This is the blog for Gavin and Carrie Jones and family. We live in Papua New Guinea and are working to see lives transformed by the living Word of God through Bible translation. Gavin is a helicopter pilot. Carrie, who has her degree in Public Health, works in the lab at our busy rural clinic. Our son, Isaac, was born in 2004 and our quintuplets, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, and Grace, were born in 2012.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. The you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:3-6

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Quick Quint Update

I am so in love with these 5 tiny bundles of perfection! Obviously, my favorite times of the day are those I spend in the NICU. Thank God (and those who have been praying), while still very sore and waiting for my body to resume its normal functioning level, I'm able to walk around and feel much better when I do - a good "excuse" for going to the NICU 3 times today. ;) I kept thinking I was feeling them move as I slept last night, then would wake up so happy to know they are here and doing well. And then today the staff kindly and gently prepared me for reality, which is that NICU time is a roller-coaster of health and emotions (mine were definitely on the wild track today after blissful euphoria yesterday!). I just wept with Seth as he got an IV removed, his forehead all scrunched and his mouth open in a soundless wail. I know babies cry, but he is SO tiny and vulnerable it hurts me to see him upset at all, even though I know it's what's best for him and the staff are SO sweet and gentle and focused on "their" respective babies. We are honored and amazed to see how many people care deeply and personally. Some staff members, including the nurse practitioner doing the procedure, prayed about Seth's PIC line insertion prior to and during their work over him. Thank God, they got it in the right spot so he has more of a "permanent" nutrition injection apparatus that won't erode his tiny veins. The PIC lines go in the arm and up through the shoulder area and down to where the blood volume is high at the superior vena cava, just before it enters the heart (I think!). Gracie had her PIC line inserted already but it's not in quite the right spot, so please pray they can get it to go where it's supposed to - down instead of up. Marcie is having hers inserted right now, so we pray for success and for comfort for her. David will have his inserted soon, probably tomorrow. So far, big boy Will (who truly looks big compared to Gracie!) doesn't need another line. He and David and Marcie are still receiving little feeds of mother's milk along with their TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition, the components of food, including calories, injected directly into the blood).

 Thank you SO much for your prayers for these tiny lives. Their fragility is overwhelming sometimes, and I am so grateful that the God who flung the stars into space with perfect precision is also holding our five mini-children in His hands. The NICU staff says there are good days and hard days; take the good days (of which we've had two) and be grateful, and hold on during the hard days, trusting God is in control and watching over every last little function in their itty-bitty bodies. We crave your continued prayers. Despite all I've read on others' blogs and in books, it was impossible to gauge beforehand how truly heart-wrenching their struggles are and how very precious each one already is to us. No matter that there are five; we treasure them all! And I have to add as an aside that they are already much better-looking than yesterday. They're all tucked up into nice little bundles, and instead of wide open mouths they are sucking on their tubes and trying to lick up the biogel that is used to clean and moisten their mouths and lips. Oh, and I got to change and give Seth his biogel today! What a treat, although he's such a sensitive little soul even the diaper change upset him. I hope my voice was calming to him. Gracie, on the other hand, seems largely unphased and super tough and spunky. She's the one who sticks her tongue out and tries to eat the biogel. David is on his tummy tonight and looks utterly adorable (wish I had a camera when I went to visit last), and Will just kind of chills all the time. He's big and sleepy. :) Marcie is doing great; just praying she gets her PIC line in correctly. She has dark hair whereas Gracie has blond. Seth is our blondie boy; the other two have dark hair, especially Will. He has a surprising amount! They are ALL adorable and perfect in appearance, but I know I'm biased.

Thanks also for all the kind comments and congratulations. We'll try to answer your questions soon, but now it's bed time!

Love and gratitude,
Carrie

13 comments:

  1. I can't believe you had 5 kids at a time..... that's incredible!!!!!!!! you will definitly be in my prayers! may God bless you and your family!!!!!

    ~ S.W.P

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love reading this! WONDERFUL. I cannot wait to meet the little sweeties. I am praying loads and loads, thinking about those tiny persons, so complete and beautiful. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful! Thanking God for the two good days he has given you. What a blessing to have staff members praying over your babies! - Amy Rice

    ReplyDelete
  4. I remember when you wondered if you could bond with five babies and here you are madly in love with each one. Thank you for describing each one so we can get to know them and pray for their different needs. Sandi Holzwarth

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for such a wonderful update! Loved hearing about their little personalities already! Get some rest and continue praying from Kansas! Jessica (Rollin) Rising

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for keeping us updated! I am praying for you and the babies.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for keeping us updated! I am praying for you and the babies.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You don't know me - I went to college with Annelies - but my husband and parents and I have been praying for you all for the past week or so. We'll continue to pray for your precious little ones. I know that God is going to do amazing things in and through these little lives. ~Rachel

    ReplyDelete
  9. I, too, am someone you don't know and will never meet until we stand around the throne of God together. (I "met" you through Esther Moneysmith Gross's blog.) I've been praying especially that you'd be able to bond with them after reading that that is difficult with multiple births. When I read your updates, it sounds to me as if the Lord is answering those prayers. It seems to me you've already bonded with them. Know that I will continue to pray. May God bless you and your entire family, including big-brother Issac.

    ReplyDelete
  10. May God give you rest and healing and we know He has the little one's in His perfect care!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Enjoyed conversation with your dad to day as he and Issac helped with our hearts in motion ministry at HBC...bless their hearts. We are continuing to keep all of you in much prayer.I agree with Sandi, you write so beautifully, describing your little miracles; it almost feels like we are right there with you. Sounds like you have a great team of professional and Godly caregivers. God is so good! (Gail Harlin from HBCand BSF connection with your parents)

    ReplyDelete
  12. You shared your heart in this post. Praying for and with you all.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love them too! Thank you so much for these little descriptions. What treasures.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones

Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones

Blog Archive