tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13570232642800328232024-03-05T15:55:35.623-05:00A Gift, Dedicated to GodMy son, Corban Levi, was born in July of 2011, with a rare congenital condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita. This blog is about him, his life, his accomplishments, and my experience being his mother.S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-49981287535872080932016-04-13T23:00:00.000-04:002016-04-13T23:00:32.037-04:00Fears Confirmed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I feel like I've just been punched in the gut and can't catch my breath. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Although I've wondered it for quite some time, it wasn't until today that my fears were confirmed. It wasn't until today that I learned there is a solid explanation why my son isn't like the other kids with his diagnoses. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's a reason the other kids with <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2663550/">Sheldon-Hall syndrome</a> are able to walk, while Corban can't even hope to sit on his own. There's a reason the other children with <a href="http://www.webmd.com/children/arthrogryposis-multiplex-congenita">arthrogryposis multiplex congenita</a> are able to find a way to get around (however limited it may be), while Corban is stuck in his chair with no mobility whatsoever. There's a reason the other kids with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craniosynostosis">craniosynostosis</a> are able to communicate with their parents just fine, while Corban has no way of communicating with us, other than laughing or crying. The reason these children are not like Corban and Corban is not like them, is that Corban has <a href="http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cerebral-palsy.html">Cerebral Palsy</a>. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiRTO2KAgj78FzWyGFgsFVaGTm7JD1LBSbL1zMyMckQi8VR8AG5dh5tPplhwllNRK0WqH71xWkm0GyWxtonfSYa_MturXqATH8N7vR7VRyHt0q0EsG7jL__AaWsMHG61RRVlIerxm97lj/s1600/IMG_6317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiRTO2KAgj78FzWyGFgsFVaGTm7JD1LBSbL1zMyMckQi8VR8AG5dh5tPplhwllNRK0WqH71xWkm0GyWxtonfSYa_MturXqATH8N7vR7VRyHt0q0EsG7jL__AaWsMHG61RRVlIerxm97lj/s320/IMG_6317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My little boy, who could have been cognitively normal, is now getting ready to face his 5th birthday without a single word in his vocabulary. When he's ill and doesn't feel like eating, Corban can't tell us to stop pumping his sick belly full of food (via g-tube). When he's hungry again, he can't tell us. When his head hurts, he can't tell us. When he is lonely or scared, he can't tell us. There is soooo much that he can't tell us, and there's even more that we can't tell him - all because his brain was irrevocably damaged. <br />
<br />
I've cried more today than I have in a long time. The thought of what could have been and the realization of what is, haunts me. I feel angry. I feel guilty. I feel deflated. I feel confused. <br /><br />Why me? Why Corban? Why us? Do we really we need one more thing? Is the list of diagnoses not long enough as it is?<br />
<br />
Could we have prevented it? That is my biggest question. I'm not 100% sure, but I think his brain injury may have happened <a href="http://corbanlevi.blogspot.com/2011/11/we-almost-lost-him.html">the day we almost lost him</a>. What could we have done differently? Did we do everything we could for him? The questions will probably always plague me. The ramifications most certainly will. S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-38024497636856822102016-03-27T15:30:00.000-04:002016-04-13T20:46:56.010-04:00I Am Making All Things New<i>"And
I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle
of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His
people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any</i> <i>mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.' And
He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'" Revelation 21:3-5a</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
That is my hope. It's what I rest my hat on at the end of the day. And it's what I celebrate on this Easter Sunday.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"I (God) am making all things new." </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Sn5uh9fbLl5GcQGwgm4Hx224-GCHxuJaUD4m-2EJzOiLFA7Q_4n3B2lGv_DB6Vsd_FHgSyc3mgAoCmT9Tri2bsYjxnOH7M6KY2VpssfCGtnkIxnMWUI1RGfl1oVayncrJqGkV0gCvCUF/s1600/IMG_6249edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Sn5uh9fbLl5GcQGwgm4Hx224-GCHxuJaUD4m-2EJzOiLFA7Q_4n3B2lGv_DB6Vsd_FHgSyc3mgAoCmT9Tri2bsYjxnOH7M6KY2VpssfCGtnkIxnMWUI1RGfl1oVayncrJqGkV0gCvCUF/s320/IMG_6249edited.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i> </i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohVtPs_W7ccbJYDfWrLuqSnash9CePp3fVVnOnNHgLfb36Jcmc27gwmyIacD1Z0iMWg2336hZNEakLxxxHBOJffrAS5muMsNzULmkLRQA4uXUpE9E-JWfGbaonAnba44Cf-4IZrPfqhyphenhyphenp/s1600/IMG_6253edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohVtPs_W7ccbJYDfWrLuqSnash9CePp3fVVnOnNHgLfb36Jcmc27gwmyIacD1Z0iMWg2336hZNEakLxxxHBOJffrAS5muMsNzULmkLRQA4uXUpE9E-JWfGbaonAnba44Cf-4IZrPfqhyphenhyphenp/s320/IMG_6253edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Is that your hope too? </div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-34322154887218493622015-11-02T15:30:00.000-05:002016-04-13T17:04:28.945-04:00Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Say That Ten Times Faste-o-sin-o-FILL-ik (eosinophilic) uh-sof-uh-JIE-tis (esophagitis)<br />
<br />
Ten times fast. <br />
<br />
Ok, now, GO!<br />
<br />
If you can say that mouthful of medical terms at all, let alone ten times fast, you are doing better than I. Truthfully, I had to ask the nurse about ten times to repeat herself, simply so I could write it down. Actually being able to pronounce these words, however? Well, that's another story.<br />
<br />
The biopsy results from July's procedure took a little longer than expected, but I assumed the results would be normal as the scope looked fine. Corban's esophagus and stomach both looked so nice and pink in the pictures, so I figured all was well.<br />
<br />
But all is not well. Corban has something called <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eosinophilic-esophagitis/basics/definition/con-20035681">eosinophilic esophagitis</a>, EE, or EOE. Any of those terms describe the same thing: a build-up of white blood cells in his esophagus. Basically, there's a war going on inside of his esophagus.<br />
<br />
This white blood cell "war" might explain why Corban fights eating so vehemently. It's probably quite painful for him to swallow, and food likely gets caught on the way down. It would also explain why he has frequent issues with vomiting (the bane of my existence, in case you were wondering).<br />
<br />
Trying to determine the root cause of the EE will be a bit of a journey, however, as it could be any number of things. Food, allergens, or acid reflux, are the main reasons one might have EOE. If left untreated, it will only get worse and damage his esophageal tissue.<br />
<br />
So, here we are again. One more challenge to face. One more thing to test. One more doctor to "poke and prod" my already traumatized son. One more reason to call out to God.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NOuCw_wQ5IZYMMu7CfYKpr9TNKlv-BLuSz3DzpfV2xqUOc0vPOiybWQqYXFNijzCpQhxio2c_d-BNoRVvU9m6fcmwXXNA4ZKHEgUkS51G8ZubIEKfHnkSh0JyvICe9hjHk4BrOM5TKaJ/s1600/IMG_20151102_141625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NOuCw_wQ5IZYMMu7CfYKpr9TNKlv-BLuSz3DzpfV2xqUOc0vPOiybWQqYXFNijzCpQhxio2c_d-BNoRVvU9m6fcmwXXNA4ZKHEgUkS51G8ZubIEKfHnkSh0JyvICe9hjHk4BrOM5TKaJ/s320/IMG_20151102_141625.jpg" width="320" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, here I am, calling out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Lord, give us some answers! Help us know how to help our son. We
tire of his tears. We hope for greater joy and less pain. Give us
strength in the meantime. We love you and thank you for this chance to make a difference in his life. PLEASE, let it make a difference!<br />In the name of Jesus. Amen.</i></div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-62580219125048701512015-07-27T21:00:00.000-04:002016-04-13T15:25:25.243-04:00Happy Birthday, Birthday Boy!<div style="text-align: center;">
