Category: What’s Happening

I Won Something!

by ObtainingMercy, posted in What's Happening

Doug has come back home, and I slept ALL night last night, and finally, all is well once again. 🙂

Isaac was so excited to have his Daddy home again, and to show it in the finest way possible, slept from 9 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., then went back to sleep by 9 a.m. and slept until noon today!

I told Doug that his being out of town just wore Isaac out! 

Doug's grandma is doing really well, and the trouble now will be keeping her from overdoing it every day.  She likes to stay busy, and has been halted with her heart issues for a long time.  I know she will be out in her gardens again just as soon as she gets the ok from her surgeons.  Go Grandma!!!

I have just recently discovered an entirely new set of blogs to read.  They are all about jewelry making!  It is so fun to me to see others' creations, and to read about their process to the final piece.  They also offer the nicest giveaways.  

Today I found out I won a fabulous book, Metalworking 101 for Beaders: Create Custom Findings, Pendants & Projects (Lark Jewelry Book)

Metalworking 101
 

The generous giver of the book is Cyndi at Beading Arts.  She has wonderful site, with lots of links with so much information for jewelry makers.  I am still going through her links, enjoying and learning as I go.

I just wanted to share my fun "win" with you! 🙂

Alesha

Update on Doug’s Grandma

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Food and Drink, Hallelujah Diet, Prayer Request, What's Happening

Just wanted to let you know that Doug's grandma came through surgery ok.  She was in a regular room, and already talking, before Doug's mom went home for the evening.

Doug left this morning to fly out to be with them.  We tried to tell Isaac that Daddy was going "bye-byes" for a long time, and that we would talk to him on the telephone.  Now whether he can comprehend that is another thing entirely.  So, I'm praying that he will understand enough to know that all is well, even though things may be different for the next several days.

I know it's true, too, that he will sense my emotions and feed off of them, so I am praying for peace for myself. 🙂

Thank you for praying.  Please continue to do so, if the Lord lays our family on your heart.  I know that Grandma's recovery will take quite a while, and she is not a very patient woman. :~D  However, she is very feisty and full of vim and vigor.  I think, in the long run, those qualities may be more important than patience in her recovery!

So, Ike and I are off on our adventure of fending for ourselves!  I visited the chiropractor yesterday just to make sure everything was in its proper place – too funny, I know!  However, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right? 

As far as I know, we won't have any help.  My mom will be checking on us, I'm sure, but she doesn't know how to feed Isaac or give his meds.  She can change him, and shift him in the bed, but like myself, she doesn't lift him.  

I know we will be using his lift a great deal this week for Isaac.  My goal is to have him in his wheelchair for several hours each day.  I know that is best for him, rather than being in the bed.  I won't be putting him in his recliner in the living room, as it is too difficult to get him out of it, even with the lift.  His position is much better in his wheelchair, any way, so that is what we will do.

Now I will leave you with a funny picture.  I did not plan this meal to be so color coordinated.  I was simply trying to cook up the veggies that needed to be cooked before they started spoiling, and this is what we ended up with.  It might look funny, but it was delicious!!!  (Broiled asparagus, green beans amandine, and broccoli and pea salad – all from Hallelujah Acres recipes)

Green supper 

May God bless your day with peace,

Alesha

 

Let the Home Schooling Begin!

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Isaac Update, Prayer Request, What's Happening

It's been a busy week for us here in HOT, sunny Florida.  Summer has arrived right on schedule and we are already seeing temperatures in the mid-90s – which is as it should be!  It is Florida, after all.

This is the first week, since I was down with my back, that I have tried to integrate caring for Isaac and actually doing a little house work too.  That's why I haven't been here blogging – just too busy!  It seems that everything takes me twice as long as it did before.

On Tuesday, while Doug and Isaac went to therapy, my Dad took Mama and I to the dentist.  Now doesn't that sound like a fun outing???  I was glad to be with good company, but would have rather gone shopping or something! :) 

The rest of the week I spent trying to keep Isaac in dry ribbons!  He is a chewing maniac these days.  It's so funny after almost 3 years of putting nothing in his mouth, he has constantly got something he's trying to chew on.  

