baby casher kouba

Video for grammy Carla

2012-01-07T11:43:00.001-08:00

Thank you for the new clothes and "bug." You are the best!

Casher gives kisses video

2011-09-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

Bedtime

2011-08-31T17:28:00.001-07:00

Casher turns 2!

2011-07-22T10:43:00.001-07:00

Casher 22 months

2011-05-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

Look at that golf pro! His Daddy is so proud.

I realize it has been a loong time since I posted, and I wanted to share some recent pics. Casher is doing so well, excellent, in fact. He is a joy. He is very busy! He is responding well to speech and developmental therapy. He is starting to make sounds like "moo" and "woof" and trying to say words like "bird." I see him making progress each day. His health is great - you would never know that he had any issues and people that meet him now are very surprised that he had such a rough start.

We are looking forward to a long visit in Colorado in June.

April 2011

2011-04-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

We had a great visit in Colorado! Casher especially loved playing outside in the hot rod and sharing popsicles with his Cousin, Dawsen. As you can see, he wasn't so excited about taking the family reunion photo :)

Casher continues to be amazing - not only in his health but in his spirit. He has a little spring in his step. He is starting developmental and speech therapy to give him an added boost in those areas, and as with all he has been through we are trusting God's timing and His plan.

It is a beautiful Spring here in North Carolina. We missed seeing many of you on our visit but we will be back in Colorado in June for a few weeks. We will catch up with you then!

Happy days

2011-03-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

Growing up...

2011-02-02T05:31:00.000-08:00

Our little guy is getting so big these days. He is 18 months and doing great. He eats well and feels well. Mom was just reminding me of a time when he would cry and we would all feel so stressed because we knew he could possibly be in pain, and now when he cries we know it is just normal. Normal feels good. The only current effect we are seeing from Casher's hospitalization is his delayed speech. He isn't communicating with any words at this point. We are praying for his speech to kick in! Normal development would be for him to be saying at least 10 words. Haven't we seen God's perfect timing in every other part of his life? That's what I am reminding myself. Hope you enjoy these photos and his happy smile as much as we do. Love, Kari

Happy 2011

2011-01-03T05:57:00.000-08:00

What a nice Christmas we had. People tell you what a joy it is to see life through your child's eyes, and that is so true. We had new excitement on Christmas morning as Casher woke up to a new little table and chairs. He loves the simple things - a good book, his own little seat, walking on the trail behind our house looking at all the leaves and putting his toes in the rain puddles.

I felt a great deal of joy as Mitch and I sang Christmas carols with Casher and read him the Christmas story. It's a new challenge for us to think about how to teach him about the celebration of Jesus' birth in the midst of shopping, wrapping, cooking, and all the business. Each year on Christmas Eve, our family lights a candle and floats it in a glass bowl of water - making our Christmas wish as we light them. It makes a beautiful center piece and lights up the room. I wish you joy and peace this year, too. xo

Casher cracks up

2010-12-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

Casher's favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He totally gets Donald and Goofy's slap stick humor. Here he is laughing at Donald Duck being silly. Yes, we just sit back, watch, and laugh right along with Cash. It's contagious.

Playing & Picking out the Christmas Tree

2010-11-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

How quickly a year goes by. It's time to pick out a tree again. I remember taking Casher to pick out a tree last year. He fell asleep on the way to the Farmer's Market and we carried him around in his infant seat. He missed the entire thing! This year it's a matter of wrangling him away from the parking lot and keeping up with him as he gets into every possible thing on his level. You can see his funny personality in the pics with my grandpa's hat. He likes to cover up his face and walk around blind and then peek-a-boo. He's so serious and so funny at the same time. Obviously, he's got a round little belly and he's been eating great. We saw the GI doctor and she said she would see us in 6 months for a check up. Music to my ears. Happy Holidays!

October 31, 2010

2010-10-31T04:36:00.000-07:00

My first thought when I woke up this morning was 'thank you.' I know I felt joy one year ago today when Casher was released from the hospital for the second and final time. I was beyond tired, beyond fatigued, beyond emotion. In the midst of the toughest circumstances in my life, I was grateful for Casher's life and grateful that God saw me through the three weeks of hospitalization after his lung collapsed on October 11. Waking up this morning one year after those events, I am humbled beyond words. What haven't you provided for me Lord? When have you not been with me holding my hand and been a lamp unto my feet to guide the way? The deep gratitude I feel is possible because the dark and hard times I went through.

I'm thankful for my son. I'm thankful for his vibrant life. I'm thankful for this year of watching him grow and laugh and love. For my husband's strength and love. For our friends and family and all the prayers for us and all the caring you bestowed on us.

I remember praying at one point during my pregnancy when we found out our baby was in trouble for God to make it all better. I told him I didn't want to be a deeper person for this experience, let me skip it! That wasn't his plan as we know now. But standing on this side of all of it, I am so much deeper - my love. my gratitude. my joy. my peace.

Here are three photos. One of Casher with his chest tube, pretty darn sick last October. Then a few days after his release last Halloween at our dear friends Cheryl and Don's. And one taken yesterday of a little person vibrant with the gift of life.

October

2010-10-04T04:29:00.000-07:00

Last October 1st Casher was released from the hospital. I remember walking out of the hospital doors with him and tearing up thinking this is his first breath of fresh air. It was a beautiful fall day in Denver. I was beyond grateful, overwhelmed, exhausted, exuberant...how many emotions can live in one person at one time?! I remember all of your support at that time and I can't believe how wonderful you are that you are still following our amazing little journey.

Our little Casher is amazing himself. He has healed. His scar from the g-tube looks really good. It healed up perfectly. He is off of the formula and drinking whole milk like a champ. He is eating more and more and his gas pain and all pain associated is pretty much gone. He is still on prevacid which helps with reflux and it does seem to help him still so we are thankful that is working.

As you can see from the photos he is super busy and super adorable. I think it is safe to say that if you have followed us this far you agree that he is adorable. He is walking more and more - still a little unstable but getting there. He is in the Children's Program at BSF, the bible study I attend, every Thursday morning. He loves to eat his snacks, play with his aunts, go out in his wagon, pat Ginny, and explore and climb everything! Life is good. God is good.

Casher's very first steps! Caught on camera by our amazing Tisha!

