What a surprise-thank you again, Amanda, for hijacking my blog!!! I have not posted in awhile and truthfully, I have a lot to share, but not the time...how does Amanda do it?!?! =) Anyway, since she posted and asked for prayer, I wanted to put the update from Gage's caringbridge site (www.caringbridge.org/visit/mittelstaedt) up for those of you who have been in prayer for him! (Thank you!!!)

Before I paste the post, if you haven't already, go read Amanda's blog(www.aproudmommyof4.blogspot.com), wish her a Happy Birthday, and check out the gifts she's giving for 'her' birthday, especially the last one, it's truly the best gift you could ever receive!

Happy Easter!

Now for Gage's update...

It's amazing how God works...I poured out how nervous and not at peace I was about todays appt. for Gage and at 4 a.m. Malia woke up hungry. So I fed her and finished off by pumping(aren't you all glad to know that!). My friend, Amanda, gave me this book to read, Every Now and Then, which I've been reading at night while I pump. Well, last night the chapter I was reading was on John 16:33...how we can have peace in Him. I'm not sure it totally made me feel at peace, but it was comforting how when I needed peace and was praying for it that God 'just so happen' to have me in that chapter of the book!

With that I'd like to just shout out a "Praise God" for todays report! I was still nervous, but calmed way down by the time of the appt. We had a nurse check Gage over first. She listened to his heart(113-119 bpm), checked his oxygen level(97%), and his blood pressure(85/52), and his liver was where it should be! These are all great numbers! Then the nurse practitioner came in and she felt all was good as well. After she came in Dr. Strasburger herself came in and felt that heart wise Gage is doing great and we don't need to come back until his follow up this summer unless we have any more concerns! Dr. Strasburger felt that the faster heart rate and heavy breathing are due to his cold as he is very congested. She also said not to be alarmed if he turns a little blue from this and to expect it for about another two weeks, that seems to be how long this horrible cough is lasting.

So, we just want to thank everyone again for praying and ask that you praise God for the awesome report and for all He is continuing to do in Gage's heart!

In more good news, Malia's levels were down as I mentioned yesterday and Dr. Hunt called this morning and said she did not feel that she needed another check! PTL! Now maybe her bruised and cut up heels can start to heal!

Happy Easter!

Love,

Nathan, Chantae, Gage, and Malia

prayer request.

hey. it's amanda again. i just want to let you all in on a prayer request. i've just copy and pasted this from gage's caringbridge site that chantae posted last night. so gage's appt is today. :0)

Just a small post to ask for prayer. I noticed a few days ago that Gage's heart seemed like it was pounding and then seemed better. I mentioned it to the pediatrician at Malia's appt yesterday and she felt that Gage's murmur was louder, his heart rate was up, and his liver has started to descend. This has me totally freaked out and I'm really scared for tomorrows appt. Dr. Hunt felt that Gage needed to be seen by his cardiologist this week yet so she called and got him in for tomorrow. When I talked to the nurse practitioner in Strasburgers office she thought these could possibly just be from the horrible cold he has, but that he needed to be checked out by Dr. Strasburger. She made me feel a little better with it maybe being his cold, but then when Malia was in for her follow up appt today, Dr. Hunt said that she felt it was more than just his cold. I'm struggling to find God's peace for tomorrows appointment, but trusting Him with Gage. Please be in prayer for Gage's appointment tomorrow as well as healing for this nasty cold.

By the way, Malia's levels for jaundice were down a little today and she was up to 6lbs 3 oz, so hopefully her numbers continue the way they are going and no treatment is needed!

Thank You,
Nathan and Chantae

so there you have it. please continue to pray and thanks all you prayer warriors!! God is SOO SOO good!!
amanda posing as...

BABY MALIA!!!

it's amanda again!! here are some cute pictures of baby malia. i have loaded just a few. but here is a link to my facebook album of more. so is so super cute. and tiny. and i totally called my hubby on the way home and said...i want another baby. ((for those of you who don't know me...my youngest is only five months old...oh dear!!)) but she has a head full of beautiful hair. she is keeping her temps 'borderline' low. so they put her in a warmer when we were leaving to help keep her temps up. other than that she is doing super great!! and as long as things continue this way they'll be set to go home saturday. and as you can see in the pictures you can not even tell chantae JUST had a baby this morning and hasn't gotten much sleep since!! here is a few...and don't forget to go check out the facebook ones for MORE!!

...well really Amanda.. :0)

more baby updates.

hey all. this is amanda. i asked chantae if i could update you all on baby news.

SHE HAD HER BABY!!!

yesterday i was with chantae at story time. i noticed her stop and stand still and hold her belly. i noted it and kept on with the day. ((something about having seven kids and three adults)) then around nine pm she called me and told me she couldn't come with me today, because she was on the way to the hospital!

she had been having consistent contractions since three pm and her doctor told her to come in because she hadn't felt the baby move and they wanted to do a stress test on her.

well around 5:30 AM on Thursday APRIL 2nd

Malia Rose
was born weighing in at
6 pounds 5 ounces
and
18 3/4 inches long

baby malia and chantae are doing great!! malia made her arrival a few weeks ahead of schedule, but as we all know our plans are not gods plans. and i joked with chantae this morning that god was probably giggling because chantae is such a HUGE planner. :0)

i plan on visiting later today and have been given permission to take pictures and post them up here later. feel free to share the love and leave some comments for our sweet friend chantae!!