I know that it get’s said a lot on the blog, and I’m not afraid to keep shoving it in your face: we have an amazing family. One of my cousins from Israel came and visited with us this past week – he served as the ‘representative’ from the side of the family that wishes that we were all a lot closer right now than three continents apart. It was wonderful to have him here and to be able to get his support for the week, not only for us but for my parents as well.

While my parents drove my cousin to the airport, they dropped Ezra off here at the hospital so the four of us could spend a little time together. Man, it felt good. As Ahna sat with Liam in a chair and I laid with Ezra on the bed, there was a smile that I just couldn’t get off of my face (and when I looked at Ahna, a similar and knowing smile exuded from her as well). It felt so nice to be the four of us doing something that we most likely would have been doing at home at that exact same moment. It was one of those times where you try really hard to wipe away the known reality and live with everything you have in the moment.

Finally, a note about a trip that Ezra took to the National Western Stock Show. Listen, just because I don’t remotely enjoy country music or pretend to understand modern cowboy culture, doesn’t mean that Ezra can’t be exposed to other lifestyles. It’s good for him to get out and see different things, experience the terrible smells of a large amount of large animals living together for several weeks, and to hear a language and vernacular that is not often heard in the supermarkets of the industrialized world. I am so proud that without hesitation, he jumped on top of a 2200 pound bull for a photo. I am even more proud that when presented with a look at a free cowboy hat, he graciously passed. He is a child that has a great ability to find the fun in all sorts of different cultures – including those of the tight Wranglers.

Ezra dances for Liam

As uncertain as the future is, there isn’t an opportunity missed to have a celebration of any sort of achievement. Tonight’s party was to mark Liam’s one month birthday, and family joined in the fun. Earlier, Ahna and I decorated the room and promptly received lots of looks from staff as they wandered by for the rest of the day – most of them with smiles attached (they are used to this sort of thing here). For the dessert, we took the ultra-trendy route of providing cupcakes – but that’s because it’s easier in the hospital, not because it’s trendier. Also, since any sort of open flame is roundly frowned upon in oxygen rich environments, an alternative was required. Tongue depressors and crayons to the rescue. Several group sing-a-longs later, we commenced some present opening (had one or two for Ezra too), and then some cupcake eating. It’s these sort of moments where a little bit of life begins to creep back in…then you eat a cupcake with your nurse. At the hospital. In the NICU.

Liam found his way into a sleep position that reminded us of someone else at a similar age….

For the second time in three days we have been treated to another amazing show from a big brother to his little brother. Ezra loved and hugged, sang and danced, talked and smiled to Liam while he was here. And then to top it all off? He asked to sit in the chair and hold Liam. I am proud to suggest that for the second time on the same subject, I have underestimated Ezra. Following his very first visit, the next two times that he was in the room proved to much more difficult, and much more in line with what we would have anticipated an adjustment to a new member of the family to look like. We understood that it was difficult for Ezra to see all of this, to not have Liam at home, and that we shouldn’t expect that he would make a transition that normally takes several months in just a few days. Wrong again. Ezra is an amazing son and an even more amazing big brother. We couldn’t ask for a better cure to the day than to have him around.

Liam’s medical update is unfortunately similar to the last one. He continues to struggle with his vital signs and continues to struggle with maintaining his temperature. Several times over the last 24 hours his heart rate has confusingly dropped to well below normal levels. It does go back up after a period of time, only to drop back down sometime later. To the best of anyone’s recognition, there isn’t any sort of pattern to it or any sort of indicator that it’s going to happen – thus making it somewhat unnerving when it does. After being here for as long as we have, you tend to get used to certain noises and alarms – as well as certain new vital sign normals. But I’m not sure that you ever get used to the ‘norm’ that is when the beeping starts for an alarming change in vital signs.

Just the photos.