Today's Prayer Request

Today's Specific Prayer Request

Please pray today for Luke's MRI. It is scheduled for 1pm. Specifically, we are praying that Luke stays still and calm on his own so that we don't have to have him sedated. Also, please pray for wisdom and insight for the doctors and technicicans that will be performing and reading the MRI. Finally, please pray that we will be able to get results communicated back to us before the weekend. Most of all, we are praying that the MRI comes back clear and normal.

Thank you for all your prayers and support.

"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks." Philippians 4:6

More Pic's From Mom's 1st Visit

It truly doesn't get much better than this. Holding Luke for the first time really made time stand still and everything crazy going on around us just stop. I was full of joy to see how sweet and serene he looked, even in the midst of tubes and plugs. He was also such a pleasure to hold compared to the 25lb monster that we carry around at home. Just kidding. Isaiah is the cutest sweetest monster in the world. He got to meet his little brother for the first time yesterday and he definitely was curious. Isaiah has been such a trooper through all of the changes and chaos going on. God has definitely blessed him with a spirit of joy and tenderness. Having to be away from Luke has been bearable only with the comfort of having my other baby near me to make me laugh and smile all the time. I thank God for both these boys. What blessings.

One of the doctor's main goals with Luke right now is to get him eating well. He has already shown he is not afraid of any challenge, and is working hard to meet that goal. I got to actually feed him his first "mama's milk" feeding while I was there yesterday through the feeding tube. You can see in the picture where I am holding up the container that is draining straight into his stomach. He took the whole thing.

Thank you again to everyone for your continued prayers and support. Its a tough situation, but we are being blessed with patience and peace through everything. We are praying that Luke continues to eat well and gains some weight. Once he has completed his MRI (one of the last big test they still need to perform) and has demonstrated good eating and weight gain, we are hoping to bring him home. We are not sure what that timeframe may be, but trust that the timing is God's. This was a great visit, and I am counting down the minutes until I go back after my own follow up dr appt tomorrow to see my little darling (and my big darling) again.

Family Dining in SF

I got to see the family and have a quick dinner down the street from the hospital. It was nice. A little mexican restaurant well known by the locals "L'Aventeria". I think. Isaiah and mom were good to see. It's been since Saturday and they left to go back to Fresno right after dinner. It might be some more days before I see them again, so these pictures are great for me. Thanks to all for thinking of us and praying for us. We are feeling very blessed by all the people sending us messages, emails, phone calls, etc. Hope to see you soon. GO LUKE!!!!!!

Mom's First Day with Luke

This was special. Mom left Fresno with a little pain, but a big heart to come and see her second son. As you might imagine, "special". Nothing like seeing your wife hold your son like that. She basically held him until her body could do no more. She brought him some food (Cholesterin????). You know what I mean. He did take some food today. Hooray! It looked as if he started digesting it which is good news and I think they gave him 12 cc's. Hopefully tomorrow, I will be talking to the neurologist to piece together some things they are seeing and some timeframes for him. It looks like we might do an MRI on Thursday. As of now, we are just watching how he does with some food and checking in on him. He is still being given calcium, I believe, but that might be all he is getting through his IV. Isaiah got to see his brother as well, and there seems to be some resemblance. Luke opened his eyes and saw his mom too when she was holding him. He doesn't do that too much. God is good! GO LUKE!!!!

It's getting ready for chow time

Well, here he is breathing the same air as us. He has been doing that for a few hours today. That is pretty good. The nice looking tube in his nose is a new piercing he wanted to get for his mama. No, its a feeding tube and they put it there because they won't be pulling it out and putting it in, blah, blah, blah, medicine talk stuff reasons. But that means, he might be able to start taking in food, like milk or formula. That is a good sign. Here is some more updates: his heart rate is a little low for a baby, it's like an adults right now, but not in the worrysome category because his other numbers are ok. If the other numbers decline, then they will worry about the heart rate. The neurologist has done an EEG and an ultrasound on his brain and has not made any longterm assessments yet. Yes, there is evidence that the brain was not receiving oxygen and there could be or could not be effects from that. Some babies will recover fully from that they have said. They basically will just respond to Luke's behavior. They will monitor him and go from there. So right now, Luke is in the fighting mode or healing mode, so keep thinking of him. This picture is ok, because he is very cute in person. His little blonde peach fuzz hair and his daddy lips. Also, he is off of antibiotics and the something barnal? This is what stops what could have been siezures and makes him tired. Off of it could mean a good thing. Thanks everyone and hope to see you soon. GO LUKE!!!!!!!

Thoughts from Mom

Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Last week, I was searching through the Bible looking for the perfect verse to use for Luke. I just finished painting a picture of a cute little pirate boy looking out towards the ocean for Luke. Isaiah had his own verse and pictures, so I thought it would be great for Luke to have his. When I came across Joshua 1:9, I knew immediately this was Luke's verse. Little did I know how God would also use this verse to encourage me in the days to follow.

Most of you have heard that our little one Luke was born Saturday morning at 10:30 am. It was a whirlwind of a morning that ended in a surprise and emergency c-section. I was actually put out completely, and Luke was taken away before I had a chance to see him. They brought him by my room in his traveling incubator right before he left so I could see him and touch his little hand. It wasn't easy to see Luke leave me right after he was born and fly away to San Fran. My comfort was in knowing that he was not going alone. Although I couldn't go with him, I know the LORD our God is with him wherever he goes. It was also my saving grace that Josh was able to go to San Fran to be with Luke. His earthly and heavenly fathers both watching over him. What could give a mother more comfort?

