My sweet baby boy!

Each time I pick Abe up to feed him I am amazed that I have a sweet little baby boy. He is so very precious. I am so very blessed and thankful! He's such a happy baby.

Crest Motel in Iowa now

We found they Crest Motel that used to be in Covington, Georgia. It's now in Iowa!

Daddy's Little girl

I wanted to post some pictures today and Mike took Michala and Marlee Anne out for a little while, so I thought I would do it now. I love seeing how the girls all love Mike so dearly. If they had a choice they would choose Mike over me. Well maybe not Mary Elizabeth. Michala goes to Mike before me and Marlee Anne will sit in the van with Mike while I go in any store. As soon as Mike gets out to go in the store she jumps at the chance to go with him.

That's ok though because I know I was the same way. I was/am a Daddy's girl. This morning the coffee cup I used said I love my daddy. I do love my daddy and miss him every day. I am glad the girls have that relationship with Mike. It might not be so good when he leaves tomorrow.

Here are some pictures of them playing basketball at the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City. (I am putting all that info so that when I go back to scrapbook these pictures years from now I will remember where it was). Hopefully it won't take me years to get it done.

This is a picture Marlee Anne took. She had to make sure her Kansas City hat was right beside Abe. She is so very proud of that hat. AND her baby brother!

Abe's 2nd set of cast

Just wanted to post pictures of Abe's 2nd set of cast so we could compare the difference stages.

2nd casting starts

I cannot get this post to come out right but I do not have the time to redo it right now and I want to share these pictures.

This was the first step to the 2nd casting. We had to soak Abe's cast for 20 minutes to soften them. Then we had to wrap them in wet towels and cover those with plastic bags.

Abe's precious feet after the 1st set of cast.

This is the amazing Dr. Ponseti, 93 years old holding Abe.

Dr. Ponseti, his wonderful nurse Maria, and Abe.

One of my most favorite pictures. Dr. Ponseti's gifted hands holding Abe's feet. As he manipulates his foot into place he watches Abe's face to make sure he is not in pain. Such a very compassionate man. A true gift of God.

During the casting.

Abe's 2nd casting

This morning Abe and I went over to the hospital by ourselves so that I could drive and make sure I knew exactly where I was going. We had to soak his cast before we left the house so they could be cut off. He did a great job and slept right through it. It scared me because when they took the cast off his feet went right back the way they were. The nurse said that was what they were going to do but they were easy to move. When I touched his little feet they moved. They have never moved like that. I have tears once again thinking of it. I am amazed how this is working. It's so very exciting. Dr. Ponseti said that Abe's feet are still very stiff. I took pictures of the casting display and pictures of Abe's feet and of him with Dr. Ponseti. I will post those on our blog. I don't know if I have shared the fact that Dr. Ponseti is 93 years old. The casting method is called the Ponseti method and was developed by him.

A package today with the girls and Abe's medicines. What a blessing! We were trying to figure out how to get there meds to us. Our friend picked them up from the pharmacy and another friend FedX them to us. They even sent flowers to brighten up our room and autograph picture of the precious dog. Thanks so much ya'll!!!

We went out for awhile today since tomorrow it's supposed to snow. It was very cold and rainy. I got pictures of the Crest Motel and will post those too. We went to Kent Park just to ride though to see if it would be a place we would like to go back to later during our trip when the weather is nicer. It's a beautiful park and I am sure even nicer in the spring when everything is green.

Tonight we had baked potato bar, salad and brownies. I am not sure who brought them. Each night someone brings food to the house for the families. Local groups, like churches, school groups or civic groups. I am amazed by the volunteers around here.

While downstairs I got to spend more time with the family from Canada. It's so nice to have the support of others families that have been through the casting process or are going through it with us. Most of them here now have had the casting process done before and are here now to have it corrected because it was done wrong at their homes.

Please pray for snow for Marlee Anne. She is so excited about the possibility of it. However her RMH volunteer friends are not looking forward to it. They say they have had way too much of it this winter. We hope everyone is doing great and has a wonderful weekend! Thanks so much for your prayers for a successful visit today.

