Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Abe update

Well here we are not quite 24 hours into the body cast thing & I am actually sitting down to send an email. I realize that we will have ups & downs & last night was quite the down. Right now is peaceful & our little green alien (per Marlee Anne's request) is resting for a minute.
 
This is not a new experience I signed up for but here I am right in the middle of it. NO ONE could have prepared me for what took place over the past hours. This cast is heavy & huge for my sweet little boy.
 
OK so the tone of my email will now change I think. I started it earlier & now 3 hours later I am trying to finish it. I am thinking all the stuff I was going to put in there wasn't meant to be shared. Let's just say this is a challenge to say the least. I won't bore you with the past 3 hours worth of activities.
 
We are home & would greatly appreciate your continued prayers as we get used to the cast, moving him, changing him, controlling his pain & seizures. Thanks so much!!!
 
Love,
Kelli
 

Monday, June 28, 2010

Prayers for Abe please

This weekend Abe's splint started slipping. Yesterday when we called they told us to come in the ortho office today to have it re-done. When we got there Dr. Meehan said he would have to have a body cast.
 
So tomorrow Abe will be going back into the OR under general anesthesia for a spica cast. It will go up to his chest, all the way down his left leg & halfway down his right leg. There will be a hole for his gtube & one for his diaper.
 
Our biggest concern is his respiratory issues while in the cast. Of course anytime he is put under general anesthesia it's a concern also for the risk & his glucose staying stable.
 
We are not sure how long we will be in the hospital. It depends on how he does in the OR & how quickly I pick up learning how to take care of him in the cast.
 
Please keep Abe in your prayers & all of us could use some prayers as we start this new journey. While it's not wanted & I have struggled greatly with it I truly believe God has something in store for me to learn or something in it for our family to grow closer to Him.
 
Thanks so much for your continued prayers & support.
 
Love,
Kelli
 

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

quick update

Today, well yesterday was a very long day! Abe is trying to move more. Good thing but bad because it causes him pain before he realizes it. His leg above his splint is quite swollen but his foot seems fine.
 
Someone asked about the skeletal survey. It was all clear except for this fracture & a previous one near his ankle we didn't know about.
 
Please continue to pray for healing for Abe's leg & my heart. I am trying hard to forgive myself. Thanks so very much for all the love, support & prayers. Today is a new day! I am ready for God's blessing to flow & the healing to continue!
 
Love,
Kelli
 

stick families

These are some of my most favorite ones to make because they are all different. Of course they don't have to have the Georgia G either. So much fun!

vinyl flip flops

Trying to keep my mind busy so I thought I would share some of the new car window vinyls I have been doing. All these are flips flops. My neice told me about the GA ones & since making those I have gotten orders for all kinds.

vinyl flip flops

Trying to keep my mind busy so I thought I would share some of the new car window vinyls I have been doing. All these are flips flops. My neice told me about the GA ones & since making those I have gotten orders for all kinds.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

my babies' daddy

Our local paper featured emails today from people honoring their father's for Father's Day. I am not sure how they chose which ones would be included but for some reason the one about Mike was not included. When I found out I began to cry. First off I HATE this day! I miss my daddy & even though I think Mike should be honored because he is an incredible father I would just soon skip it. I was very disappointed that the email about Mike was not included in the paper.
 
Mike said Kelli it's ok. He said do not make a big deal out of it. He should be recognized. Not so he will win a prize but so that people will know what an incredible father he is. The email doesn't even cover it all. He sacrifices so much for his children and me every single day. He does more quietly for our community and for people and families than people will ever know. He is very humble and will not be pleased that I sent this out but it's something that needs to be told.
 
So here it is. I hope that it will give you some insight on the type of father Mike truly is. Thanks so much for letting me share this!
 

One would think that this would be something easy for a child to write or at least say for someone to write for them. However that is not the case for three of Mike Hopkins' four children. For seventeen years Mike Hopkins has been the voice for his special needs daughter Mary Elizabeth, that has no voice. She is not able to speak with words. Mike tells everyone he has a chance to that Mary Elizabeth speaks volumes with her love, life and the infectious laugh and smile she has.

 

On Mary Elizabeth's first day of life she stole her daddy's heart. On her third day of life as he drove to Egleston to be with her he never left her side unless the doctor's made him. That is how it has been for the past seventeen years. He has sacrificed more than one person should be asked to sacrifice. He has given up dream upon dream just for her. Never complaining or being sad about it.

 

Each time he tried to finish his degree something happened. One time he was registered and all ready to go back to college. That was the time that Mike's second daughter Michala was diagnosed with stage four cancer. She was given a grim future and he didn't want to miss a minute of time with her. He put off college once again. He was there for each grueling chemotherapy, each test and the amputation of her leg. All done in hopes of saving her life.

 

He finished his degree no long after his third daughter Marlee Anne was born and was able to attend his graduation with her sisters. Mike rejoiced as Marlee Anne began doing things his other two daughters could not. Never did he forgot to praise the other two for each of their accomplishments. Some how he was able to juggle it all. He let all three of his daughters know just how special each of them are, take time up with each and continue working to support his family.

 

Mike was also blessed with a son. A son he named Abraham. He had big plans with Abe. Teaching him to throw strikes, teaching him how to hit a golf ball and most of all teaching him how to be a Godly man who cares for others. Soon after Abe's birth Mike was once again headed to Egleston Children's Hospital for a five week stay. While Abe is not able to do all the things Mike dreamed of teaching him, Abe has learned from the best about being a Godly man.

 

It is an honor and blessing to watch this man with his children that he loves so dearly. Even when he cannot fix their hurts and pains he continues to stand up for them, be their voice and carry them through this journey. I know without a doubt each of his children would say thank you daddy for loving us. Thank you daddy for taking care of us. Thank you daddy for showing us the love of God.

Friday, June 18, 2010

PLEASE vote!

 
If ya'll have time would you please vote for Brian & Gina Musslewhite. She is a sweet friend of mine. Their son is battling terminal cancer. There is a treatment that is available but they are not able to afford it. If they are able to win this they could get him that treatment. Please take a minute to vote to help save their son's life. You can vote once a day. Please pass it on also. Thank you!!!
 
Here is Tyler's caringbridge site in case you would like to keep up with what is going on with him. Please keep this family in your prayers.