2010-09-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

He wasn't sure he wanted to climb through at first :)

2010-09-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

Update on the boy

2010-09-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Well, as you can see from the pics Casher is doing amazing. He got his feeding tube out on Tuesday! We are so thankful. It would have been 1 year on the 15th that he had the surgery to put it in. It is amazing what a difference a year makes. It's God's perfect timing. Cash is eating great and growing great.

I remember clearly how fragile he was after that surgery. He was so little and so sick. Now to see him try to climb UP the slide is...a true miracle. We love each day we all get to spend together. Casher is a determined little guy. He knows what he wants and he goes for it. He is sweet and quiet one minute looking through a book and yelling loudly the next trying to make his point. He really likes to laugh and he cries freely when he is hurt. Life is good.

learning to walk & loving it

2010-08-29T18:03:00.000-07:00

Don't you love to laugh?

2010-08-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

August...

2010-08-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

If you are going through difficult circumstances right now, just remember god is with you. He has a great purpose for you. Turn to him, seek his face, be faithful and trust in his perfect plan. I was reminding myself of that today. One year ago was a challenging time for me with Casher in the NICU. It was a challenging circumstance. I'm glad god is bigger than my circumstances!! I'm so thankful for how far He has carried me and Casher.

Happy Birthday to our big 1 year old!

2010-07-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

11 months! Busy and cute.

2010-06-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

I love you Da Da. Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

just playing

2010-06-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

He crawls!

2010-05-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize what a huge moment it would be for me to see him crawl. It just made my heart soar. He has come such a long way from his days in the NICU. I'm so joyful to be able to share this video with you! Love, Kari

Loving every day...

2010-05-26T06:33:00.000-07:00

Though he is not crawling yet, somehow Casher seems to make it from the cabinet to the dogs' water bowl while I'm at the sink washing up some dishes. He LOVES to play in the cabinet but he is most interested with the knobs, screws, and opening and closing the doors. He is very determined and knows what he wants (to be picked up so that he can stand on the counter and open the top cabinets) and what he doesn't (having his shirt put on or taken off)!!!

My First Mother's Day!

2010-05-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

It is so amazing to be a mom on Mother's Day! I felt so special and blessed to have my little boy with me all day long. Mitch made it extra special by giving me a keepsake jewelry box with a beautiful locket to keep pictures of Casher on my first mother's day in. Good job, honey! It was also wonderful to be with my own mom. As you can see in the photos, Casher is getting so big. He is determined to play hard and get to what he wants - even though he hasn't figured out the crawling thing yet.

He has gained weight over the past 3 weeks (he hit the 18 lb mark!) but we would like to see him gain more over the next 3 weeks. He has an appt with the GI docs then and they have been getting concerned that he is not steadily increasing. Please pray with us that he will continue to gain and stay healthy.

If he got points for being cute, we would have no problems!

Nan's visit

2010-05-03T05:19:00.000-07:00

We had a great time last week when Nan (Mitch's mom) came to visit. We sat around and played with Casher and adored him! It's a tough job. Nan was here to go to a doctor's appointment with us. All in all Cash is doing great. He is healthy and thriving. The GI doctor is concerned that he isn't gaining weight consistently. He is 17 lbs and in the 3rd percentile for weight - so he is little and hasn't gained weight like they would like to see. But he is eating more and more solids and finally switching to a regular formula. He still has the g-tube in his tummy. The doctors keep saying 'what if he would get very sick and need the feeding tube' so it is still in for the moment.

He is voicing his opinion about everything these days. From babbling (dadadadaaa) to grunting in frustration or excitement, he is staying busy. You can just see in his eyes how badly he wants to get on the move. He isn't crawling yet. He loves to stand up and see the world. He gets a very satisfied smile on his face when we help him stand up. As per requests, a video is coming soon!

goin on safari

2010-04-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

"You're not supposed to eat the pine straw! Just sit there and look cute. Good job!"

2010-04-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

Our expressive little one

2010-04-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

First Easter

2010-04-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

Casher had a wonderful first Easter. We had fun spending time with his Godparents, Kelley and Randall Nichols and their three kiddos - Eli, Grady and Rosie. We went to an Easter egg hunt with the Nichols, Smiths, and Nickersons. It was a happy reunion.

We also went to an outdoor Easter Church service that was great with the family and lots of friends including Anup and Arjun. Arjun is 15 months and he is showing Cash all the things he can look forward to once he starts walking!

It is so beautiful here in NC this Spring. We are enjoying the warmer weather before it gets super hot!

Cash doing his cutesy thing. He's priceless.

2010-03-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

Play date with Salah Bean

2010-03-13T05:48:00.000-08:00

Casher is making a lot of new friends out here in North Carolina. We are part of the Cary/Raleigh Global Moms group started by my long time friend Nakhesia. We have met a lot of diverse families. It's so fun to see Casher "play" with Salah, Nakhesia's little girl who is ten days younger than Cash. Nakhesia and I have been friends since the 4th grade. We used to talk about what it would be like when were all "grown up" and had our kids playing together! Here are some photos from our recent play date. The last one is Salah Bean and Casher after the play date!

Aunt Kate captures Casher's cuteness

2010-03-11T05:41:00.000-08:00

2010-03-09T07:06:00.000-08:00

Cash plays with Jack & Ginny

2010-03-08T17:24:00.000-08:00

Seven months!

2010-03-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since my last update! I can't believe it is March already. February flew by. Casher and I took a trip to Colorado to visit his Grandparents in Pueblo. Mitch met us out there for a few days. It was a last minute decision to use up some frequent flyer miles that were about to expire. It was a wonderful trip. We were in Denver briefly to help Anne Cloud celebrate her birthday. I'm sorry we weren't able to see everyone that we are missing so much. It's been a little tough to keep in touch with everyone as we have still been getting adjusted to living here...It's great to see what a huge capacity for loving people Cash has. He lit up when he was surrounded by his Colorado friends and family...

Casher is thriving. He is a happy, funny kiddo. We've slowly been getting together with old and new friends here. He is starting to realize there are little friends to play with and a big world to explore.

