{heather has lexy & matt is holding bailey}

this family is amazing.

if you have spent any time with them,

you know exactly what i mean.

they are real and the pain is indescribably deep.

and yet there are moments of joy that run alongside their grief

as they experience these two precious babies as a

miraculous addition to their family.

the road is a long one ahead of them.

they continue to feel your love and support and are so appreciative.

they have adjusted well to being home.

and with 4 under the age of 4...this is quite an adjustment!

bailey is still not regulating her body temperature yet...

it is something matt and heather are always checking.

her feedings seem to be going well.

she is gaining some weight-slow, but sure.

it's amazing to see these sweet girls side by side...

cuddling next to one another with one big *sigh* once

they finally get settled in.

they love each other.

they need each other...

even at this young, infant stage of life.

they need each other.

**bailey has another eeg on tuesday morning.

please keep this appointment in your prayers.

we are praying for a miracle...that the doctors will

see some improvements as they compare

this new eeg with prior ones.

     {lexy has her eyes open and bailey is sleeping}

{bailey is on the left & lexy is on the right in these 2 bottom photos}

A Little Elbow Room!

I'm home with my sister at last!

Bailey came home on Wednesday afternoon and the past few days have gone well. She has been able to maintain an adequate body temperature. Alexis and Bailey had check ups with our pediatrician today and both are gaining weight. Alexis 6lbs at birth is currently weighing 7lbs 3oz and Bailey has gone from 5lbs to 6lbs. The medications Bailey is on have effectively been controlling the seizure activity. She will see three additional doctors (surgeon for a post op follow up, pediatric neurologist, and developmental pediatrician) and will be evaluated to begin services with Early On over the next three weeks. Thank you all for your continued kindness and prayers!

Bailey is home with her family!

Bailey arrived home on Wednesday!
We will have more details to come...

meetings...

today is going to be filled with meetings for matt, heather & bailey.

many specialists will be in and out...showing

matt and heather the best way to care for bailey once she is home.

yesterday, they worked with bailey's feeding tube.

they were able to do 2 feedings-both went well. 

the doctor wants them to add a supplement to

the breast milk so that bailey would be able to gain weight.

  

matt and heather are both ready to bring her home...

to unite her with her twin, alexis, and siblings mckenzie & carter!

however, the doctors would like to see bailey regulate her 

own body temperature first.  she is unable to do so right now.

please pray that this next step would happen so that

she would be able to be home with her family!

Monday, March 9

We continue to be so grateful for the prayers, kindness and generosity of so many. Bailey is recovering well from both the surgery to place the feeding tube and the procedure performed to prevent reflux. The feeding (PEG) tube is in place and she is back to receiving full feedings and medications through the PEG tube. The central IV line was removed last night. Another EEG will be done on Tuesday as the neurologists determine if she will be coming home on one or two anti-seizure medications. We hope to be able to bring Bailey home to be with the rest of the family by Wednesday of this week. I am also extremely grateful for the generosity of my employer and several co-workers that will allow me to be at home over the next two weeks as we make this transition.

bailey's surgery

thank you so much for all of your prayers!

bailey's surgery was successful and she is starting

the recovery process.

the doctors and nurses are trying

to make her feel as comfortable as possible.

please pray that they would administer the

correct pain medication so that bailey would

not be in any pain as her body starts to heal from this surgery.

matt and heather will have a more detailed

update later this afternoon.

bailey's surgery is on thursday

{surgery}
bailey is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow morning.
they will be placing the feeding tube in her stomach.

she will be on a ventilator and will be sedated all day.
please pray that this surgery will go well

and that bailey would recover quickly.
matt and heather covet our prayers as they walk through this day.

{health}

please also pray for the health of matt, heather

and the rest of their family.

when they are sick, they are unable to see bailey...

matt and carter have both been sick

and have had to stay home the last couple days.

prayers for their health are appreciated -

especially during bailey's surgery & recovery time.

{hope}
it is matt and heather's hope

that they will be able to bring bailey home next week!

thank you for your earnestness

on behalf of the mekkes family.

they feel your support

through your prayers, love & concern for them!

hello world!

time to eat?

this is how i am fed right now. 

so far, i have been digesting my food really well!

it takes about 10 minutes for this to go straight to my tummy!

hands

bailey holding mommy's hand

bailey-holding daddy's hand

mckenzie turns 4 on monday!

{mckenzie is turning 4 this monday!

if you would like to send a card

and need her address...

please email me and i will get that to you right away!}

a quick update...

matt is heading back to work this week.

please keep both heather and matt in your prayers

with this upcoming transition.

also, matt and heather are so grateful

for your cards, hospital visits, meals

and phone calls...

they may not be able to return

many calls right now-but, please know

that each call, each word spoken from your

heart means so much to them.