Thankful

I'm being lazy at this point and copying an email I sent out this evening, so if you already got the email, it's basically a duplicate. Just wanted to forewarn you :). Sorry, I'm just running on little sleep and have had a knockout headache all day.

Today's visit was thankfully another encouraging one. Our physician and the other staff at the burn unit all said that it is definitely looking better and should be on the road to healing. They think as long as it keeps progressing this way it may heal on it's own in the next 1-2 weeks without grafting and may not even scar!! We have to continue the dressing changes and go back for another visit next week. On the drive home he threw up in the car and we got a crack in the windshield, but it was certainly a promising afternoon overall :).

Please continue to pray for his healing. We are so thankful for the progress he has made as it was beyond everyone's expectation, and clearly healing from God. Sister, brother, and I have also developed some type of upper respiratory infection, so pray for healing for us a well as I'm trying to take care of the kids while feeling like my head is going to explode, we now have 2 sick kids on our hands, and Grant's little body is fighting 2 things now.

Thank you so much for your prayers, comments, calls, emails, meals, watching sister while we go the doctor, and all the other ways that you have supported us. It has meant more to us than we can express. We are so grateful for you and for what God has done and will continue to do.

Good Report!

It has been a looonnnggg weekend, including dressing changes every 3-4 hours and whenever there's a dirty diaper, but it was worth it for our follow up appointment today. Our doctor and the other staff were impressed with how brother is doing. They all said that it looked better today than they expected it would, which was incredibly encouraging to us. If it continues to progress as it is now, it could likely heal on it's own without need for surgery or grafting. We are so grateful!! We are to continue the dressing changes for the next few days and go back in on Thursday. We are praying for continued healing without scarring or surgery. Since this is in the diaper area it is also critical that the area stay as clean as possible and we are praying that he remain infection free. We are certainly not out of the woods yet, but it appears we are moving in the right direction.

Thank you so much for calls, emails, comments, words of encouragement, and especially your prayers. The outpouring of love and support we have experienced has been immense and an unbelievable help to us. Thankfully, we haven't often been on this side of a situation like this. I know there have been times when friends and acquaintances of ours have gone through terrible experiences and I want to support them, but sometimes I'm not sure how to go about doing that. I think "should I call? Do they want to be left alone? I don't want to bother them...Could I make a meal? Should I offer to have their kids over?" I want to support, but not bother and interfere. I have to confess, there have been times that I have just ended up praying, but not taking any tangible action toward them. After this experience, I will be much more prone to step in without fear of interfering/bothering. I don't know if any of you ever have those same feelings, but I would encourage you to put those thoughts aside and call, email, go visit, keep their kids, pick up groceries, etc. I also encourage to not only pray FOR people, but pray WITH them, in person or even if it's just over the phone.

I have so many other thoughts congealed in a mess in my head, but I'll have to wait for further posts to make any sense of them. My head feels like jell-o and I have to be up with him again in an hour, so I'm going to try and get a little sleep. Thanks again for your support. I'll give more updates this week and definitely after we go back for our next appointment in a few days.

Seeds

jpg">

The last few days have been some of the hardest days of my life, but we are so thankful for our faith, family, and friends. An unexpected source of encouragement has been this CD, Seeds of Courage. It is a entire CD of scripture set to music and it is wonderful!! It was given to us as a gift for our daughter, but it's not typical, purple dinosaur children's music. It's drums, guitar, great singing, really good music that J and I love, along with the kids.

We have been playing it in the kitchen while we cook and eat dinner for the last 3-4 weeks and all of us are memorizing scripture through it. I don't know about your house, but late in the afternoon/evening is often the hardest time of day around here. No matter what my attitude is, when I start this music, I immediately feel better as I listen to these songs of God's word an and am reminded of his love and promises to me and my family. I dare you to buy them and see if you can stay in a bad mood and if your kids stay grouchy during dinner.

It is called Seeds of .... because they use it as a seed to spread God's word. Each CD case actually comes with 2 of the CD's in it and a dividable case. That way you keep one and pass one on to someone else. I think $12.98 is a bargain for 2 CD's and the benefit of my family being transformed literally before my eyes through it. The only reason I even know about it is by a friend giving me their extra CD. It can be ordered here. There are 4 other albums: Seeds of Faith, praise, power, and encouragement. Go buy one or all of them (which is what I did 2 days ago) and make sure to pass on your extra CD.

As for updates on sweet brother, we don't have much new to share yet. He has done well over the weekend. His pain medicine is controlling his pain very well. He is sleeping a lot and the only time he is upset is when we change the diaper and dressing. It looks like it is making progress to us, but we'll see what our doctor says tomorrow. We are praying for mighty healing from God, as we know only He is able to do, and for a full recovery without scarring or the need for surgery. Thank you for calls, emails, words of encouragement, and especially your prayers. I will try to update tomorrow after our visit.

