Email from Mommy Kim Received This AM

Hello Family and Friends!!

I am sorry I haven't emailed for a few days.  It has been a roller coaster
of emotions the last few days.

Lets begin with Kiersten - she did not have to have surgery to close the
PDA.  She still has it but it is so small that the cardiologist said that
it should close on its own.  They will continue to do an echo on the heart
once a week to check it.  If it enlarges they will have to proceed with the
surgery.  If not, then that is great and it will close on its own
eventually.  She has been started on a very tiny amount of breast milk.
This is a big step and we praise God for every milestone she makes.  Either
this weekend or beginning of next week she will have her tube taken out and
be off the ventilator.  She will only have a nose tube for oxygen.  Again
this is a huge step and we are so excited about it.  We began changing her
diapers and let me tell you she doesn't make it easy.  Mommy had a meltdown
the first time.  Poopy diaper, little legs kicking, wires and tubes getting
in the way due to kicking legs and poop getting on wires.  Then Mommy
scratched her with her nail and I was crying for both of us.  Yikes!!
Since then - I have tried again and had much more success.  Please continue
to pray for her and her well being.  We need to see that she is continuing
to do well for our own sanity.  Kirk and I got some really cute pictures of
her that Kirk will send out next week.

OK, now Kendra - Well, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday she was doing
very well.  She was peeing a little more each day, the heart was coming
down to normal size, which indicates that blood is flowing down to other
areas of the body (kidneys specifically), etc.  She also had come down on
her ventilator settings.  However, Friday she began to take a turn for the
worse a little.  Today we spent most of the day at the hospital and things
were not better.  Her urine output has gone down, her ventilator settings
are back up.  She is still retaining fluid and to top it off she now has a
yeast infection due to antibiotics she has been getting.  Unfortunately,
the medicine they must give her to cure the yeast is counter productive to
renal function (kidney function).  We were so heartbroken tohear this
because that is the last thing she needs.

Tonight Kirk and I had a meltdown at home.  We cried and cried and cried.
We both are losing hope for Kendra.  We don't want to feel this way and we
contacted a close friend.  We got together with him and he prayed with us
in earnest for our girls and for us.  Christians are not perfect people -
quite the contrary.  Only God is perfect.  Christians have accepted Jesus
and understand their faults and imperfections.  Being human we get beat
down easily.  Having our friend pray over us and for us lifting not only us
up in prayer but also our children refilled us and allowed us to regain our
strength and pray for Kendra to be healed.

It is difficult to continue to pray for the same reason week after week
sometimes when you maybe don't know us or know us but haven't seen us or
the girls in person.  Especially since it seems at times to be so helpless.
All we ask is that you ALL remember our girls and us as well as you
continue to pray for them when you think of it.  There is power in prayer
and we are and will continue to contend for a miracle of healing for Kendra
until otherwise advised.  Thank you!!

Katelyn's memorial service - many of you have asked when we will have the
memorial.  Thank you for asking!  We are waiting a little bit longer to see
what occurs with Kendra.  If she is meant to join her sister with Jesus
then we would like to bury them together.  If Kendra begins to improve - as
we pray she will - then we will begin making arrangements to bury Katelyn
and then advise you all when the service will be.

Finally and this is a tough one for me - Many of you have asked how you can
help us.  There are a few ways that you can help.  First, our insurance
will cover everything including the neonatologist as in-network but we have
a cap that we will have to pay, which is between $6,000 - $8,000.  It has
been suggested by friends that we set up an account for the girls medical
bills so that people can donate towards their medical bills.  This is
extremely difficult for Kirk and I to ask for this but we truly do need
assistance in this area.  Family has provided money for other bills and
Katelyn's arrangements, which was very much appreciated.

I will be setting up an account at Bank of America titled Kiersten and
Kendra Carl - Medical Fund.  I will be setting this up on Monday and then
sending another email advising how to donate to this account.  If you wish
to donate anonymously that is fine and if you wish for us to know you
donated please send an email to us letting us know as that is ok too.
Thank you for your support in this area if you are able.

Second - We also have received several special keepsake items for Katelyn.
These are very special to us and are very much appreciated.  If you have
something in mind as a keepsake in her memory please feel free to send that
as well.

We do not need help with housework or meals at this time.  However, my
parents will be going home in early July for a month or so and during that
time we may need help in these areas due to our schedule at the hospital.
If you wish to help in this area (as so many of you have asked about this)
it will be needed in July and extremely helpful.  I will let you know when
this is needed.

Contact - many of you have wondered if you should come over or call.  At
this time please don't just stop by the house unless you have spoken to us
first.  However, please continue to email us and also to call us.  We may
not be able to call you back and we may not pick up if we are home
depending on how things are going but most of the time we pick up and would
love to talk to you.

This was a difficult email for me to write addressing these issues.  Thank
you for your continued support and outpouring of love for our family.  We
appreciate it so much!!

Kirk and Kimberly