Quick Update

Today Cutter was moved to the Special Care Nursery which is a step away from coming home! He is gaining weight and eating pretty well. Both kids are now in a bed instead of an incubator. Cooper is hanging in there and will be a much happier girl on Thursday when they finally feed her. She's been a little cranky but she's hungry.
Jailen's surgery was postponed today. We don't know the details of it but know that he will have the surgery at some point but today was not that day.
Another baby was admitted today that was born at 24 weeks. Again, it makes us so grateful for the health of our guys.
erica

Baby Jailen

Scott and I wanted to mention a baby in the bed next to Cooper that really needs prayers (since we seem to be hogging all the prayer lines lately!) The baby's name is Jailen and he was born at 23 weeks, two days before our guys, and was 1 lb 2 oz. His parents are great people and Scott and I have been amazed at their positive attitude about their son.
Tonight, while visiting our two I got a chance to visit with Jailen's dad again. He told me that Jailen will be having heart surgery tomorrow (Tuesday). Cayden recently underwent surgery on his leg that was not life threatening but it really bothered me to know that someone was cutting on my baby. I can not imagine their thoughts and feelings right now knowing that tomorrow someone will be opening up their TINY baby's chest to repair his heart.
Please say a prayer for Baby Jailen tomorrow and for his parents as they deal with the stress of their son's condition and specifically for them as they wait for him during his surgery.
Thanks again to all the people praying for our babies. We got a good report today and are anxiously awaiting the day Cooper and Cutter can come home. Cayden wants to hold them and kiss them!
We want to say a special thanks to all the people out there that don't even know us but are lifting us up in prayer. We want to thank all the people that have touched our lives around the country that are praying. We also want to thank our church family in Temple and our small group that have been our rock. We can't imagine life without you!
God is good and has blessed us beyond our wildest imagination!
erica

An Easter Picture. Here are our 2 "Easter Angels". They are both progressing well enough to allow us to photograph them together. (Cooper is on the left and Cutter on the right). This is the closest they have been since birth.

New Pictures

Thought you might like to see some new pictures of the babies that everyone is praying for.

Thank-You!
Scott - a grateful dad

Cooper Joy, Three days old.

Cutter Jon, Three days old.

Prayers Answered and Prayers Needed

Thank you to all who have been praying for our precious daughter Cooper. (Scroll down to see her picture if you have not seen it yet.) Today we received encouraging news. The inflammation in her bowels & tummy is going away and the latest x-rays look great. Dr. Cipriani tells us that very rarely will someone's bowel perforate after this point. God carried us through another hurdle.

But we are not out of the woods yet...Cheryl (Dr. Cipriani) told us that one of the symptoms that Cooper has is a possible indicator of Cystic Fibrosis. Of course that news hit us hard. Cheryl said that it is only a 10% possibility but she wants to screen for it. On Monday she will draw the lab work but we will not know anything until Friday. (Why does it seem the scarier the disease the longer you have to wait for the results?) I know I have exceeded my amount of prayer attention, but if you would keep praying for Cooper I would be grateful. We are optimistic and will remain so.

Thank-you for all of the prayers and encouraging comments. They are truly cups of cold water to us weary travelers. Thank-you.

Love Ya Much,
Scott

PS - I don't want to forget Cutter in this process. He continues to do well and for that we are extremely grateful.

One of Three Of Us Is Home!

Well, I am NOT a Blogger! In fact I usually find myself teasing Scott about it because he is soooo into it. But, at times like these the technology comes in handy!
I wanted to first say thank you to all of the people out there lifting our family up in prayer. (See Scott's previous post) Today I have a sense of calm and can feel the prayers being answered. It has been a long road and I know we have a long way to still go but I know we can make it (with God's help and your prayers.)
I stayed in the hospital today (I think it's Thursday) because my blood pressure was still sky high, not to mention size wise there are actually about 5 of me. Basically I was free to go but it gave us the chance to be close to the NICU. Tonight I was getting a roomie and she had a baby that was also taken to the NICU and I felt like we could get settled in at home and give her some privacy that I was so thankful for while in the hospital. It was strange to come home. I felt like I was going to someone else's house. It also felt strange to come home without Cooper and Cutter. We will be making frequent trips to S&W.
This experience is humbling me in many ways. I am not quite as open as Scott is but know that God is working on me. He is helping me appreciate little things more and know that I can not do it all myself.
Thanks again for your prayers and PLEASE keep them coming.
Erica

We Have Names & Need Prayers

Here are pictures (scroll down) of my amazing kids Cutter Jon & Cooper Joy. I can not even begin to describe the wave of emotions that has washed over me the past couple of days. It is unbelievable to me to see these TWO precious babies that God has trusted to us. We are so grateful.

