Hello Pastor Sabine:

I met Niki and Tim this past summer through mutual friends I was visiting them in Tennessee. She was just 3 months pregnant. She and her husband were planning their move to Georgia because Tim was preparing to teach at a private school there.

Three months later, I found out that Niki while still pregnant had been admitted to ICU and was intubated. Even though I have moved away, I have kept in contact with House of Prayer Experience. Many miracles happen at H.o.P.E and that’s a part of Forest Lake Church that I miss the most. I now mark my calendar for that first Wednesday each month when it is streamed live via the internet.

When Niki became ill, I contacted my church family for intercessory prayer on her behalf—a most powerful resource. The Knowlton family began updating those praying for her through Facebook because word had spread about her life-threatening condition. People all over the world were praying for Niki and Baby Reid.

It turned out to be a 7-week hospital stay for Niki, and Reid was born very prematurely. As you can see from the pictures and her note below, they are both thriving now.

Thank you, God!  

-Lois Marie Tibbetts
Quieted in His love.
-Zephaniah 3:17
 

Letter from Niki, November 19, 2009:
 
[…] This week has been great for Reid.  He is now bottle feeding every four hours and doesn’t have a minimum or maximum for his feedings anymore (when he’s full, we stop).  He’s also only on the nasal canulla, meaning he’s breathing on his own with oxygen.  The machine doesn’t give him breaths anymore.  Reid has also been very awake the last few times we’ve visited, which has been fun.  Apparently, he is very social.  If he wakes up and his bed is covered, he cries.  When they open it up, he’s content to look around at everyone and stops fussing. 🙂  He comes by it honestly.  I don’t like being alone most of the time.  He has been a little anemic lately, and they are watching him closely and will test him again on Friday to see when he needs another transfusion.  Apparently it is very normal for preemies to get transfusions because their bodies do not produce enough blood out of the womb.  So, I’m not terribly concerned.  He also reached the 4 pound mark Tuesday evening! 🙂  He is 7 weeks and 1 day old today (wed) and 35 weeks gestation.  Mom said if he keeps up this rate, she thinks he’ll be home earlier than his due date of December 23.  We’ll see.  I’m just so happy to see him healthy and steadily improving.

Each time I see him, I see Tim now.  🙂
 
I am slowly getting the nursery together.  We put the crib together this week and have ordered the décor for his room and an armoire and are waiting for them to arrive.  I also am almost finished with a large acrylic painting of Dr. Seuss’s Horton with the quote “A person’s a person.  No matter how small.”  I’ve just got to finish the border on it. 
I can’t wait to see it all together.  I’ll post pictures when we are done with the room.
 
Thanks so much for all of your prayers.

It has meant the world to me and my family.  I’ve come to realize this experience has been MUCH harder on them than it was on me.  I think it is harder sometimes to watch someone you love hurt and feel helpless than it is to actually be hurting.  I am so grateful for my family and friends.  I find myself thanking God for the most minute things now.  Everything means more when you’ve almost lost it all.  This Thanksgiving will be the best I’ve had in years.  I have SO much to thank God for.  We all do.  I hope I never forget.  God has been so good to me…

Thank you, Jesus.
 
Nikki