Need for more fluids

...that's what our recent blood draw revealed. Everything else came back MUCH BETTER!! Blood sugar was up to 86!! haha (knew the former 37 had to be a mistake) His CO2 was 23 (which is GREAT!) Our nurse in NE stated a few things (can't remember names exactly) that were elevated, which tells us he is DRY! She told us to watch him this weekend and REALLY push his ORS. In my opinion Caed has done a wonderful job with his daily fluid intake. (probably thanks more to his sweet teacher!) He drinks 700mls each day of his ORS at school. However, he needs 1500mls daily, so our job when he gets home is to push the other 1/2. (not always as easy when he is out playing) But overall.....he consistently gets at least 1200mls every day. Therefore, that leads me to be a bit confused as to why our ORS-boy is "dry." There are a couple of possibilities that I am going to check into further (med that affects his output which we have changed in the last week). Although this is nothing major, and quite honestly just one of those things Caed will have to learn to watch.

Let's Try This Again....

Now, before I tell you why Caed is getting his blood drawn again within a very short time frame, just take a good look at this VERY BRAVE boy sitting all by himself!! (it's only the 2nd time he's done this) After his central line was taken out, and he had to give blood the old fashioned way....he always wanted me to hold him in my lap. But...for some reason last week, he just decided to jump up in that chair alone. You would have thought he climbed Mt. Everest....the way he walked out of the clinic....head up...chest back...and a little strut in his walk. I told him he looked like a "teenager" to me!! He just nodded in agreement. haha

(next time...I might even try to video him. This boy is rock solid. No flinching....no whining....just pure bravery and a smile! And yes.....he wants to watch the needle the entire time...ugghhh)

Typically we go in every month...... draw blood.....and then hear back from our pediatrician that his labs looked great and they were faxing them off to Nebraska. However, one morning I get a call and I could tell by the nurse's voice....something was a bit concerning. She said some of his numbers were a "little low." Come to find out....A LOT low! His blood glucose was around 37 (normal would be 70-100), and the dreaded CO2 was also low. They told us to watch him very carefully, making sure he didn't get cold, clammy, and unresponsive! (also that this level was dangerously low for possible seizure and coma) WHAT????? Are you all SURE you're talking about the same little boy who played football in the living room with his Daddy last night? The same child who played a quick game of Wii before school? And the same child who (after talking with his teacher) was playing like normal out on the playground? Todd and I knew there MUST be some kind of mistake. Caed was showing zero symptoms related to low blood sugar or CO2. Our nurse coord in NE also agreed and felt this was some kind of lab error.

So that leads us to yet another stick in the arm this morning. Lord willing we will be hearing something back today or tomorrow reaffirming his GOOD HEALTH!

R-O-B-E

Yea! Videos are up and working again..... Thought this one was TOO funny of Caleb!

Caleb birthday pics

Making cupcakes with "Ronnie and Haed"



Yea! Mommy made my favorite....Spanish rice!



What did they put on my head????



Ooooo....I like the candles!



But NOT the singing!



I LOVE my chocolate cupcakes.....



but NOT the fact that Mommy won't let me take it to my room!



Time for presents



ABC's....my favorite!!!! (he can already identify the letters R, O, and B.......hmmmm, hope that's not a sign!)

The Blur

Happy 2nd Birthday to our sweet gift from God!!!





Oh, I could tell you stories about this little boy. He is stubborn, strong-willed, independent, dislikes females (but LOVES men),....sweet, funny, cuddly, an absolute JOY all rolled into one!!! It's like rolling the dice. You just never know which side of Caleb you're going to see. He is talking more and more each day, finally putting words together to make phrases. He loves Elmo ( & all the Sesame Street characters), his "B" (blankie), going outside!, finding ABC's, and being with "Ronnie & Haed." (Reagan & Caed) His newest obsession however is a little green superhero (on PBS) called SUPERWHY!!! It's a little amusing actually because I think in all honesty this show is meant more for 3-5 yr. olds. It's all about letters and putting them together to make words. Our little guy however is GLUED when this show comes on. (that's when Mommy does her best work around the house!) haha

Someone asked me a few days ago the birth weights of my children. I quickly rattled off 7'8 and 7'2....and then I froze. I honestly had NO idea!! Numbers kept running through my mind and yet nothing sounded right. Now, I know we can simply chalk it up to Caleb being the 3rd child. I definitely understand that. But, it was more for me. I then began thinking about the days Reagan and Caed were born. The exact times of their birth, etc.... And yet, still I couldn't remember anything about Caleb's! The conversation quickly changed, but this has continued to haunt me ever since. Caleb was 21 days old when Caed got sick. At that point....I lost that little baby, and didn't really get him back for almost a year.


