medication, but God has continued to surpass my expectations with His Healing! Please continue to pray as she grows out of this dosage of medication, that seizures will not show up. How much easier life will be without a seizure disorder label and giving oral medications 2x a day.....

Myra's small head is of the greatest concern right now. I haven't gotten her head measured since early last week, but I personally have seen some changes in the last week. God is hearing all your prayers!! The ridge on the top of her head is starting to smooth out. I can't tell that much is changing in the back because I don't see it all the time, but so far I haven't noticed anything. It's still pretty overlapped back there. But, God has proved Himself to be All-Powerful, so we are just waiting for them to move.....expecting God to move them.

We will be starting therapy with First Steps next month. I am looking forward to getting some good advice on how to help Myra not prefer her right side. I have found that when she sleeps on me stomach to stomach, she prefers to turn her head to the left. So, I am trying to do this throughout the day to stretch out those neck muscles. Between that, positioning her on her side while sleeping, and a chiropractor, physical therapist and massage therapist, I see some great potential. Her tone issues are very slight, so I assume these will be correctly easily with a therapist.

We also have an MRI scheduled for December 8th. We had our 5th EEG done last week, too. After the 8th, I will meet with our new neurologist to discuss the tests. I really like our new neuro and look forward to hearing her opinion on Myra's current condition.

So, I am so pleased with how Myra is doing, hope you are too! God has definitely made Himself known as Creator and Healer in Myra's life. Last Sunday my pastor said...

A miracle is a strategically placed moment where God give us a tangible glimpse of His desire and ability to reorder and transform our world.

...I couldn't have said it better myself. Go God!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Myra Update - 6 weeks old


Well, in the last 2.5 weeks since Myra has been home I have had 25 appointments (8 or 9 have been home visits thankfully) and in the next month I have about 14 more scheduled. So, I have been busy...to say the least. =) Myra is seeing a pediatrician, neurologist, ophthalmologist, chiropractor, massage therapist and surgeon and is getting services from Parkview Home Healthcare and First Steps. I have a feeling this next year will be challenging dragging 5 children around to all these appointments. Fortunately, I have had help these first three weeks she has been home from Mr. Prince, my friend Andy and Grandmama, and I haven't had to venture out yet with all 5. Next week all that will change.

Myra is physically doing very well. She moves like a 6 week old baby with only slightly high tone in her legs. I haven't noticed her tremors for over a week now, but it's hard to tell since she has overactive reflexes anyway. But, she basically looks like a perfect little newborn. She is nursing full time and we haven't been using the G-tube. The surgeon said he will take it out in mid-December if we continue to not have to use it and she is gaining weight well. She is now 7lbs 13oz, a pound bigger than when she left the hospital 2.5 weeks ago, and they seemed pleased with her weight gain. She does have a herniated belly button, but her pediatrician said it is of no concern and will likely go away by 9 months old. Her bump on her wrist has gone away completely and was likely due to the IVs from the NICU. She is holding her head up well and tracking us as she watches us, so they are pleased with her current developmental status. She did pass her hearing test and will be seeing a ophthalmologist to check her eyes this month. So, physically she is doing well. Oh the praises God has received from this little girl and those around her!! We are SO very thankful that God chose to prove those NICU doctors wrong!

Neurologically, we still aren't sure how she is doing. She had a repeat EEG today and will be having an MRI this month, also. These tests will tell us a little more about how she is doing neurologically. She is still on Phenobarbital for seizures, but they are currently weaning her off this medication in hopes she will continue to not have seizures. A therapeutic level is between 20 and 40 and she is currently at a 17 still with no seizures. Please continue to pray she will not have any seizures. Both neurologists we have seen told us she is at high risk for having seizures at any point in her life. So, even if she doesn't seize in the first year, she could seize 10 years from now. So, unfortunately it's something we will always have to be prepared for even if she is able to wean from the meds right now. If she does seize, they will keep her on the Phenobarbital for a few years. We are also supposed to be watching for infantile spasms, which are different than seizures. I was told these are precursors to "not good news" for Myra, so we don't want to see these at all. We will be looking for these for the entire first year but are praying we don't see them. As far as her brain damage, the MRI will tell us a little more details but still can't predict the future. Her possible developmental delays and handicaps will show up over the course of her life. Good thing God will never leave us to deal with this alone...