My little boy is FOUR YEARS OLD today!! How did that happen?!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QVgw70vNLu_Y-2-Yc6yjHbhyphenhyphenYUD6GpJDPMJLhgoXDERt573jA0sA1GuVlYyggmTAycWNcjj_8UtEzuPkY1o6ieWMXN6EHq1fp3QTYRYMdIjUQFlrUBje4BiY8fOFQnTWZPJnhmGahgdo/s1600/IMG_4080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QVgw70vNLu_Y-2-Yc6yjHbhyphenhyphenYUD6GpJDPMJLhgoXDERt573jA0sA1GuVlYyggmTAycWNcjj_8UtEzuPkY1o6ieWMXN6EHq1fp3QTYRYMdIjUQFlrUBje4BiY8fOFQnTWZPJnhmGahgdo/s320/IMG_4080.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well... I suppose we've been a little distracted by these two loonie birds. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ws5cptahw0RQg9A0TP9KbeX5kEtGDc-x4hoNsKcP4CWJsvYTYNozbDHahCsoiZ_R2TUUckgjFIPocmnCtBzLE9BK6qFs6JAc5Qh9CBVrMwExPTTIVMIvoL3TPQcaqNkSnzcvJpv3ufxZ/s1600/IMG_4104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ws5cptahw0RQg9A0TP9KbeX5kEtGDc-x4hoNsKcP4CWJsvYTYNozbDHahCsoiZ_R2TUUckgjFIPocmnCtBzLE9BK6qFs6JAc5Qh9CBVrMwExPTTIVMIvoL3TPQcaqNkSnzcvJpv3ufxZ/s320/IMG_4104.JPG" width="213" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've also been distracted by Corban's handsome face and unmatched charm. "Oh, da'ling..."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r6TNJauPMwxueZmW5kGgNi9kSmkIqEebDx-vKs6QApfugDtTEX6HZHF4CxafeSvLqfiJ4qsH2M1GXrpK0XDOhw9QOWIerWWyRQl69a9FPayjmRlVVqSp0cKweuTw1KpjRURIEBuKmvKn/s1600/IMG_4099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r6TNJauPMwxueZmW5kGgNi9kSmkIqEebDx-vKs6QApfugDtTEX6HZHF4CxafeSvLqfiJ4qsH2M1GXrpK0XDOhw9QOWIerWWyRQl69a9FPayjmRlVVqSp0cKweuTw1KpjRURIEBuKmvKn/s320/IMG_4099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And Corban's baby sister is a highly skilled and dangerous weapon of mass distraction. KA-BOOM!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRSXYqAQ29noESz-YObFPxA2DOou57MPH0tUW3GpAPbQU3schyNdMZS_Csayb2oswzvd06tEkn3oWmfhhF8ae-gm7JshyFTlIPvR1ptKy2SMCvYEZbfRbgmQ7F2vxq2ij2-pnYZZRtYge/s1600/IMG_4115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRSXYqAQ29noESz-YObFPxA2DOou57MPH0tUW3GpAPbQU3schyNdMZS_Csayb2oswzvd06tEkn3oWmfhhF8ae-gm7JshyFTlIPvR1ptKy2SMCvYEZbfRbgmQ7F2vxq2ij2-pnYZZRtYge/s320/IMG_4115.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Between all four of them, we..... are......never.......bored! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07-v3k6c_0ic8fvo-AYlLAJ4jymW_S7ZMT7jeOG4eXF968f31gzATwt9XVJGKQQJtj8umCSGfY1fPUdmsyTtsfrjEZMdMCXrMsHaLotBzeNXYn8-Bsyp7cbcxHy9ypnEAIqce09ER84Lo/s1600/IMG_4111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07-v3k6c_0ic8fvo-AYlLAJ4jymW_S7ZMT7jeOG4eXF968f31gzATwt9XVJGKQQJtj8umCSGfY1fPUdmsyTtsfrjEZMdMCXrMsHaLotBzeNXYn8-Bsyp7cbcxHy9ypnEAIqce09ER84Lo/s320/IMG_4111.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Good thing Daddy's a pro!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYBxyJBq5zs-aQOJzis5P-63LBhLv6COuC9oOoC-UgeLFJjSrHfHII8JaKvcn-fO_FWwJx9KzkIORFFxBq9-2yh2zwIautUzDmXTCS6hrxblLBU_bv0kws6KG6R6p0-E3JosaVs8N586j/s1600/IMG_4116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYBxyJBq5zs-aQOJzis5P-63LBhLv6COuC9oOoC-UgeLFJjSrHfHII8JaKvcn-fO_FWwJx9KzkIORFFxBq9-2yh2zwIautUzDmXTCS6hrxblLBU_bv0kws6KG6R6p0-E3JosaVs8N586j/s320/IMG_4116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And good thing Corban's not afraid of fire. Because that cake is LOADED with candles! One... two... three...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRnRreHJg53-GFwQ9Oq8lHA0xpMXCiBYNsP4sGWDKOZ2epRL-LGytspK7YSwXSmCulhOOP1acu-OmF3Vd4fFCtA34Bc6YHcieWd8XVrUuMB5Eh0GM881c7f3hENzjFC7F5cy0X_G6jx44/s1600/IMG_4126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRnRreHJg53-GFwQ9Oq8lHA0xpMXCiBYNsP4sGWDKOZ2epRL-LGytspK7YSwXSmCulhOOP1acu-OmF3Vd4fFCtA34Bc6YHcieWd8XVrUuMB5Eh0GM881c7f3hENzjFC7F5cy0X_G6jx44/s320/IMG_4126.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
FOUR!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyx2csccULHttyDmRwlP7xIH5EZRtuKhpzJZlQNw5MNdsx82qRBdcqVeh8Z6TyfHCSYMGzwU0FvGLcv9v6AZUt1yriz-NqROUX-PD7-313GjhTDn2PHRF7iId_QtG-veghFzmNIg2idWl/s1600/IMG_4138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyx2csccULHttyDmRwlP7xIH5EZRtuKhpzJZlQNw5MNdsx82qRBdcqVeh8Z6TyfHCSYMGzwU0FvGLcv9v6AZUt1yriz-NqROUX-PD7-313GjhTDn2PHRF7iId_QtG-veghFzmNIg2idWl/s320/IMG_4138.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-32176343079651992932015-07-15T14:11:00.000-04:002015-07-15T18:57:07.853-04:00Triple Surgery Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3z9kkMfvv3-SSXfyjPW1QXVBUWA4advo09CSXoXvLMBU6GEIhtyhb2Q7SQmr3ApuJtNvCMipT64whJINt7vEvgWQxExuN6vgNI2iM6hbaZyi1iC17wUtiCig4eS8t8sic5YOyEtG_G7s/s1600/AMC+Awareness+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3z9kkMfvv3-SSXfyjPW1QXVBUWA4advo09CSXoXvLMBU6GEIhtyhb2Q7SQmr3ApuJtNvCMipT64whJINt7vEvgWQxExuN6vgNI2iM6hbaZyi1iC17wUtiCig4eS8t8sic5YOyEtG_G7s/s320/AMC+Awareness+Day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This picture was taken 2 weeks ago, on Arthrogryposis Awareness Day (June 30th). It was taken on a day where we were all happy, enjoying life, and wearing blue to celebrate the day. It was a day where Corban was enjoying life as well.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow is not a day where Corban will be enjoying life. Tomorrow is not a day where we all will be having fun. Tomorrow is a day where Corban will undergo anesthesia and have THREE different surgeons cut him open. It will not be a fun day. :(<br />
<br />
But...<br />
<br />
It will be a good day. A day of promise. :) I hope!<br />
<br />
I hope that the Ophthalmologist will have success in straightening Corban's wild eyes so he can see the world better (<i>strabismus/eye muscle sugery</i>). I hope that the <span class="U5">Gastroenterologist will give us some answers as to why Corban throws up and fights eating so badly (</span><i>endoscopy of esophagus, intestine and stomach</i>). And I hope that the Otolaryngologist (ENT) will be able to help Corban with his hearing issues and ultimately with his speech and feeding issues (<i>tubes in his ears, nasal endoscopy, adenoid removal</i>).<br />
<br />
If you're like me, your heart might be a little heavy for Corban today as you imagine all the surgeries he's endured and will endure in his life. But don't just think of the pain! Think of all the good things that could come from a day like tomorrow. Think of the potential for improvement. And hope for it! Always hope.S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-20774225018216638322015-06-30T21:30:00.000-04:002015-07-01T00:55:18.480-04:00Arthrogryposis Awareness Day - June 30, 2015"Arthro-gry-po-sis" is a word I would have never heard if it had not been for my son, Corban.<br />
<br />
I did not know about the 400 different causes for AMC (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita) or the fact that 20-30% of kids with AMC do not survive their first year of life. I would have not known about bilateral hip reductions, spinal casts, AFOs, KAFOs or a thousand other things. But neither would I have known my son's amazing smile and contagious laugh.<br />
<br />
So, on this day, Arthrogryposis Awareness Day, I thank God once again for giving Corban to me. The Lord could have very well taken him from us that first year, but He didn't. Almost 4 years later Corban is still here and smiling. :D<br />
<br />
To celebrate his amazing smile and continued presence in our lives, I'd like to share some photos of Corban that photographer Rick Guidotti (Positive Exposure) took of him last November. They truly capture Corban's unique features and awesome personality.<br />
<br />
Browse through them with me, and SMILE! And tell someone today about little Corban and this very long word that you now know because of him. "Arthro-gry-po-sis!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9JgVMX6wg7UiSmPZKDOh8ULIN1ZkUu5KHz3ltvtqfD6OvUXV3KvnE3pYMpItgl_FizPxzq1D1QnMfv2wQDfOnx4bqO5hCeoABYCxCLb2l4gXRO0hP1gwySztYNYwUCoJAibj3tkqX8ft/s1600/Corban6edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9JgVMX6wg7UiSmPZKDOh8ULIN1ZkUu5KHz3ltvtqfD6OvUXV3KvnE3pYMpItgl_FizPxzq1D1QnMfv2wQDfOnx4bqO5hCeoABYCxCLb2l4gXRO0hP1gwySztYNYwUCoJAibj3tkqX8ft/s320/Corban6edited.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiC6reGKUDxWYdDuIMTL78B6wMNdjtecfvu98VdTeahzYHEdvJ83wZpds8BCqI0BS0IQk9fWO46xS1OOjNRRcn2mBpa-BFBZuv8cPpXsemZ-QDp_sRu8V50IMsWozB5K1lQsQE6QuPuDL/s1600/Corban7edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiC6reGKUDxWYdDuIMTL78B6wMNdjtecfvu98VdTeahzYHEdvJ83wZpds8BCqI0BS0IQk9fWO46xS1OOjNRRcn2mBpa-BFBZuv8cPpXsemZ-QDp_sRu8V50IMsWozB5K1lQsQE6QuPuDL/s320/Corban7edited.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbl_v9J9cvnhkKb1idMImlW7fOyDAafvfRMqT787H1o2KlyCvWbPFWvEQDfiGjAlOR-DhQVq0Qp_r-DBN5jnnTDjQPqgzp1FqndCQeT_TUdf0ABQ-w7XjEd4qR5Gen1RKRcCthq6_Wggc/s1600/Corban3edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbl_v9J9cvnhkKb1idMImlW7fOyDAafvfRMqT787H1o2KlyCvWbPFWvEQDfiGjAlOR-DhQVq0Qp_r-DBN5jnnTDjQPqgzp1FqndCQeT_TUdf0ABQ-w7XjEd4qR5Gen1RKRcCthq6_Wggc/s320/Corban3edited.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3R4J7RuJHXAsbllfYJwg6K9pHwLi-GIhRO45RIVkUw0DNaCPgk1O9YgxEbPpL9vIJ1CS_nsP9OSa8RQ-mEokttOCwsbgHq9rdMrGXM9GwGhs7Ss4eDtcN32XgcNmwFxXi2QtJAhwGhBu/s1600/Corban10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3R4J7RuJHXAsbllfYJwg6K9pHwLi-GIhRO45RIVkUw0DNaCPgk1O9YgxEbPpL9vIJ1CS_nsP9OSa8RQ-mEokttOCwsbgHq9rdMrGXM9GwGhs7Ss4eDtcN32XgcNmwFxXi2QtJAhwGhBu/s320/Corban10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx__cY0gPwlchKgiZQLNqvLiM9pY_uJTTl8ZvqVzQ3G2gjIjqSHaDtBSq2RiE2BVkGeaN_lUTBp2jN2CJcKhH7BRvOAfX8yZP67ettKTwdeZTVYultXXm_CKTQTgnMFh3sXH0axXpiLqv/s1600/Corban8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx__cY0gPwlchKgiZQLNqvLiM9pY_uJTTl8ZvqVzQ3G2gjIjqSHaDtBSq2RiE2BVkGeaN_lUTBp2jN2CJcKhH7BRvOAfX8yZP67ettKTwdeZTVYultXXm_CKTQTgnMFh3sXH0axXpiLqv/s320/Corban8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-65011304943615664952015-04-02T13:53:00.000-04:002015-04-02T18:40:11.813-04:00Thumb-nails<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I
think about this blog. I do. I just don't have time to care for it like I
want. I have 4 little ones to care for now, and they take A LOT
of my time! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Actually,
I am beginning to think there is no such thing as "my time" anymore.