However we are not out of the woods yet. Our daughter, Cooper Joy, needs some immediate prayers. She is showing the signs of developing a condition known as Necrotizing Entrocolitis. Simply put, this is some kind of infection in the bowel that can cause some bad stuff. The specific prayer request is for the next 24 hours. We will be watching her very closely because Dr. Cipriani is most concerned about perforation of the bowels. If that happens everything because critical fast and we would be looking at a real possibility of surgery.

So PLEASE PRAY that Cooper not develop any perforation in her bowels. If we make it through the next 24 hours perforation free things will be looking good. Thank you for your prayers. I know God loves Cooper more than we can even imagine.

Also allow me to selfishly ask for prayers for Erica and my other son Cayden. Erica is one wiped out mom (emotionally and physically). Cayden does not understand why he can not see the new babies. So pray a prayer of peace over them.

God Bless
Scott - a grateful dad and husband

Here is my daughter, Cooper Joy, (Twin B).

Here is my son, Cutter Jon, formerly known as Twin A.

It's a Boy! It's a Girl!

We have BABIES! The twins were delivered at 9:30am today. Erica labored through the night without much progress then all of a sudden things went into high gear at about 8am this morning. God truly was taking care of us. We went into the delivery room with about 21 people present (counting mom and babies). There were two nursery teams, one ready for each baby, and a surgical team standing by ready to do an emergency c-section if necessary. Thankfully they were not needed. Erica did great! The babies arrived and after a brief introduction to mom were wisked off to the NICU to be taken care of. Both babies are doing great and showing good progress already. I will post some pics soon. Thanks for your prayers.

No names yet...

God Bless,
Love Ya Much
Scott

Babies are on the Way

This is a quick post to tell you that Erica is being induced today. We do not know how long labor will be but we might have twins before the day is out. Please keep us in your prayers.

Here is a list of people, who are taking care of us, to pray for if you would...
Erica
The Twins A&B (no names yet)
Dr. Lurry Leavelle - our doctor
Dr. Kyle Citty - OB Resident
Julie Cunningham - Nurse
Dana White - Nurse
Dr. Cheryl Cipriani - Neonatologist (doctor who will care for them after being born)
Cheryl - nurse practitioner in the NICU

It is amazing to note that with the exception of nurse practitioner Cheryl, everyone is a member of Western Hills Church. God has surrounded us with care.
We are blessed.

Gotta go!
Keep on praying!
Scott - an excited dad

Babies Still Growing

Well, we have made it through another day. Not necessarily a comfortable one for Erica, but another day none the less. Erica's protein count is being closely watched. This is a fun process that involves a 24 hour straight urine collection. (Here's a hint: If you visit Erica don't drink out of any of the pitchers or bottles in the room. You never know.) To add insult to injury there is a large sign on her door the reads "24 HOUR URINE COLLECTION". I am wondering who the sign is for? Erica knows what she needs to do. She does not need a sign on the outside of her door reminding her. Is it for the nurses? If it is what is it reminding them to do? Erica pretty well has the collection process under control.

Anyway after the lab results return tomorrow on ""the collection" we will know the next step. If the results continue on the same trend then there is a good chance that the doctors will formulate a plan to induce. If the results have not continued to increase then we will wait and allow the babies more time to grow (we are at 33 weeks and 3 days). So tomorrow we will know more. Thanks for all of your prayers, emails, comments, and encouragement. Keep it up! It is a true blessing.

I will post more when I know more.

Love Ya Much
Scott

PS - Through this whole process the reality is slowly sinking in - I'm about to be the dad of TWINS!

No News is No News

Erica had an ok day yesterday. Some of the time she felt good and some of the time she was dealing with nausea. I took Cayden up to visit for a short time but his "activity" was a little much for Erica so I brought him home and we spent last night hanging out. Today they will continue to check Erica's protein level and other stats. Lurry still thinks we might have to deliver within the week.

Thanks for all the prayers. They truly mean the world to us. I'll keep posting the latest news and details but some of this is just a waiting game. If you click on the "comments" link you can leave short message. I am taking all the messages to Erica.

Love Ya Much
Scott

Still Waiting on Babies

Erica was moved to room 334 yesterday. Lurry came by to check on her and for right now continues to feel the place for her is in the hospital. Lurry is being cautious and I am grateful he is. The babies continue to show good signs and Erica feels ok (at least as ok as you could feel with 2 other human beings kicking around inside of you). Right now there is not much else to report. Thank you to everyone for all of your prayers.

Love Ya Much,
Scott

Watching & Waiting

Erica spent last night in the hospital to be monitored and have more test run. She continues to do well. Lurry is suggesting that it is best that she remain in the hospital until the delivery. Today she will be moved to 3 South at Scott & White. We are simply waiting as long as possible to give the babies a chance to grow.

