Here is the latest on the boys:

Jacen: Because of his outstanding report card in NICU, he will most likely be going home with Kyle and Stephanie on Sunday! He is eating they way they need him to, passed his occupational therapist part, and is over all doing great. Kyle and Stephanie will be rooming in with him in a family room in NICU tomorrow night to make sure they don't have any questions or concerns before taking him home. Since he is getting to go home, Jacen was circumcised today and according to Steph, not very happy about it. Not surprising, right?

Keep Kyle and Stephanie in your prayers as this is a very exciting time, but also will be nerve-racking managing a new baby at home while going to and from NICU to care for and see Nathan. They will do great, I know it!

Nathan: Nathan has had an overall good day. His blood pressure has been a little high, so the doctors have been managing that with some medication to keep it at a good level. Kyle thinks Nathan is really starting to notice when he has a wet diaper and gets frustrated and agitated until it is taken care of. That is such a good sign! He will be a receiving another blood transfusion soon since he has lost some blood. The doctors do not seem to be overly concerned with this since it has been over a week since his last transfusion.

Thank you for your continued prayers!

Over night update

Nathan's breathing and blood pressure continue to hold steady this morning. He had a total of 83 CC's of urine output yesterday and 94 CC's last night. Way to go little guy! He continues to improve and make it evident that God hears all the prayers being offered on his behalf.

Jacen is still doing great, chugging away at his bottles. They moved him to feeding every 4 hours yesterday to allow him to start eating more at each feeding.

Please continue to pray and thank God for baby steps!

Nathan had 80 CC's of urine output overnight, which is his greatest jump in output. Dad says " apparently he turns it on like a fountain when we go home." Way to go, Nathan!

Wednesday Update

Every day of this process with Nathan and Jacen in NICU has been a reminder of how God's timing and ours rarely match up. We would all like to see huge steps and immediate improvements in the conditions of Nathan especially, but remain thankful and faithful as we see evidence of the small baby steps that are taking place.

Today, Nathan showed a number of small improvements. His blood pressure and heart rate have lowered to more acceptable levels compared to what was seen yesterday. His doctors would still like to see them even lower, but the decrease is encouraging.

Also, Nathan's urine output increased to a new high of 60 CCs, which shows his system is eliminating more fluid than before. Keep in mind that last week he was only producing an output of 2 CCs in that span of time. Still, doctors would like to see the output be even greater as they begin to add nutrients to his diet.

Speaking of inputs, today was a marker day since it was the first time Nathan received formula through his feeding tube. His is a watered down and much smaller amount of what Jacen is receiving, but the hope is that heavier "food" will spur his system to increased efficiency.

In regard to Jacen, he is continuing to take a bottle every three hours. His nights and days seem to be mixed up, as he is more alert and surpassing the required intake of 48 CCs (30 CCs = 1 oz.) of formula in his night feedings. In the day, he is a little more "lazy and stubborn" (as his dad put it) and takes 20-25 CCs. If he does not reach the 48 CCs required by the doctors, Jacen receives the remaining formula through his feeding tube (still attached through his nose). The doctors need to see a consistent and increased intake through his bottle before he will be released to go home.

So...

Even with the signs of improvement, now is as crucial a time as ever to lift up Nathan and Jacen in your prayers. God is faithful and that is so evident at this time. Keep going! Please also lift up Kyle and Stephanie as they remain strong for their babies!

baby Nathan baby Jacen
Nathan getting his second bath

Nathan and Grandma (Kyle's mom)
"Give me some food!" (Jacen)

Special PRAYERS!

Please pray especially hard right now for Nathan as well as Kyle and Stephanie. Nathan's had a rough day, as he started off with some labored breathing and his skin color was different this morning. Then this evening Dr. Contreras let them know that although Nathan's kidneys are starting to function, this creates some complications.

As his kidneys are starting to flush out his system and reduce his swelling, his heart and lungs are having to work harder to stay ahead of everything. That is the reason for his skin color change and difficulty breathing. The doctors and nurses have increased his respirator level and other levels slightly to help in this process, but PLEASE PLEASE continue to pray that the small improvements that have been made will continue!

Little Red Raider

Jacen and Grandpa

Nathan's EEG has been rescheduled for a later time. Dr. C wants to make sure his medication levels are down as low as they can be to get a good reading on the test. They do not know when it will be rescheduled for yet. Nathan is showing small improvements each day, so Dr. C has reassured Kyle and Stephanie that this test will not be the only thing he looks at.

Praise God for Nathan making baby steps and ask God for them to continue!

Kyle feeding Jacen Stephanie's sisters got to come in town over the weekend to meet the babies.
Kyle assisting in Nathan's first bath
Steph rubbing lotion on Nathan after his first bath.

Steph reading to Nathan.

Jacen stretching out- what a cutie!

Thank you for your continous prayers for this precious family.

EEG tomorrow

Nathan will have another EEG in the morning. Please pray that the test goes smoothly, there are no kinks in the process, and that good results come from it. Continue to pray for Kyle and Stephanie's strength and edurance during this joyous and hard time in their lives. Thank you!

family pictures

Aftter the EEG results last night, Kyle and Steph got to hold Nathan for the first time. They were able to put the boys together and it was an emotional and special time for their family of four.

Pictures

Kyle and Steph with Nathan

Jacen looking around

Nathan's sign by his bed

Kyle holding Jacen

Steph's mom and stepdad holding Jacen

Steph with Jacen

Jacen in his "tanning bed"

Thank you for your continued prayers for this family!

EEG results

Nathan's EEG shows no significant brain activity. They plan to slowly take him off the medication he has been receiving for seizures and re-test Sunday evening or Monday morning. The doctor wants to make sure the medication is not causing the test to have faulty results. Please pray for Nathan's strength over the weekend.

Nathan- EEG

Nathan is undergoing an EEG this afternoon to check to see if there is any problems in his brain causing the seizures and other things he is struggling with. Say a quick prayer for Kyle and Stephanie and this procedure.

Stephanie was able to give Jacen his first bath this afternoon at 2:00!

Prayer Pager

Kyle and Stephanie have a prayer pager. I would like to encourage all of you to keep praying for their boys and when you do take a moment to let Stephanie and Kyle know by sending them a page. All you have to do is call the # (806)721-3126 and when you hear the prompt enter your zip code followed by the # key.

Please pray for this precious child. This is Nathan at 3 days old.

Kyle and Stephanie were released from the hospital last night and the boys are still in NICU. Stephanie was able to get a good nights rest last night and Kyle was headed back up to the hospital this morning as we talked. Stephanie's mom came back in town last night and is going to take care of her today and get her to and from the hospital to see her boys. The boys are doing about the same.

Jacen continues to do great at his feedings and he has doubled the amount of food he is eating now. He started at 20cc's and now is taking right at 40cc's. That is awesome and we need to praise God for his success thus far!

Nathan continues to need our prayers and a miracle. He is a fighter and continues to lay in his little bed looking absolutely adorable! Pray for kidney function and significant urination.

Thank you for offering prayers for this family.

explanation of Nathan's concerns

Nathan's complications come from several things: During delivery it was discovered that the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice. When born, he was not breathing nor did he have a heart beat. He lost about 50% of his blood in the process.

Because of these complications, he has received 5 blood transfusion from birth until Wednesday afternoon. His kidneys are not functioning properly causing his body to bloat with fluid that has no where to go.

Pray pray that he has frequent urination and his kidneys kick in soon.

Day #2 pictures

Nathan grabbing on to Kyle's finger Stephanie feeding Jacen for the first time.
Nathan Kyle Phillips

Proud parents with Jacen Tucker Phillips