Gavin continues to make progress today! He is off a couple more medications and they removed his chest tube which was draining extra fluid off his chest. He is also tolerating increased amounts of formula through his NG tube. They have also decreased the number of breaths and oxygen percentage that the ventilator is giving him. Getting him off the ventilator will be slow due to his having "wet" lungs still due to increased blood flow to his lungs over the last few months. But, they still anticipate removing the ventilator by the end of the weekend.

We are still feeling very happy and continue to be amazed by God's love and grace in our lives! If you told me a year ago that we would be going through this, I would have said there is no way I could handle it and stay strong. I've always known that God gives you only what you can bear, but until now I didn't really see how people could hold up during such trying times. I was reading a Max Lucado book (Thankyou Nicole!) and he says that "Jesus is walking alongside you, yoked together, but He is pulling the weight and carrying the burden." "He is carrying our fears before we even felt them." "Those times when we are surprised by our sense of peace is when Jesus has lifted our anxiety onto His shoulders and placed kindness on ours." WOW! It brings tears to my eyes! He definately has done this for us!

Thanks again for your many prayers and kind words of comfort! We are so blessed to have you in our lives!

We'll update you again tomorrow! Until then, know that you are in our thoughts and prayers as well.

By the way, in response to Aunt Lori's ("Little Vinster???") question: Joel has knick-named all our boys with the last three letters of their names. (Jacob=Cub, Nolan=Lan, Caleb=Leb and Gavin=Vin.) Somehow Gavin's name Vin has turned into Vinster. So, there you have it!

Love ya,

Joel, Alicia and Gavin