 |
 |
 |
| The excitement today is Art's birthday! Although Art doesn't care much about his birthday, he does love to see how much the kids enjoy it. For his cake, he requested that the little ones decorate it themselves, and they had a lot of fun doing it. It was a fun day. |
04-06-09 Update:
In other news, Silas had his appointment with the pediatric neurosurgeon this past week. He seemed a bit stumped about
Si's situation. The MRI showed that he had a tethered cord (spina bifida), and a divided spinal cord in a section. The cord
divides in his lower spine and then joins back up together again, and there is a pocket of fluid. By all appearances of the MRI,
he should be having various problems with numbness and weakness, problems with coordination and walking and bladder
control. He has none of these problems and all the tests on him showed a basically normal little boy who runs, climbs, and
rides his bike normally. So the surgeon was a little stumped with his case. Silas's spinal cord extends much further than it is
supposed to. I never knew that our spinal cords don't go all the way down our spine, but they don't, and Si's does. In spina
bifida, the cord is tethered by a ligament, and surgery is done to release the cord so that it does not stretch as they grow and
cause all sorts of problems. But because Si's cord extends so low, you cannot see if it is actually tethered or not. And since
he has no symptoms, it seems unwise to perform a very risky surgery that may not even be necessary. Silas has virtually no
fat on him, especially on his little bottom, and the surgery would involve cutting in a very delicate area where nerves could
easily be damaged. So for now, the surgeon recommended a wait-and-see approach. As long as Si is not experiencing any
problems, we will assume that this is just the way he is made. This would not really surprise me because he has so many
other abnormalities in his little body. Although it would have been nice to have a more definite diagnosis, we are thankful that
we are not facing any surgery any time soon.
We are still praying fervently for God to bring some work for Art. There are several possibilities on the horizon, but we need for
something to move soon. We deeply appreciate your prayers for us.
In other news, Silas had his appointment with the pediatric neurosurgeon this past week. He seemed a bit stumped about
Si's situation. The MRI showed that he had a tethered cord (spina bifida), and a divided spinal cord in a section. The cord
divides in his lower spine and then joins back up together again, and there is a pocket of fluid. By all appearances of the MRI,
he should be having various problems with numbness and weakness, problems with coordination and walking and bladder
control. He has none of these problems and all the tests on him showed a basically normal little boy who runs, climbs, and
rides his bike normally. So the surgeon was a little stumped with his case. Silas's spinal cord extends much further than it is
supposed to. I never knew that our spinal cords don't go all the way down our spine, but they don't, and Si's does. In spina
bifida, the cord is tethered by a ligament, and surgery is done to release the cord so that it does not stretch as they grow and
cause all sorts of problems. But because Si's cord extends so low, you cannot see if it is actually tethered or not. And since
he has no symptoms, it seems unwise to perform a very risky surgery that may not even be necessary. Silas has virtually no
fat on him, especially on his little bottom, and the surgery would involve cutting in a very delicate area where nerves could
easily be damaged. So for now, the surgeon recommended a wait-and-see approach. As long as Si is not experiencing any
problems, we will assume that this is just the way he is made. This would not really surprise me because he has so many
other abnormalities in his little body. Although it would have been nice to have a more definite diagnosis, we are thankful that
we are not facing any surgery any time soon.
We are still praying fervently for God to bring some work for Art. There are several possibilities on the horizon, but we need for
something to move soon. We deeply appreciate your prayers for us.
Easter 2009
Easter was one of the best we have ever had. Things have been very tight
around here, and I was not able to buy Easter outfits as I always love to do
each year, and we passed on the annual Easter ham and Easter goodies
for the kids as well. But we were showered with blessings from Mr. Homer
and Mrs. Cindy who HOOKED US UP!!. On Saturday they set up a table in
their back yard for the kids to decorate real Easter eggs, with dyes, stickers,
glitter, and paint. They had so much fun. Then on Sunday afternoon, the
kids hunted for the eggs in their beautiful back yard. If that weren't enough
fun, Mrs. Cindy brought out Easter baskets for all the kids, with candies,
toys, and adorable new tee shirts for each one! They just loved everything.
One of the toys they gave them were water squirters for playing in the pool.
But of course we had to try them out, so Mr. Homer filled up buckets of water
and they began by shooting water at targets. Before long they were
shooting water at Daddy, and then Canaan and Hannah soon joined in.
Everyone got wet and laughed so much. And oh yes, Mr. Homer and Mrs.
Cindy also brought us an Easter ham which was heartily enjoyed by
everyone. Even Silas ate two helpings and kept saying "this is great". We
are so thankful.
