Hollar Boys

I want to thank everyone so much for the prayers and support for this
family. The boys are doing well. They continue to grow with small
setbacks but are moving forward very well. Megan has developed a website
at http://www.firmlyheld.org. Please go to it for the babies' progress.
This website will stay up for awhile. It's primary purpose was to get
the word out and get people on their knees in prayer. Now that the word
is out, keep praying, but go to Megan's site.

Grace and peace, Kyle

"Family" redefined

I got to visit Megan today and she says thank you to everybody who have been following the boys' progress. "I am overwhelmed and blessed by the prayer support," she said and her mother said we have redefined their understanding of "family."

As of this afternoon the boys were doing fine. Jack still has extra oxygen but he is breathing it in on his own. When Megan visited, Jack was unhappy to be resting on his tummy but when she put her hand gently on his back he immediately quieted and would drift off to sleep as long as she was touching him. Tyler seems determined to wriggle out of his diaper at every possible opportunity. Megan says its incredible how distinct their personalities are despite their size.

Please continue to pray for the boys to thrive and to take and process nourishment well. Would you also pray that the paperwork necessary to get the boys on state insurance and children's aid would go through quickly and easily? That way what their primary insurance doesn't cover, the other two types will.

There are many people who are working around the clock to care for the boys. If you would like to send them a general thank you and encouragement the address is NICU, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 1888, Bakersfield, CA 93301-1888. These are valiant doctors and nurses working under emotional conditions to nurture life and its always nice to know your efforts are appreciated.

More later,

S

Happy One Week Birthday

Happy One Week Birthday, Tyler and Jack!

The neonatal doctor told Megan today that they are doing "remarkably well" for their first week of life. The grandmothers report that the babies are active -- sometimes a bit too active to make the job of the neonatal nurses an easy one! Jack especially likes to disconnect himself from the sensors in his incubator. Tyler seems particularly responsive to his father's voice and will open his eyes and turn in Ben's direction when he speaks to him.

Jack is still being aided in his breathing by the respirator so continue to pray that his lungs will strengthen. Tyler is having trouble digesting mother's milk so pray that his digestive and eliminatory tracts would develop so he can handle breast milk (Jack is having no problems in that area). Pray that Megan and Ben can adjust to the hospital visitation schedule and rest well at home.

More soon,

S

Jack is okay

When the family reached the neo-natal unit it turns out that Jack had problem with blood gasses levels so the nurses had put him on a respirator because he wasn't breathing effectively. He is still breathing on his own, though! He is now breathing with help from the respirator to give him an easier time of it. Both boys are working "very hard" to do the physical things we take for granted but they don't consider either Jack or Tyler in any unusual danger for a preemie.

One of the grandmothers and I feel there should be another word besides "crash" to describe this kind of situation since the whole family mobilized instantly expecting the worst. Maybe "stumble" or "trip" but "crash" sounds so dire! We've been told to expect this to happen repeatedly.

One set of grandparents visited the boys yesterday and said that while Ben was talking to Tyler, he opened one eye and seemed to be listening!

They are cross-typing the boys' blood type as they will need a transfusion. Apparently, newborns and preemies do not produce their own red blood cells. As information on how to donate blood to the boys' account is made available, I will pass it on.

Thanks for speedy prayers!

S

Prayer Request: Jack crashed

Sometime between 8 a.m and 8:45 a.m. today, Monday, 3/19, Jack Hollar experienced a "crash" and stopped breathing on his own. He has been put on a respirator and the family is going in to donate blood. At this moment, Tyler is still functioning well on his own. Please pray for Jack to recover quickly from the crash and for Tyler (the smaller of the two) to stay strong and keep thriving. The family had been warned that with preemies this was to be expected but awareness of the possibility doesn't make it any less frightening for first-time parents. Please pray for their calm, peace, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit at this time for Megan, Ben, Tyler and Jack.

Thank you!

S

Gaining grams

Tyler and Jack were born Tuesday, March 13. They have made it five days without a "crash" (a situation where there is some type of organ failure). That is worthy of praise and a testimony to the power of your prayers.

Jack has gained a few grams in weight which is excellent for five days. Tyler has had some difficulty digesting breast milk so please pray that when reintroduced he will adjust to it quickly. Pray for both boys to gain weight (that is a key factor to determining when they can leave the incubators) and that neither boy will have a "crash" experience.

Their families have been able to get some rest this weekend and have had a chance to visit the boys. Please pray that everyone can adjust to the hospital visit schedule and interweave it with other life issues as this will be a long period of "expectancy" waiting for the boys to complete the development they would have undergone in the womb so they can go home and begin life with their parents as other babies do.

Thank you for your concern as part of the Body of Christ.

With awe and gratitude,

S

Rest is needed

It took longer than expected to get Megan released from the hospital today but she is with her mother and grandmother resting at home. It was understandably difficult to leave the hospital knowing the baby boys could not go home with their parents. Ben and his parents were planning on visiting Jack and Tyler tonight.

Everyone I have had contact with is extremely fatigued. Please pray that all members of the family will have the opportunity to rest deeply this weekend and to have their hearts comforted at having to be apart from Tyler and Jack. Please pray that Megan can supply ample milk for delivery to the hospital. Please pray for Megan's complete healing and for the boys to eat and digest well and to grow stronger daily.

The next expected update will be Sunday. If you would like to see a complete blog of updates about Jack and Tyler, go to http://thehollartwins.blogspot.com/ . If you are receiving these e-mail updates and would prefer to be taken off the list and just check the blogspot for yourself, please reply to Wordmom@aol.com.

Both grandmothers have asked me to extend the family's thanks for your prayers and concerns.

Yours in Christ,

S