We have been working on his relearning some things this past week.  We're starting with the word "gentle".  He is really giving his therapists a difficult time, and has started swatting at them when they stretch or move something in a way that he doesn't like.  He doesn't have much control, and so the swatting can really hurt.  Even when he's playing with me, now, he whacks and doesn't realize how hard it is.  So, we are working on "gentle".

I am also working with him on retrieving his own toys when he loses track of them.  His default behavior is to whine – repeatedly – quietly – yet with every breath – until I come and "fix" whatever is wrong.  Whether he wants a different video, or to listen to the radio, or if he needs dry pants, he just does his "nagging" as I call it. 

So, I am trying to prompt him, when I know he's just misplaced his toys, to find them for himself.  Usually they are up under his arm, and he has a hard time finding them, because he can't see them.  I help him to reach over with his opposite hand to find them.  I am also helping him to sit up and reach down the bed for them, when he's just tossed them beyond his reach.  He is always so delighted when he gets them.

We are also teaching him the word "drink".  I am using his lemon swabs to give him tastes of different juices.  He gets a little of the liquid without my pouring it into his mouth, which could cause him to aspirate.  Some days he wants several "drinks" and other days he's not interested; but since it's getting so hot, I thought it was a good things to work on.  He drools so much when he chews on toys, and I don't want him to get dehydrated in this weather.

So, I guess I sorta-kind started Isaac's home school lessons again, didn't I?  I really didn't realize it, until I started telling you all about them.  These are the sorts of things we worked on before, although in greater number each week.  We will add things each week, as he understands more and more.

Today, he enjoyed baked sweet potato with me for lunch.  He chewed and swallowed every bite.  Doug said none of it ended up on his bib!  (He used to taste things, but then let them slide out of his mouth instead of swallowing.)  Sweet potato used to be his favorite baby food, too!  We're on the right track, I'd say! 🙂

I am looking forward to my fresh, new week.  I am especially praying for my sweet friend, Mrs. C, who is recovering from surgery.  I'm also praying for a friend's son, who seems to be straying from the Lord.  You know it is never too late to ask for God to draw the prodigal back home.  He is a loving, gracious and forgiving God – as I can personally testify!

May you see God's Hand in your life this week, as He moves to accomplish His will in you!

Alesha

How Great Is Our God!

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, How Great is Our God, Isaac Update, What's Happening

I've been mulling on a new post all week.  Do you do that too?  You have something you want to share, but you're not quite sure how to go about it, so you just think on it for awhile?  That's what I've been doing.

I told you Isaac is making some transitions since his surgery.  It has been really odd, and we are still sort of processing and learning as we go along.

Let me start by saying that I began blogging in February of 2007.  As I have been working to move those old posts over to my new server, I realized that I began blogging in order to keep a grasp on reality and my sanity.  Truly, there was so much going on with Isaac, and it was so overwhelming, that if I had not stepped out of my self, in order to tell his story, I think I might have "lost it" a little.

When thinking over this blog post, I realized that most of you don't know what Isaac was like before I started blogging.  You didn't experience much of Isaac's life before the seizures took over.  So, when I tell you the new things that are happening you aren't going to understand some of it.  I will try to explain as I go along.

When Isaac had his shunt revision in December of 2006, they were unable to remove part of the shunt, the catheter.  It had been embedded in his brain since shortly after his birth, over 6 years earlier.  The skull had literally grown and calcified around it, and to remove it would have caused entirely too much trauma and blood loss.

The decision was made to place the new catheter right beside the old one.

Isaac began to decline immediately following this surgery.  You know all about that if you have read my blog for any length of time.

However, before that surgery, he was doing well: 

  • He had learned to chew – it took an entire school year. 
  • He played with ribbons and strings, chewing on them mostly. 
  • He loved to look at books and would try to help turn the pages. 
  • He used words with meaning to express himself. 
  • He made minimal eye contact. 
  • He turned his head to see things on his left side.
  • He was learning to use communication devices.
  • He picked up toys to feel them and look for tags or labels (so he could chew them).
  • He noticed people who spoke to him and responded to them.
  • He expressed excitement about going places and seeing people.
  • He pitched fits when he didn't get his way.
  • He jumped at loud noises.
  • He had very sensitive palms and feet, and needed "brushing" to calm his sensory issues.
  • He could stand and sit, on command.
  • He was taking steps, with a therapist's help.

