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

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

More on Seth

Thanks for your continued prayers; he needs them (as always - as do we!). I don't know if the breathing-support weaning was too fast, complicated by weaning pain/sedation meds at the same time, or if we're seeing some rebound effect from stopping the steroids, but he's taken a few steps back. It's hard for me to call in and get reports on "well, he was working too hard to breath so we had to increase this setting, but he's breathing much easier now," "well, he was struggling a bit so we had to increase that setting, but he's breathing much better now," over and over again. When we were there this afternoon and he was on increased oxygen again, I was tempted to panic that we're going to end up back on the ventilator. I admit I struggle with discouragement, then remember "Why so downcast, o my soul? Put your hope in God!" from the Psalms. My discouragement and fear are in no way honoring to Him. This is why WE need prayer too. :} I know you are lifting us up! We never could make it without the everlasting arms underneath us (Deut. 33:27).

Oh, the other night I asked for prayer that Seth would go from "strength to strength," thinking that was from Psalm 82; it's actually from Psalm 84, vs. 7: "they will go from strength to strength until each appears before God in Zion." Earlier verses say, "What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD . . . When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings." [I think of the eastern side of the U.S. as I read this, rain did not seem at all a blessing to them!]

Anyway, the song "Strength Will Rise" keeps playing at really key times on the radio and tonight was played at our church's "Trunk or Treat" Fall Carnival. Such a good reminder of such a simple yet difficult truth from Isaiah 40:31. I need His strength, especially with David at home. THANK YOU GOD, for your faithfulness in sending volunteers and everything we need!

Here's a couple of cute pictures of Seth to lighten the mood. :) God is good, all the time.


His nurse posed him after his bath last night. :)


All the NICU babies got this bib

Pumpkin hat again!


Please keep Gracie in your prayers, too, as she needed to go back on the higher flow cannula due to increased oxygen need again. Her little lungs need to heal; thankfully she can continue to bottle feed a couple of feedings per day. Will and Marcie are still only finishing 2-3 bottles of the 8 they need to be able to take before they can go home, but otherwise they are thriving!

Love and gratitude to Him and to you,
Carrie


21 comments:

  1. These pictures of Seth are great! He is beautiful! I love the one of him on his Halloween blanket "posing"! Prayers everyday for you all!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love those pictures of Seth! thanks so much for sharing. I know what he is going through is very scary as well as discouraging, but look how far he has came. Steps back or so hard, I know, but not so long ago he was real trouble for his very life, and God helped him to fight. I just feel he will be okay, in time. Time is a hard thing to handle sometimes. We will continue to pray for him especiallya nd for Gracie. We also pray for strength for you, Gavin, Isaac, and all the babies. Pleaseknow you are prayed for many many times a day by many many many people. Your journey is such a blessing to so many. Thank you again for allowing us to share it with you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such a precious and true message; thank you!!! We are so blessed! Love, Carrie

      Delete
  3. Praying Psalm 4 for you all in these night-time hours: v8. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety. Jenni Bottrell

    ReplyDelete
  4. The valleys can make the mountain tops seem all the sweeter, but they are so hard to walk through, especially when you can't see the mountain tops for the clouds.

    Lord, please clear the clouds and raise the valleys that the mountain tops can be seen and attained. Bring the peace that only You can, and please heal these babies so that they can join their brother at home. Give strength, courage and support to Carrie and Gavin; and thank you and bless those who are being a blessing by helping at home. We thank You for all of the blessings already received and praise You knowing that you will continue to hear our prayers and answer according to Your Will. Amen. NKL

    ReplyDelete
  5. Everyone envolved with you and your family are in my prayers. It is hard when you are in the midst of the storms of life. You are all awesome.
    Seth's bib and hat are great. I guess that they had to do their trick and treat at the hospital. Judith