Short trip to West Virginia for some fun in the mountains

2010-02-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

It's a sweet life - full of blessings from the Lord

2010-01-31T06:27:00.000-08:00

Medical update & laughs with Dad - video

2010-01-21T05:39:00.000-08:00

Cash continues to bring us joy each day. His funny little laugh cracks us up. His 6 month check up shows he is gaining weight (14 1/2 pounds!) and doing great developmentally. We met with the surgeon yesterday for a routine follow-up and he sees no reason to see Cash again unless there is a problem - and he expects there to be no problems now or in the future! The only medications Cash is on currently is Prevacid to help with reflux. He still has his g-tube (feeding tube) but we haven't needed to use it since December and the Doctors said it can be removed in March. We can actually remove it ourselves and the hole should heal quickly on its own. All of his medical concerns are quickly becoming a distant memory. Thank you, Lord.

The next adventure - starting to eat baby food! We will definitely be sharing that video :)

6 months old today! - video

2010-01-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

Just about 6 months old - video

2010-01-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

It's a new year

2010-01-07T13:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! When I was talking to my sister yesterday and she said "I check the blog everyday!" (and she lives in the same town as us) it made me realize I better update asap!! Cash had a great Christmas and so did we all. Mitch survived the holidays at his new store which being in a mall was insane for a while there. We're getting back into the routine - which let's face it - changes pretty much everyday when you have a baby. But it is some kind of a routine and today I just found myself saying thank you God for this time with my son. Some of those harder times during my pregnancy and Cash's hospitalizations still weigh on me every once in a while and I try to look at the present and see what a gift it is.

Cash is doing so great. He's got so much personality. He loves to laugh and get kisses. He loves to check out what everyone is doing. He thinks it's funny to be thrown up in the air. He smiles every time his Daddy comes into the room. He really likes taking off his socks and eating them which means a lot of soggy socks! He's doing so well holding up his head and he loves to stand up on his legs. He's rolling over and I think he will be sitting up on his own pretty soon. It's great that he is developing so well after his long stay in the hospital. He can also get mad and cry so loud when he is really tired. It reminds me of when he would cry in the NICU and I loved it because I knew he was a little fighter. He had some lab work done yesterday and the results came back excellent. He has really improved since his last lab work in November. Hurrah! The doctor said that she couldn't believe how great he looks. She had read his chart before meeting him for the first time and she said she expected to see a sickly little boy. Everyone at the doctor's office was checking Cash out and talking about how cute he is. I don't think the video on the previous post totally captures just how adorable he is, but I'm glad we are able to share it with you. Enjoy the pics of Cash doing some of his favorite things. He will be 6 months old on the 16th. What an answer to many, many prayers.

Merry Christmas to all!

2009-12-24T14:08:00.000-08:00

Very busy, sweet boy

2009-12-22T16:38:00.000-08:00

2009-12-10T06:07:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to be able to share these videos with you. After everything Cash has been through of course it's such a joy to see him laugh and kick and play. We are still having our challenges with gas pain on a daily basis. He saw a speech pathologist yesterday and she thinks that he is still having pain and associates that with taking a bottle. Cash does struggle everyday when it is time for a bottle. It's hard to hear him cry and not really be able to make him feel better. I know all parents feel that way. Between the GI doc and the speech pathologist we are going to figure out a plan to help him really improve.

It's such a blessing to be able to take care of him each day. This has been such a time of adjustment as well - living in a new city, a new job for Mitch (he starts as the manager at his new store on Dec 14). And for me, not working is a big adjustment. We are still getting our bearings.

It's hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful, peaceful season. Love, Kari

When Cash laughs it makes us laugh too. He is a joy.

2009-12-10T04:52:00.000-08:00

Finally - a video!

2009-12-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

Cash and some of his adoring fans...

2009-12-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Lots to be thankful for...

2009-11-22T10:47:00.000-08:00

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Cash is really doing well. He still struggles with tummy troubles on a daily basis but he is improving each day. After a busy week of doctors appointments, we are looking forward to a calm Thanksgiving. The doctors are very determined to make sure Cash is healing and growing big and strong. I think you can tell from these photos that he has his very happy times and feels good. We will continue with some close follow up with the GI specialist to figure out why Cash still has discomfort and to ensure that we aren't missing anything that might be going on with him. All in all, we feel like Cash is much improved and we are so grateful for answered prayer for his healing.

In other news, Mitch has been offered a position as a Manager at a Starbucks at a mall in Raleigh. We are so excited about this answered prayer. What an amazing blessing for us. The formal offer should come this week and Mitch could be running the store in the next couple of weeks (just in time for the crazy holiday season!).

We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. Love, Kari, Mitch & Cash

2009-11-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

We made it to NC - safe and sound! Cash did great on his first plane ride and Mitch and Jeremy drove straight through to NC. Mitch got here before we did and picked us up from the airport!

We are just getting settled in. It's a little chaotic and crazy right now, but it's nice to be surrounded by family. Mitch and I are just starting to de-stress after the events of the past 4 months. It's going to take some time to relax...It's beautiful in North Carolina right now. It's like we get to have Fall twice - once in Colorado and now here. The leaves are beautiful and the weather is so mild.

Cash seems to be feeling better every day. He is over 13 lbs now and smiles more and more. I think he would eat his hands if he could - he's just so fascinated by them. He doesn't seem to mind at all when the dogs come right up into his face and lick him. Here are some pretty cute pics of him from the last few days. Love, Kari

Cash is doing great!

2009-11-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

Casher: Home and doing well!

2009-11-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, just a quick update: Casher came home this last Saturday, he is doing better than ever! He is eating this terrible tasting specialized formula, taking some meds, and getting vitamins. He is eating more and more each day, soon he will eat us out of house and home I'm sure. Kari and I are having an open house this Sunday at our good friends Abby and Travis' house down in highlands ranch. First chance for most people to meet the kiddo, and maybe the last chance to say "bu-bye" to us before we move. If anyone is interested its this Sunday, the 8Th from 3-6pm. 5460 fox meadow ave. highlands ranch, co 80130
Kari, Casher and I will all be leaving Denver and making the trip to N.C. next week. I am driving out with my brother-in-law Jeremy and the dogs next Wednesday, Kari and Casher are flying with grandma Swann next Thursday.
Thanks as usual for being amazing. Mitch

Cash doing his cutie thing

2009-10-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering - he's still cute. We think these photos are proof positive of that... So, the good news is if Cash continues to do well on his feeds and does not lose weight, he will be home this weekend. A very tired mommy and daddy are beyond ready for that. We are tired of the hospital, but so grateful for his amazing doctors. It's true to say that Cash really connects with people already. They seem to gravitate towards him and want to look out for him. It could be those blue eyes and that knowing look he gives...Lord, we give YOU all of the glory for Casher's healing (and his gorgeous blue eyes, too!). Much love, Kari & Mitch

Casher is doing much better!

