Subject: Natalia has another eye surgery on Monday

Hello to you all,
Natalia will be having her second eye surgery on Monday at 7:30am.
Please help us pray that the retina will not be damaged and the surgery goes smoothly.  They will be taking out the cataract and lens on her right eye.  We are still waiting for her left eye contact lens (+21) and it should be arriving within a week or two. I can't wait for her to see us more clearly.  I thought she smiled at me this last week, but I am sure she isn't really able to even see our smile that clearly yet.

She is eating better and taking in more formula although she did not
gain any weight this week due to some diarrhea.  I am not discouraged as I know our prayers will pull her thorough this eating
problem.

Natalia is alert more often during the day and we are working on strengthening her neck as I pull her up to sit and also working with her on tracking objects.  I don't expect much to happen there until
the contact arrives.  She follows  light toys but not all the time.

On Monday I received a call from Adrienne, Stephen's niece.  Amy,
her maid of honor, who lives in Arizona now,  was going to be in town and wanted to come help me and meet Natalia.  I sat on this message for a week and finally called Amy.  I arranged a time for her to come visit and during the course of our conversations I was so happy to be helping her.  She shared with me her disappointment in not being able to breast feed her 4 month old due to one inverted nipple. Every lactation specialist suggest she start with the inverted nipple first than the normal one. I was so surprised that all of the specialists she saw never suggested she just  breast feed with her one good nipple.  (Sorry to be so graphic)  I just want to share a point. In first grade I had a tumor removed and the surgeon severed the ducts at the areola.  I was able to breast feed all three of my older children with just one breast and I did so for 18 months on each. Ug! Unfortunately with Natalia's cleft lip, palate, and tongue tie, I had to make the choice not to breast feed. Although now, seeing how well she is drinking the bottle I am sure I could have done something, but emotions were so up and down for the first few weeks it was hard to make clear decisions.   Anyhow, please pass this on to anyone you know who wants the closeness of breast feeding and feel they can't due to that problem. This past week, some Pegasus moms called and asked if I wanted to join them at the park behind school to pray for Natalia, the administration, teacher, our families and  any other prayer requests. (Last year several moms had discussed doing this but we never actually started it.)  I am so thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful way of sharing in prayer with moms of different faiths. We all have so much in common and need  support and strength through prayer.  We are gathering every Friday morning at 8:30am in the park behind school to pray for a bit.  We started with just five of us and I know the spirit will gather more and more each week.  Any of you interested in joining us, please feel free to come pray next Friday morning.  It was so nice, and a great way to start the day and weekend.

Thank you again for all of your love and prayers.  We are enjoying
our little angel each day. Thank you for letting us share our journey with Natalia.
All our love and prayers, ThereseAnn and Stephen