Beatboxing Fun

Damek has been into beatboxing for a while now.  He told me a few months back that his spiritual gift was 'making music with his mouth' (beatboxing).  He has passed his love onto his brother, who really enjoys the spitting part.  At church on Sabbath Caedmon decided to show off his new talents.  Our friend recorded some of it and, using an iPhone app, actually made it rhythmic. 

Walking Free

We've just returned from a week away at our denomination's campmeeting. 

Adam taught in the Kindergarten division and had a great time with Damek and all the other 4-6 year olds who came out for the week.  In the mornings I took Caedmon to his class, in the afternoons I taught a session on prayer.  It was a beautiful experience meeting so many others on their own prayer journeys.

Our kids continue to grow and change and develop in awesome ways.  Sometimes getting away from the routine of home helps me see it better.  Damek is becoming a great helper, very eager to be of assistance where needed.  God has given him a lot of desire to be a leader and he continues to grow in that area.  Caedmon is a doer.  He gets something in his head that he wants to try and then he just does it.  We stayed in a hotel for the past week and Caedmon decided one afternoon that he would like to walk across the lobby, a couch to a chair about 10 feet apart, while we waited for Adam to finish up some business.  He started with just a few steps, then he would crawl back to the couch, stand up and try again.  Adam finished his business and we needed to get somewhere but we just couldn't stop watching him.  He kept trying, again and again, until he got to within a foot of the chair.  We couldn't believe it!

We are so thankful for our boys.  They teach us so much every day!

New Seasons, New Skills

Caedmon is again wowing us with his mad skills.  (And Daddy too, who showed us how to use the handyman's secret weapon to fix up Damek's old tricycle so Caedmon can ride it.  Hint: look for bright green in the video.)

Original Blog Post: January 12, 2009- More Prayers

As I type this Adam and Caedmon are sitting at the Children's Hospital Emergency Room.  This evening, after a day of appointments with various doctors all saying how wonderful he's doing, his scalp incision began to puss.  We immediately called the doctor who said to meet him at the emergency room.  We had been very careful over the last few weeks to keep him off of the incision side unless he was being held in our arms and we could ensure that no pressure was being placed on the incision area.  However, today, after meeting with the Nurse Practitioner for the neurosurgeon who said we could treat it as a normal head and place him on his back or either side, we put Caedmon on his back in his carseat and on his back in his swing.  It was after this that we noticed the fluid.  We are calling out for God's mercy.  If the medical staff feels there is an infection in the shunt or if they can see the shunt because the incision has opened up Caedmon will be looking at replacement shunt surgery and at least a month in the hospital.  We need a lot of prayers.

Lamentations 3
17 I have been deprived of peace;
       I have forgotten what prosperity is.
 18 So I say, "My splendor is gone
       and all that I had hoped from the LORD."
 19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
       the bitterness and the gall.
 20 I well remember them,
       and my soul is downcast within me.
 21 Yet this I call to mind
       and therefore I have hope:
 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
       for his compassions never fail.
 23 They are new every morning;
       great is your faithfulness.
 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
       therefore I will wait for him."
 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
       to the one who seeks him;
 26 it is good to wait quietly
       for the salvation of the LORD.
 27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
       while he is young.
 28 Let him sit alone in silence,
       for the LORD has laid it on him.
 29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
       there may yet be hope.
 30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
       and let him be filled with disgrace.
 31 For men are not cast off
       by the Lord forever.
 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
       so great is his unfailing love.
 33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
       or grief to the children of men.

Early Spring Happenings

I haven't posted any pictures for a while, so thought I'd just make a picture-y blog.  Here's how our spring has gone so far.

Taking a walk in the spring with a cast can be dangerous.  Keep plastic bags handy.

Wo oo Wo,  listen to the music

Lovin' some story time

Beautiful sunset just before the May snow.

Two teeth down, twenty some to go

New hair cut and a weird facial expression

Going along with Mommy's weird expression

Adorable, love this boy!

New Place, Same Family

Welcome to our family's new blog location.  The same people you know and love, better location. 

Original Blog Post: May 1, 2011- Moving In The Right Direction

You, as the smart person that you are, may have been thinking as you read my last post, 'But it's only been three days.  Give it some time, Mama!'  And maybe this is the lesson to be learned, that moms and dads so quickly lose hope and confidence while junior is doing just fine and just needs to find his feet again.  Anyhow, I am here to tell you that you were right, I need to relax.

Caedmon jumped right in to his aquatherapy.  He stood for about 15 minutes playing with the toys on the edge of the pool.  He took the two short floaty-stick things and walked the length of the pool and back.  He stood and sat about 10 times, totally unprompted, just decided he needed to do that particular exercise.

Immediately following therapy I noticed changes.  He was crawling more, trying to climb up in his chair and into his bed.  He is a little clumsy and will have to strengthen those muscles again but the point is that he's trying!
Yesterday I took the boys to the zoo and he pushed his own stroller for about 20 minutes.  He stood at the edge of a petting pool (you can touch little sharks and rays) and splashed water for another 15 minutes before he was finally ready to sit and rest. 

I'd say that's pretty good progress!

Wednesday he gets fitted for twisters, straps that wrap around his legs to hold his feet in the correct position.  I think once those are one he will really take off.  His left foot is beautiful now, pointing in almost the right way.  His right foot is now the problem and trips him up quite a bit when he's trying to walk.
I am so excited to see how far he has come so shortly.  It's incredible being on this journey with him!