2009-10-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Since that chest tube has been pulled Casher seems to be feeling like a new little person! He is much more content and is smiling up a storm. He started eating from a bottle yesterday and is doing very well with it. We are just taking his feeds nice and slow to give his tummy a chance to adjust (after not eating for 10 days!!) It looks like he will most likely be out of the hospital on Tuesday! We are excited to get him home (home is currently Cheryl and Don's house in Lone Tree).

Our plan is to watch him closely and have some follow up doctors appointments in Denver. Then my mom (now known as "grandma"!!) will fly out from NC and fly back with me and Cash around the 11th of November. Of course, we want to make sure Cash is very stable before we travel with him. Mitch will drive the car and dogs with our brother in law Jeremy to NC around the same time. He has a job transfer with Starbucks and needs to start work on Nov. 16th. I have to say we are ready for some normalcy! For us that means a healthy little boy and being settled in NC. I myself am looking forward to a peaceful fall in NC with quiet holidays at home with our cutie pie. Thank you for your continued prayers. I am feeling so much more at peace. It really takes its toll having a little one that is so sick. Now that Cash is feeling better I can tell just how bad he was really doing and how hard that was on me as his mom. I am so grateful for his improvement and all of the love and support we have been getting from all of you. We will continue to keep you updated and post more photos. Love, Kari

Chest tube has been "yanked" literally

2009-10-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Good morning friends and family-Papa Mitch here with the Thursday morning update. Last night the g-tube button came out of his tummy, i knew it was broken and so did the doctors and nurses for about the last 4 days, but they said as long as it was taped down it would be fine. WRONG! It popped out in a crying fit last night. After the nurses got approval they stuck a new one in, blew it up, gave his some Tylenol and went on their way. More traumatic on Kari and I than Casher.

About an hour ago the head surgeon came in the room like a hurricane-looked at Casher's output from his chest tube and quickly decided to take his chest tube out. Within minutes Casher was on his side, Kari was holding his hands and Dr. Rothenberg literally YANKED this tube out of Casher's Chest. Neither Nan nor I could believe how well Cash handled having a 3" section of tube ripped out of him like a loose tooth, a grownup would still be whining.

He is resting now, getting a very small amount of food slowly throughout the day-The docs will increase that amount slowly day by day until he is eating enough to come home. We hope that will be less than a week from now.

As always we thank you all for your support, love, and prayers-we couldn't do this without all of you. We are so blessed to have such a strong committed group of people surrounding us. More to come...

Pics from the pediatric floor - 3 months old

2009-10-21T20:04:00.001-07:00

update

2009-10-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

Well it's been eight days since Casher has been back in the hospital. It's been tough to update the blog without a laptop (thank you Cheryl and Don for letting us borrow yours!)...Casher is doing as well as he possibly could given the circumstances - he isn't allowed to eat and he is confined to this little room. The plan is that they may start him on food as early as this weekend (that seems like a loooong time from now for this tired mom). The reason to wait so long is so that the tear/hole that allowed fluid in the lung will heal on its own. After he begins to eat we should know pretty quickly if the tear has healed or not. (What caused the tear? We just don't know...) If it does not heal on its own, surgery will be the next step. Nobody wants that. We are praying he will heal with no further surgery needed.

Please pray also for me and Mitch. I particularily have been fighting off discouragement and emotional exhaustion. We have a small (and mighty!!) team that is allowed to visit Casher in the hospital. The number of visitors is so limited due to the H1N1 flu - we are only allowed 4 visitors (in addition to me and Mitch) total - those people cannot change for the length of his stay in the hospital. Really the very best thing you can do for us is to continue to pray. It lifts us up. Just thinking about you reading this right now gives me a great deal of hope.

It amazes me how much Casher has the ability to smile through all of this. His smile is more precious each time I see it. He's growing and looking so much older. I have to keep reminding myself he is just three months old. He's been through a lot in his little life. More soon...love, Kari

Back in the Hospital.

2009-10-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hey all its papa Mitch with the long awaited update. Since Casher has been home we have had less and less time to update the blog-imagine that! Well, up until Sunday Casher was doing really well, typical baby day to day life with a few extra things here and there of course. However on Sunday while we were visiting my family in Pueblo Casher had to go to the E.R. because he was having trouble breathing, after an ambulance ride and a bunch of tests the discovered his left lung was collapsed and full of fluid. They were amazing in Pueblo, took great care of us, got him stable and on an air transport back to Pres. St. Luke's Hospital in Denver. He was then admitted to the PICU where they continued to keep him comfortable, and continued draining his lung.

He now has his own great big beautiful room in the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children and Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital. Room 4304.

Casher is doing OK. No one knows why this fluid is in his lung, but the suspicion is he has a small puncture in his lung and they are hoping it will slowly heal itself. Kari and I are pretty tired yet remain at peace knowing God will carry us through this.

This looks to be the toughest challenge yet since he has his own room and though the nursing staff is great they can only give him limited attention. We are trying to have someone with Casher at the hospital at all times. Kari can only do so much and I am still working a ton. Please be praying for our family, its a daunting task trying to make sure someone is always with our little man.

As usual thank you in advance for your prayer, consideration and positive energy. We love you all and can't wait for you to meet little Cash man. Love Mitch Kari and Casher

Casher is home with us...It's Official!!!!!

2009-10-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

Well we did it. We finally got our baby boy home today on his 11 week birthday! We got his chest tube out this morning, we got all his extra tubes, bottles, wipes, syringes, pumps, hoses, and muffler bearings gathered up and then hit the road around 2 p.m. We clapped and celebrated the first time he got to go outside today, clumsily strapped him into his car seat for the first time and headed for the suburbs. Now were at home with mama Cheryl, she's oohing and awing at how adorable he is. Kari and I are struggling to remember which medication is which, when to give it to him, how much...It's so much fun having him home, playing with him away from monitors, screaming babies, overly perky and overly tired nurses, and reveling in how much room there is here to spread out.
Thank all of you so much for praying us through this stage, we are so blessed to have such positive, loving and faithful friends and family. Can't wait for all of you to meet him asap!
Love, Papa Mitch

Coming home soon!