Keep on praying.
Thanks for caring about my family.

Love Ya Much
Scott

Back to the Hospital

Lurry (our doctor) just called. Erica needs to return to the hospital this evening for more tests. She has mild preclampsia and there is some concern that it could turn severe. We will return for some more close monitoring of her and the babies. She will probably be in the hospital until the babies are born. Keep us in your prayers, we are not quite out of the woods yet. It is a blessing to have Lurry as our doctor. He is such a God centered man.

Thanks for all your prayers!
Keep them up.

Love Ya Much
Scott

Close but no cigars!

Can't pass out the cigars yet...Well, after being told that we would deliver by Friday Erica's blood work came back. The results showed the early signs of preclampsia (sp?). Lurry (our doctor) felt very encouraged. To help their lungs form he gave Erica steroids. (Sidenote: Erica did not like my suggestion to name the babies Jose and Conseco) So now begins a time of closely monitoring Erica and trying to stretch out a few more days before we deliver. Lurry thinks it could be anytime in the next 2 weeks. So keep the prayers coming! We are doing great, are very optimistic and excited to get these babies in the world.

Love Ya Much
Scott

Need Prayers, Babies may be on the way!

Erica went for a scheduled pregnancy check-up today with Dr. Lurry Leavelle. He found out her blood pressure is running high. She was admitted into labor and delivery so she could be monitored and some blood test run. We do not know any thing definitive yet but there is a possibility the twins could be delivered as early as Friday. Erica is currently 33 weeks into the pregancy. Obviously this is a concern because the babies will have to spend some time in the hospital but we trust that God and Lurry have everything under control.

Keep On Praying!
Scott

My Son helping me blowout the candles on the cake he made.

God's Got a Sense of Humor

Well, today is my birthday and I turn 34. (so does that mean in one more year I hit midlife?) I grow older today,my wife is in the final weeks of her pregnancy with our twins! So, I am convinced that God does have a sense of humor. I should have known already...one look at the giraffe or the hipopotumus proves that He doesn't take everything serious. Speaking of animals...If you were to walk through my house it looks like we've been to the Noah family garage sale. Everything comes in pairs...2 cribs, 2 car seats, double stroller, etc, etc. So on this day of marking the passing of one more year of my life gone by, I will stop and reflect because it may be my last chance for a long time.

Keep us in your prayers,
Love Ya Much
Scott

Today I Will Try

Today, I will try to be a Christ follower. I will try to love my wife the way Christ loves me. I will try to be a kind and patient father the same way that God is patient with me. Today, I will work to listen more and talk less. I will try to repay anger and rude with calm and gentle. I will try to keep my temper in check and unleash my mercy...(my mercy may be a little sore, it's not a muscle that I exercise too often.)

Today, I will try to live with the belief that every breath is a gift from God. Today, I will try to live with all of my thoughts subject to his approval. Today, I will train my eyes to look only where Jesus would look and see people as he would see them.

Today, I will, once again, attempt to be a disciple of Jesus, allowing this would be carpenter to be the teacher and instructor of my day. Sounds crazy, huh?

Pray for me.

Love Ya Much
Scott

When It Rains It Pours

In the recent weeks several of our close friends from Western Hills have been dealt heavy duty medical/physical concerns. Our previous neighbor and forever good friend Mark Riggs has been hit hard with recently discovered cancer. Jan Middleton, my son's Bible class teacher has been diagnosed with cancer. Byron Bundy, a trusted friend and peer, has accompanied his dad to the hospital for major surgery, and Brian a teen in the youth group was just released from the hospital after treatment for a major blood clot in his leg.

Why do so many struggles seem to crash in on us simultaneously? Why does life seem to rock along so smoothly then suddenly so many that I care for find themselves anxiously awaiting test results, undergoing treatment and facing major decisions? My questions may not have answers but there is one thing that I do not question... the faith of each of these friends. Watching each couragously face their struggle has been a model of faith. None have complained, only asked for prayers and trusted that prayers would be both offered and answered. In the light of overwhelming stressors and news that is tough to swallow, each of these loved ones have held on tightly to the Father's hand.

May God Bless and Heal all of them.

Love Ya Much
Scott

One of the Blessings

Me and my son Cayden 

Here is my son. Today we are watching Saturday morning cartoons. Thought I would take a moment to share what makes me an incredibly blessed man. Gotta go I hear Sunny Patch is coming on.

Love Ya Much
Scott

Thanks God

Here are some of the things I am thankful for today...
1. Incredible wife
2. Awesome son
3. A church family willing try new things
4. A church leadership willing to bless new things
5. A pretty good group of teens who love to serve
6. A comfortable home
7. Good health
8. Plenty of food (sometimes too much)
9. The opportunity to do ministry
10. Grace

The list is much longer, but today I will reflect on these things.

