Fun Friday!

We had a GREAT time eating dinner with some friends last night while the kiddos were at the church. Had some wonderful food and even better conversation:). Got home around 9:45 and we all went to bed as we were pretty exhausted. Got my long run of 17 miles over with this morning and had some confirmation that only running 4 days a week is not slowing us(me and Sarah) down as I ran my fastest long run ever! Sarah met me after I ran 7 miles and finished the last 10 with me. Averaged 8:09 a mile for 17 miles. Used to think 8 minute miles were slow until I started this marathon stuff!
So now I have 2 babies to take care of...thought I would leave you with some pictures of last night and this past week.

OH!!! And today is a BIG DAY for Landry Grace! We are turning her car seat around:). Big Day, Big Day!
Last night on our way home

Meg Harrington, Laura Jones and me...we took a break from our conversation for a quick pic!

One morning they woke up early and had their bottles while they watched some TV

I found Jake sitting in from of everyone last night watching Veggie Tales. He saw me, turned around, and continued to watch......

One day after school reading a book. So glad my kids LOVE to be read to !

Quick Update

Thought I would write in a quick update during Friday recess at school:)! Matt's visit went great with Ben and Katye. He said the ECNO(sp) machine that Bennett is on is incredible. He said Ben and Katye's spirits were good. Emotional as you can imagine, but they are good. MINIMUM stay in LR will be 8 weeks. I am sure they miss sweet Sadie to death, but she will make several visits there. We have friends that plan on making the trek there this weekend and some more next week. Matt and I plan to go up there within the month and visit. He said they truly appreciated seeing him(or so he said!). So please keep them in your prayers as they are still needed.

As for this weekend, we have Parent's Night Out tonight(woo hoo!) and I don't PLAN to leave the kiddos there as late as we did last time! Plan is to go to dinner with some friends. Then I have a lovely long run tomorrow and we have another birthday party to attend in Bossier. It helps that this one isn't until 4 and we don't have to rush as much! And thanks for those who came to the C & C party yesterday. I really had a good time visiting with every one and I thought it was a pretty decent turn out:). Until later...........

Castles and Crowns Show

In case I have missed you somehow or you haven't received a reminder, I am hosting a Castles and Crowns trunk show at my parent's home tomorrow from 1-6. Drop by if you feel so inclined!If you need directions, please e-mail me and I'll reply. They have super cute clothes and I have been ordering them since my friend Hailey introduced me last year.

And on to more important things, Matt is traveling to Little Rock tomorrow to see Ben, Katye and Baby Bennett. Our wonderful Sunday School class in Benton has prepared for them a care basket with all kinds of goodies and gift cards, etc. I know that funds have been set up in Bossier and the Hamby's have been overwhelmed with the generosity shown to them. I know they are truly grateful and that is what friends and well-wishers are for. Ben and Katye are truly 2 of the NICEST people I know. We love them so much! Haven;t heard anything as of late and again I have not talked with Katye personally yet....yet I know she feels all of our prayers.

E-Mail from Mrs. Hamby

We recieved this e-mail from Ben's mom today. Thought I would share! Some promising news!

Katye was released from hospital today and Mike and Jane took her to Arkadelphia and Ben and Eddie met her there. I think B & K have been up beside the baby almost the entire time they have been
there. I was concerned that Katye was standing all that time. When 4-5 hours passed and I hadn’t heard anything I finally called Eddie’s cellphone because Sadie had gone to sleep and I didn’t want him calling and waking her up. We talked a while and finally he saw B & K coming off of the elevator. He said to me, “They are smiling.”

The progress is slow but slow progress is welcomed much more than regress. I think I’ve said that Eddie has a cousin whose daughter in law is head of nurses or something like that at the AR Heart
Institute. She has become the interpreter. We are told the heart looks great. Just need the hole to close that is suppose to close before birth so the blood can flow correctly. The lungs are the
problem....just before you are born a sticky substance forms in your lungs....I won’t try to say the word....but being as Bennett is 5 weeks early that sticky stuff has not formed. So they are

giving Bennett a synthetic form of that.

The blood pressure was too low and that has improved some and the doc told the attending person (someone is at the ecmo machine 24 hrs.) they could pull back on some of the blood pressure med.
Earlier today there was some issue with the blood they didn’t like so they changed the antibiotic they were giving.