Can I just say…We almost have this same child again!!!

With the exception of the last item (because he has lost so much strength in the last 3 years and 4 months) he is doing all of the things in that list! 

His skills have been returning gradually since the last surgery, and we have just watched in amazement!  It's as if each morning, we are waking up to a new child.

While these things are astonishing, can I tell you something even more astounding???

We are only seeing a couple of seizures a day!!!

And beyond that — he is doing things he's never done before:

  • He is picking up toys that make noise and shaking them, smiling when they make noise.
  • He is making choices by grabbing the toy or movie that he wants.
  • He is pulling our hand to his mouth when we are offering him a bite of food.

It is utterly amazing.

We don't know what God is doing, but we are cautiously thrilled by the things we are experiencing.  I say "cautiously" because we know the human brain is an magnificent puzzle; and quite possibly, as quickly as these things appear, they can disappear.

However, we are thanking God each day that we are experiencing these little miracles; and I just wanted to share them with you – my friendly readers – who have so faithfully walked the difficult path with us the last 3 years.

It is proof that although prayers may not be answered the way that we desire, we should not stop praying. 

God's answer will come when the time is right in His will, and then we will stand back in amazement, as we see what the mighty hand of God can do.

To God be all the glory!

Alesha

Turtle Wranglin’

by ObtainingMercy, posted in What's Happening

We live across the road from a lake.  We are assuming that's where the turtles came from.  Yesterday, Doug found more turtles in our yard, and decided to take them back to the lake.

0420001721

They were happy to depart the wheelbarrow and be on their way.  Doug heard the little one "plop" into the water before the second one had cleared the wheelbarrow.

0420001723

The funny part?  Just a couple of hours earlier, my dad had taken two turtles from his yard too, and returned them to the lake!!!  So, I'm thinking we had a whole family of turtles who had wandered into our yard. 

I'll let you know if we have any more turtle drama over here in our neck of the woods, er, I mean, in our neighborhood! 🙂

Around the Neighborhood

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Household, What's Happening

My lilies have finally bloomed…just beautifully!

Magnificent!

The air is full of the sweet smell of orange blossoms.

Our neighbor's dog.  Isn't he gorgeous?  We don't know his name, so we, quite imaginatively, call him "Brownie".

My version of a bird bath – vintage terra cotta pot and saucer from my grandmother's house.  It works really well, too.

This is right outside Ike's window.  The birdbath is below it.

 

The most beautiful thing in our yard – our now functioning air conditioning unit.

Just look at that Florida sky!!!

Mama turtle was taking a tour of our yard this morning.

Baby turtle trying to catch a ride.

 

Papa is installing a wide gate between our two yards, so that Isaac's wheelchair (and Papa's new riding lawn mower) can go easily from yard to yard.

Newton, sporting his new haircut and bandanna.

And, inside the house, our new mattress set arrived!  It is wonderful, and we love it!!!  We bought this one from here.

How are things in your neighborhood?

🙂

Alesha

 

 

A Short Post From Sunny Florida

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Florida Weather, Household, Isaac Update, What's Happening
  • Isaac's surgery site is healing nicely, and he has been released to his regular activities!  That means, Lord willing, church for the 3 of us on Sunday.  Praise the Lord!
  • We bought a new mattress set, and it will be delivered on next Friday.  THANK YOU to all of you who gave me your opinions and experiences.  I did a lot of research, due to your ideas, and we feel we found the best mattress for us. 🙂 Pictures to follow, after it's delivered. 
  • I had a brutal visit with my chiropractor on Monday, but I am reaping the rewards of that now.  My legs are finally the same length again, and – wonder of wonders! – that does miraculous things for my muscles!  Go figure! 🙂
  • We are spending lots of time outside in this beautiful weather.  Soon, it will be much too hot to be outside, except first thing in the morning, so we are trying to soak up all the rays we can now.  Isaac and I are both sporting pink noses and cheeks, and we look so much better for it! 😉
  • I pray that you have a wonderful weekend, and that you are able to be in your church on Sunday.  I am looking forward - with GREAT anticipation – to being in mine. :~D

Blessings,

Alesha