2009-09-29T07:39:00.001-07:00

Cash is doing great and might be coming home as early as Thursday. We need to pray he will continue to gain weight as that is the key to getting him home right now. But so far the plan is to bring him home on Thursday. We just can't wait!

yep, still cute.

2009-09-23T12:49:00.001-07:00

2009-09-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

Casher is doing better every day. He is eating a lot and starting to act like he is recovering from his surgery. He is smiling and goofing around again. Everyone thinks he should be coming home pretty soon. We went for a ride around the NICU in the wagon this afternoon. He likes the stimulation and seeing some different sights than just his little crib. We are in the process of packing up the house. We move out at the end of September. We are going to stay with our dear friends Don and Cheryl Kelley in Lone Tree (just south of Denver) through October. The plan is at the end of October to head to North Carolina. We are excited and ready for some down time with our son.

We are still thanking God for the good news on Casher's liver function and successful surgery. We are a little weary after all of this but so thankful and continuing to draw our strength from the lord. love, kari & mitch

p.s. we need help loading our moving truck on sunday, sept 27! just putting that out there :D

9 weeks old today!

2009-09-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, Cash is 9 weeks old today. It's hard to believe. He seems much improved this morning. He is just about off of the narcotics and is getting tylenol for pain. He has a terrible cough and lots of junk in his chest but they are working that out with antibiotics and respiratory therapy.

Casher is awake and letting everyone know that he found his voice again! I held him this morning and slowly he started opening his eyes and looking around at the world again. He gave his nurse the eye brow furrowed "suspicious" look and even managed the one eye brow "I'm checking you out" look. No smiles for mom yet, but I'm sure he will be back to that soon. He is out of the warmer and back in his old crib. He sure loves looking at his mobile. The surgeon said he looks great and he can start eating again this afternoon. Woo hoo! Praying he is truly on the road to recovery this time...love, Kari

afternoon update...

2009-09-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

Cash is off of the breathing tube! He is still groggy but seems to be comfortable. He did get a blood transfusion this afternoon as his levels were low. They don't like to do it, but it was necessary. So 24 hours post-op, he is doing quite well. I bet in another 24 hours he will be much improved and probably letting us all know how hungry he is. I'm ready for him to start looking like and feeling up to his old self. His face and eyes are very puffy and he has more tubes than normal. I will post another update tomorrow and let you know how he is doing. LOVE, Kari

2009-09-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

Casher is doing much better this morning. Yesterday post-op was tough. Maybe more so on mom and dad than on baby. After a "cocktail" of morphine, fentanyl, and a sedative, Cash was finally out. For a while there, I thought I was going to need a morphine drip!! Watching him suffer was super hard. But he had a good night and today is a new day. He should be off the morhpine soon and on tylenol. Hopefully, the breathing tube will be pulled this morning and he will be able to breathe on his own. He does not like having that tube down his throat! The first thing the nurse said to me after last night was "He is a fighter!" and I couldn't agree more. More soon...love, Kari

Out of Surgery!!!! -let the healing begin

2009-09-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

He's out of surgery-we spoke with doctor rothenberg just a miunte ago. He reconfirmed that Casher does NOT have biliary atresia and went on to state he believed casher 's liver problem may have been a result of scar tissue from his previous surgery blocking his bowel activity and his biliary ducts. He said that might be why he appeared to have biliary atresia. So...his hernia should be permanently fixed, his g-tube (button) is installed, the adhesions from the scar tissue have been initially addressed and hopefully completely repaired. We're about to go see him in the nicu, will update again later today. Thank you all so much for caring so much about us. We are sustained by your love support and prayer. -Papa Mitch

Surgery update...

2009-09-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

Casher is still in surgery, its 1:50 p.m. he should be done by 3. The nurse in the room just called us to tell us Casher does NOT have biliary atresia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The doc did a liver biopsy, we will need to wait a week or so to see what the results are. The nissen procedure is complete to repair his hiatal hernia. They are now installing his "button." This g-tube will enable the doctors to push food directly into his stomach if they need, it will also release pressure from his tummy if he has trouble burping. Keep those prayers coming for a speedy and complete recovery. Another update coming soon as he is out of surgery and we've met with his surgeon. -Papa Mitch

Surgery scheduled for Tuesday

2009-09-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

Casher's surgery will be on Tuesday at 10 am. The head of the pediatric surgery team, Dr. Rothenberg, will be doing the surgery. We have heard that he is excellent. He will repair the hiatal hernia with a nissen wrap and the hope is that will end all this spitting and throwing up so that Cash can get up to normal feeds. The surgeon will also look at his liver and bioducts to see if they are working correctly and to rule out Biliary Atresia. If the bioducts are not working, he will perform the Kasai procedure and attach the liver directly to the intestines to excrete the bile. He will do a liver biopsy as well.

We ask you to pray with us that the surgeon will be creative with the procedures and that the nissen wrap will be successful and minimally invasive. We are praying that Cash does not have biliary atresia and that his liver function is normal. We also pray for no complications and for Cash to have a great recovery.

Mitch and I will be at the hospital on Tuesday with his parents. I will update the blog as we get news. Thank you for your love and support!!

smiles for mommy

2009-09-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

A tough update to share...

2009-09-11T08:24:00.001-07:00

If you are reading this right now you are either recently joining our story because of a prayer request or you have been with us on this journey for the past eight weeks. Yes - Cash turned two months old yesterday. It's hard to believe. This week we have received some tough news. The scans that have been done on Casher's liver over the past three days suggest that he has a rare condition called Biliary Atresia. This is a blockage (or absence) in the tube (ducts) that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. From what I have read, the condition is congenital, meaning it has been present since birth. Cash's doctor told us that the scan is only suggestive that he has this condition. The only way to know for sure is for the surgeon to perform a liver biopsy. The plan as we know at this moment is for the surgeon to perform the liver biopsy, repair the hiatal hernia, and put in a g tube (so that he can get feedings directly into his stomach for the next little while). He has had an infection (due to the central IV line which is very common) so he is being treated for that with antibiotics. If the infection is under control, the surgery will most likely happen next week.