At one point today the doc said “This is the best day yet.” We are so encouraged. I have 3 portable phones in the house and people are checking so faithfully that I can’t keep them charged up.
I have never been good about punching the button for call waiting so I have missed a few. The response of prayers and concern from our Christian friends has been awesome.

Sadie has been running some fever. I’ll keep her home from daycare (who have also been terrific) tomorrow and she has a regular doc appt on Wednesday so I was trying to hold off taking her until
then.

Ben has a Federal Jury summons for next Wed and I called on that today and they were very understanding and said to have Little Rock fax them something and they’d put it in his file and defer

his summons until next year. Eddie not going to BPCC classes on Tuesday and if doesn’t go on Thursday then they will probably be looking for someone to replace him because unless he is feeling
really good about Bennett he isn’t leaving B & K. After all that is why we moved back from Texas!!!! But if he feels okay to come home he’ll teach his classes Thurs morning and go back. I have suggested we get the 5th wheel up there to cut down on motel costs. Ben signed up for Ronald McDonald House which has a waiting list but we don’t know how long.

Sadie and I could go up some if the camper was up there and maybe....I don’t know how that plays out....she really doesn’t know what is going on. I know she loves her JoJo but she’s missing
her mom and dad and realizes that this has turned into a mighty long Friday night sleepover. I cannot express our thanks for the prayers and emails and phone calls. It has truly been amazing but
I don’t know why I sound surprised. God’s people just do that....take care of and encourage one another. Please don’t let up on the prayers....I know they work. We love you!!! Joanne

Educated Hamby Update

From her best friend on Facebook this AM:

Bennett is struggling from pulmonary hypertension. Baby's have a whole in each lung that allow them to breathe in the womb. Bennett's did not close as they were supposed to when he was born. He was breathing as if he was still in the womb. The Arkansas Children's team placed him in a EMO (spelling?) machine which simulates the womb allowing him to breath that way. Ben reports that his blood oxygen level is now at 99%, that he is doing much better and that his coloring is now pink. He is being cared for by his own private nurse and own EMO tech. They estimate that Bennett will be there for 6 - 8 weeks, then possibly return to WK south's NICU, then return home. Statistically, with his condition there is a 70% survival rate. Katye will be discharged today and will go with her parents to Little Rock to join Ben, his dad and her new baby. They will be able to visit with the baby 24 hours a day and are hoping to be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald house next to the hospital.

Hamby Update

As of yesterday, baby Bennett is doing better but not out of the woods. He was thought not to make it to LR on the helicopter but showed his determination in making the flight. When he arrived they hooked him up to a machine that pumped his heart and lungs for him(I am NOT in the medical field...sorry if that doesn't sound exactly right). I talked with a mutual friend who had just left Katye's hospital room and she s no longer accepting visitors as she was trying to rest so that she can make the trek to LR today. Please pray that she doesn't feel as though it is "her fault". The DR. said even had he been in the womb 2 more weeks it would not have mattered. He was not developing at a normal rate. He was 8 lbs, 14 oz(I think), the internal organs are underdeveloped.
Matt talked with Ben last night and they have Bennett sedated and on the machine. They are hoping that in time everything will mature and work on it's own. He just came too early and no one knew. This is only 2nd and third hand info, so I am trying to be as accurate as possible. Hailey has started a prayer group on Facebook and people are updating as they find out info. Bennett is by no means out of the woods. So please join us in prayer. Thank you!

PRAY for Bennett

Katye and Ben Hamby, some of our dearest friends had a baby boy on Friday the 31st. Bennett was delivered by scheduled c-section at almost 35 weeks. A little background on Katye: she is a diabetic and insulin dependent and this pregnancy was VERY closely monitored due to her condition. Everything seemed to be going well and she had an amnio done last week to determine if Bennett's lungs were developed. They looked good enough to deliver. All of my info is second or third hand. Matt has talked with Ben, but I have only sent Katye text messages since the delivery. I can only imagine what they are feeling. We got word yesterday that he was in critical condition. This morning we found out they have air lifted him to Arkansas Children's in LR as his heart and lungs are not working(this is THIRD party info here, so it might not be exactly right). Matt called Ben and he had just arrived at the hospital. So we don't know anything as of yet. Please just pray for their baby boy,thanks!