It's either "their time" or "our time" but hardly ever "my time." My
life is so bound up in my family, that there's very
little of just "me" left. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
And that's ok! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
As John the baptist said of Jesus, "he must increase, and I must decrease." While I am not John the baptist and my children are <i>not</i> Jesus,
that phrase still resonates with me as I spend my days dying to myself,
serving my family, and praying that as I "decrease" my children ultimately will "increase."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
That is a mother's <u>hope</u>! That her children will grow, thrive, succeed... </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
It's
easy to feel success with my 6 month old. She's growing by leaps and
bounds and doing something new almost every day. It's easy to feel
success with my older two. They're tall, healthy, strong, and <i>so</i> smart! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The
one I have the most trouble with in the day-to-day bog of life is, of
course, Corban. The progress is painfully slow, and it's hard to see the
forest for the trees most days. I get discouraged. I feel like giving
up. I have a hard time recalling ways that he's changed for the better,
as I often think of the ways that he's changed for the worse. Or hasn't changed at all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
That is the reason I pay any attention to this blog in the midst of my busy life. The reason I share what I
do. I want to remember where Corban has come from, remember where he is today, and remember that
he IS making progress. God IS doing something with him.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
So, today, I will share one way he's changed. I will think about one way he's different than he used to be.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Corban's left thumb used to look like his right thumb. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiybF9n6rb-EM3IU7o1JFUOV9HlE51f8m0ChhyUA1y9keTzfAV2pYCGOkOAFdTWesmqY-Lr3dyBORrOy7D_7IyZRxl_A7lCKXZkr6x87h65zEKPpQvDqCoj_r8CoqOmMAfNlWaARV8ZU0Z/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG" class="shrinkToFit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiybF9n6rb-EM3IU7o1JFUOV9HlE51f8m0ChhyUA1y9keTzfAV2pYCGOkOAFdTWesmqY-Lr3dyBORrOy7D_7IyZRxl_A7lCKXZkr6x87h65zEKPpQvDqCoj_r8CoqOmMAfNlWaARV8ZU0Z/s320/IMG_2042.JPG" height="213" width="320" /> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
But 4 months ago, he had surgery. He spent 4 weeks in a cast.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJMwlzDDrZ5kxqGNh9x66T-8ZKz8NufxbTmyAn6lYD8kHUYrQs0RTvVmhlogRT9c8P3CbjYxpDNQ9ST6hsrtpQ3Ll94AiV2WW4dr4VhPOuNXRsx2rv_HsDCvcX8kYKhGj1fhfL-zhX98w/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" class="shrinkToFit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJMwlzDDrZ5kxqGNh9x66T-8ZKz8NufxbTmyAn6lYD8kHUYrQs0RTvVmhlogRT9c8P3CbjYxpDNQ9ST6hsrtpQ3Ll94AiV2WW4dr4VhPOuNXRsx2rv_HsDCvcX8kYKhGj1fhfL-zhX98w/s320/IMG_0874.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When the cast came off, we saw "pins."</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMS37qYCG_6Z5G5U-WXKq8iYlUnjtEFj1dVfFnKhZNhq3KdN-7dwbaKKHMIfAJRzasdpnl07iCpJ7MJAmwRB52rdHwYcgOzce-07NCXkZy2Al9tIM2pjpNrALi1r_m2FiSparBp8ulvhz/s1600/IMG_0883.JPG" class="shrinkToFit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMS37qYCG_6Z5G5U-WXKq8iYlUnjtEFj1dVfFnKhZNhq3KdN-7dwbaKKHMIfAJRzasdpnl07iCpJ7MJAmwRB52rdHwYcgOzce-07NCXkZy2Al9tIM2pjpNrALi1r_m2FiSparBp8ulvhz/s320/IMG_0883.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Which, really, were more like "3 inch nails." </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2HAyz3tDhZ4ma2lFqB1zS_kfLwOobC4ZX96EPZqsKgF-1NfUEMfvnpZ9OoPlEYaSwQks1IewV5aoTmPQa_l6-50XOnH6eDjSgArzbVwTgia0Qq_vzz4lQ8CObmb2avQbl3Epn_K-vdu9/s1600/IMG_0901.JPG" class="shrinkToFit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2HAyz3tDhZ4ma2lFqB1zS_kfLwOobC4ZX96EPZqsKgF-1NfUEMfvnpZ9OoPlEYaSwQks1IewV5aoTmPQa_l6-50XOnH6eDjSgArzbVwTgia0Qq_vzz4lQ8CObmb2avQbl3Epn_K-vdu9/s320/IMG_0901.JPG" height="213" width="320" /> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> He had wounds that needed to heal. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"></span> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZiRhWfOJk5mPTVtCqD12KY2QzSIuch-a9pEXRISa5IqjoyeK_eGTBLp-uFRXQZ5wlY1PQnweHqvo70S2HlZJDbsB2rMTJ36Dcpwu4JZhGnzLUIR2IQn2E9XukX2QxzyGX1xC4jHyd1ag/s1600/IMG_0905.JPG" class="shrinkToFit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZiRhWfOJk5mPTVtCqD12KY2QzSIuch-a9pEXRISa5IqjoyeK_eGTBLp-uFRXQZ5wlY1PQnweHqvo70S2HlZJDbsB2rMTJ36Dcpwu4JZhGnzLUIR2IQn2E9XukX2QxzyGX1xC4jHyd1ag/s320/IMG_0905.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">But they have. They've healed. They've <i>changed</i>.</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl1a6fljEHqfeGAKbHOu_XHyf0sxfodECjleqvV8WxemHH1IuiuhhmqNeXnYBBnM99T8lMIp2EWYPbelgJFt7_MpCxJeev7rnBiOOpV-DDS1fN1Eu94wi1mWaJHjDT4vbxolZJCkoFX5Z/s1600/IMG_2047.JPG" class="shrinkToFit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl1a6fljEHqfeGAKbHOu_XHyf0sxfodECjleqvV8WxemHH1IuiuhhmqNeXnYBBnM99T8lMIp2EWYPbelgJFt7_MpCxJeev7rnBiOOpV-DDS1fN1Eu94wi1mWaJHjDT4vbxolZJCkoFX5Z/s320/IMG_2047.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">And NOW, his hand looks like this!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> <img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6CuLesDrzHsf-SHRQumAIO7xutitqGuPD_5IFCkirxl63SCaXq6IEY1MxeMzmp_DxBL9vaERTyPJlqF4l5O1PlwjXr11YuAd8F3AiqPm0IPkH5DPI9LBIdewweJH0UqsDYmsi3RrQuGT/s1600/IMG_2036.JPG" class="shrinkToFit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6CuLesDrzHsf-SHRQumAIO7xutitqGuPD_5IFCkirxl63SCaXq6IEY1MxeMzmp_DxBL9vaERTyPJlqF4l5O1PlwjXr11YuAd8F3AiqPm0IPkH5DPI9LBIdewweJH0UqsDYmsi3RrQuGT/s320/IMG_2036.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">It's <i>different </i>than it used to be. It's <i>better </i>than it used to be.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Don't let me forget. </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-20178633739581387262015-01-26T17:44:00.003-05:002015-01-30T22:59:13.691-05:00Getting Creative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsztNMIkCMd7nBv72La57ZLb0fdhJUxHQBVfZnqmybcWHuGpECUbSgfM7wDFJpGE_ZpQFsy3ENEuAsrAo56UY_BfEmL4E6geI9GhHz8i_Hk4AYqocgs0_2bKGmMwb87-t9fpyPIqPwsOBu/s1600/IMG_1991edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsztNMIkCMd7nBv72La57ZLb0fdhJUxHQBVfZnqmybcWHuGpECUbSgfM7wDFJpGE_ZpQFsy3ENEuAsrAo56UY_BfEmL4E6geI9GhHz8i_Hk4AYqocgs0_2bKGmMwb87-t9fpyPIqPwsOBu/s1600/IMG_1991edited.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
I promise, cross-my-heart-hope-to-die that I WILL update the blog soon. I am just finding it harder and harder to carve out a time as well as carve out my thoughts, while wrangling 4 kids, nursing, homeschooling, making dinner (occasionally), and breaking up potential life-threatening fights.<br />
<br />
SO, instead of a long update, I thought I'd quickly post a picture of Mr. Corban borrowing his baby sister's Jenny Jumper for a few minutes.<br />
<br />
I post this picture because lately I have been trying to think of creative ways to get Corban moving. It's not the struggle a mom usually faces with her toddler, I know. But it is mine. So, here we are today, trying out new equipment and stretching our minds to get a little more creative with the way Corban spends his awake time. I hope he appreciates our creativity and shows a little creativity himself.S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-71902242215791090032014-11-02T18:01:00.002-05:002014-11-02T18:02:41.945-05:00Charis Renae is Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wpWuhhURIApj296iLWtCWbdk4pWsLP-AQB3gRqBhS1ByfcFl0_s1BLBt4U89BSVJRwSqepZr_rAGMHPv7Amtt2AZtvjkSGlRUpcbju0qVfJE4Zp8qGojbgBjEIQFM75xVkrJmG3E4b7p/s1600/Charis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wpWuhhURIApj296iLWtCWbdk4pWsLP-AQB3gRqBhS1ByfcFl0_s1BLBt4U89BSVJRwSqepZr_rAGMHPv7Amtt2AZtvjkSGlRUpcbju0qVfJE4Zp8qGojbgBjEIQFM75xVkrJmG3E4b7p/s1600/Charis.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
