Chloe Update

Just thought I'd write an update on little Chloe.  We've had her a week now, and she's quickly invaded our hearts.  Roger and I are remembering how tiring it is having a newborn, but we've fallen into a routine of taking turns for her night-time feedings (she has to be fed around-the-clock), and though we're finding ourselves to be very tired during the day, it's working out very well.

Jedidah, the head of the children's home (Mercy Rescue Trust in the UK) came to see Chloe yesterday, and she brought a scale to weigh her a little more  properly.  The hospital told Jedidah that Chloe weighed 2 kg (4.4 pounds) when they released her last Friday - but that was with heavy blankets.  When we weighed her yesterday, she came in at a whopping  1.46 kg.  That's just barely 3 pounds.  I also measured her.  She's 15 7/8 inches long and her head circumference is 29 1/2 cm.  She's really little.

Jedidah had the opportunity to share Chloe's story with me - at least, what she knows of it.  Chloe was brought to the hospital as soon as she was born by - we assume - her mother.  She checked into the hospital, then left her on the bed they were assigned to and disappeared.  This is so precious because  the mother took a huge risk getting her baby into the hospital; baby abandonment is punishable by imprisonment.  This mother loved her baby; she just had no means of being able to care for her obvious hospitalization needs.  

Another precious part of her story is that Chloe was actually cared for in the hospital - oh, not by the nurses; they don't really do much except very basic medical care.  Babies are not held much.  I don't think it's that they have hard hearts or don't care; I'm not sure exactly what the problem is.  Chloe shared an incubator with another premature baby.  The mother of that baby took pity on Chloe and cared for her just like she cared for her own baby.  That is so precious I'm about in tears as I tell you about it.  God seems to put Chloe in the path of special people who will care for her.

We were gifted with the wonderful opportunity of giving Chloe her official middle name.  The staff at the children's home chose her first name.  Jedidah has a baby name book, and she started reading down the list; when she got to Chloe, the staff decided they liked that one.  It is certainly NOT a Kenyan name.  So, I decided upon the Kenyan word for "Precious," "Valuable," "Of Great Worth."  Thamani. So, her name is officially Chloe Thamani.

We were having a difficult time feeding Chloe.  It was taking her over an hour to drink 1 ounce of formula!  I'm very thankful for valuable input and advice from a friend in the States who had a very preemie baby a few years ago. She taught me a new position in which to hold Chloe while feeding her; Chloe is now drinking the whole ounce in about 15 minutes, and it's taking her much less effort.   i think even in the last couple of days, we've seen some meat develop on Chloe's legs.

Chloe's first bath - sponge bath.  She did well, but I needed to keep her warm as I bathed her.  This was on Sunday this past week. I think she's filled out a bit more since then.

Never thought I'd be doing this again!

Thanks, Jennifer!

So, we continue to love this child day-by-day and follow in the steps of Christ day-by-day.  We've no idea where this journey will take us; I guess that's on a "need-to-know" basis, and God doesn't think we need to know just now.  

Thanks for your prayers on Chloe's behalf.  Keep praying; she's got a long way to go.