Joella is a week old today!

Today was a good day!

Joella's wound care specialist reported that her main blisters on her legs were healing pretty well. She is breathing without the aid of a breathing tube, and her digestive system is taking Mom's breastmilk fantastically although still through a feeding tube that is put up through her nostril and right down into her gut (amazing how that works, I know!).

The main attending physician said that he expects to remove her feeding tube in the next day or two, so that Joella can begin receiving breastmilk via a special soft nipple.

Both Katie and I got to hold her and rock her in a chair. It was so much fun! (these pics will be posted shortly).

Some prayer requests:
-For Joella to receive the nipple without causing any blisters in her mouth or esaphogus. The doctors will be monitoring this pretty intently. It is great that she is nourishing well enough to try this out, but there is a risk that her sucking muscles could cause new blisters inside her mouth.
-For positive biopsy results to come back. The doctors have had difficulty reading her results b/c EB is such a rare disease. There are only a few experts in the country who can accurately decipher such a test, and I have personally been in contact with two of them (one in Houston, TX, another in Nashville, TN, and one in Philadelphia, PA). We hope to have a better read on the test results within a week or so.
-There are two new black spots on Joella's right foot and ankle. The doctors think it is dead skin that will slough off, but they are not sure.
-For thanksgiving for her progress in her first week of life (She is a champion!) and, again, for the many, many praying and encouraging family and friends who have been incredibly supportive and kind to Katie and I. It is truly amazing and wonderful.