(with some digging....I found out he weighed 7'13....and was born at 8:11 a.m.)


(less that 24 hrs. before Caed was rushed to ER)


(the night we officially got him back.....after 10 very long months!!!)



I had the great privilege of holding a very special newborn this weekend (Baby G). He was absolutely wonderful!! And yet, once again....it was hard on me. All I kept imagining was Caleb, and HOW MUCH I wished I could have had him at that age. To TRULY have him....to know him....and he KNOW me! I don't remember Caleb as a baby like I do with Reagan & Caed. It makes me sad...... All we have are pictures, and yet looking back at them only cause me to think "who IS this?? I don't know this baby!"

The verse that continued to come to mind this weekend was Joel 2:25 where the Lord says, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten...." I cling to that, and believe it with all my heart!!! I know that Caleb has no memory of his first year, unlike the rest of us. But, because of the yr. I was not with him, there is now a tremendous bond with the woman who WAS! It is heart breaking for me, and yet I wouldn't change a thing given the same circumstances. My parents (along with MANY others) were absolute God-given angels for us during that time. I will say from a Mother's perspective, I COULD NOT have handled both a newborn and critically ill child by myself. So for that, again we say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!

We are pressing on. Looking to the future with hope and anticipation! GOD has done a mighty work in our family, and we KNOW He will continue using us to carry out His plan.

Thank you God for knowing we needed baby #3 (even though we fought You). Thank you for how You have continued to work all of this out...we see Your hand with every step!!!!

Don't forget

Our silly silly boy!! Never a dull moment with Cader-Mader. Basically all he understands is that by summer he will not have to be hooked up anymore. But the monthly delight of actually getting to lower his dosage?......naaaaaaa! Caed's expression is honestly how I feel - like an overjoyed kid at Christmas. He is currently being fed via tube for only 6 hours each night!!!!! It's amazing when I think about it. (and more importantly....his weight seems to be holding strong!) I know this all doesn't end with the anticipated departure of dear Mr. G tube, for this will be a life long condition Caed will have to deal with.....but much of his "normal" life will (Lord willing!!) return.

Some days I just go through the motions. Getting kids ready for school, packing lunches, cleaning the house, running errands, cooking dinner, and then tucking everyone in at night. Day in - day out....over and over and over. However.....there are those moments (this past weekend included) where I become so overwhelmed with God's goodness. A non-believer could look at Caed's entire medical story and see how the surgeries, the treatments, the excellent doctors, the rehab, the meds, and simple "time" are the keys to his continued healing. But as a good friend reminded me last night, "when you pray SO HARD for something, and it is answered.......you KNOW it's the POWER of GOD!!!!!" This weekend at D-Now, the band played "Caed's song" (Overcome) several times. I wanted so badly to hold Caed high above my head as the 500 voices sang in unison.

"Don't forget!!!! Here is a child whom the hand of GOD touched. He is powerful. He is loving. He is gracious. He is merciful. He is GOOD!! If you need a reminder of the power of prayer............look no further than this little boy!!!

The VICTORY is YOURS!!!!!!! YOU did this!!!!!!! You are a living God who still performs MIRACLES!!!!"



Oh, Father! Help us not grow cold. Help our eyes not become dry. Renew in us a passion to love You more, to serve You better, and share Your marvelous works with others!

D-Now video

Broken DN10

150 teenagers + 15 college group leaders + 24 host home parents + amazing band & speaker = only one thing.........D-Now!





Our annual Disciple Now took place over the weekend. Once again, it was absolutely wonderful!! I know I can speak for everyone involved and say physically we are beyond exhausted....but spiritually are restored and refreshed. The theme Todd went with this year was "Broken." God showed up and worked amazing things in the lives of these students (along with the rest of us!). We feel encouraged, but also challenged to carry out those things the Lord showed each one of us. Please keep these Celina students in your prayers............



Todd and his coffee!! (inseparable)

7th grade girls

7th grade guys

8th grade girls

8th grade guys


9th grade girls


9th grade guys


10th grade girls


10th grade guys


11th grade girls


11th grade guys


12th grade girls


12th grade guys