Did you know...

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”  [Luke 1:35-37, NIV]

One of my all time favorite Christmas songs is "Mary did you know?"...and how these words bring back incredible memories of Christmas Eve and Christmas day's past...Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water, save our sons and daughters, has come to make you new, and that child that you deliver - will soon deliver you?  Did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man, calm a storm with his hand, has walked where angels trod, and when you kiss your baby - you are kissing the face of God?
The blind will see,
the deaf will hear and the dead will live again. 
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak,
the praises of the Lamb!
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation, will one day rule the nations, heaven's perfect Lamb?  This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am! 

I am not sure there are any gifts that compare to the "first hold" or the "first kiss" of your baby in your arms!  And we Praise the Lord for the Ultimate Gift we have in His Baby Boy that is the Way, the Truth and the Life!  Who is the only reason that we are still standing this morning...because Doug and Kelly did not know - that Jackson would not be home for Christmas this year? We ever saw this coming...

Day 24:  Shock and Awe...
I can only imagine the shock an awe of the moment when the Angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and she received the news!  Greatly troubled, confused, disturbed..."how could this be?" were her some of the immediate emotions captured in Luke 1: 29 and 34, but then the promise...

"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."  [Luke 1:30-33, NIV]

And it is on this promise that we stand!  For it is God's promise of Life, Peace, Grace, Salvation, Strength and Rest!  But, like Mary, we were confused, disturbed, greatly troubled, shaken, rocked, shocked, and awed when we heard the news yesterday that Jackson was being readmitted to the CICU - and will not be home for Christmas.  And to be honest...we are still catching our breath! 
During Jackson's weekly echo and appointment at Children's Hospital - turned into great concern and extreme caution from our team of doctors.  The echo showed a leak in his tricuspid valve (that is the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle - which is now the only atrium and ventricle in Jackson's reconstructed heart.)  The leak was minimal and of no concern a few days ago, but in the last 5 days has increased and has the team very concerned. 
The second concern is Jackson's continued vomiting every other of every three feedings.  They are not sure as to what the root cause is to this reflux, but with him not gaining weight the concern level is great. 
After meeting with Dr. Morell - who shared that Norwood patients are the babies that scare him the most, because he never knows what to expect, and can twist and spiral down hill without warning - he could never forgive himself if something happened to Jackson over the next two days (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) when he has the opportunity to watch him closely from the CICU.  So immediately we were admitted, taken upstairs and a series of test and medications began. 
The hope is to adjust his meds and strengthen his heart through oral meds, but infusions and surgery are potential options - both causing an extended stay!  Jackson will be in the CICU for a minimum of 3 to 5 days, until they are able to identify root causes of the leak and vomiting, and have been able to improve the leak, control the vomiting and get him gaining weight!  It all is up in the air at this point...but we know Who is in control!  God's hands are all over this...and in Him we have peace! 

It was a punch in the gut though...but allowed us to realize and re-posture on how precious time, memories and life truly are!  We were not prepared at all...and stood crushed for the next couple of hours as we desperately tried to regroup!  But, Praise the Lord for incredible blessing and favor - as Carter and Jordyn had a great night with Kailey and her family playing in the snow, and for Jenn and Jason coordinating delivery of Kelly's frozen milk from our kitchen freezer to the hospital, allowing Jackson's feedings to stay consistent through the night!  And after a great/quick dinner together at Panera - and some time of prayer - we had regrouped and reconnected!  It is amazing the emotions that you don't even know you have...it's crazy ya'll!

Day 25:  SO...it is Christmas!  
And the celebration of our Savior's birth this year is going to be awesome and very special!  This is definitely not the way we planned it or saw it going...but it will be a time of great memories in celebration of New Life!  We identify with Mary - again - as it is/was hard hand over our baby boy to the team (can feel a sermon developing here), especially after holding him and caring for him at home the last 4 days...but he is in Great Hands and is right where he needs to be this weekend!  What an awesome team of nurses and doctors (who many are believers and shared tears with us yesterday) God has assembled, who continue to amaze us with their care, love and support!

This morning...I ran some of those final "Christmas Eve" errands and  picked up some last minute gifts - as Kel, Carter and Jordyn got our home smelling great with some awesome chocolate chip cookies for Santa and our team of doctors/nurses! We will be heading in to the hospital following Jordyn's nap to celebrate and hang out just the five of us this Christmas Eve night!  The nurses already have the Wii hooked up and ready to go for Carter's stocking gift, as he asked for Tiger Woods 2010 - and daddy is pumped!  Tomorrow morning we will spend Christmas morning here at the house with the Carter and Jorydn - and then we will head into the hospital for some family time with our little warrior! 

It is going to be a Christmas we will never forget...but we embrace this step/battle in the journey - and continue to find Rest and Strength in Him!  We hope you all have an awesome Christmas celebration - complete with memories that will last a lifetime!  Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus over the next two days and get caught up in the Life, Love and Hope of our Savior's birth! Always has been, is and always will be about Jesus! 

Love you all - and thank you for your continued prayers and gift of friendship! 
All Eyes on Jesus...and sing your hearts out tonight!  "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed...