Isaac’s Accomplishments

Isaac had a Speech Therapy Evaluation yesterday.  He has these every 6 months.  Since the last eval, he has doubled his speech "score" and has advanced in his understanding his surroundings by 3 months!

This is a really huge accomplishment!

If you think back to when your baby was 18 months old, and think about what they could understand, and then think about your 2-year-old's understanding, you will get an idea of how he is advancing.

We have noticed, in the past several weeks, a marked absense of seizures, except when he was sick with a cold. 

We have also noticed that he is looking to his left – on purpose.  Now, we've been told that he has limited left-field vision in both eyes.  Meaning that he doesn't see to the left with either eye.  But now, he is looking to the left to see things, to look at things.  Obviously, his vision to the left is there to some extent, and he is using it now, when he didn't use it much before.

He is also "telling" us every time he goes potty.  Every time.  Even when he's asleep, he wakes up to tell us when he needs dry pants.

So, my boy is growing, not just physically, but also mentally, socially and developementally.

It is very exciting to experience life with Isaac!

Oh, and on February 22nd, we celebrated his 9th "Gotcha Day".

What a wonderful, amazing adventure it has been!

God is good!

 

Happy Tuesday

Good morning, friends!

Isaac'c cough is still quite formidable, but he is definitely feeling better!  Praise the Lord for that!  Yesterday, he had lots of giggles and belly laughs, and was content and happy all day.  That is such a blessing to see after so many days of his being miserable with fever.

Doug and I both feel like we are trying to fight something off, so we are being faithful to drink our veggie juice and to take our vitamins, and we're also avoiding sugar.  We know those things will help.  I am using my netipot, too, but Doug is just not as fond of that device as I am. 😉

(Well, to be completely honest, I am having a little bit of sugar.  Doug found my favorite seasonal creamer at the grocery store last week — "Gingerbread Latte".  Oooooo…I just love that flavor!)

The flowers in yesterday's blog were from my sweet husband over the weekend.  They are still so pretty today.  I appreciated them so much, and am realizing again, just how important beauty is to us as women. 

I forget how it lifts my spirit sometimes just to look at something gorgeous.  Since I am inside most of the time, I miss so much of the beauty of nature.  Now that it is cooling off some here, maybe I will be able to get outside more often.

We have an unexpected "day off" today, as we decided to not take Isaac to therapy today.  Our caregiver doesn't come on Tuesdays, so that makes it "just us three" here today.  Maybe we can mark something off the never-ending "honey-do" list today! :)  Or maybe we can just watch a movie or play a game — we definitely want to do something "fun" on this impromptu holiday. 🙂

Well, I suppose that is all I have to say this morning.  I hope you have a good day.

Alesha

 

On The Mend

Isaac seems to be doing a bit better.  His fever has been under control, and he actually gave us a few smiles yesterday. :)  Although, his cough is still horrible, and requiring daily asthma treatments; and his ear is still bothering him.

However, he did manage to stay awake all night last night, so I think he must be feeling a little better.

He is out like a light now, of course, but that is ok.  Our caregiver has been sick, yesterday and again today, so I can be quiet "like a mouse", and hopefully he will continue to sleep.

I do feel awful, though, that the caregiver apparently got a touch of whatever this virus was.  She hasn't had the high fever, I don't think, but has a miserable cold and sinus infection, she suspects.  So that makes me sad.

Hopefully, she will feel well enough and brave enough to come back on Monday. 

Well, I've been up since 4:30 a.m. and I've just run out of things to say. ;o|  Tired body, tired mind…boring blog.  Sorry about that!

I do pray that you have a good weekend.  I have an old highschool friend who is visiting from Washington State, and I am looking forward to seeing her at church on Sunday.  Doug also has an out-of-town friend who is supposed to be at church on Sunday, and they plan to go out to lunch afterwards.  Hopefully, Isaac will be feeling better, and we can renew those friendships this weekend.

Blessings to you,

Alesha

Under the Weather

We've had a sick little boy at our house since last Friday night.

Isaac spiked a fever Friday night, so we treated him with a fever reducer.  But Saturday evening, we allowed the medicine to wear off, and his fever hit an absolutely frightening 104.4*.

He had ibuprofen in his system for about 30 minutes when we took his temperature, so we immediately gave him acetomenaphine as well.  After waiting about 20 minutes more, his temperature had not come down at all.

Needless to say, we rushed him immediately to the emergency room.

The staff did every test imaginable:  flu test, strep test, urine test, blood gases, blood cultures, all the basic levels, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and of course his temp.

It took about 2 hours for his temp to come down under 101*.  Poor baby was so miserable that he actually slept through most of our stay in the ER, and he didn't even cry through all the blood sticks or the cath they had to do to get a urine sample.

The ER doctor's final diagnosis was something "viral", since all tests came back normal/negative.

While we were there, Ike started coughing up phlegm and so the doctor ordered i.v. antibiotics, since he was already hooked up to a saline drip.  Then gave us another antibiotic to get filled on the way home.

She also prescribed asthma treatments every 4 hours for his cough.  We don't quite keep to that schedule.  We allow his cough and his breathing to dictate his treatments.  After all these years, we know what we're doing, and we prefer to give as few treatments as possible.

We took him to see his pediatrician yesterday, and he also diagnosed an ear infection and gave us medicated ear drops.