You know you've just had a baby when you find yourself a month behind in everything. So, yes. Our little girl arrived over a month ago. September 25th, to be exact.<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First, let me start by apologizing to everyone who thought you might find us in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest pregnancy to date. Although it felt like that, it wasn't. Just a mere 42 weeks! That's all. ;)</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Although she took her merry ol' time in getting here and had a bit longer to cook in Mommy's belly than typical, she was a lot smaller than the doctor expected her to be. At only 8lb. 1oz., she showed herself to be more petite than her eldest brother (who weighed a solid 9lb. at birth) and only a couple ounces more than her sister (who weighed 7lb. 15oz.). Corban weighed 5lb. 1oz., so she definitely had him beat - but obviously, that's different. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Second, let me be the first to admit that I am 100% head over heels, googly-eyed, take my breath away IN LOVE! This baby girl has brightened my world in more ways than I'd ever be able to list on this short blog post. I'd really have to sit down and have a good heart-to-heart gab session for a few hours to recount all the ways she's brought me joy and filled my heart with good things. She is a tangible expression of God's smile on us and has been a healing balm in our lives.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From holding her and not having to worry about broken bones, to rocking her and not being in danger of knocking out a chest tube, to snuggling with her and having her "snuggle" back (instead of being scared or in pain), to nursing her and not having to worry about her aspirating, to kissing her and not having to dodge a bunch of ventilator tubing, to hearing her coo and taking heart in the fact that she won't have to undergo hours of speech therapy just to make a couple babbling sounds, to feeling her strong legs kick and the relief of not having to worry about painful surgeries or the possibility that she might never be able to walk, to watching her smile and knowing she's <i>not </i>afraid of me - her own mother, this baby girl has soothed many wounds and healed many sores. She has been a tangible expression of God's grace and goodness.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Which is what leads me to her name and why we chose it. From the first ultrasound where we saw her kick and flip and turn, and knew "it was all going to be ok," we felt a strong sense of God's mercy in giving us this little one. A strong sense of healing and grace.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So....<br />
we named her Grace! Well, sort of. "Charis" is the Greek word for "grace," so it's close enough. Charis means, "that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness... good will, loving-kindness, favor..." </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br />
Her middle name likewise carries a redemptive meaning. "Renae" (also my middle name) means "reborn." Put the two names together, and you have "grace reborn." And that's exactly how we feel about this beautiful little baby girl. In her, God's grace has been reborn in our lives.<br />
<br />
And that's not to say Corban ISN'T an expression of God's grace in our lives. He most certainly is! Just the fact that he <i>survived</i>, is evidence of God's grace. And that fact that he's come as far as he has? Also, major evidence of God's grace.<br />
<br />
It's just different.</div>
<br />
So now that that's established, I'm sure the big question you all are dying to ask is, "what does Corban thinks of his little sister?" Well, I think it's safe to say, she's growing on him. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2-JP9XTHxPFxN815SRsF4hHYOZQpgh_10IITqgtKJ_A7Cz6YbUMlvtEubQeA4bZdaDLZ0L90oGMdjBZhHuO4jny5-tPu5oO5lcvGQXh8yKexEDPp2hYiB0y1lSHoYBXpO9i-3Re2t8HI/s1600/DSC_3133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2-JP9XTHxPFxN815SRsF4hHYOZQpgh_10IITqgtKJ_A7Cz6YbUMlvtEubQeA4bZdaDLZ0L90oGMdjBZhHuO4jny5-tPu5oO5lcvGQXh8yKexEDPp2hYiB0y1lSHoYBXpO9i-3Re2t8HI/s1600/DSC_3133.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-85523886797604352472014-07-27T23:00:00.000-04:002014-07-28T01:20:18.379-04:00Corban is THREE!Three years today. Three years since this amazing little boy entered our lives. Three years of ups and downs and all over the places. But I wouldn't trade him for anything and I wouldn't trade these last three years either. At least most of it. :)<br />
<br />
And while I could spend hours waxing eloquent on these last three years (or rather, TRY to), I don't have hours to spend. Instead, I'll share a few snapshots from Corban's birthday party and leave the rest up to you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u5ANBgAFhXyX2R5sqrB_CBlpnqb99l_xT6LN3UXm3SvlkDaFX6IZFma9CEyF0wy9_KBdyqhzvePdcVcN3bDwBAbcwiFu_FYbuCE8nB3ZtFZ3OtJhDxUNxNrk04m4FBR-KSsuZeU1Wtyr/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u5ANBgAFhXyX2R5sqrB_CBlpnqb99l_xT6LN3UXm3SvlkDaFX6IZFma9CEyF0wy9_KBdyqhzvePdcVcN3bDwBAbcwiFu_FYbuCE8nB3ZtFZ3OtJhDxUNxNrk04m4FBR-KSsuZeU1Wtyr/s1600/5.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRvDTcJRVcwQuMZXu8FWoALVmY8vLkCZEj8uRueI3Z-I6ySONX_zuIoIbRAkVSQ_j4TaXYWHSy_ck5CDyhLss8RZ76NyGRvRZIAagpzDxPDTjR4T5NJ22H3Eu6fHp0LbCZKczMnudXrT9/s1600/DSC_2532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRvDTcJRVcwQuMZXu8FWoALVmY8vLkCZEj8uRueI3Z-I6ySONX_zuIoIbRAkVSQ_j4TaXYWHSy_ck5CDyhLss8RZ76NyGRvRZIAagpzDxPDTjR4T5NJ22H3Eu6fHp0LbCZKczMnudXrT9/s1600/DSC_2532.JPG" height="207" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwazrS-y_7Etnb2w8VeW3K0pln4trHimyZF-fGmsiUTfm35JAz5C5oSMSsDsyAxOgMaWpKGAPhPZ3mRWdfD_4ycwCndSE_HIdnEqHeuOtDy86r743Fg8wVMVcqVEw_KcveoghjOypBidCA/s1600/DSC_2531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwazrS-y_7Etnb2w8VeW3K0pln4trHimyZF-fGmsiUTfm35JAz5C5oSMSsDsyAxOgMaWpKGAPhPZ3mRWdfD_4ycwCndSE_HIdnEqHeuOtDy86r743Fg8wVMVcqVEw_KcveoghjOypBidCA/s1600/DSC_2531.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIydSu2cRr2UHncimOUG3tkpAqIpseSucd6uAkn4qrsnqFO2SxOJuVT8bnQSLsL36fQylKWX0DUmaqt4nqi6ibkoPtSy7u3TP-Zg7iMfP0zILThKZzPK5eQtBZghq47alN-Ct-WlEze3r2/s1600/DSC_2539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIydSu2cRr2UHncimOUG3tkpAqIpseSucd6uAkn4qrsnqFO2SxOJuVT8bnQSLsL36fQylKWX0DUmaqt4nqi6ibkoPtSy7u3TP-Zg7iMfP0zILThKZzPK5eQtBZghq47alN-Ct-WlEze3r2/s1600/DSC_2539.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4d_PWRFBM_69Td5N7CqjtCJlC0qL7u9xoYILI13C3yTUhY7b4PBQGt1urBXh8R8JSAt2cGABX9kchE32l83_WESt59YOXXxOA7N5fEfbLfdjgbTqtawsD1MCgk3Xz1wB2xgmSyz6hbyGO/s1600/DSC_2554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4d_PWRFBM_69Td5N7CqjtCJlC0qL7u9xoYILI13C3yTUhY7b4PBQGt1urBXh8R8JSAt2cGABX9kchE32l83_WESt59YOXXxOA7N5fEfbLfdjgbTqtawsD1MCgk3Xz1wB2xgmSyz6hbyGO/s1600/DSC_2554.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcgciBmtF4oK_Kx6ukw5d47DURIFQBWjgDKKNJ3xwzYpCkBcmGDRZi3b7Aa73dSAzRdxsn6oy6zt0DRuIwz8P-lQ9ZB3Fi2YnD1GDAVo3O9g7BpZF1z2jB5Mct1QqVD80fwoMpQjYZOH4/s1600/DSC_2550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcgciBmtF4oK_Kx6ukw5d47DURIFQBWjgDKKNJ3xwzYpCkBcmGDRZi3b7Aa73dSAzRdxsn6oy6zt0DRuIwz8P-lQ9ZB3Fi2YnD1GDAVo3O9g7BpZF1z2jB5Mct1QqVD80fwoMpQjYZOH4/s1600/DSC_2550.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_tnrVpduQznk0iSswqvogGkfygxDaqLjwDtGbLPGiRK7lmTBcZu_OvRkzr_W1XAypPzMeq8D9paIFG7mzVkRSnfzbtBcPwOtPEftcHWNv72jr4Ym5S_BhtcWQdp2VIeEEMy8a35AZ5KD/s1600/DSC_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_tnrVpduQznk0iSswqvogGkfygxDaqLjwDtGbLPGiRK7lmTBcZu_OvRkzr_W1XAypPzMeq8D9paIFG7mzVkRSnfzbtBcPwOtPEftcHWNv72jr4Ym5S_BhtcWQdp2VIeEEMy8a35AZ5KD/s1600/DSC_2574.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDety_8JcUlHM7ErBi03P78Z4KGNMeHDJQz_TU3HwHN7NVBisG30vfc6bNkaejMe56UCOx4msFdvAHdtuF_R2oVlA23WEipPLdD1Lnq0wAfPuKZl_b3Tp2cQs9dz1NZgVwLzz-oR5KWsX/s1600/DSC_2577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDety_8JcUlHM7ErBi03P78Z4KGNMeHDJQz_TU3HwHN7NVBisG30vfc6bNkaejMe56UCOx4msFdvAHdtuF_R2oVlA23WEipPLdD1Lnq0wAfPuKZl_b3Tp2cQs9dz1NZgVwLzz-oR5KWsX/s1600/DSC_2577.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTe207Wyym9CukCCdlXslr-sNFiwVHTaotw3axCTIlkEfL58RF_td-mUzlzB7AOa7B76ebKZMnGZP0OvzOOyJ4ictmZmOoHbNw4PQ7zX_ITfQTcEla0vf3HwK1rSuaK6eS5_17qBRZHW0g/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTe207Wyym9CukCCdlXslr-sNFiwVHTaotw3axCTIlkEfL58RF_td-mUzlzB7AOa7B76ebKZMnGZP0OvzOOyJ4ictmZmOoHbNw4PQ7zX_ITfQTcEla0vf3HwK1rSuaK6eS5_17qBRZHW0g/s1600/16.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblr9m5DEFHPHQEPeJlbPwPhmWaNcDVpU9wBBdy4y85KNlf_D3dzEj5W1eAyWovJtaCkop_-FCnbXZnSFXno6h1bdHxcAL47cp-JCmBfGtNVnR9v3Q3BuN6EdvAY6wxW_KbK5o5Qd43drk/s1600/DSC_2580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblr9m5DEFHPHQEPeJlbPwPhmWaNcDVpU9wBBdy4y85KNlf_D3dzEj5W1eAyWovJtaCkop_-FCnbXZnSFXno6h1bdHxcAL47cp-JCmBfGtNVnR9v3Q3BuN6EdvAY6wxW_KbK5o5Qd43drk/s1600/DSC_2580.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIXjaebLiu58jL5CEAJ-rH9pxgme0NMUcaFGs6k05YD3xUCgBcw_qWmjVtTY33KUJBBLneVTFVFRreNFO-aPt4hEgK_2qliophk9aKX_Qr3L2NE7t1KRZ62iHTPh8JJklu5OaMYUCFXrz/s1600/DSC_2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIXjaebLiu58jL5CEAJ-rH9pxgme0NMUcaFGs6k05YD3xUCgBcw_qWmjVtTY33KUJBBLneVTFVFRreNFO-aPt4hEgK_2qliophk9aKX_Qr3L2NE7t1KRZ62iHTPh8JJklu5OaMYUCFXrz/s1600/DSC_2588.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ0KyIP7py6p_1LTYuhzAwQet_DdJIcjR7B4SVO3xIw7bXRgY1dGaDbk_Sj6ePHdn6sYwuJOLdbo8FNiu8o8lK6fJvfhiDeD5TrEW-mAEv1b15h68BzEm8dlxZJWQY4tRdqj2_O3-skSH/s1600/DSC_2591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ0KyIP7py6p_1LTYuhzAwQet_DdJIcjR7B4SVO3xIw7bXRgY1dGaDbk_Sj6ePHdn6sYwuJOLdbo8FNiu8o8lK6fJvfhiDeD5TrEW-mAEv1b15h68BzEm8dlxZJWQY4tRdqj2_O3-skSH/s1600/DSC_2591.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fjrdgbnARUhocprb1rks5STRpFCsssI6Qne_X-IVsWSTeN1Lu8P1BN4KSr2iq_oMcjBZkNwQpCw7cCITFEBM-dK-FmLSYFaPvIjD3sAG5kDp5mT98A7Vk3wetd0v3bEj9P06Te2K4seJ/s1600/DSC_2594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fjrdgbnARUhocprb1rks5STRpFCsssI6Qne_X-IVsWSTeN1Lu8P1BN4KSr2iq_oMcjBZkNwQpCw7cCITFEBM-dK-FmLSYFaPvIjD3sAG5kDp5mT98A7Vk3wetd0v3bEj9P06Te2K4seJ/s1600/DSC_2594.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgoJ-C27p3K5xYBSTLnUcAq1kC_OwpK2mm7-u30XRx09Ol2nlm-JiH0rCluvQkticobdp05zdEd3bzLzEUCYbgYBAy3UsHMQLSaX2E2XvwFfXhQvFdAeYQozc5dDTOeHjxvS38Hux1WSd/s1600/DSC_2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgoJ-C27p3K5xYBSTLnUcAq1kC_OwpK2mm7-u30XRx09Ol2nlm-JiH0rCluvQkticobdp05zdEd3bzLzEUCYbgYBAy3UsHMQLSaX2E2XvwFfXhQvFdAeYQozc5dDTOeHjxvS38Hux1WSd/s1600/DSC_2596.