So, if the surgeon gets in there and does the liver biopsy and he DOES have Biliary Atresia, then she will do a procedure called a Kasai to connect the liver to the small intestine, going around the abnormal ducts. The doctor has told us that this is just a temporary fix and that ultimately he would need a liver transplant. If this is not what he has, then the biopsy should indicate what is going on.

We have a meeting later today with the surgeon so we should have a better idea of how this will all go. We hate to share this news especially when it is so uncertain but we really need your prayers. We ask for Casher's complete healing. We ask for the doctors' wisdom as they proceed. We ask for faith and trust for us and our families and friends as we navigate this uncertain time. It's so scary and emotional for us all at the moment. It's so hard to see our beautiful little boy going through this. I love Deb Whorley's comment: "When you can't see God's hand, trust his heart."

New Pics and an update

2009-09-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings friends and family, sorry its been so long since we've given an update on the little man. We are in a bit of a holding pattern at the moment unfortunately. For the next couple of days the doctors are giving Casher some special meds for a test they will perform on tuesday to evaluate his liver function. They need to know how his liver is performing because he will be having surgery to repair a hiatal hernia in the near future because everything he eats right now comes back up. Our surgeon Dr. Shipman is ready to repair that hernia but is waiting until she knows whether or not she will need to repair his liver as well...I will go with Cash on tuesday for this test and hopefully we will be able to schedule his surgery immediately thereafter. We will certainly keep everyone in the loop. Prayer Request: Since surgery is inevitible for his hernia, please pray that his liver doesn't need repaired, pray for a speedy and full recovery, pray for steady hands and minds for all doctors/nurses involved, and please pray for Kari and I through this season of our lives.

Here are a few new pics of the boy, beautiful just like his mama.

Love you all, Mitch

Prayer request...

2009-08-31T06:50:00.001-07:00

Please pray with us for wisdom for the doctors and decisions for Cash's care. We need him to continue to keep the breast milk that he is fed by bottle down. We also need prayer that he will tolerate some testing that will be done in the next couple of days and that the results will be conclusive.

Please also join us in prayer that Cash will not need another surgery. We ask for his complete recovery.

We will post updates soon. Love, Kari & Mitch

Yes, still in the NICU...

2009-08-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

Casher is hanging in there. The answer is yes, he is still in the hospital! People seem to be asking that a lot lately. It has been 6 weeks today that he was born. We were hopeful he would be home by now but his progress is slow. Once again the answer seems to be that it just takes time for the gut to work. He is still spitting up a great deal. He looses weight and then gains weight. They increase his feedings and then they hold because he doesn't seem to tolerate it. Before he can come home he has to eat well and gain weight. He seems to go from feeling pretty good to being very uncomfortable and therefore very unhappy. We continue to shower him with love. It's tough finding the balance with work and life and visiting the NICU...We are so happy to have Aunt Kristen here for a visit! Hospital policy is that only parents and grandparents are allowed to visit Cash. So, you'll just have to wait to meet him. It will be worth the wait! Thanks for the continued prayers of healing and patience and peace.

2009-08-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Casher is sweet. That's about all there is to report! He is still getting 24 cc's which is good. He seems to be doing very well with it. The docs will probably increase it slowly over the next few days. He is hungry and wanting more. We are all having to be patient! Here are some photos of Cash with his Nan and giving Grandfather the "one eye" look. I also included one of cousin Dawsen just because she is so cute!

Quick update from Papa Mitch

2009-08-17T19:54:00.000-07:00

First off, make sure you read Kari's last post-important info in there about what we've been up against lately. Since Kari wrote that Cash seems to be doing a bit better, first and foremost he pooped 3 times in 3 hours today! This is very big because he has only been pooping once a day at most. He seems to be a little more comfortable and were hoping the docs will start upping his food again. Pray for our patience, for us to be present and enjoy him right now, and of course for Casher. Pray that his little digestive system is figuring it out, he remains comfortable, and that he will get to come home by the end of the month. We love you all so much and can't thank you enough for your thoughts, prayers, and positive energy. -Mitch

Slowly but surely...

2009-08-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been tough on Casher (probably harder on mom and dad though!). They increased his amount of milk per feeding significantly three days ago but he just wasn't ready. After two days of throwing up and a very fussy, uncomfortable baby, the docs decided to reduce his feedings from 30 back down to 18 cc's. We were told to expect this would happen. We just can't rush him. Of course, we want to get him home as soon as possible but we want him to be completely healed and eating well. At this point the doctors are not even mentioning a date he will get to come home. It could be a couple more weeks. We are praying for him to turn the corner and get home to us soon. Thanks for your continued prayers for Casher's healing. Love, Kari & Mitch

p.s. thank you Emily and the Partins for the adorable DKNY clothes! Cash looks so cute. He's got several of the nurses wrapped around his little finger. They love him!

New Video of the Cash Man-He's 1 Month Old!

2009-08-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more snippets of baby Casher's daily life. As you can see he doesn't really do a whole lot but he sure is handsome!! I can't wait to show him off to the world, until that day (hopefully very very soon) we offer video clips so everyone can can see what an angel he is. Keep those prayers coming. Love -Papa Mitch

Goodbye Gram and Grandpa...

2009-08-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa left today. We miss them already. There is nothing like having the love of your family to fill you up and bring you peace. We are so glad they could be here the past two weeks. We will see you in two point five months Gram and Grandpa!! Casher will be very ready for his "exercizes" and all of your love. It's amazing how love heals the soul and does the body good. We are all very healed from your visit...

and he sleeps...

Eating, sleeping, being sweet...

2009-08-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

Casher is busy. Well, busy being loved and being fed every three hours and sleeping in between. How does that compare to your schedule?! He just has to keep eating, keep it all down, and they will continue to increase the amount of milk he gets per feeding. It is slow going, but all going well. We are not even talking about when he might get to come home yet, so it could be another two weeks. So for the moment we are happy to share these photos with you of our sweet little boy.

Is it a smile or just gas...you decide.