Of greatest concern right now is the fact that her head has not grown since birth. She should have grown 2cm so far, but her bones on her head are still overlapped. They said this is because her brain has not grown, which is their concern. They aren't sure why her brain isn't growing, and don't know if it will grow at all. They said worse-case senerio is that her brain wouldn't mature at all beyond this point and her body would grow, but she wouldn't develop past an infant. Today was a hard day discussing all this with the doctors. I figured because she is doing well physically that she must be doing well neurologically. But, unfortunately, how she is doing now doesn't help predict how she will do in the future. And, the doctors can't make her brain grow, but I know God can! I am pleading with God to perform yet another miracle for Myra. Please join me, for God has answered the prayers of many for her in the past.

Thank you to all who have babysat, made a meal, called to talk, and sent up prayers. We feel very loved and supported. God has surrounded us with a fabulous church family and wonderful friends for such a time as this.

Monday, November 2, 2009

What am I thankful for?

God took my baby from this....


To THIS.....


So Thankful.....

Friday, October 30, 2009

Myra is HOME!!

Miracle Myra currently 1 month old, 7lbs 5oz

Well, our computer crashed the day we brought Myra home, so I haven't had a chance to update my blog. Our good friend was nice enough to rebuild the whole thing for a SECOND time over the weekend. We are truly blessed with our friendships these days!

The Klan has been waiting 30 days for their baby sister to come home!

Myra came home on Friday, October 23rd. She left weighing 6lbs 12oz and is now 7lbs 5oz, less than a week later! She is doing great! She is still full-time breastfeeding, too. She is having some gas issues from the nissen fundoplication and we are trying to work those out using Mylicon drops and Gripe water. I hope this won't be a long-term issue and she will start to feel better soon. After all she has gone through, I hate for her to be in more pain for many more weeks...

Angelica Pickles and Myra

We have received so much support and prayer during this time we are overwhelmed with thankfulness. A good friend of mine has organized meals 4x a week since Myra was born, continuing through the second week of November. My children would have had pb and mac and cheese for weeks straight if these wonderful meals weren't coming! It has been such a blessing! We have also had many friends and family provide childcare while we needed to be at the hospital. Another good friend from MI will be staying with us the first week Mr. Prince goes back to work and my mother is coming the following week to help, too. And I can't forget to mention the hundreds of people lifting Myra and our family up in prayer. He is listening and has been answering those prayers daily. Thank you so much!

Princess Pea and Myra

So, at this point we are doing well and adjusting fine. Myra seems to be doing better than anyone expected, and we know it's because her Father in heaven has been restoring her little body bit by bit, despite the doctor's diagnoses. I read her discharge paperwork this week and she was actually given 22 diagnosis during her 30 days in the hospital....all of which have resolved (except some slight hypertonia in her legs which will be treated with physical therapy). Wow! It's overwhelming reading through the paperwork and realizing just how sick our little girl was and how dire the situation was those first 48hours. But, we are so thankful for the peace that God graciously poured on us during those days and the hope and promises He gave us. He spoke to us very specifically through His Word and through many different songs during those weeks in the hospital. Those songs and scriptures I will always hold dear and can't wait to share them with Myra when she is older. I have also kept a daily journal for her, recording her condition and all the miracles God performed as he restored her. I'm so glad I kept up with it looking back on the experience.
Sid the Science Kid and Myra

As for the future, it is still unknown. Though, we know Myra's life is in God's hands and trust His omniscience and His love for Myra. He knows exactly what He created Myra for, and we've trusted that all along, whether in life or death. And, we are still asking for a complete healing for Myra. The doctors say she has "global atrophy" in her brain and that they can't pin-point specific areas of the brain that are damaged. They said we will see deficiencies as she grows and develops to tell us what has been damaged. But, we know the brain is an amazing organ that heals itself and creates new pathways after paths have been damaged. Anyone who works with the brain must know there is a Creator because of how complex it is and how unpredictable it can be. We are praying that whatever parts have been damaged are parts of our brain that we don't use anyway, or that God will restore the functions that have been damaged. Either way, we want Myra to have full capacity in the end. And, what greater testimony than a full restoration from a body that had no life when it was born!! And, it's quite obvious in this case that is was God restoring Myra. Even many of her doctors have attributed her success to God! The doctors sustained her body for a time, but they could not make her organs start to function, her breathing come back, her suck/swallow reflex come back, or anything else that has restored. Humans are still very limited when it comes to such medical conditions, and we are so thankful we had someone Greater to turn to in a time like this. I don't know how anyone could go through a situation like this without a belief in a Greater Power. And I'm thankful God found Mr. Prince and I early in our lives and prepared us for this situation, too.

Boo Boo and Myra

So, thank you to all who have been praying for Miracle Myra and we ask that you continue to lift her life up in prayer, praying not only for her restoration but for her testimony to "astound" anyone who hears it. Isaiah 29:14, "Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder."

This scripture tells our story perfectly....

2 Corinthians 1: 8-11 "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."