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy birthday, my little baby love! You are unique in so many ways and special to me. You bring joy to our lives and chase away the darkest of clouds with your laugh. Your sweet spirit is truly a gift from God, as YOU are a gift from God. I will celebrate every year I have with you and thank the Lord above for giving you to me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, to this birthday and every birthday to come...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLi26qCPx2S43Z9TqkAkOmzGKDZyX-23jzkVLYIIi4UiejPYfPAejTHPos11ITOkkIhwhKgLENj4Y5xk4ioyLJpEQEk4jYjya0tJhrEFfMBGXfFPJt7P77tuciJnvp1BnJgL_EqrRHDmJ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLi26qCPx2S43Z9TqkAkOmzGKDZyX-23jzkVLYIIi4UiejPYfPAejTHPos11ITOkkIhwhKgLENj4Y5xk4ioyLJpEQEk4jYjya0tJhrEFfMBGXfFPJt7P77tuciJnvp1BnJgL_EqrRHDmJ/s1600/1.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Let's CELEBRATE, Corban Levi!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-24958561717997717882014-05-21T01:05:00.000-04:002014-05-21T09:18:20.209-04:00Trip #15<b>This.</b> This is why I am making my fifteenth trip up to Philadelphia today:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kr_Xt0rRHcOO4dfKrG95wRyWe5G2QRX-wjE79-x729QEv_nsIZIa2Yy9vDiRF5uOvLvwdt4ljlMiDj3rfdleUCFf3RNckTrKUchPmLwhM3-8vSnaIOo5_IqfGETZk8ymfnbO1kP3JX_V/s1600/Spine+-+Black+and+White.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kr_Xt0rRHcOO4dfKrG95wRyWe5G2QRX-wjE79-x729QEv_nsIZIa2Yy9vDiRF5uOvLvwdt4ljlMiDj3rfdleUCFf3RNckTrKUchPmLwhM3-8vSnaIOo5_IqfGETZk8ymfnbO1kP3JX_V/s1600/Spine+-+Black+and+White.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Corban's spine is not getting any better. In fact, it's getting worse. The last time the doctor measured it, Corban had a 37 degree curve in his back. Three months earlier, it was 31 degrees.<br />
<br />
So, we are flying up today to get his spinal cast put back on and hopefully prevent it from getting any worse.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
After the formula laden fiasco last month, we had to get Corban's cast taken off (after having it on a mere<i> 3 weeks</i>). This time, we will be MUCH more careful and hopefully have it on at least <i>3 months</i> before going back up to get a replacement.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<b>This.</b> This is another reason I am making my fifteenth trip to Philadelphia today: </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2fj__HKemLB3IfF-Be84PQOFdtDDNdVqe7e-T6wqBcZvXRQ0UbW3o14YciDAGTU5XqjgUioeMifH7AL9FOFB9Fil0Y5EdWdl1hipcpUhwOCS5WqEn-xtZbS08HS_8dEgqk-mTlrLSMtO/s1600/Leg+-+black+and+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2fj__HKemLB3IfF-Be84PQOFdtDDNdVqe7e-T6wqBcZvXRQ0UbW3o14YciDAGTU5XqjgUioeMifH7AL9FOFB9Fil0Y5EdWdl1hipcpUhwOCS5WqEn-xtZbS08HS_8dEgqk-mTlrLSMtO/s1600/Leg+-+black+and+white.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Corban's leg is infected... again. That makes five times, since his surgery last June. FIVE times of nasty drainage, redness, topical antibiotic creams, warm compresses and 10-day rounds of antibiotics. We're done!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Why does he keep getting infections? The doctor suspects there is something internally that is not allowing his leg to heal properly. Maybe something on the steel plates? Maybe something else. Who knows. Regardless, the plates need to come OUT, before he gets MRSA again for the <b>sixth </b>time. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
So, here we are. Trip #15.<br />
<br />
I'm exhausted already, just thinking about it! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Needless to say, I could use some prayer today. Being nearly 6 months pregnant and venturing through the airports alone, the anesthesia and the tears, is rather intimidating. Praying God gives me the strength I need to make this trip, and all the trips to come. </div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px;"></span>S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-6816731139449241132014-04-15T23:28:00.001-04:002014-04-15T23:28:11.411-04:00The Nature of a Surprise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0Y8i-spsOvvtVeEA31u8uc98jmWRChqBB4DMMeYcN9PEFHxSxbO3mmr5CHSnoMIw95rygQFZphHXTzQAOmAnvjj4sBPv9nJ25CfUmygLtl2CyRcrxGwLQDyNN-kPlFbNviYw7wvxM1Sx/s1600/20000102_002800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0Y8i-spsOvvtVeEA31u8uc98jmWRChqBB4DMMeYcN9PEFHxSxbO3mmr5CHSnoMIw95rygQFZphHXTzQAOmAnvjj4sBPv9nJ25CfUmygLtl2CyRcrxGwLQDyNN-kPlFbNviYw7wvxM1Sx/s1600/20000102_002800.jpg" height="320" width="276" /></a></div>
<br />
I think most often when we hear the word, "surprise," we think of parties, vacations, and gifts. All good things, right? Well, I guess it depends a little bit on the circumstances, doesn't it?<br />
<br />
What about the surprise birthday party you show up to with absolutely no makeup on, your greasy hair pulled back in a ponytail, and your ratty ol' sweatpants you threw on right before you left the house? Or the backpacking "vacation" your husband excitedly surprises you with, when you don't have <i>nearly</i> the same enthusiasm he does about roughing it. Or the secondhand gift your great aunt Ruth lovingly gave you for Christmas last year. The one where you had to fake smile when you opened it and say "awww, thank you so much! That was so thoughtful of you!" but then donated it to Goodwill a week later? Yeah, that one.<br />
<br />
Those are all surprises. But at the time, we're not really sure if they fall in the "good" category or not. <br />
<br />
Well, at the beginning of the year, my husband and I received a surprise. A big one! After taking a pregnancy test mid-January, we realized how big of a surprise it was.<br />
<br />
We were pregnant! A good thing? Well, at the time, we weren't really sure. Our calendar was already filling up for the year, with appointments for Corban, homeschooling commitments, daily life juggling acts, therapy visits, and more appointments for Corban. Could we fit a baby into the schedule??<br />
<br />
There was also the slight sense of panic that came over me when I thought of something similar happening this time around that had happened the last time God decided to give us a very special gift. After this great meat-grinder of life that God put us in by giving us Corban, we were nervous and a bit shell shocked at the thought of what this new little one might bring.<br />
<br />
Let me insert a quick note here. We <i>love</i> our little Corban to death! We are <i>super</i> thankful to have him in our lives! He IS a special gift from God and we wouldn't trade him if we could. When I talk about the difficulties of having Corban in our lives, I do not in any way wish him out of the picture. It's just really, stinkin' hard sometimes.<br />
<br />
So, in my midnight prayers and contemplations about this new gift, I told the Lord, "I <i>think </i>I can handle another baby. I think I would even <i>enjoy</i> another baby. Another baby would bring a new joy to our lives and a feeling of redemption over what was lost. I could handle that! I just can't handle another 5 month-long NICU battle for my baby's life, mixed with the strong and sobering reality of a lifelong commitment of care, surgeries, therapies, etc. I'm not ready for that again."<br />
<br />
Toward the beginning of March we went in for a 12 week ultrasound, and I held my breath the entire time. The ultrasound tech pulled up the image of our baby on the screen, and while it was great and all to see there was a baby inside of me, I didn't see any movement.<br />
<br />
"Can we see movement this early on in the pregnancy?" I nervously asked. "Absolutely!" she replied. She then proceeded to rapidly (but gently) hit my belly with the ultrasound device. Great sighs of relief came over us, as <i>immediately</i> we saw one leg kick, then the other leg, then an arm reaching, then fingers stretching, then finally a great-big-back-arch and a roll-to-the-side grand finale. Our baby was healthy and very active! Hallelujah!! We didn't have to worry any longer. We didn't have to wonder any more.<br />
<br />
At that point we mustered up the courage to start sharing the news. After a couple weeks of surprising some of our friends and family members, we finally told the kids.<br />
<br />
I think it would be a gross understatement to say they were excited. <i>All</i> of them (even Corban) were thrilled! And right away, "everyone" started asking for a girl.<br />
<br />
The biggest cheerleader of course, was our daughter. She has asked for a sister for the past year or so and has begged and pleaded and pleaded and begged that we give her one. I've told her many times that there's always a chance we could adopt and perhaps she could have a sister then.<br />
<br />
But when we told her we were having another baby, she right away declared, "I hope it's a girl!!!" And of course, everyone around her joined in the chorus: "I hope it's a girl! I hope it's a girl!"<br />
<br />
The more that we declared, "we hope it's a girl" the more nervous I became that it wasn't. After all, God doesn't always give us what we ask for. In fact, He often <i>doesn't</i> give us what we ask for. He has an uncanny way of dishing up big ol' plates of Brussels sprouts instead of the Snickers bar milkshakes that we request.<br />
<br />
