Tues. 4/22 - update

A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Proverbs 17:22)

How true that is! Not even the best medicine can be as beneficial as a cheerful heart. Overall today Caed had that. We loved seeing his little "smiling eyes" peering out from under his blanket. This morning when we went for our walk, he did so with no crying or arguing! We went all the way to the elevators again. He decided on the way, he wanted to throw his puppy (Todd) off the 3rd floor balcony! Daddy went down to catch him, and then Caed wanted to go down. He picked up his tubes...grabbed his pole...and started going by himself. I was shocked. He did such a great job! Also this morning, I brought Caed a package from the Owen's (Celina neighbors). They sent him some "Big" drumsticks and a CD!! You should have seen the look on his face. That has made his day. We turned the CD on, and of course "Blessed Be Your Name" (Caed's favorite) was on there. He jammed out all morning. (even busted a few bedpans..ha!) We thought is was ok...and encouraged him to get out all his frustration. :) We have posted a video of Caed playing his "guitar" and singing that song. It is such a fitting song for this whole experience. Blessed Be Your Name (regardless of what life brings our way...good times AND bad)!!! He took a good nap this afternoon and has been ok this evening. He has been complaining more of his stomach hurting (probably cramps). So far (it's 8:00pm) he has not thrown up all day. His last one was 9:00 last night. So, we are at 23 hrs. again. I can't wait to post tomorrow and let you know if that number has grown. They are still draining his stomach tube twice a day. I know that has to be helping. He ate 4-5 bites of yogurt and about the same of pizza again. They also left his feeding tube amount alone today. (6cc) We are very glad about that. It has given his intestines a little more time to get used to it. They will probably increase tomorrow, but only 1-2 cc. (I'm guessing) We have not seen his surgeon yet today, so nothing to report as of now.

Todd and Reagan will be heading to the airport at 5:30 in the morning. Please pray for their travel and all to go ok while they are back in Celina. Reagan will be hanging out with several friends there. She is very excited! She has also informed me she is taking the BIG suitcase in case there are things (from her room) she needs to bring back. I'm a little nervous! I'm not sure what our new schedule will look like while Todd is gone. I'm sure my parents will come up and relieve me some. Also pray for Caed to have GOOD days!! Not just for his sake, but also with the change in Todd being gone so long. (and others coming to help out) It will make things MUCH less stressful for me, and I will feel more comfortable about leaving each day for awhile.

Thank you SO much to all of you coming to visit us each day! It is so good to see your faces (even though so many of you, we don't even know!) Thank you for caring enough about little Caed to take time and come see him. It can get VERY draining being up here all day long. Seeing your faces brings us light! I know we say this often, but we continue to be OVERWHELMED by every one's support and love for us during this difficult time. To our church home...thank you for your cards, phone calls, emails, gifts, etc... We miss you dearly and are SO sorry we have had to be gone this long. We cannot begin to express our gratitude and love to you for your support. (especially allowing Todd to be gone so much!! We do not take that for granted and know other employers would not have been as gracious). We have missed seeing that Celina Orange!!! To our former church home (Edna)...we are amazed at how we still feel so apart of your family. I cry every time I read your prayer grams and cards. I can just picture each one of your faces. Thank you also for the cards, gifts, etc... you continue to send. You were there when Caed was born...you know him! Thank you for loving him like you do. Thank you also to my little hometown of Idalou! I can't believe how you have come together and supported us during this time. People that I haven't seen in years are doing things that have blown us away. You have blessed our family so much!! There has not been a day that has gone by that some (stranger) doesn't knock on our door and ask how Caed is doing. They introduce themselves and let us know that their church is praying for Caed!! These are people and churches we do not even know!! We have been overwhelmed by the churches in Lubbock and all over the state at their love and support for us. Caed is on the prayer list of so many churches! How amazing is our God?? This one sick little boy is bringing the body of Christ together in a way that would not have otherwise. Thank you Lord for wrapping your arms around us and using SO MANY to do it in a real, tangible way. Every blessing YOU pour out, we will turn back to praise. BLESSED BE YOUR NAME!!

**sorry to report as I was writing this, Caed got sick again...so I guess 23 hrs. is still the record to beat



Walking with Daddy and "Todd" the
puppy


Bedpans can work for drums, right?
(by the way...he broke both "cymbals")


Caed the Walrus