Little Man Needs PRAYERS!

I'm sitting here trying to think where I should begin. I was planning on posting about our recent trip to Arizona, or a late Mother's day post, or how we had an early 1 year birthday party for this little man with some family that will be out of town on his birthday. Instead, I am desperately asking for your prayers and that you would ask others to pray for him.

Poor little guy has had some bad diapers {what we call cha cha around here} this week. A friend was watching him and he had terrible blow out mess in the crib while he was sleeping. She went to put him in the bath, tested the water twice before putting him in, and set him in the tub, but didn't plug the drain. In just a matter of seconds she put the diaper in the trash and grabbed a towel off the rack. When she turned back to him the hot water had come through the pipes at that point and was hot enough to burn him.

We immediately got him to the ER and were treated in the burn unit and told it looked like a second degree burn and would probably take 10-14 days to heal, but may get worse over the next few days. We took him back today and in fact, it was worse. Now they think it could actually be a third degree burn. We initially thought it would mean 2 miserable weeks of our poor baby in pain as we would have to do multiple dressing changes a day since he is in diapers, but today were informed he could need skin grafting. We were utterly devastated by that. Our doctor said we will have to wait until Monday to know what the likely outcome will be. It could heal on it's own within 10-14 days with little to no scarring or it could be to the point that skin grafting is indicated.

Please pray that God will work mightily and heal him without scarring or the need for surgery. I know my God is bigger and more powerful than I can even imagine and we have already seen His hand in this tragedy. We are thankful that the drain wasn't shut and the burn is only on the right buttock. It could have easily been all over his bottom, legs, hands, feet, or anywhere if he had tried to crawl away from the water. We are also thankful that the diarrhea is much better, reducing the risk for infection and how often we have to change the dressing. Also, amazingly enough, the only time he really seems uncomfortable, or is fussy, is when we change the dressing. He is on pain medication, which makes him sleepy, and he is sleeping most the day and night. This helps his pain level, but also helps that he isn't moving the area and pulling on the dressing.

We do have specific prayer requests

1. As above, for healing. That God would quickly heal him in a way that would clearly show His power. That it would heal on it's own without scar, surgery, or infection.

2. That the diarrhea would resolve. Again, as above, it would reduce infection risk, help with dressing changes, and make him more comfortable.

3. Wisdom for our doctors and nurses. Much of burn treatment is decided by opinion as to what the best healing methods are and what treatment is indicated. Pray God would give them clear wisdom to know the best treatment for him.

4. Pray for J and me. We are experiencing so much guilt right of now of "what if we had done....." I think hindsight we both feel ways the situation could have ended differently and we are torturing ourselves with those thoughts. It has also been a long week in general-we had to have our chimney repaired, our garage flooded on Monday, and before we went to the hospital for our follow up appointment today we had a plumber here to repair ALL the toilets in our house. Of course, all these are minuscule in the big picture, but are certainly not helping my sanity right now.

Thank you so much for your prayers. We are so thankful for the friends and family that have come around us and supported us at a time when I feel I am on on the verge of physical and emotional collapse at any moment. Meals, words of encouragement, prayer, and the many other ways you have served us have meant more to us than I can express in words.

Most of all, I am thankful for a God that heals, that is all mighty, wise, and powerful, and that only He is able to do more than I could ever ask or imagine. I am thankful that He understands the heartache of watching His son in pain. As we are told all throughout the gospels, He is powerful to heal with just a touch of his cloak or one word from his mouth. Please, please pray, ask others to pray, and if you have blog (and wouldn't mind) ask for prayer there as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Hebrews 4:14-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.

Psalm 34:17-18 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted 
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Conversation installment # 3

We've had a complete computer blackout around here recently. We got a Mac this year. I love it, but the charger cord died recently. To add insult to injury, our router decided to die as well. We've been sans internet and computer for a little while, but all is up and running again.

I have a number of posts floating around in my head, but for now I have to record a few more of my conversations with my very imaginative 4 year old.

1. Jonathan was taking Av to school a couple weeks ago and "Paradise City" from Guns N Roses came on the radio. Av started jamming out immediately and playing air guitar, air drums, and crazy drums. {Crazy drums: spastically playing the drums with your hands on any surface within reach}. Then she said "This song is AWESOME!! Is this the Country Bears?" (as in the country bear jamboree from disney world) Jonathan said he almost wrecked the car he was laughing so hard.

2. At dinner a few nights ago I noticed that sister what looked a full bite mark on the inside of her calf, as in a complete impression of upper and lower teeth. I immediately had thoughts of who did this? Was it a kid in her class? Why didn't she tell me about this? So I asked...

Me: What happened to your leg?