Two months old

Abe is two months old today. Of course I have to share pictures. What a journey these two months have been. The have been filled with sadness, sorrow, worry, hearbreak and fear. I am so very thankful that the joys and blessings have far out weighed all of the other. I cannot wait to see what tomorrow holds.

HUGE Praise!!!

Abe's SMA - Spinal Muscular Atrophy test came back normal along with his other chromosome test. We are celebrating this morning big time in Iowa. We still realize we may be faced with the Mitochondrial disease testing later but that will be based on his further development. Right now we will just enjoy our precious family.

Thank you so very much for your prayers! We hope that you will rejoice with us knowing ours and your prayers were answered!!!

A perfect day in Iowa!

What makes a perfect day for you? Mine consist of spending time with my family, which I did a lot of today. Our original plan was to go to the Children's Museum which is in the mall. Today ended up being beautiful so we decided to wait and do the Children's Museum another time. That's really something the girls, Abe & I could do on our own after Mike leaves.

We decided to go to the outlet mall. On the way there we ran through McDonald's and I got SWEET TEA!!! WOOHOO!!! Who knew Mikey D's in Iowa would have sweet tea. It was actually pretty good too. There were about 3 stores that we hit while at the outlets.

Marlee Anne & I took a potty break and we have decided we should have a show like Jon & Kate plus 8. We have not decided on the name of it yet. While we were washing our hands we saw the automatic soap dispensers. I guess you have to find the little joys in life because she and I had a blast in the restroom laughing at the soap dispeners. I know this would be much funnier if you could have been there.

After the outlet we decided to drive 2 miles to Williamsburg. Well our directions were a little off and we ended up once again in the middle of corn fields. It seems that's easy to do in Iowa. We did see a beautiful red fox on the side of the road though. Also a beautiful old church. I had left my camera back at the house and hated that I didn't get pictures. On the way back to find Williamsburg we looked for the fox but he had run off.

We found Williamsburg and it was a beautiful old square with a really nice playground in the middle. Mike got out with Marlee Anne to play some while I stayed in the van with the girls and fed Abe. I had a nice conversation with my brother and got to share my excitement for the day with him. I thought I was a country girl but this is quite the country out here. Oh and for those of you in Covington, do you remember the Crest Motel? Well if you are wondering what happened to it it's in Iowa. It's up on the hill and it's really called the Crest Motel.

I wanted to run into Michaels on the way back to the house so I could pick up some paper. Downstairs at the house there is a box full of Stampin Up stamps for anyone to use. I just needed some paper for it. That will be a nice thing to enjoy downstairs while the girls play in the playroom.

Texas Roadhouse was right beside Michaels and had just opened so we decided to have a good meal before heading back to the house. It was PERFECT!!! The wait staff were mostly college students and understood us. Our waitress was an Iowa college student from Tennessee. She was so very nice. The best thing of all they have sweet tea. She could even relate to my excitement about it. She kept bringing us refills and even gave us rolls, butter and sweet tea to take back with us. I think this is going to have to be a weekly visit of ours. At least to get rolls and sweet tea. Our waitress and Marlee Anne really hit it off. She even gave Marlee Anne her name and phone number so that if we are here on Marlee Anne's birthday she can celebrate it with her at the Roadhouse.

We made a quick stop by Hobby Lobby for a skien of yarn instead of buying it at the expensive yarn shop. Then a stop at the grocery store for some much needed fruit. I was on the phone with my friend on the way back the house when Mike said there's a scrapbook store. I screamed and had to get off the phone. Just the smell of the stickers, brad and ribbon OH MY! To touch some beautiful paper was so therapeutic. I didn't even have to buy anything. I did get a couple of pieces of Iowa scrapbook paper. They even had an Iowa scrapbook that would be perfect for Abe's clubfoot journey to be scrapbooked in. I will wait until closer to the end of the trip to see about that though.

When we got back to the house Marlee Anne and Mike got in their daily game of ping pong while I fed the girls and Abe. Once they got back in the room they played Nerf basketball with Michala. It's going to be really tough when Sunday gets here but we are not talking about that now.

Thanks so much for sharing our perfect day, well my perfect day with us.