Love Ya Much
Scott

UPWARD Awards Night Blessed By God

Had to make a quick post. We just completed the award nite ceremony for our Upward Basketball League. (If you are not familar with Upward it is a fantastic ministry that uses basketball to reach kids k-6 and their families.)Tonight we ran 70 kids through a banner into a gym lit by swirling spots lights with a couple of hundred parents on their feet cheering wildly. (Wouldn't it be cool if this is how we will enter heaven some day?) All the kids came in we cheered, a local singer (Brian Gowan) rocked the house with his gift, and through it all God was glorified.

Here is what I liked about our rookie season of Upward...
1. It was a vision bigger than anyone could have dreamed.
2. We actually had to step out on faith.
3. WHCC took a major step into the local community.
4. We proved that churches can work together.
5. Numerous members, by getting involved, became ministers to others.
6. God blessed us and saw us through every obstacle.
7. It was a BLAST.

Thanks to all who participated. Most of all thanks to God for always doing more than we could ever imagine.

Love Ya Much
Scott

UPWARD Basketball

A quick post today. Tonight Western Hills will host the Awards night for our Upward Basketball season. In case you are not familiar with Upward it is an outreach ministry using a basketball program to reach K-6th graders and their families. You can learn more at www.upward.com. This was our first year to host a league and God blessed us with incredible success. Over 140 kids passed through our league each Saturday. Tonight we celebrate with all of the kids, coaches and any parent that will come. Please say a prayer asking God to bless our outreach tonight and to do "immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine."

Love Ya Much
Scott

Godly Advice from the Gym

You can't tell it by looking at me but I work out. Really! I'm not kidding. You may find it even more amusing if you learned that one of my work out partners is Paul Rambaeu. If you do not know Paul, let's just say that he looks like he belongs in a gym. I look like I should be going around asking folks if I can collect their towels for them.

Paul being the more experienced between us played the role of "trainer". As trainer one of his jobs was to spout out motivational sayings, most of which sound pretty stupid anywhere but the gym. There was one exception. Paul always coached to "go to failure". Going to failure simply means that you continue doing repetitions of a certain weight until you hit a point that you actually can not complete the rep. At that point you have gone to failure. Going to failure actually tears down the muscle so that as it heals it grows back stronger and bigger.

I think God has been shouting the same advice in my ear for a long time. What would it look like in my spiritual life if I "went to failure" with my faith? What would it look like if I stepped out on my faith so far that success was clearly dependent on God? Too often I stay well within in the safe boundries of my faith, never exercising certain spiritual muscles.

When Paul (the apostle, not my muscle bound friend) writes "I can do all things through him that gives me strength," he is not writing from the corner office of success. He is writing from prison. Paul was not afraid to "go to failure" with his faith. He stepped out so far that he was bound to fail, at least fail as most of us would define it. It is clear that each time Paul was knocked down, beat up, or put away God was healing him stronger for the next challenge.

So Paul (my buddy) thanks for challenging me to "go to failure". I pray to step out in bold ways and involve my energies in things that are bound to fail outside of God's power. But fail or not I am convinced that God is calling us all to live life at a level far above anything we dreamed about or imagined was even possible.

See ya in the gym!
Can I get you a towel?
Scott

Going to Worship

I am writing this post early Sunday morning while my family is still asleep in bed. In a short time everyone will be up and in the hurried routine of trying to make it to church on time. Being a minister (which I love my job) has certain pitfalls. One of them is how I view Sundays. It is not always easy to simply come to church to simply "be" in the presence of the community of faith and God. More times than not I am distracted by the details and demands of the role. I find myself more caught up in the "production value" of the worship, than the God of the worship. I begin to believe that if we work hard enough, plan well enough, and practice long enough we will somehow get worship "right" (whatever that means).

So, this morning my prayer is this: Father, give me the peace to remember that the church is your church not mine. Remind me the worship is about you not me. Keep me focused on the cross and not the critique. Grant me the peace to know that this whole enterprise is in your hands.

Amen!

Scott

Opening Up

Here we go. I am joining what seems like everyone else that I know in the world of online journaling. Why is it that most of us do not keep a written private journal but are content to post our thoughts to the world? Well I hope to share thoughts about what it is to be a Christian husband, dad, dad expecting twins, minister, and simple a seeker of God.

This blog will not be fancy, seldom profound, not even consistent. It will be sincere and earnest in the fact that I am now willing to admit that I have very little in this world figured out. I am amazed at the world in which we live where technology like this exists and is becoming common place.

May God Bless all of us!
Love Ya Much
Scott