Sister: Ummmm

Me: Did somebody bite you?

Sister: Weelllll, umm,

Me: Did you bite yourself?

Sister: Well, I bit my leg when I was pretending to be somebody else biting my leg

Me: [.......crickets chirping]

3. This child LOVES to pretend to be just about anything. She is a dancer, cat, dog, gymnast, ballerina, chef, baby, mom, dinosaur, you get the picture. She is also committed to the part. She changes clothes, her voice, walks on tip toe, crawls, drinks water out of a bowl on the floor, etc. This one happened when she was pretending to doctor me. She had her play doctor kit with stethoscope, otoscope, blood pressure cuff, thermometer, and needle. After she had given me a full exam, including about 16 "shots"

Me: You are such a good doctor, I'm so thankful I have a doctor like you!

Sister: Mommy, I'm your daughter, not a doctor! I'm just pretending to be a

doctor!

4. We read a chapter from her children's Bible at night before she goes to bed. Some nights we read through in succession and some nights I let her pick out what we should read, which is what we did tonight

Me: What should we read tonight?

Sister: Read about when the people step in poop

Me: What?

Sister: You know, when the people have poop on their feet

Me: (completely clueless as to what she's talking about) What is it again, I don't think I know which one that is.

Sister: Yes you do Mommy! (she's getting exasperated at this point)

Me: Tell me more about it, I just don't remember sweetie.

Sister: You know, when the people stepped in poop so Jesus had to wash it off

their feet!!

She is the most entertaining thing in my day. I wish I could capture every word that comes out of her mouth! I actually wish I had video of it all to capture her voice and facial expression as well, but this will have to do for now.

Dirt

Mr. called me recently to say that he and sister had a surprise for me. I was on my way home, but was instructed that I could NOT park in the garage. I had to park in the driveway, but go straight into the house, only through the front door and stay in the house! No going in the yard or garage. This was my surprise.

Our peach tree that J planted a couple months ago was blooming.
He and sister had visited Lowe's and spent the afternoon with their hands in the dirt.
I was greeted by fresh herbs in lovely containers on the porch.
And potted plants on the front porch and in hanging baskets in the backyard. He let sister pick out all the flowers and containers and let her decide where to place all of them.
She was SO proud of herself and her work. Definitely a worthwhile afternoon.

Good vs Evil, Teachable Moments, and the Old Testament

Sister loves a princess story--Cinderella, Snow White, etc. Recently she has been asking about "the bad guys"-the wicked stepmother, the queen, and specifically Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. "Why did Maleficent want to hurt Sleeping Beauty? Was Sleeping Beauty scared of Maleficent?" I can't think of a time that she has encountered intentional malice and I think the concept is hard her to understand, and I tried to use this as a teachable moment with her.

I learned the idea of teachable moments while working in youth ministry in college. The goal of the teachable moment is to relate scripture and the truths of God into what is going on in your daily life. For example, we have been having our Spring overhaul in the yard. So while planting and pulling weeds (lots of weeds this year), these were a few of the scriptures that ran through my head to talk about with sister.

1 Corinthians 3:7 "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow," or the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, or John 15:1-8 . I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener...Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

So, that's the idea of the teachable moment, now back to Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I thought, aha, teachable moment. I explained that Sleeping Beauty might have been scared when Maleficent turned herself into a dragon because she was big and strong. The good part was that even though Maleficent was strong, Philip loved Sleeping Beauty, fought for her, and defeated Maleficent. Just like we might have times that something is somehow bigger or stronger than we are and it seems we will be defeated, but God is always bigger and stronger than whatever our circumstances are and He defends us like Philip defended Sleeping Beauty.

I have to confess I thought, "good job, way to use an overcommercialized Disney story and use it to teach about God."

Her response? "Right Mommy, like Joshua at Jericho, or David and Goliath, or Moses and the Israelites with Pharaoh and the Egyptians?" That's right, she went Old Testament on me.

Me {proud of her, but also surprised, and somewhat dumbfounded} "Umm, why, yes, those are all good examples."

Apparently she has this "big guy vs the little guy" thing down already. Maybe we should start working on the larger catechism :). Seriously though, I love a teachable moment and I love that she is learning scripture. I hope that these lessons will stick with her and she can think back to them when she is older and in situations needing direction.

50 mm

My hubby is good to me, really good to me {on most days :)}. We each got cash from family for Christmas presents.
I'm sure he considered getting himself manly things like a fishing rod, gun, duck hunting paraphernalia, a new pair of boots, or something else along these lines.
Instead, with HIS Christmas money, he bought ME a 50 mm lens for my camera. Cause he loves me and is very generous.

So, I've been having a good time practicing with it. Nothing spectacular, but I'm learning.
Oh my word, brother is so adorable.