Thank you everyone for your prayers and thoughts. They are keeping us strong and at peace. I am healing well, and looking forward to our family being together soon. I am still at Clovis Community Hospital. Isaiah is hanging out with grandmas and grandpas and cousins and getting spoiled with lots of love. Josh and Luke are in Pediatric ICU at UCSF. We are taking everything in stride as we continue to wait for tests and updates on Luke. The amazing thing about the Word of God is that you can truly cling to it with the little bit left that you have, and that truth will prevail.

Love in Christ,
Amy

Good Times

I did this for about a half an hour. He is small, but doesn't seem to be too small. I watched his throat the entire half an hour to watch for breathing, and he did. A couple of times it looked as if he yawned and had a couple of little spastic reaction (kind of like a nightmare reaction), but other than that, he chilled with me.

Older Photo;

This was before he had the tube removed for breathing. As you can see, his face is pretty covered up, but a cute hat on.

Sour Patch Kid

He got a little grumpy being moved around a little, but as you can see it's a face only a mother could love; and daddy too :) Kind of funny look huh?

Looks like a basketball head!

Perfectly shaped noggin. Must be a mommy thing. Isaiah is going to have some competition for symmetry.

Posing Luke

There he is getting ready to go into daddy's arms. Does he seem relaxed or what?

Little tiger

Here he is after his bath in some homemade attire. The nurse cleaned him up good, washed the hair (maybe some red), and cleaned his face up. He is just chillin right now.

Luke Tosland

My first time holding him. And not breathing tube. We miss you MAMA! He is AWESOME. Perfectly shaped little head and will be putting more up in a sec.

Isaiah's Summer Treats

Isaiah's Summer Treats

1. Chowing Down on Watermelon

2. Swimming with Dad and my cousins

3. Hanging out with Dad's basketball team

4. Road Trips with Buddies

5. Cooling off in the water fountain

6. Water basketball with Brady

7. Shopping with the girls (Meilani)

The Latest and Greatest in Summer Fun

Day at the Fresno Zoo (one of our favorite field trips). Josh and Isaiah feed Golly the giraffe. Isaiah love feeding the giraffes. Must be the nice skin exfoliation he gets from their nasty tongues as the rip the leaves out of his little hand. Can't get more fun than that.


This is a really nice summer look for Isaiah. No, he didn't just get slimed. He just finished a nice orange sherbet push up (one of his favorite summer treats). Best part is hosing him off afterward.


We spent last weekend up at Bass Lake with some friends. Hanging out in the water with about 10 layers of sun protective clothing and sunscreen. Oh the free and fancy days of summer with a overprotective mom.


You can't get much better than this. Josh and Isaiah love to spend a good chunk of the day wrestling around, chasing each other, tickle fighting, and all those other fun ways that guys show affection.

Isaiah's backyard paradise. We have been garage selling a lot lately and seem to always come back with a cool new $2 toy for him. We are running out of grass, but Isaiah doesn't seem to mind. What's the best way to cool off without a pool? Well, after the hose down from mom the next best thing is playing with your very own Nemo sprinkler.

So he may not be a big fan of mom's cooking (more of it ends up on the floor and him than in his mouth), but who can resist a kid with an adorable little grin like this? We eat dinner outside a lot since the weather has been so nice. Well, looks like its time for another hose down.

This Week's Highlights

Best part of the week - playing on his new backyard slide ($2 find at a garage sale).

Cleaning with Dad - what a way to spend a Saturday morning.

T-ball with cousin Ethan - Isaiah seemed to enjoy the snacks more than the hilarious T-ball action. His time will come...

Waz up? - Isaiah hangs out by the dugout at Ethan's T-ball game.

Nice diaper job - Isaiah knows a bad diaper job and can undo a bad diaper job when he sees one.

Stingray Bay

This week, Isaiah got to spend some time at the zoo in the new Stingray Bay exhibit. You get to actually reach in the pool and touch the rays. Very cool.

Rainy Day

Isaiah loves playing outside so much. Last week when it rained all day, he sat in front of the window and just gazed sadly into the wet yard wishing away the rain. It was the cutest thing. It must of worked because the sun came out the next day.

Arena Football Night

Last night we went to our first ever Arena Football game, the Central Valley Coyotes. We went as chaperones for the Fresno Christian Sadie Hawkins Event. We had a great time. Isaiah got to get close and personal with the players near the field with Dad.

Spring Break Party Time

Spring Break 2007

Although Isaiah didn't spend the week in Cancun at the MTV beach house, the kid still found a way to make the most out of every moment of his Spring Break. From car rides to Disneyland to San Diego to Easter Egg Hunts, the wild little man sure knows how to live it up.

Can't start a road trip without shining up the wheels. Isaiah helps Dad wash the car, but ends up washing more of himself...


For a Trout/Tosland boy, there is not better road food that a nice juicy In'N'Out burger.



Bored to death during the long car ride, Isaiah finds ways to amuse himself (and his parents) by experimenting with new ways to use a pacifier.



Isaiah and Dad enjoy a ride on a Bug's Life catepillar ride. Isaiah really enjoyed all of the kid rides at Disneyland this time. He is just at the perfect age. He also enjoyed Disneyland junk food as evidenced by the chocolate chip cookie remnants on his face.



In San Diego, Isaiah takes some down time to play his cousin Ethan in a game of Dance Dance Revolution. These kids can get down.



Isaiah loved hanging out and chillin in his nana's new hammock swing.

Isaiah rocked his first official Easter egg hunt. He is an expert egg locator. This green egg was carefully and skillfully camoflauged in this planter. What a genius.

Isaiah shows off his Easter egg goods.

Another great Spring Break adventure - Isaiah climbs his first tree (with a little bit of help from Dad).

More time in the car. When will it ever end?

On Easter, Isaiah and Dad looked spiffy in matching Aloha shirts that someone forced them to wear (won't mention any names). After church, they hung out and played some Wii together. Aren't they the two cutest guys in the whole world? Heck yes!