We thought that his fever was gone by this morning.  We had kept him on ibuporfen since Friday, and prefer to let it wear off on day #4 or so.  However, this morning, after about 4 hours with no fever reducer in his system, his temp jumped back up to 101.7*!

So, back on more meds, poor baby!  He slept some this morning and now Mrs. Julie is here to see that he stays comfortable the rest of the afternoon.  He is very lethargic and more than happy to listen to his "hallelujah" videos today.

If you could pray for Isaac today, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.  It really means a lot.

Alesha

 

Less is More

I looked to see if I had any new pictures downloaded since my last post…and to this blogger's utter shame, I do not!

How embarrassing!

😉

So, with no pictures, I'll have to work really hard to make this interesting, won't I?

We are all doing well, but not great.  Doug is still fighting an eye infection, and Isaac and I are both still having sinus issues.  Isaac isn't sleeping well, either, so…well, you know…hyper, overstimulated boy and tired mama and daddy.

We have made some changes to his feeding schedule lately, and to our utter delight, it has gone really well.  We are feeding him fewer times during the day, with more formula at each feeding.  He seems to be more satisfied between feedings this way, and we are really pleased.

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I have an internet friend who is traveling halfway across the nation today to meet and adopt a little girl she has been praying about for many, many months.  That is so exciting!  This little one has many special needs, and I am so thrilled to see her find a forever home with an experienced former nurse and mom who already has two other special needs children besides.  What a joyful home this special one will be coming back too. 🙂

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On a sadder note, we have more friends who are facing very serious battles with cancer right now – people our own age, and also folks who have been mentors and friends to us over the years. 

I really want to just lay right down in the floor and throw a temper tantrum about it.  I know that is such an immature thing to want to do.  I trust in my sovereign God – I truly do.  But for ME, for my friends' families, I am so sad to lose more precious people to this disease.

I read the following quote this week and it helped me:

"Do not be afraid to suffer.  Do not be afraid to be overthrown.  It is by being cast down and not destroyed, it is by being shaken to pieces, and the pieces torn to shreds, that men become men of might…" ~Beecher

I don't think I'm there yet.  I am still quite afraid to suffer too much.  However, I do want to learn to trust my Saviour more.  I do want to learn more of His power, and to see it used in my life; and it seems the two work together:

Phillipians 3:[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Yep – there seems to be a pattern there: 

  • less of me, more of Him;
  • less comfort, more knowledge of Him;
  • less of my control, more of His power.

I'm so grateful that He is willing to let me continue to "grow up" in Him.  I do feel like such a "brat" some days – and a spoiled rotten one, at that.  I thank God that He is a good and patient Father to me!

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Now, on a lighter note, Doug has been asked to help with our church's senior citizen's ministry.  He is extremely excited about that.  He will be working with an incredible saint of God who has just gone  – successfully, I might add – through his own battle with cancer.  Doug knows there is much to be learned from this seasoned pastor, and he is eager for the opportunity.

It makes me very happy to see my husband's gifts recognized and encouraged.

Yep…makes me proud and humbled all at the same time.

🙂

Our God is a good God (just in case you needed to be reminded.)

Thanks for reading,

Alesha

 

Catching Up, Sort Of…

We are still alive and kicking, down here in hot, still-feels-like-summer Florida!  I just wanted to let you know, in case you were, you know…wondering!

It takes up a lot of my time when I am helping someone learn how our household operates, and when I am teaching them about Isaac.

Our caregiver is working out better than I ever imagined!  It is taking some getting used to, though, having someone else in the house with us.  I have a hard time focusing on my blog, any way.  Some days I feel so anti-social because I just don't have the energy to keep up a running dialogue; but really, I don't think she expects that any ways.

Doug is still fighting off a cold, or allergies, or something.  Isaac and I got rid of the fever and cold, but are still having some coughing and stuffy noses.  It's like the allergens jumped on us after our cold, and we just can't get back to "normal".

Ike had his second week of riding, and just loved it!  We are so excited that he is being able to enjoy this activity again.

Sorry I wasn't able to post a "Creative Spark Friday" post over on my jewelry blog, if you are keeping up with that.  I had the "spark".  I felt the inspiration.  I just didn't have the time to make it happen.  I hope to catch up with it some time this week.

Well, I guess that's it from our house.  I'm praying that it finds everybody doing well at your house.

Blessings,

Alesha

Cowboy Isaac

Isaac is still coughing, but we figured the sunshine and fresh air would
do him more good, than harm; so he saddled up and went riding!

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IkeonDoub2

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IkeonDoub 

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He loved it!

Doug said when they took his hand to reach out and pet the horse's mane, he just laughed!  So exciting!

Now we just have to remember to shop for a hat that fits.  His head is so small that he needs an adjustable extra-small.  With all of us sick, we just haven't been able to get to Tractor Supply to see if they carry one.  So that's our goal for next week. 🙂

I have succumbed to the "yuckies" and now have my own fever, cough and congestion. :o(  And, quite honestly, Isaac is a much more pleasant patient than I am!

Our caregiver is working out wonderfully, even though we've had a glitch in the funding.  It's incredible to me that some businesses even stay afloat with the way they conduct their affairs!!!  But it is what it is, and we will just work (within) the system as best we can.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again,

Alesha