Peter & Sarah

Sunday, March 2, 2014

When last we wrote, Sarah and Peter were awaiting the arrival of their daughter. She didn’t wait long! Greta Linnae was born on Feb 15, 2013 at 26 weeks 3 days weighing 1 lb. 8oz. What a miraculous—and challenging—year it has been for her and her family. Greta left the hospital at the end of June, going home with a medical regime that would challenge any NICU nurse. Sarah and Peter are amazing—what more can grandparents say?  Greta is now 1 year old, weighing over 18 lb., smiling every moment her tummy isn’t hurting, and melting her grandparents’ hearts.  She still has some lung issues and has been on oxygen since birth, but is now tube free during the day, with only the nighttime interrupted by an occasional beeping monitor. Feeding and dealing with bad reflux have also been constant issues, but again her parents persisted, and when a feeding tube was placed at the end of October, Greta was strong enough to need only a short hospitalization.  This has shortened her feedings considerably, allowing her more time to work on muscle strength and activities.  Feel free to get her whole story on the Caring Bridge website that Peter and Sarah set up, http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gretalinnaehinck . We think she’s a pretty amazing blessing!

Sarah stepped aside from her physical therapy work to manage Greta’s care where she is using those therapy skills to get Greta strong and moving. Lucky Greta to have her own personal therapist! Peter continues at Barr Engineering, enjoying his “water engineer” work and so thankful for his colleagues’ support this past year. Big brother Jonah is now 3½ and wants to be a “water engineer,”

too, so that he can drive the “water train.” Yes, he loves cars and trains.  

We are grateful to be part of Greta’s “lock down winter.” One virus in the fall was enough to convince everyone that the NICU knew what it was talking about when it suggested a first year “lock down.” Since then, we are all working even harder to stay germ free while trying to offer a bit of relief for the kids as they avoid public contact (meaning no church, preschool, museums, concerts, friend gathers, and even minimal store time!). The upside for us, especially Judy—lots of “Jonah time”.

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