weekly update!

The boys have passed their 4-month birthday...March 8th!

And now they have even had their first international visitors! We had a wonderful time with Maresa and Matthias, our dear friends from Germany. Maresa stayed with the Bunch family as an exchange student 12 years ago when Liz and I were in high school. This is her first visit back to see us, and we were thrilled to have both of them come. They are such sweet and kind people. Carson and Kellen were also very happy to meet both of them! 

We have made some progress with the nursing staff and are starting to get into a more regular routine. We continue to pray for God's guidance in that situation and believe with time, it will continue to improve. Preston and Liz continue to astound all of us with their ability to take one day at a time and their incredible patience in the midst of everything. We are so proud of them. 

There have not been any real changes at this time, but both boys are growing and getting stronger. Carson weighs 12 lbs 5 oz and Kellen weighs 12 lbs 8 oz. Kellen has begun sleeping 7 to 8 hours at night...WOOO HOOOO! 

We hope this finds all of you doing very well and seeing God's blessings in your life.

Posted by Sarah

Carson...having a chat with friends

Carson...turning on the CHARM.  Goodness.  

Kellen...chillin' with his homey...the bear

Kellen...munching on those chubby little fingers

update for the week

It has been almost a week since Preston, Liz, Carson, and Kellen made it home. There have been some real ups and down, but we are beyond proud of Preston and Liz and how well they have handled the transitions. If they did not need sleep, everything would be wonderful, because they truly are as well-prepared for emergencies as anyone could be.

We thought the nurses who would be staying with Carson would be trained and able to provide his care...especially during the night (similar to those we had in the NICU). Unfortunately, this has not been the case and none of us feel comfortable leaving Carson to their care unless someone is awake at all times. We are trying to work through these issues, but we ask for your prayers. We certainly need God's direction as to how to go about providing the best care possible for Carson. 

We continue to pray for healing for Carson's lungs. Everything else is perfectly normal, but it truly can be an emergency if he loses his oxygen or plugs off his tube. Continue to prayer for clarity of thought when Liz and Preston are faced with emergencies and need to make quick decisions for Carson and for all the rest of us who spend time with him. 

Bottom line, we know God works miracles and we continue to pray for the miracle of God's protection for Carson until he is fully healed. 

Here is one of the sweetest pictures of both boys sleeping together in the living room. They are precious beyond words.

Posted by Sarah

pictures from home

The first is of Preston, Liz and Carson right after they got back from Carson's first doctor appointment, which went very well! The second picture is of both boys in their very own living room, sleeping peacefully.  No update...just wanted to say everyone is doing well and surviving...with pictures to prove it!  :)

The Clarks have survived 24 hours at home!! WOOHOO! It has not been without its challenges, but God has provided. 

The biggest issue is getting used to the new equipment and also trusting the home health individuals that are watching Carson. They are wonderful ladies, but we don't know them and it is hard to trust them with such serious issues pertaining to Carson. Each day is going to get easier especially as a routine is established. 

Kellen got to try out his mobile over his bed for the first time and loves it. It makes us so happy to hear him giggling and laughing. Carson is putting up with all of us as we try to get better at using all the new equipment that comes with his care, but even with all the changes, he is doing well. 

Please be praying for Liz and Preston. It is somewhat overwhelming right now, but they are doing great at taking it one step at a time.  

Just so everyone is aware, updates will be coming much less frequently, because not as much is changing now that both boys are home. We will try to still update at least once a week or if anything new occurs, but it will be less frequent than when Carson was still in the NICU. 

We truly appreciate all your continued prayers and support. Thank you!!!

home sweet home

And indeed it is.  Preston, Elizabeth, Carson and Kellen will all be sleeping in their own home tonight for the first time!  The Clarks made it home safely at about 3:30PM CST today.  PRAISE JESUS!

Sarah said there was a little simultaneous fussing toward the end of the trip, by both boys in their separate cars, which is kinda cute, but nothing too bad.  The home health care nurses are getting all the machines set up and squared away too.  So, everything is going GREAT!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ALL for all your prayers, kind words and service to this precious family as they worked toward this special day.  And thank you for continuing to pray for Carson's full and complete healing as the days move forward and the Clarks settle into home life!

God bless you all!!!

home sweet home

to home tomorrow!

The G-tube is leaking more than it has been. That said, Carson continues to gain weight and his skin around the G-tube looks fine, so he seems to be tolerating the leakage just fine. Therefore, in discussing it with Dr. Yang, the main pediatric surgeon, he feels it would be best to just manage the G-tube as is instead of returning to surgery. Soooo, Carson gets to go home tomorrow (Tuesday) unless something else changes! We are all very excited. 

Please be praying for Liz and Preston for the 2.5-3 hour trip home as they will need all the equipment to work and the ability to suction Carson, if needed, as they are traveling. It will be an interesting trip for all involved. 

Kellen is riding back home with his Papa and Meme Clark, so Liz can focus on Carson if he should need anything on the way back. Thank you for all your prayers. This has been the goal for so long, it is somewhat surreal to see it actually occur. God has blessed all of us so much along the way through your faithful prayers!!! 

One more thing...if you get the chance, please also pray for our dear friend Rhonda Leeper who was in an automobile accident this morning. She is okay, but does have at least three fractures and will need much prayer on the long road to healing.  

Thank you prayer warriors!

So far so good!! Looks like Carson gets to go home on Tuesday. Liz and Preston got everything arranged at home and all the equipment Carson needs is now in their home. 

He has also had a wonderful day! No leaking from the G-tube and lots of smiles. With his Passy Muir valve, he is making A LOT more sound. His primary nurse, Christi, who has been amazing through the entire journey, got a video of Carson making lots of noises. We will have to post it as soon as we get it from Liz. Christi and I were both so excited to see him vocalizing so much. It was precious. 

It is somewhat surreal to think about visiting Carson somewhere besides Cardinal Glennon, but we will all rejoice when he is safely at home with his family. We will always have truly grateful hearts for all the fantastic doctors, nurses, and staff at Cardinal Glennon, who have made this journey home with Kellen and Carson possible.

Posted by Sarah