Easter was one of the best we have ever had. Things have been very tight
around here, and I was not able to buy Easter outfits as I always love to do
each year, and we passed on the annual Easter ham and Easter goodies
for the kids as well. But we were showered with blessings from Mr. Homer
and Mrs. Cindy who HOOKED US UP!!. On Saturday they set up a table in
their back yard for the kids to decorate real Easter eggs, with dyes, stickers,
glitter, and paint. They had so much fun. Then on Sunday afternoon, the
kids hunted for the eggs in their beautiful back yard. If that weren't enough
fun, Mrs. Cindy brought out Easter baskets for all the kids, with candies,
toys, and adorable new tee shirts for each one! They just loved everything.
One of the toys they gave them were water squirters for playing in the pool.
But of course we had to try them out, so Mr. Homer filled up buckets of water
and they began by shooting water at targets. Before long they were
shooting water at Daddy, and then Canaan and Hannah soon joined in.
Everyone got wet and laughed so much. And oh yes, Mr. Homer and Mrs.
Cindy also brought us an Easter ham which was heartily enjoyed by
everyone. Even Silas ate two helpings and kept saying "this is great". We
are so thankful.
Maggie and Eden playing
paper dolls together.
paper dolls together.
| Sunday morning, ready for church. |
When Eden tore into her chocolate bunny this
year, we couldn't help but remember Eden's first
Easter with us, two years ago. At that time she
still was not tolerating any type of solid food in
her mouth (it took her five months with us before
she learned how). We tried to entice her with her
chocolate bunny, and watching the other kids
she even put it in her mouth for a moment and
then laughed. I had posted this picture at the
time and said, "of course she wasn't actually
eating it". What a difference two years makes!
She now fully appreciates the value of a good
chocolate bunny!
year, we couldn't help but remember Eden's first
Easter with us, two years ago. At that time she
still was not tolerating any type of solid food in
her mouth (it took her five months with us before
she learned how). We tried to entice her with her
chocolate bunny, and watching the other kids
she even put it in her mouth for a moment and
then laughed. I had posted this picture at the
time and said, "of course she wasn't actually
eating it". What a difference two years makes!
She now fully appreciates the value of a good
chocolate bunny!
| Modeling their new tee shirts and sunglasses. |
Playing with their new
water squirters before
everyone got wet.
water squirters before
everyone got wet.
Fun was had by all!!!
| Eden's 5th Birthday!! |
Eden asked for Gloria from
Madagascar for her cake, but "in
pink with flowers". Jordan and
Hannah did most of it.
Madagascar for her cake, but "in
pink with flowers". Jordan and
Hannah did most of it.
04-13-09
Today is Eden's 5th birthday! It is
amazing to think of how far she has
come since she came home. We
always say we can't believe our kids
are turning as old as they are, but
with Eden, it seems overwhelming.
If you have not read the story of how
Eden came to her family, you can
click on "Eden's Page" above and
follow the link to "The Journey to
Eden". It is a miracle she is with us
today, and we have witnessed one
miracle after another as she has
progressed month by month. We
met Eden when she was two years
and seven months old. She was a
tiny, quiet little bald girl, who had
spent her life lying in a crib. The
orphanage staff had said we couldn't
adopt her because she was a "bad
baby" and they assumed she was
retarded. They did not think she
would ever walk or talk. She had
never had solid foods, and was living
on three bottles a day. She had to
learn all of these things. We were
able to witness our baby girl learn to
walk and talk and dance and climb
and ride her bike and sing and eat
and eat and eat! She brings joy to
everyone she meets, and not a day
goes by that she doesn't make us
laugh. I see God's fingerprints all
over her life.
Today is Eden's 5th birthday! It is
amazing to think of how far she has
come since she came home. We
always say we can't believe our kids
are turning as old as they are, but
with Eden, it seems overwhelming.
If you have not read the story of how
Eden came to her family, you can
click on "Eden's Page" above and
follow the link to "The Journey to
Eden". It is a miracle she is with us
today, and we have witnessed one
miracle after another as she has
progressed month by month. We
met Eden when she was two years
and seven months old. She was a
tiny, quiet little bald girl, who had
spent her life lying in a crib. The
orphanage staff had said we couldn't
adopt her because she was a "bad
baby" and they assumed she was
retarded. They did not think she
would ever walk or talk. She had
never had solid foods, and was living
on three bottles a day. She had to
learn all of these things. We were
able to witness our baby girl learn to
walk and talk and dance and climb
and ride her bike and sing and eat
and eat and eat! She brings joy to
everyone she meets, and not a day
goes by that she doesn't make us
laugh. I see God's fingerprints all
over her life.
Jordan and Hannah got Eden a
DJ Lance (from Yo Gabba
Gabba) hat and glasses. The
hat plays music as long as you
are dancing, and stops if you
stop.
DJ Lance (from Yo Gabba
Gabba) hat and glasses. The
hat plays music as long as you
are dancing, and stops if you
stop.
