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Dear Family & Friends

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD. Psalm 127:3a

I always thought this was a nice verse. I know that God speaks to everyone through his word but to how many of us does he start the verse with our name. Lodewyk has been called Lo for many years by family and some friends. Even though he prefers to be called Lodewyk now. So this verse is definitely for him. I always tell people that my parents should have called me "Behold" because then we would have been Lo and Behold. But then we would not have been able to come up with Lorena's name by combining both our names.

Lorena has changed our life's for sure. We are more thankful then ever before, for all of our kids and for the good health Janita & Jeremy and us enjoy. It is so easy to take those blessings for granted when all goes well. Lorena's situation keeps us thanking the Lord for all these blessings.

The home care nurse came for a visit with a lady from the respiratory care. She pressed upon our heart again that we should not take Lorena out in public and that we should turn visitors with a cold away. It is so important that in Lorena's condition that she would not get a cold or flue. It is so easy for people (including our self's) to think that she is all healthy now that she looks so good. Yet she is not like other babies. The oxygen hose that is always attached to her is a sure reminder that she is not like other healthy babies. It makes good sense that we keep her away from the public as those sweat little babies seem to tug at peoples hearts resulting in people wanting to touch baby, to hold that little hand or rub that little cheek and in Lorena's case people do not relies what danger this could cause. It is so hard to ask people not to touch baby as it almost feels like a rude thing to say to someone who is so interested in baby. So keeping her home is necessary for at least until the end of the cold season which is the end of May.

It is to bad most people can not share in Lorena's life by seeing her and touching her but we can continue to share through the updates with pictures, I send out. Many people have told me how much they appreciate these updates and they feel like they have gotten to know us better. We are thankful too for the many new contacts that have been made with people and we are touched by all the love and care so many people have shown us in so many ways. We thank you all for your prayers, food, gifts, help and encouragements. Just this week we received a gift of $80.00 to help us pay for 1 month of oxygen for Lorena, wow. I could not have even thought up such a gift...it choked me up with emotions. People have given us the cutest and most adorable little girly clothing and fun toys and made us feel like our little girl is a little princess. I can not tell you how good it feels that after having almost lost Lorena to see her being spoiled like this. What a gift to know that so many of you pray for Lorena and her continued health.

My sister Trudy has been here to help us for 2 weeks already and she is returning to her home in Ontario on Thursday. We will miss her and all the help she has provided for us. However, Lodewyk has taken parental leave from his work. He will be off from March 3 until October 1st. however he still needs to work a few hours each week as he wants to be sure he will have a job to return to. Currently he has been working from the home computer since befor Christmas. We are thankful his work allows for this.

Jeremy had his 9th Birthday Party on Saturday February 23rd. He had to sacrifice a nice tradition for his baby sister. This year his birthday cake had no candles on it as not open flame is allowed in the hose with Lorena's oxygen. However he was really good about this and understood. He was thrilled with the john Deere cake that Auntie Trudy made for him.

Lorena is drinking her bottle very well with very little spitting up. We seem to have established a nice routine and have now added nursing her 1 times a day in the evening as she seems to be a little hungry then. She is growing well and getting stronger, pulling off the oxygen hose more often as she is so quick now.

We took Lorena to the Children's Hospital today. Her first appointment was to take a blood sample for the genetics doctor for which we will not hear any results until about 3 weeks from now. She did great for this and did not even cry when the needle poked her. Then we went to the respiratory clinic to have Lorena's oxygen monitored and have her monitored without the oxygen. She was doing really well and breathing nicely without the oxygen. The respiratory doctor told us that for the lungs alone she would not need it anymore however because the cardiologist still thinks it is necessary for the heart she will stay on the oxygen until the next appointment in 1 months time. Then they will access her again and perhaps let her be off oxygen during the day, we hope so as the hose connected to her tends to get stuck as we walk through the house with her. It will be nice to have a baby who is no longer plugged in. Lorena also got her 2nd RSV shot to give her immunes against colds. This however does not garantee that she does not get any colds, that is why we still need to be so careful that she does not get a cold. If the Alberta government is spending $1500.00 per shot every 4 weeks to help prevent her from getting a cold then we had better do our part in taking all the precautions we can take. This RSV shot she got in her leg was pretty sore and she cried for a bit. When we came home her leg was still hurting and she did not sleep for a while, until after holding her for a while she finally settled down. These appointments take a lot out of her as she is missing all her sleep time. We left the house at 12:30 PM and did not come back until 5:00 PM, so she missed all her sleep in the afternoon.

Lorena was measured and weighed today and she is growing nicely. Her height is 52.6 cm and she now weighs 3.645 kg or 8 lbs 1 oz. We are thankful that she is continuing to grow and get stronger. What a wonderful blessing she is to our family.

Love Lodewyk, Rena, Janita, Jeremy & Lorena

A happy Jeremy even though his cake could not have candles he still loved his John Deere cake.

Feb. 26. All dressed up and happy for the appointments at the children's hospital.

Getting a blood sample taken at the lab in the Children's Hospital...............