    ReplyDelete
  6. Praying for Seth and all of you. I cannot help but feel that all this that Seth is going through is just making him a strong warrior for God....one that will hold fast and lead others to the foot of the cross....he will be a miracle, he is a miracle....bless you all.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I know it's tough to see your babies struggling--discouragement in this situation is normal, especially after all that's happened. Thankfully, God's peace is NOT normal but I pray He will lavish it on you. You have been a great witness to God's power and love and it's been wonderful to see. Of course we will pray for these requests for the awesome quints! Please know we've been doing a lot of praying for all of you. Paul & Sharon Bowers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. God's peace is not normal/natural in our fallen world. I think that's what he means. :) Fortunately for us, God's peace IS VERY EXCEPTIONALLY WONDERFULLY normal, and yes, we do pray for it to be lavished on you. Much love, sb

      Delete
  8. Oh, Carrie, he is just so very precious! I know, as his mom, he is more precious to you than he could be to me. But most precious, indeed, to God, Himself, Whose loving arms are holding him, singing creative love songs into his little body. When we fear, we choose to trust him to God, Who alone knows the intents and purposes of his life. As we weep, how we bow before the One true giver of life. THrough our tears and uncertainties, we say, blessed be His name...and thank YOu for grace and strength, even when we have none lift. You are all in my heart, but especially little Seth.

    Sheila

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Sheila! And also for your sweet gift! Love, Carrie

      Delete
  9. Get strong, dear little man! Praying for you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. At the risk of sounding like some kind of fruitcake, let me say that... Sometimes when I feel discouraged I pray out loud, although oftentimes in a whisper, "In Jesus' name I stand against this demonic attack." Oftentimes the discouragement vanishes, although not always. Worth a try, anyway.

    Grace and peace!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I definitely recognize the truth of what you're saying and have prayed for God's protection and strength to honor Him!

      Delete
  11. Love all the pictures. All so sweet. Praying for all the babies and family.

    God bless you all.

    ERIKA

    ReplyDelete
  12. PRAYING FOR YOU AND GAVIN -- ISAIAH 41:10 and for SETH--- ISAIAH 41;13 .. "For I the LORD thy GOD will hold thy right hand, saving unto thee, Fear not: I will help thee.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such sweet pictures-do not know you, but continue to pray for the babes-especially precious Seth. You are doing great, and are an inspiration to all of us. Your faith even makes me stronger. Love from Florida.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Continued prayers for Seth from Excelsior Springs,MO., and now also prayers for you to make it through these difficult days. How blessed you are, but also how hard it must be some days for you. God bless you with strength, inner peace, and encouragement.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Seth's name is of Hebrew, the name Seth means- Anointed!! Seth has & will continue to touch my heart because I have a Seth too. We have been so blessed that you share your babies with us - and yes now they are "our" babies too. These sweet babies continue to touch so many people and have brought so many people back to prayer and that is a God spend! Seth is a strong little boy and he is a lil fighter and it just gonna take a little but longer for him as he is doing it his way. I can't imagine how busy yall are with "so many" kids in "so many" places but pray for strength, peace, wisdom for the medical staff, and for you to be showered with happiness when you call to check on Seth and that the staff have grace in updating you. Our boy is surrounded by God's arms and is being healed in Father's time and while that is so hard, but Lord we thank you for this and for the other babies and the great strides they are making. Continue allowing Isaac to be the big brother and for him to be able to excel in school & able to spend time with his friends. Strength, love, wisdom & peace for Gavin & Carrie as they are so busy and spread thin with their busy schedules!! Love yall....Julie Texas

    ReplyDelete
  16. Awww you have poky little puppies like I did. My son was term and still struggling to take half his feeds by bottle. It was nearly a month later but all of a sudden, he no longer needed the cannula, which he'd required 24x7, and could do all feeds by bottle. I think Will and Marcie will be home very soon. ♥ Praying for Gracie and Seth to follow suit.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Seth is such a Beautiful baby,,His eyes seems like he's trying to communicate God's Love...He really has a special place in my heart...That's Some Strong Boy there...That "Little Fighter"...By praying for him, I have found my in my struggles ,I just think of You and Gavin,, and all you have, and are going through, and I find strength I didn't know I had.... I Pray for all of you everyday,and lift up my trials for The Babies and Your needs...."God I Don't Understand But I Believe" Sometimes that's all we can say..

    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