Ronald McDonald House

Having fun & resting!

Abe's first casting!

Here are pictures right after Abe's first casting.

St. Louis

Our only stop on the way to Iowa that was more than a very quick potty break was in St. Louis to see the arch. It was so beautiful! I was so glad we took the time to stop. Here are some pictures from that stop.

Abe's clubfoot journey begins

Here are some pictures taken of Abe's feet the night before we left for Iowa.

Granmama

I will never know how we accomplished this. Mom does not like pictures made. I love that we got her with all 4 of the children though.

My wish!

If I had one wish for Abe it would be for him to have a happy life. So far so good I think! We have been loving all this fun time with him. I wanted to share some pictures with ya'll. I just noticed these are with his feeding tube. He took his feeding tube out Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM. I told him I would give him 24 hrs to show me he could do it. So far so good! I will get more pictures with his tube out and him laughing.

God's grasp

The other day while we were out and about we heard a song that talks about God's grasp. It hit me hard as I listened because I was thinking of those days and nights at the hospital that I was so mad at God. No matter how mad I got he never let go of me. It kind of reminds me of when a child gets mad and will not listen to what you are saying. You may have the child by the arms and they are struggling to get away. If you can just calm the child and surround them in your loving arms they will relax, surrender and be at peace. How many times have I struggled with God and once I will say ok you are in control He will surround me with His loving arms and I will feel His overwhelming peace.

The day that I wrote the post about my battle I had emailed some very dear friends of ours http://cyndiakadisneyqueen.blogspot.com/2008/03/baby-abe-and-kelli-are-home.html . I wanted to share something Marc shared with me.


Spiritual Vision Through Personal Character
"Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place …" (Revelation 4:1).
A higher state of mind and spiritual vision can only be achieved through the higher practice of personal character. If you live up to the highest and best that you know in the outer level of your life, God will continually say to you, "Friend, come up even higher." There is also a continuing rule in temptation which calls you to go higher; but when you do, you only encounter other temptations and character traits. Both God and Satan use the strategy of elevation, but Satan uses it in temptation, and the effect is quite different. When the devil elevates you to a certain place, he causes you to fasten your idea of what holiness is far beyond what flesh and blood could ever bear or achieve. Your life becomes a spiritual acrobatic performance high atop a steeple. You cling to it, trying to maintain your balance and daring not to move. But when God elevates you by His grace into heavenly places, you find a vast plateau where you can move about with ease.
Compare this week in your spiritual life with the same week last year to see how God has called you to a higher level. We have all been brought to see from a higher viewpoint. Never allow God to show you a truth which you do not instantly begin to live up to, applying it to your life. Always work through it, staying in its light.
Your growth in grace is not measured by the fact that you haven’t turned back, but that you have an insight and understanding into where you are spiritually. Have you heard God say, "Come up higher," not audibly on the outer level, but to the innermost part of your character?
"Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing …?" (Genesis 18:17). God has to hide from us what He does, until, due to the growth of our personal character, we get to the level where He is then able to reveal it.

Later that day I received this from the sister of a dear friend of ours.

I do want to share with you an excerpt from a book, Praying through Life's Problems, by Stormie Omartian. This excerpt was written by Joni Eareckson Tada:

I know God has the answers. Thirty-five years of paralysis has been like a classroom for me as I've discovered the richness and depth and wonder and sweet satisfaction of all that the Word of God contains for people who are suffering. God has His reasons - a refined faith, a stronger character, and a purified heart are just a few answers to the question "Why?" But when you're hurting, and your heart is being squeezed like a sponge, or you're feeling numb and you don't know if your emotions are upside down or right side up, a list of sixteen biblical reasons that all of this is happening can sting like salt in a wound. The bleeding doesn't simply stop when someone ticks off answers, although they may be good and right and true. When you're grieving over the loss of your body or other personal struggles, answers don't often reach the hurt that's down in your gut and heart. When a person is suffering like I was when I was first injured, you're like a child who's been hurt and you turn to your big, strong father and say, "Daddy, why?" Now, I don't think it's very daddy-like for the father to look down at his child and say with cold detachment, "Well, child, I'm so glad you asked that question. You see, my plan for you in all of this is 'such and so." No, a child who's hurt wants her daddy to reach down and pick her up and press her against his cheat and say, "There, there, honey, everything's going to be okay. Daddy's here."