2009-08-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

So its a question for the ages. Casher is sittin' in my lap sound asleep and starts making a series of faces. Eventually he ends up with this silly adorable smile on his face. Is he dreaming of winning the big race, the girl saying "yes, i will go with you to the prom," or is it gas. I personally am convinced he is having happy dreams.

Casher is doing so so so so well. We are really happy with where he is right now. He has his tube out for good, he is eating four times a day, pooping here and there, and gaining weight and getting stronger. We are very focused on the little victories in his life, and taking some ridiculous amount of pictures.

So here is what I'm wondering... as time goes on and the weeks turn into months, the months into years do these little victories happen less or matter less, or do we just appreciate them differently? I feel like these days are so precious, I would like to pause time and just enjoy this time. I fully intend to continue being present and enjoying moments with my beautiful wife and little man. If any of you ever feel like I am taking my life and these relationships for granted please feel free to bring me back to whats important.

Thank you as always for your prayer and positive energy. And oh by the way if anyone is still wondering prayer works. -Papa Mitch

Cash gets his tube out and gets to eat

2009-08-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Today was a big day for Cash. He got rid of his tube (hurray!) and got to eat (hurray!). After a very fussy morning, he calmed down after his tube was removed. Now we can see his cute face. He is getting 5 ml's of my milk every six hours at the moment which is just about two gulps - but it's something. We will see how he tolerates this and the docs will slowly increase the amount. Thank you so much for your prayers. We are thrilled to have him one step closer to coming home. Love, Kari

Casher meets Grandma and Grandpa Swann

2009-08-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

2009-08-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since we have posted an update - Casher's status has pretty much remained the same. About mid week we thought he was going to get the tube removed (that sucks the stuff his intestines can't process out of his body) but the volume was too great and the surgeons don't think he is ready to process this stuff on his own yet (or eat). They call his intestines "sleepy" and are just waiting for them to wake up. At this point we are just taking it day by day. We got excited that his tube would be pulled and then when it wasn't we were a bit discouraged. So, for now we are asking for prayers that his intestines will wake up and begin to function so that he can eat. We are also praying for Cash's comfort as he is really hungry but cannot eat anything. As his mom it just kills me to think he is hungry but I keep focusing on how well he is doing. He's such a blessing to me. -Mom

Casher is definately a warrior! He is so so so sweet almost all the time. Can sleep for hours at a time, can sleep through getting his temp taken and being changed. He has also been known to get quite fussy when he is hungry or is being moved too much. His cry is loud and undeniable. We are just loving this time, we know he will only be this little one time and we are doing our best to be present and enjoy. Please continue to pray for Casher's digestive system, and Pray for Casher's mommy and daddy that we will figure out just what it means to wait upon the Lord.
-Dad

Another day in Cash's world

2009-07-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Casher is definitely a little trooper. He hasn't eaten, he keeps having to have a tube put back down his throat (since he has a tendancy to pull it out), and he's poked and prodded everyday. But he remains sweet and calm through it all - with just a little crying and fussing. Right now the stuff his stomach can't process is being sucked out of the tube and the next step is to have it removed by gravity. After that is successful and works for 2-3 days, they will finally be able to begin bottle feeding him. That will be a slow process. So we are looking at a few more weeks in the NICU. It's tough but we hope things will significantly improve once he starts eating. We know we will feel better knowing he isn't hungry anymore! Well, here are some photos from today. Casher pulled out his tube so we got to sit with him for a while with it out. It's so nice to see his entire face. He has a very expressive mouth and it curls up at the corners in a sweet smile every once in a while. He is our beautiful boy...love, Kari

casher's first video montage

2009-07-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt at making a video montage. software isn't that great, it ended up being too long and in the wrong order-don't know how to fix it, watch as much as you like-enjoy! -Mitch

Family photo

2009-07-23T21:03:00.001-07:00

This photo is from Monday (which seems like a looong time ago!) but I wanted to share it with you all. Love, Kari

Casher gets dressed up

2009-07-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

When I got to the hospital this morning to see my little guy the nurse decided we better put an outfit on him because his arms were cold. They have just about turned off his warmer all together so he is ready for clothes and blankets. It was fun to get him dressed and see him in an outfit. I keep thinking to myself - remember this time - don't wish it away - just enjoy every second because it only happens once. Staying in the present moment has really helped me get through each one. I just remind myself how God provides for all my needs -and Casher's - no matter how big or small. I keep seeing that over and over. After Nan (Mitch's mom) held Cash for the first time (yah!), I held him for a long time. He slept very peacefully and when we returned four hours later he was still asleep. Then he slept some more in Mitch's arms this evening. (I love seeing my boys together!)

It was just a day of small blessings with Casher sleeping so well and seeming so at peace. It helped me a lot after yesterday. His output on his NG (tummy) tube is still high, so we will keep praying for that to diminish so that he can start eating. Other than that he is just about completely off the pain medication and the warmer. He recognizes Mitch's voice and mine when we come and visit and it's so sweet to see him respond to us. His nurses are amazing, special people (thank God for nurses!)

Well Mitch intended to add a video today but he is in bed. He went back to work today and as you can imagine it's hard to be at work and away from Cash. He's pulled in two directions, but it will get easier. Thankfully Mitch's mom is here and cooked us a wonderful dinner. Thank you all for asking how we are doing - it's busy going from the hospital to home and back again and again, remembering to eat, now work for Mitch, and trying to keep in touch with all the people we love so much. We're so grateful for all of your love - texts, emails, messages, calls, cards, gifts and prayers. Keep em coming!

I gave Casher a big kiss from all of you today and he sends his love back to you. ~Kari

Prayer for Kari and Casher

2009-07-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Sorry no cute video or pics til tomorrow. Its late Wednesday night, we just went and visited Casher, and he truly gets more adorable every time i see him. He is still doing well, he got an IV taken out and no longer requires any oxygen at all! They are now starting to slowly reduce the temperature of his bed, as he will have to maintain his own temp before he can leave.

We're having a tough time right now only because Casher seems to be getting ahead of his own healing. He is strong, resilient and ready to eat!!!!-unfortunately his body isn't ready yet. He gets fussy and is calmed down by his passy which is nice but thinking about our little baby boy being hungry and not being able to feed him is the hardest thing we've had to deal with yet, it's particularly hard for Kari.