So, when we went in for our 18 week ultrasound today, we were all hopeful, but preparing ourselves for the real possibility that it might be a boy.<br />
<br />
Which one would be better for us? A baby sister for a very hopeful daughter? Or an active brother for a son to roughhouse with? We were all anxious to find out! Ultimately we couldn't determine these things. It was in God's hands.<br />
<br />
So, what did the good Lord choose for us, you might ask?? A healthy plate of Brussels sprouts or a delicious Snickers bar milkshake?<br />
<br />
To our great surprise, He chose for us.......<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
. <br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-91302734344392461552014-03-16T11:30:00.000-04:002014-03-16T13:32:44.240-04:00Spinal Casting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This time next week, Corban and I will be on a plane, headed for Philadelphia, to begin a new journey together. The journey? Spinal casting.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<u>Background to the journey:</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The last time we went to Philadelphia, I asked Corban's doctor about his spine. While he didn't think it looked too bad on the surface, he still wanted to get an x-ray just to be sure. Half of me really regrets asking him about it that day, as the x-ray revealed Corban's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoliosis">scoliosis </a>was much worse than we originally thought. Lying down for the x-ray, the curvature of his spine was 31 degrees, <i>which means...</i> sitting up, it's much worse. We're not exactly sure how much worse, but 31 degrees is bad enough to warrant intervention at this point.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, like I said, this time next week we will be headed for Philly to begin the journey of spinal casting. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Why spinal casting and not something else? Well, there's a chance the doctor can achieve some correction of his spine through casting - which would be <i>amazing</i>! Will the casting correct his spine for sure? No. There are no guarantees that it will work. But it might! And if it doesn't, at the very least, the casting will prevent his spine from getting worse (which will make for less invasive treatments down the road). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<u>How long is this treatment?</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We will be casting his trunk for about one year, traveling up to Philly and changing it out every 2-3 months. After that, Corban will wear a brace for about one year, and then at that point we'll decide what to do next, depending on how his spine looks. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It would be absolutely LOVELY if I could tell you Corban won't ever need to have scoliosis surgery. And it would completely MAKE MY DAY if this spinal casting thing would correct his spine enough to avoid having to have rods put in his back one day. But the truth is, I really don't know what to expect. And neither does the doctor. It really just depends on how Corban responds to treatment and how his curve progresses, before anyone can say whether or not he'll need back surgery at some point. Like I said, I hope not!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As far as what the spinal cast entails, I'm not 100% sure yet myself. I know it will take some getting used to, for all of us. I know it will make for a very hot summer for Corban. I know it will make for a very stinky baby who will no longer be getting baths (yuck, I know!). I know it will be a pain to travel up to Philly every few months to change it out. But there are still a lot of things I <i>don't </i>know about spinal casting, and <i>won't</i> know, until we cross that bridge.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As far as what it looks like, the best I can do is show you this picture I found on the internet (hoping it's ok that I swiped it). As the picture below shows, the spinal cast will end up covering his whole trunk area, from shoulders to hips, with a cut-out in the front for his belly and g-tube. It will probably be uncomfortable for a little while, until he gets used to it. But eventually, he will get used to it. And so will we.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGnnl1QvYbeEp2e-YmEKvAxmFSg9Po2tXVmifyogJfhS3-F07Don6ByajBa8-AF_zygmsmUsA9N0s34B1I1RjlGH142Uu48E8KQdjNhXMj3WRwxwuI21dpbUyls1LBi-htDbbihAxTB2f/s1600/spinal+cast.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Unfortunately, it is not a simple thing to put on, so Corban will need to be put under anesthesia in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_room">OR,</a> as it's technically considered "surgery." It will also mean an overnight stay in the hospital, which is just one of my very <i>favorite </i>things to do in life. NOT! :P</div>
<br />
In addition to spinal casting, we <i>might</i> be looking at hardware removal next week. Much to our dismay, Corban has had repeated infections in his leg since his hip surgery last June. So the doctor is considering taking the <a href="http://corbanlevi.blogspot.com/2013/07/hips-before-and-after.html">plates </a>out of his legs early to try to put a end to those pesky infections. Not sure what he'll decide once he sees him, but it is definitely a possibility for this trip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>This trip.</i> This trip will be the longest trip I've ever had to make by myself - 5 days, instead of the usual overnight stay. <i>This trip</i> will be the first where I'll be spending the night in the hospital with Corban, alone. <i>This trip</i> will be the first where I face the dreaded OR alone (at least for anything major). So, needless to say, I'm startin' to get a little bit nervous about <i>this trip</i>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So please, if you think about it, pray for me this time next week as Corban and I fly out. Pray that we would <i>not</i> be alone this trip, and that God would be to us a "very present help in time of need." Pray that Corban would do well under the anesthesia and recover quickly from all the drugs + trauma. Pray that he wouldn't have difficulty breathing as a result of the cast and that it would not cause him too much pain. Pray for strength - for little Corban, <i>and</i> for his momma, who's feeling pretty little herself right about now. </div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-11454578719102940332014-01-22T12:42:00.001-05:002014-01-27T19:59:12.517-05:00MRI ResultsAfter a month-long struggle to get Corban's MRI to the appropriate doctors, we finally met with his cranio-facial surgeon last week to discuss the results. Did he have good news for us or bad news, you might ask? Well...<br />
<br />
It's hard to say.<br />
<br />
The doctors did say that there really wasn't anything on the MRI that would explain a mental delay. And that for the most part, Corban's MRI was a perfectly normal brain scan. So, that's <b>good news</b>!<br />
<br />
BUT, the <b>bad news</b> is that the coronal sutures are most certainly fused and are not going to resolve themselves (unless God does a miracle). So this problem will continue to be something we'll need to watch closely, possibly for years to come.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intracranial_pressure">Intracranial pressure</a> can become an issue for Corban at any time. Unfortunately, it is also an extremely difficult thing to measure/diagnose. There's really no way of telling for sure how much pressure is building up inside his skull, so the best we can do for now is to watch his optic nerves for any signs of distress. Also, when he becomes more verbal, he should be able to tell us if he's having any headaches/nausea or other issues that would expedite the need for surgery.<br />
<b><br /></b>
BUT, as far as I can gather from the surgeon, there is nothing on the MRI <i>at this time</i> that would warrant a major skull surgery. So, that's <b>good news</b>. The surgeon even went so far as to say that Corban might not ever need the surgery, which would be AMAZING! Nothing's for sure yet, but there is the <i>possibility </i>that he won't ever need it.<br />
<br />
UNLESS, of course, the surgeon is <i>wrong</i> and we need to be looking for a second opinion right now. Which would definitely be <b>bad news</b>. :(<br />
<br />
Ugh! These things are so hard to sort through. We truly need wisdom from God in making these big decisions for our little guy. All of this is so far above and beyond us! We need His eyes to see things we can't. We need the Good Shepherd to direct our steps for us. We need Him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF23hPtIy6NGdivw4PAs8NMPMAg1Os2hHhrRVl8VKl3yTXz89lYxDY3yeZgwBAqEL4_HCt0LUxjGtDykasUsBMjwsChI2q0cgUUpiRKA9j-zVEaptXn9zfi74xpsCNFOEflxaOSeNFd1Ps/s1600/IMG_1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF23hPtIy6NGdivw4PAs8NMPMAg1Os2hHhrRVl8VKl3yTXz89lYxDY3yeZgwBAqEL4_HCt0LUxjGtDykasUsBMjwsChI2q0cgUUpiRKA9j-zVEaptXn9zfi74xpsCNFOEflxaOSeNFd1Ps/s1600/IMG_1030.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-6041057882935935292014-01-01T17:29:00.000-05:002014-01-01T23:17:18.504-05:00Happy New Year!!Corban woke me up this morning and asked if I would please share some of our recent family pictures with you, to start the New Year off right. Well... who am I to say no?
