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, February 1, 2014

Why can't I follow this diet??! (Seth's GI appointment)

I think this is hilarious; actual doctor's orders printed on our take-home sheet after being drilled into us in the office:

"Whenever eating salty[savory] foods add butter, oil, cheese. Sweet foods add chocolate or peanut butter."

And we're now mixing Carnation Instant Breakfast (or rather Breakfast Essentials, they've changed the name since I was a kid) into every cup of milk Seth drinks, as per her orders.

All of this because our poor little boy just isn't gaining weight. In fact, he's lost some weight (probably due to his very active toddler lifestyle) and is back down under 20 pounds. :( The doctor said this is very common in preemies, descriptively called "failure to gain weight." Seth's height and head circumference (brain growth) curves are great, it's just the weight one that isn't coming up like it should. I know Gracie and David are technically underweight, too, but obviously we're not as keen to get them fatter since they haven't been on a feeding tube.

Thankfully, the doctor wasn't at all concerned - she sees this a lot - and she says he'll outgrow it like preemies do. The problem, she said, is that parents get so used to fattening up everything the kids eat that they find it hard to stop and the kids end up too chubby! I would LOVE to have that problem and have to put my kiddos on a lower fat diet. :)

Seth's progress in successfully weaning off medication, successfully discontinuing tube feeds, and coping with 3 colds without needing oxygen, his albuterol inhaler, hospitalization or indeed even acting very sick at all, seemed to really amaze her. He was quite busy in her office, too, and talking, which was fun.

So our big prayer request is that Seth will gain weight and keep it on! When he can gain weight two visits in a row she'll give us the go-ahead to remove the feeding tube tummy button. It's just a matter of deflating and removing it, then placing gauze over the remaining little hole, which should close up quickly. We can do all that on our own. In the meantime his button is a handy way to give him his antacid medication. :)

Seth was happy to practice walking between Gavin and me the other night . . . until he fell. Then he was upset and refused to try again. I guess he just hates falling more than the other kids did. He seems to be walking with his left foot more straight. His favorite thing to play with (other than the slide) is the Fisher Price shopping cart on loan to us from Miss Lynn. He loves to walk it up and down the hall. He also loves to push his siblings on the ride-on cars/trains. Maybe those exercises and the "enforced" standing on left leg only exercises are working; maybe it's people praying for him! We have his reevaluation on Monday at 9:30. I'll update then.

Someone told me one of my recent kid update posts was too long,  so I'll close for now! :)

Gratefully,
Carrie

The kids after they finished eating. They all love my spoon and coffee cup, so I got them all their own metal spoons and mugs. Great fun was had by all! You can't really see Seth or Marcie at all, but Gracie and David and Will sure are cute, I think!

15 comments:

  1. too long?! I'd love to hear more! If its too long, just don't read it ;)

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  2. Your posts are never too long -- I hang on every word!

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  3. We have been fattening our micro preemie for the last 16 months! There is a super high cal, high fat yogurt at Trader Joes that we give her all the time, along with peanut butter, coconut oil, and bacon. Good luck

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    1. How has it been working? We don't have a TJ's near us, but we have a Sprout's. Thanks for the tips and commiseration! :)

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  4. Same here it's not too long , I love hearing about all the little things they do:)

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    1. You all are SO sweet! (Everyone who keeps saying they love hearing all about the babies, comments above and below.) Thank you!

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  5. Thoroughly enjoy ALL of your posts,
    no matter what the length! Will keep on praying for sweet Seth. God bless you all.

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  6. I am appalled that someone thinks an email was too long. Perhaps they should be raising that many toddlers and trying to send an email each and every day. When it is not possible, obviously that will make the next email longer. Please do NOT let the minority rule. I would also like to hear more about Isaac as he is such a good big brother. May God continue to bless and protect your beautiful family!!!

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    1. Thanks for caring so much about Isaac! I couldn't find his birthday pictures in our photo program, so I haven't been able to post anything from his party yet. It's also a little dicey given that there are kids whose parents haven't given permission to post their child on our public blog. Hmmm. Anyway, Isaac is such an amazing big brother!! I love hearing him chase David especially through the house, making David laugh and shriek with delight. It warms my mother's heart after all those years of praying and hoping for siblings for him. Thanks for your blessings and prayers, Darlene! Gratefully, Carrie

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  7. Oh Carrie your posts are never too long!! They are just plain awesome!! LOVE them and keep them coming!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful family with all of us!! God Bless!!

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  8. Never too long. Love every one of them. Love hearing all the news. Enjoy the pictures. Praise God that you can find the time to keep us all informed on the children's and your daily lifes. I love it, don't listen to some people. LOL

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  9. Just wanted to echo everyone else and say that your posts are never too long! :) If I don't have time to read right away, I save it for later! I'm so happy for Seth's progress and will pray he is able to start gaining weight.

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  10. Thanks again to you all, sweet people! I think I probably mistook what someone meant as a one-time "I was too busy to read that long post right then." I will keep your words in mind and keep on sharing all the little things. I'm so touched that you care! Speaking of the little things, my girlfriend Lynn tells me I need to share the stats on the babies' checkups, like weight, length, etc. I'll try to post that tomorrow maybe. Time for bed! Love, Carrie

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  11. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your posts and pictures......THANK YOU so much for taking the time to write. I don't know how you find the time my friend but I appreciate it . If I could afford it I would GLADLY make the trip to PNG with you. The problem is that I would likely stay! :) Hugs all around. Love you!

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    1. Thank you Kim!! I so appreciate it! :) Love, Carrie

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

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

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