Author: ObtainingMercy

Yesterday Doug took Isaac to the
neurosurgeon to have his shunt checked.  It is draining well. 

His CAT scan showed that his ventricles
are getting smaller, but not as fast as the doctor wants them to.  So
they adjusted his shunt again. 

It's a magnet and can be made to open or close off the opening
that the fluid flows through.  The lowest setting is 0.5.  Isaac has
gone from 2.0 to 1.0. 

Let's
pray that this change does the trick.

He slept ALL NIGHT last night! 

WHOOOOO HOOOOOOO!

Praise the Lord!

Alesha

P.S. for
those of you who have asked about Isaac's diagnosis – He has
hydrocephalus (shunt revision – 12/13/06), epilepsy, GERD, delayed
gastric emptying, asthma, various eye conditions (although he does see
fairly well), developemental delays, and he is basically non-verbal and
non-mobile.  He can say about 10 words or short phrases, occasionally
using them with meaning. 

These diagnoses are
primarily due to a premature and traumatic birth, complicated by
substance abuse by his birth mother.  The wonderful little man that he
is today is due to God's grace and mercy – he was placed in a FABULOUS
foster home at 3 months of age (directly from the hospital), and then
came to live with us at 18 months old.  We adopted him just 3 days after
his 2nd. birthday.

He is our pride and joy and God's
perfect will for our lives.  We have determined that when Isaac has
something new going wrong it's because there are more doctors, nurses,
receptionists and parents who need to see God and witness His hand on
Isaac's life. 

It is amazing the places we have been
and the people we have met because of this little child.  We wouldn't
want to miss a thing God has for our family – so we just hang on and see
where God is taking us next.  Hopefully that doesn't mess with your
theology!!!!  We've learned that God just refuses to stay in
that box some churches and Christians try to put Him in!!!!! 
Imagine that!

Anyway, those are the things that are
going on with him medically.  Some day, I'll share with you the amazing,
funny little person that Isaac IS.  Diagnoses do not the person make!

We've had a good day – considering he didn't
sleep at all last night.  He had a short nap this afternoon and at 9:30
PM he's still going strong!  Incredible!  Little or no seizure
activity.  Thank you Lord!

Hi, we've had a good day here.  The "big meds" seem to
have helped Isaac this time, rather than wipe him out.  It's like
somebody pushed his reset button.

I only saw some slight seizure activity this evening, and he
was all smiley and happy the rest of the day.  We were singing before
bedtime and he kept telling me "more".

We picked up Newton (our Labradoodle) from the kennel today
and he seemed soooo happy to be home.  BTW, have you figured out the
little joke with his name, yet?

I've been
visiting lots of blogs this evening – just taking it easy after our busy
weekend.  So many great ladies – wives, moms and daughters writing
about our Lord and our families.  It's very encouraging.

We all have trials and struggles, but "the same Lord over all
is rich unto all that call upon him." (Romans 10:12)

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness.

Alesha

We have good news and bad news. 
Which do you usually ask for first?

I always ask for the bad news first.  I like to have
something to look forward to.

So, the bad news is that our doctor/nurse here in town did not
send all of the appropriate tests and results down to Miami.  We had no
idea what they needed and left that to our doctor.  (Guess who will be
taking care of that from now on?!!) 

Basically we were there for about an hour and told them
all about Isaac.

The
good news is that we are going to go back on Tuesday, April 3 and they
will admit Isaac to the hospital.  We will be there until Friday.  They
will be running all of their own tests, some of which are tests we've
had done before, but others will be new to us.

We feel like this is good news, because we
will finally be getting some answers. 

Basically, this will be a surgery evaluation, as they
will be determining if Isaac is a candidate for a surgery that will
help control the seizures. 

We don't know what those surgeries are yet.  We'll be doing
some research during the next couple of weeks, obviously.

Our trip was very smooth and uneventful,
for which we are really grateful. 

Thank you so much for the many prayers.  Please continue
them for Isaac.  He had 5 seizures this morning before noon.  TOO MANY
for this mommy!  We did give him the "big" meds after our visit with the
doctor.

I guess that's
all for now.  I'm exhausted and heading for bed.

Much love,

Alesha

Hi all,

We arrived in Miami yesterday afternoon. 
Isaac had staring seizures almost non-stop the whole way here.  When
they did stop, he slept – praise the Lord.  They continued throughout
most of the evening, until around 9 PM.

He then decided since Daddy and Mama were in the room with
him, it must be a slumber party!  And with Isaac – he is always the LAST
one to sleep at a sleep over!!!

Finally around 4:30 the morning, he decided
it was time to stop singing and get some rest. ( now,
but  at 4:30 this morning. LOL!)

Right after he went to sleep, he had 3 grand mals – 30
seconds, 20 seconds and 45 seconds.  Now, of course, he is sleeping
soundly and won't wake up to eat before our doctor's visit.

That's ok, though, he needs to sleep some, or
he'll be incredibly grouchy.  I'm just praying we'll be some place
convenient when he does choose to wake, because he will be famished! 
(We are working on self control with our little man, but when his tummy
is hungry, most of his control goes out the window!)

So, we'll meet with the doctor at 9:15 this
morning.

Thanks for the
faithful prayers.  I know my God is hearing them.

Alesha