<br />
<br />
Here ya go, Corban! For you, baby. ;)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhJDSIzLTVlBkkGgLCBkpNqWOuOL4sml6hx5elYXpfweZ58NzFA-434S8Y_jkJBwdvr_NAIp3Rq4bKq7K0KNiXmrVt5ehcj3-uAFsxvrGkZqqkoElAU2lIEo2BYq9KbzhTVyufU7_qEsO/s1600/20131203_212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhJDSIzLTVlBkkGgLCBkpNqWOuOL4sml6hx5elYXpfweZ58NzFA-434S8Y_jkJBwdvr_NAIp3Rq4bKq7K0KNiXmrVt5ehcj3-uAFsxvrGkZqqkoElAU2lIEo2BYq9KbzhTVyufU7_qEsO/s320/20131203_212.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq43APQsXpJ3Sd77HpJDS0W_h7ins4NzNOH5F4e5gIK5N-5Lt6n7MxIGXR2SZpkLm03MzwiHdrIWoakmg_eCpHC84xcYU1YbXtmu_e9H15mCAakZmAJwZSxzt0ESY3OwBmnLdg5P3Wjv7/s1600/20131203_163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq43APQsXpJ3Sd77HpJDS0W_h7ins4NzNOH5F4e5gIK5N-5Lt6n7MxIGXR2SZpkLm03MzwiHdrIWoakmg_eCpHC84xcYU1YbXtmu_e9H15mCAakZmAJwZSxzt0ESY3OwBmnLdg5P3Wjv7/s320/20131203_163.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbqrXy1H95bxYn5fPGiBwaNPytxNhfOABo1VsJTH_5Rua5C5ySHS9H7_n2k5m6iPhOUufd5RMmHgzWcQXE3LlEiBYciYUG2Mm_fBq_aNnWZqycXquYOk9wXhw9hJVcIADhI16L-E58WWU/s1600/20131203_58.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbqrXy1H95bxYn5fPGiBwaNPytxNhfOABo1VsJTH_5Rua5C5ySHS9H7_n2k5m6iPhOUufd5RMmHgzWcQXE3LlEiBYciYUG2Mm_fBq_aNnWZqycXquYOk9wXhw9hJVcIADhI16L-E58WWU/s320/20131203_58.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpp-5UNyXKHdzzbmptZFuMsLJDSbrQzIOXK7eIM-wNlOejNvdkjcg1Yyv6B1R86zMwhKHbWZe0bpasLkTcLVimnf1_g6Poyaeu_WWnOmywqixnScaZZBOr0uQl4soGh8W1ZLqUJu9fjs7/s1600/20131203_122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpp-5UNyXKHdzzbmptZFuMsLJDSbrQzIOXK7eIM-wNlOejNvdkjcg1Yyv6B1R86zMwhKHbWZe0bpasLkTcLVimnf1_g6Poyaeu_WWnOmywqixnScaZZBOr0uQl4soGh8W1ZLqUJu9fjs7/s320/20131203_122.JPG" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBPcnYE0EZbE00cQv4gdizZVRPz1d7_940il83QVR3xSYN3e1SxBu78xLVjbRSYK8LgmYMtp7SyCf5i8nt8giPmVWs5trHEoxfGxiTAOiyCU26ES-p4nAGyUONEHqufgh_QupMNO4ToVL/s1600/20131203_335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBPcnYE0EZbE00cQv4gdizZVRPz1d7_940il83QVR3xSYN3e1SxBu78xLVjbRSYK8LgmYMtp7SyCf5i8nt8giPmVWs5trHEoxfGxiTAOiyCU26ES-p4nAGyUONEHqufgh_QupMNO4ToVL/s320/20131203_335.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVb7SR9bDHSdPLHrs7qZCEu0uiilrmCWFeJlT4hjYnnsyOSXyHaAc6zgsbITHYfSBmZc1Pmlahcmrk-aBBUXgI8gQcbuGFVKQe5eOR_iQIC9Q9XIntPwiXAqklYvNMGTSEO0CbeffmNvw/s1600/20131203_101edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVb7SR9bDHSdPLHrs7qZCEu0uiilrmCWFeJlT4hjYnnsyOSXyHaAc6zgsbITHYfSBmZc1Pmlahcmrk-aBBUXgI8gQcbuGFVKQe5eOR_iQIC9Q9XIntPwiXAqklYvNMGTSEO0CbeffmNvw/s320/20131203_101edited.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69Fsz2CrV4DZLEHxkXai4fKGbt7A7OL_tjZ8itDojdWHfu7AI_0gGqYT_UwrHICUurqAaxwNo0lmecWZ2KZtcoLMkGKLsDys4lugbyjJVXfq6LQGUdLrnmQOSRekzUiSl-h093Vni0Lq-/s1600/20131203_106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69Fsz2CrV4DZLEHxkXai4fKGbt7A7OL_tjZ8itDojdWHfu7AI_0gGqYT_UwrHICUurqAaxwNo0lmecWZ2KZtcoLMkGKLsDys4lugbyjJVXfq6LQGUdLrnmQOSRekzUiSl-h093Vni0Lq-/s320/20131203_106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD0Wd9D5s3JyE11VFdo1y8StGSWyY2trWfDjLuwePqrBc872QmgiS3AlrvE7Ui-xi1Oz63VDwXuglGn_1sfK9JUZ5zA_3zDCnGT-64d61ZbYW8jAIvAUqndTSWK5m9P1aq9TvHsO77N7a/s1600/20131203_254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD0Wd9D5s3JyE11VFdo1y8StGSWyY2trWfDjLuwePqrBc872QmgiS3AlrvE7Ui-xi1Oz63VDwXuglGn_1sfK9JUZ5zA_3zDCnGT-64d61ZbYW8jAIvAUqndTSWK5m9P1aq9TvHsO77N7a/s320/20131203_254.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRMWYvsTtKLhPkWA1mLsmqUUSO7hEkgO6k6Nx5DFlkcoXGk2JJ5Yovbydm-V0ww80__gi4YMP4DTk8oq2O5nHnRYFxgGZbXvUtlsWPAGj5vAXD5k992CrELfk6JDTtBXntwvceEc8_S3X/s1600/20131203_222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRMWYvsTtKLhPkWA1mLsmqUUSO7hEkgO6k6Nx5DFlkcoXGk2JJ5Yovbydm-V0ww80__gi4YMP4DTk8oq2O5nHnRYFxgGZbXvUtlsWPAGj5vAXD5k992CrELfk6JDTtBXntwvceEc8_S3X/s320/20131203_222.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidto5w7prcG8Fd9E5ZaKb4toQSYWJ3DhSMcdIQKjsgzRBrvL86PfYfG7veaaIJfj9ksf0UNc1PO_7CPJgPzzV399H4mVT9fFdN9sNezZz1DFQQcTs256naLoxgGOZrBmDV0qRZbE0wy42w/s1600/20131203_225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidto5w7prcG8Fd9E5ZaKb4toQSYWJ3DhSMcdIQKjsgzRBrvL86PfYfG7veaaIJfj9ksf0UNc1PO_7CPJgPzzV399H4mVT9fFdN9sNezZz1DFQQcTs256naLoxgGOZrBmDV0qRZbE0wy42w/s320/20131203_225.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuZyIGZ-w7ZS9Qv41ipYo-Ix1jhHoRLuuO4UW39eiNPgodR0g2RAT-WeL_M1lviCRkKWPdng-oimXBaCZ2LV9PM1hiZQ2wv3V7kjfnrvwvVFRVptWZdNCEYfPjMXpuDtdOZt2_2zvvTdU/s1600/20131203_237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuZyIGZ-w7ZS9Qv41ipYo-Ix1jhHoRLuuO4UW39eiNPgodR0g2RAT-WeL_M1lviCRkKWPdng-oimXBaCZ2LV9PM1hiZQ2wv3V7kjfnrvwvVFRVptWZdNCEYfPjMXpuDtdOZt2_2zvvTdU/s320/20131203_237.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxveUmq6mFj7ytuchAys1gD_QalwzmgYDBiE7d01s8wWFIYT0u03G4k6SgZWwberpIW2r9rfloWP1PkVn2LTn2HiAfkdlR2AoGxwPCtWBEY0KDAoRDk1sGvQPgYs1jImSi645nQ-tf6F4/s1600/20131203_243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxveUmq6mFj7ytuchAys1gD_QalwzmgYDBiE7d01s8wWFIYT0u03G4k6SgZWwberpIW2r9rfloWP1PkVn2LTn2HiAfkdlR2AoGxwPCtWBEY0KDAoRDk1sGvQPgYs1jImSi645nQ-tf6F4/s320/20131203_243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXlPnmYroadNsT4OwufYRT222OtAXqjJ5alqViPDeXwz7lxpe9AukmREDYa2mITOT4MS5KK3kDkAQeo79FQgIOCXbb0k8li5Df9uGGWjVf9fKbxBvofrdWF_ijrXsQ9hOpbpa1jWBt-ru/s1600/20131203_305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXlPnmYroadNsT4OwufYRT222OtAXqjJ5alqViPDeXwz7lxpe9AukmREDYa2mITOT4MS5KK3kDkAQeo79FQgIOCXbb0k8li5Df9uGGWjVf9fKbxBvofrdWF_ijrXsQ9hOpbpa1jWBt-ru/s320/20131203_305.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6PCUPpe_yAbtjikCVZR8_jYhm3ZbnNuSBzKZ-MSAe9urw4PH_Qx7EVVlDM-DV4fd8o8waBDVyONTnkRt9mWcwvc2Iem0jZ5VjDwoibGwwfiOPE-OIW6BhJW_7251J14CdIzuQ8-OBBDh/s1600/20131203_293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6PCUPpe_yAbtjikCVZR8_jYhm3ZbnNuSBzKZ-MSAe9urw4PH_Qx7EVVlDM-DV4fd8o8waBDVyONTnkRt9mWcwvc2Iem0jZ5VjDwoibGwwfiOPE-OIW6BhJW_7251J14CdIzuQ8-OBBDh/s320/20131203_293.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuasXFw67lVea_NJ-U2F6IZryl9sjgUp3DDmy0DjVcDWpNvfWKBkysEq07JPVQU2lcAImv43czdB22lt3JYI3KqPUdlTukDLQ5dvqSNS9-P_l-0x2TvNacJ2veBHMqvS8gXHdypxQrArQ5/s1600/20131203_480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuasXFw67lVea_NJ-U2F6IZryl9sjgUp3DDmy0DjVcDWpNvfWKBkysEq07JPVQU2lcAImv43czdB22lt3JYI3KqPUdlTukDLQ5dvqSNS9-P_l-0x2TvNacJ2veBHMqvS8gXHdypxQrArQ5/s320/20131203_480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Sq56b-yH9RXtFn2P44KudW4dL-S2nA8B3cQ_aqU8trYOFq9q7v8Il327yPAwbS1bic-i1bC1N7WsRU-h2_dECQxCw_GNzJJqiWYSFHs_vpTB87pMOmJES0Vbf1P6XLqGEljJ8eCYHWUc/s1600/20131203_493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Sq56b-yH9RXtFn2P44KudW4dL-S2nA8B3cQ_aqU8trYOFq9q7v8Il327yPAwbS1bic-i1bC1N7WsRU-h2_dECQxCw_GNzJJqiWYSFHs_vpTB87pMOmJES0Vbf1P6XLqGEljJ8eCYHWUc/s320/20131203_493.