This is a quick post to let you all know that some progress was made today!  After another night of listening to him cry and having him throw up through the night, it dawned on me this morning that his feeling sick could very well be from the protein powder they were adding to the milk.  I proposed the idea and well, I didn't really give them an option but to stop putting the powder in to see if it relieved his refluxing and throwing up.  Well, it seems to have made a huge difference so far.  If it continues to go well until tomorrow, then I will be convinced that it was the powder.  Again the help I have received from our speech therapist back at home ( can I give a huge shout out to New Berlin therapies!) made us ready to deal with this hurdle.  She had the foresight to know that there may be feeding issues after surgery and she had me start him on other foods such as avocado, yogurt and other things.  Thank goodness, because now he willingly takes that food by mouth and so far the nutritionist is satisfied that he will get protein from another source.  We will be having a meeting of the minds tomorrow with all of the doctors and specialties that are involved in his care at 2:00 and we will revisit that subject as well as Dominic's future care and what we are looking at for a plan.   Please pray for questions to be answered, clarity on what is going on with Dominic and a plan that we can start implementing.

So the other piece of progress is something I realized today.  I know I have spoken about Dominic's crying and how difficult that is for me, but I was humbled tonight.  The ICU tonight was filled with new visitors and I was struck by many things about it all.  It is so difficult to see the tears and distress on the family members of the children that come into this unit, but as I passed every room that just a few days ago was empty, I noticed that each room had a new child  in it that was silent.  They were silent because they were all on breathing tubes, they were silent because they were that sick.  I quickly realized,that although Dominic is still upset, he is in a much better place than when we first came here and for that I can be grateful.  I also can be so grateful that he is actually here with us, even if he is suffering right now.  I remember back to the fact that he wasn't supposed to live, or that is what we were initially told, but we had no idea if we would actually get to have any time with him, I remember this and I am humbled again.  Thank you God for the gift of my son, and for this time with him,this time that you from all eternity have ordained it to be as it is.  Thank you for the graces given to be able to see this tonight.

Someone sent me this thought from a mystic and I found it very helpful:

There is no hardship or sorrow that is given to you that does not pass through the heart of God first.

Thank you for your prayers!