	Lorena's 2nd RSV Shot
	February 26, 2008 Dear Family & Friends Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD. Psalm 127:3a I always thought this was a nice verse. I know that God speaks to everyone through his word but to how many of us does he start the verse with our name. Lodewyk has been called Lo for many years by family and some friends. Even though he prefers to be called Lodewyk now. So this verse is definitely for him. I always tell people that my parents should have called me "Behold" because then we would have been Lo and Behold. But then we would not have been able to come up with Lorena's name by combining both our names. Lorena has changed our life's for sure. We are more thankful then ever before, for all of our kids and for the good health Janita & Jeremy and us enjoy. It is so easy to take those blessings for granted when all goes well. Lorena's situation keeps us thanking the Lord for all these blessings. The home care nurse came for a visit with a lady from the respiratory care. She pressed upon our heart again that we should not take Lorena out in public and that we should turn visitors with a cold away. It is so important that in Lorena's condition that she would not get a cold or flue. It is so easy for people (including our self's) to think that she is all healthy now that she looks so good. Yet she is not like other babies. The oxygen hose that is always attached to her is a sure reminder that she is not like other healthy babies. It makes good sense that we keep her away from the public as those sweat little babies seem to tug at peoples hearts resulting in people wanting to touch baby, to hold that little hand or rub that little cheek and in Lorena's case people do not relies what danger this could cause. It is so hard to ask people not to touch baby as it almost feels like a rude thing to say to someone who is so interested in baby. So keeping her home is necessary for at least until the end of the cold season which is the end of May. It is to bad most people can not share in Lorena's life by seeing her and touching her but we can continue to share through the updates with pictures, I send out. Many people have told me how much they appreciate these updates and they feel like they have gotten to know us better. We are thankful too for the many new contacts that have been made with people and we are touched by all the love and care so many people have shown us in so many ways. We thank you all for your prayers, food, gifts, help and encouragements. Just this week we received a gift of $80.00 to help us pay for 1 month of oxygen for Lorena, wow. I could not have even thought up such a gift...it choked me up with emotions. People have given us the cutest and most adorable little girly clothing and fun toys and made us feel like our little girl is a little princess. I can not tell you how good it feels that after having almost lost Lorena to see her being spoiled like this. What a gift to know that so many of you pray for Lorena and her continued health. My sister Trudy has been here to help us for 2 weeks already and she is returning to her home in Ontario on Thursday. We will miss her and all the help she has provided for us. However, Lodewyk has taken parental leave from his work. He will be off from March 3 until October 1st. however he still needs to work a few hours each week as he wants to be sure he will have a job to return to. Currently he has been working from the home computer since befor Christmas. We are thankful his work allows for this. Jeremy had his 9th Birthday Party on Saturday February 23rd. He had to sacrifice a nice tradition for his baby sister. This year his birthday cake had no candles on it as not open flame is allowed in the hose with Lorena's oxygen. However he was really good about this and understood. He was thrilled with the john Deere cake that Auntie Trudy made for him. Lorena is drinking her bottle very well with very little spitting up. We seem to have established a nice routine and have now added nursing her 1 times a day in the evening as she seems to be a little hungry then. She is growing well and getting stronger, pulling off the oxygen hose more often as she is so quick now. We took Lorena to the Children's Hospital today. Her first appointment was to take a blood sample for the genetics doctor for which we will not hear any results until about 3 weeks from now. She did great for this and did not even cry when the needle poked her. Then we went to the respiratory clinic to have Lorena's oxygen monitored and have her monitored without the oxygen. She was doing really well and breathing nicely without the oxygen. The respiratory doctor told us that for the lungs alone she would not need it anymore however because the cardiologist still thinks it is necessary for the heart she will stay on the oxygen until the next appointment in 1 months time. Then they will access her again and perhaps let her be off oxygen during the day, we hope so as the hose connected to her tends to get stuck as we walk through the house with her. It will be nice to have a baby who is no longer plugged in. Lorena also got her 2nd RSV shot to give her immunes against colds. This however does not garantee that she does not get any colds, that is why we still need to be so careful that she does not get a cold. If the Alberta government is spending $1500.00 per shot every 4 weeks to help prevent her from getting a cold then we had better do our part in taking all the precautions we can take. This RSV shot she got in her leg was pretty sore and she cried for a bit. When we came home her leg was still hurting and she did not sleep for a while, until after holding her for a while she finally settled down. These appointments take a lot out of her as she is missing all her sleep time. We left the house at 12:30 PM and did not come back until 5:00 PM, so she missed all her sleep in the afternoon. Lorena was measured and weighed today and she is growing nicely. Her height is 52.6 cm and she now weighs 3.645 kg or 8 lbs 1 oz. We are thankful that she is continuing to grow and get stronger. What a wonderful blessing she is to our family. Love Lodewyk, Rena, Janita, Jeremy & Lorena Jeremy on his 9th Birthday February 22, 2008 Lorena drinking and holding her bottle on brother Jeremy's Birthday. A happy Jeremy even though his cake could not have candles he still loved his John Deere cake. Feb. 25 We had to put in a new oxygen tube again and had a few minutes to sneak a few pictures in without the oxygen. Teeny tiny cute-sie little tweenkie toes. The skin is peeling and renewing on the bottom of her foot because of that iv burn. Feb. 26. All dressed up and happy for the appointments at the children's hospital. This smile is for you! Lorena, being a happy and content baby as almost always. Getting a blood sample taken at the lab in the Children's Hospital............... ................and she did not even cry! Look at my cute Bugs Bunny band aid mom! Time to be measured. 52.6 cm Measuring Lorena's chest. Yip, mom and dad you can be proud of me.....I keep growing and growing. 8 lbs 1 oz Lorena getting her RSV shot. Excuse me while I cry but that needle in my leg hurts too much! Mirror, mirror on the wall.........who is the cutest baby of them all? Waiting for the respiratory doctor to come. I love it when my big sister Janita holds me.