That's our heartfelt plea, isn't it? We want assurance. Better yet, we want fatherly assurance that there is an order to our painful reality that somehow transcends our problems. We want assurance that our world is not splitting apart at the seams. We want assurance that our world is orderly and stable and somehow safe. We want God to be at the center of things, to be in control. He must be at the center of our suffering and He must be good. He must be our "daddy" - warm, kind, and compassionate. This is our cry when we ask "why?" The problem of suffering is not about something; it's about someone. And so it follows that the answer is not something, but someone. And God, like any good daddy, doesn't give answers as much as He give Himself.


One day He will give us the key that will unlock everything and it will help us make sense of it all. Until then, leaning on the Man of Sorrows is enough.



It is this weakness that keeps driving us, driving us to God by the overwhelming conviction that we've got nowhere else to go. There is no help but Him. There is no hope but Him. Abraham Lincoln

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:6-8

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

I have gone back to all of this so many times this week. I still have a hard time understanding WHY it has to be children. Not only my children. WHY Cindi's child? WHY Mary Beth? WHY all the other ones of our friends who have lost their children? WHY Emma? WHY do all hers and Michala's sisters have to struggle through life? WHY all the children we have seen diagnosed with cancer? WHY do their little bodies have to fight? Because it takes that to make hard hearted or stubborn people like myself see what's important in life. I am not sure the answers. All I know is if God is trying to teach me to rely on Him more or teach me something, PLEASE do not let me miss it. I do not want my children's lives to be in vain.

I asked one of my encouragers this week why God was picking on me. She quickly said God is not picking on you, He picked you. My prayer today is that I am worthy to be picked.

Marlee Anne - isms

I have been trying to find time to post about my sweet little girl. She has been such a huge help. She loves her brother dearly. She wants to touch him, kiss him and talk to him ALL the time. Even when he is asleep. She holds him while he is being tube fed, knows how to unhook it and it just a great help. She has even changed his diaper, which daddy hasn't done yet.

Well most of ya'll know how she is about being/acting older than her age. Some of the things she says just cracks me up. Other things she says just melts my heart. Each night I had to call her from Abe's beside so that she could talk to him. Every night she told him that people all over the world were praying for him and he would get to come home soon. One night she had a great revelation and told him that she knew what was wrong with him. If he would tell the doctor to fix that bone in his foot that isn't quite right that it would make him all better. That childlike faith amazes me. Well we are about to fix his feet and are praying he will be all better.

The other day we were lying in the bed and she said mom you want to milk him. If he wakes up she will say I think he wants to milk. I crack up everytime. She knows that I am breastfeeding him. For some reason she has always called it milking. So if you ever call and she says I can't come to the phone cause I am milking Abe you know what she means.

One day I was checking placement of his feeding tube. She wants to know everything that I am doing to him. She wants details. So I told her I was checking to make sure it was still in his belly so that the medicine and milk wasn't going some where it wasn't suppose to. She said yeah like in his foot. I explained to her like in his lungs but she just invisioned it possibly going in his foot.

The day of Abe's birth she was in the delivery room with us. The nurse had told her she could sit up behind my head on the table. She did but quickly said oh no I can't see. Well Dr. Rippy said come down here. She quickly jumped up and got right up next to him. Mike said well maybe not quite so close. She moved back a step. While waiting for Abe to make his appearance she was talking to the baby nurse while she was getting everything together for Abe. The nurse told Marlee Anne that she could help her give him a bath when he got there. Marlee Anne said what about his belly cord. The nurse said well that's ok we will be careful. Marlee Anne said it can't get wet you know. Once things got going Marlee Anne said oh mommie I can see his head. I told Marlee Anne she was such a great encourager. Then she said OOOOOHHHH mommie that's a lot of blood. I told her OK that's enough, no more play by play.

I know there are so many more Marlee Anne - isms I want to share but those are the ones that quickly came to mind. I will share more as they come to mind or as she comes up with them.