As I sat looking at him tonight I remembered what a blessed thing it is to be in this tough spot. I think about my friends and family who desperately want to have a baby and can't; and I imagine how unbelievably hard it must be for parents who can't afford to feed their kids. We are so blessed by God-the technology, money, care takers and faithful friends and family needed to get Casher through this are all in place and working in harmony.

So please continue to pray for humility and patience for Kari and I and for Casher's health, we need his digestive system to get up and running properly so he can eat all the milk Kari has been so diligently providing and the nurses have been saving.

Thank you all for your prayers, love, and positive energy-it really encourages us when ya'all post comments.
I will edit and post some cutsie tootsie video tomorrow.
-Mitch

Who knew POOP was so exciting!!!

2009-07-21T10:22:00.001-07:00

Cash had a big day yesterday, he got is ventilator out, we both got to hold him for the first time since he ws born, and he made poopy for the first time! The poop is very important in his case because of all the work they've done on his abdomen. Right now the only nourishment he gets is from an IV. He had been peeing well enough, but most of the waste from his food is coming back out of a tube in his stomache because he hasn't been able to process it properly. Now that the #2 is flowing the doctors will closely monitor is intake/output and decide when his tummy tube can come out. Then its onto breastmilk. Once he eats like a normal kid and maintains his temperature he can come home with us! We still don't dare guess when that will be, but the doctors still say he is right where they would like him to be at this point. Please

keep praying for forward progress, healing for kari's tummy and wisdom for the doctors and nurses. thank you all so much. -mitch

Casher-Doing sooooooo well!

2009-07-20T09:10:00.001-07:00

This morning Casher is really awake, alert, and wiggly. The doctors continue to systematically take him off of the ventilator. He is breathing very well, but not quite completely ready to breathe on his own. He will hopefully be off the ventilator today! He is still on a lot of pain meds since he had major surgery and there is still a lot of swelling in the abdomen from the the contents being moved, snipped and rearranged. Overall he is doing great and making tremendous progress!!! Thank you GOD. -Mitch

Casher Opens his Eyes!!

2009-07-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

Today Casher is doing so well that the Doctors took him off the paralytic drug and he is slowly starting to move around again!!! He had his catheter taken out (much more comfy) and as the video shows-he is starting to open his beautiful little eyes! -Mitch

New Mommy, Casher and Nan

2009-07-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

I always knew Kari would be a natural. This evening Kari, Nan, and I visited Casher during care time. Mom was there with me while I took Cash's temp, changed his diaper, and a few other things Kari and I get to do to feel like we are taking care of him. The doctors and nurses continue to be amazing, they are very reassuring, great communicators, and are extrememly personable and professional.

Casher's condition: He is progressing along just as the Doc's expect for a baby in his situation. We constantly thank God that Cash made it to full term, that makes everything he is
going through much much easier.
His pressure goes up then down, he gets dehydrated then he's got too much fluid, his temp is high then low. All the while his care team knows exactly what to do and aren't suprised by anything.
As you can see he is still incubated, the oxygen tube is necessary as the doctors choose to keep him paralyzed so his wound can heal. In the next day or two they will take him off that drug and he will wake up, be breathing on his own, moving kicking and crying. Once that happens his body will learn to operated with all the modifications. Once his digestive system starts working correctly he gets to start
eating breast milk, getting strong and healthy
and be able to come home with us. The doctors tell us it could be up to 4 weeks before he starts eating/digesting...but we have a feeling its gonna be much sooner than that.
You know what we know now...
here is our plea: we need all of you to pray for quick and complete healing for baby Cash. We trust God to take care of him and know He will, we just want everyone to be in allignment on what we are praying for.
Kari and I are doing well, enjoying this warm up period that most first time parents never get to enjoy. More soon... Mitch

a note from mommy and daddy...

2009-07-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

Its late friday night, our sweet baby Casher is one day old. We just got back to our room after spending our "care time" with baby Cash. I can't imagine a sweeter more perfect little angel. I want to thank all of you who are following his life so closely. Your love, prayer and positive energy really keep us going, and we can't get enough.
Kari and I have had a lot of time to prepare for our current reality and I must admit it hasn't been nearly as hard as i thought it would be. Though he is hooked up to every monitor imaginable, his condition is constantly changing, and there isn't much Kari or I can do, we feel a tremendous sense of peace due to our wonderful Doctors and Nurses along with your prayer and support. I can't wait for all of you to meet Casher, he has already brought so much joy to our lives. We love all.
Mitch and a very sleepy Kari

Casher Surgery Update

2009-07-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

Casher had his surgery yesterday afternoon. It took just over three hours. The doctor took her time and was able to get everything back into Casher's abdomen.

They are keeping him sedated for a few days so that his surgery site can heal. He is on a ventilator and a feeding tube just until he is able to start moving things through his system without help. He is back in the NICU and looking pink and beautiful.

Kari was able to make it down yesterday evening to tell him hello and is now frequently by his side. Mitch and Kari and very thankful for all you prayers. And feel so blessed that God has continued to watch over them and Casher.

We will keep posting pictures and updates as we have them. Thanks again for your prayers, thoughts and phone calls.

New Baby Photos

2009-07-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

Another Video of this beautiful boy

2009-07-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

Casher Kouba

2009-07-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Casher!

2009-07-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world Casher! Born this morning at 9:30AM. Baby boy. Casher David Kouba. He weighs seven pounds even.

Kari and Mitch are doing great. Kari is recovering and Mitch it down in the NICU with Casher. I will be posting photos momentarily.

More information about Casher's surgery should be coming this afternoon.

We are in room 1110 at Presbyterian Saint Luke. We will let you know when Kari is feeling up for visitors.

Thank you for your prayers. Please keep them coming!

The big day is tomorrow!

2009-07-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

Mitch and I are relaxing today doing some last minute things to get ready for tomorrow. But mostly relaxing, praying, and enjoying the moment.

The cesarean is tomorrow at 9 am (Mountain time). We will be at Presbyterian St. Lukes. Please continue to check the blog for updates as we plan to update it frequently, especially right after the baby is born and over the next few days and weeks.

Thank you for praying with us and loving us.

Love,

Kari & Mitch