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-b8TeI4wrGnon-aUxMKJXvcu6fESz18ItNL2IKsIJyUW0iL2lor-o5Nt7xxp0UHs1Zlh2ea5wYff55XQFzGcpgfSx0pjGZjK8k6rmDdgm4dfQqDe7tODiPPxcWDMaFVeAZV-2CJiosOe/s1600/20131203_118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-b8TeI4wrGnon-aUxMKJXvcu6fESz18ItNL2IKsIJyUW0iL2lor-o5Nt7xxp0UHs1Zlh2ea5wYff55XQFzGcpgfSx0pjGZjK8k6rmDdgm4dfQqDe7tODiPPxcWDMaFVeAZV-2CJiosOe/s320/20131203_118.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuhfUskgT-AHuwZ05AzFcZdCaWz0dZ-epwJxTtE4lPYlKTUI-7at08-nimtv2QQbBhc-kDxsxQg8wv2ykHQuuNPOsvhdY6gFwPFQpJxfzfSukIJpSeGyKzn2DOXWJ4Bjg8DbcXPnRMY_c/s1600/20131203_13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuhfUskgT-AHuwZ05AzFcZdCaWz0dZ-epwJxTtE4lPYlKTUI-7at08-nimtv2QQbBhc-kDxsxQg8wv2ykHQuuNPOsvhdY6gFwPFQpJxfzfSukIJpSeGyKzn2DOXWJ4Bjg8DbcXPnRMY_c/s320/20131203_13.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtv2kHceyPcGXRr54FjKNyE17Sk17H52TiaSYLzIsCQKgjo3dHKznxqMscz6o8MWTogVtoEy0aRkoOv9eINKarTpOEdF90PS-mQBkwwgQOm9_QFbKneVR6MDVrVfKQ_1fRPowwOUj2szs/s1600/20131203_402edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtv2kHceyPcGXRr54FjKNyE17Sk17H52TiaSYLzIsCQKgjo3dHKznxqMscz6o8MWTogVtoEy0aRkoOv9eINKarTpOEdF90PS-mQBkwwgQOm9_QFbKneVR6MDVrVfKQ_1fRPowwOUj2szs/s320/20131203_402edited.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8U8J0BVCixUThyphenhyphenUplFO0tg7QWg05TSD1oaqHkF8pmN66Y0CEAnDdJbljlv5YnXR7UbXF3CTJkXDS7arJOsPX45UmHIke3V_Fy2F33js150BZ57BWm07BGee_lh06NAE06WdcifAsC1sfB/s1600/20131203_536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8U8J0BVCixUThyphenhyphenUplFO0tg7QWg05TSD1oaqHkF8pmN66Y0CEAnDdJbljlv5YnXR7UbXF3CTJkXDS7arJOsPX45UmHIke3V_Fy2F33js150BZ57BWm07BGee_lh06NAE06WdcifAsC1sfB/s320/20131203_536.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy NEW Year!! Love, us.</div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-85590135197909640822013-10-13T17:20:00.000-04:002013-10-14T00:33:33.768-04:00AppointmentsWhen people start asking, "sooo... how are things going with Corban?" or "what's the latest in 'Corban World'?" or "how can I be praying for you?" I know it's about that time again. It's time for me to sit down at the computer and update the blog.<br />
<br />
So, here I am again. Nothing too exciting to report. Just life.<br />
<br />
Hmmm... Well, this week we have lots of appointments. That's exciting! I guess. :P <br />
<br />
Let's see...
On Monday, we see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneticist"><b>GENETICIST</b></a>.<br />
On Tuesday, we see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_therapist"><b>SPEECH THERAPIST</b></a>.<br />
On Wednesday, we see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietitian"><b>DIETITIAN</b></a>.<br />
On Thursday, we see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurosurgeon"><b>NEUROSURGEON</b></a>.<br />
On Friday, we see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapists"><b>PHYSICAL THERAPIST</b>.</a><br />
And on Saturday, we see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandparent"><b>GRANDMA</b></a>. (Which is by far, the most important appointment of the week!)<br />
<br />
Seriously though, we have lots of appointments. Not every week is quite this bad, but every so often it feels like the only thing I ever do is schedule <b><i>appointments</i></b>, go to <b><i>appointments</i></b>, cancel <b><i>appointments</i></b>, reschedule <b><i>appointments</i></b>, or run late to <b><i>appointments</i></b>. <br />
<br />
Sometimes I get tired of all the appointments and think, "what's even the point to all of this?"<br />
<br />
And then I remember, God makes appointments too. Lots of them! He makes appointments for seasons, for days, for nights, for life, for death, for joys, for sorrows, for everything in this world and everything out of this world. And he even makes appointments for me.<br />
<br />
Ecclesiastes 3 says,<br />
<div class="line">
<i><span class="text Eccl-3-1">There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—</span><span class="text Eccl-3-2" id="en-NASB-17362">A time to give birth and a time to die;</span><span class="text Eccl-3-2"> A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.</span> <span class="text Eccl-3-3" id="en-NASB-17363">A time to kill and a time to heal; </span><span class="text Eccl-3-3">A time to tear down and a time to build up.</span> <span class="text Eccl-3-4" id="en-NASB-17364">A time to weep and a time to laugh;</span> <span class="text Eccl-3-4">A time to mourn and a time to dance. </span><span class="text Eccl-3-5" id="en-NASB-17365">A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;</span> <span class="text Eccl-3-5">A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. </span><span class="text Eccl-3-6" id="en-NASB-17366">A time to search and a time to give up as lost;</span> A<span class="text Eccl-3-6"> time to keep and a time to throw away. </span><span class="text Eccl-3-7" id="en-NASB-17367">A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;</span> <span class="text Eccl-3-7">A time to be silent and a time to speak.</span><span class="text Eccl-3-8" id="en-NASB-17368"> A time to love and a time to hate;</span> <span class="text Eccl-3-8">A time for war and a time for peace.</span></i></div>
<i> </i><i><span class="text Eccl-3-9" id="en-NASB-17369"><br />What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?</span><span class="text Eccl-3-10" id="en-NASB-17370"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.</span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Eccl-3-11">He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.</span> <span class="text Eccl-3-12" id="en-NASB-17372">I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;...</span></i><span class="text Eccl-3-12" id="en-NASB-17372"><br /><br />So, that's what I'm gonna do! I'm gonna be faithful to what God's given me to do and take care of this unique child he's placed in my hands. And I'm gonna do my darnedest to rejoice, even if it means spending my entire week going to <b><i>appointments</i></b>. And I'm gonna choose to do good in my lifetime, instead of shirking my responsibilities and running in the opposite direction. Because in the end, that is a MUCH better way!</span><br />
<span class="text Eccl-3-12" id="en-NASB-17372"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3j9QcmQEcZ3uQ1GwWkQJF4E_duwJRMCRD23LzJPjHgDLmrhJWfVza5dtxwcMBO1wjbXA45qunBdAV5obLza8BRZssdALbqpyXGySx4XPPzbpAmt60x2jdhyphenhyphenQZyOMoxQH6v9JaJVspAVk/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3j9QcmQEcZ3uQ1GwWkQJF4E_duwJRMCRD23LzJPjHgDLmrhJWfVza5dtxwcMBO1wjbXA45qunBdAV5obLza8BRZssdALbqpyXGySx4XPPzbpAmt60x2jdhyphenhyphenQZyOMoxQH6v9JaJVspAVk/s400/IMG_0416.JPG" width="400" /></a></span>S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-14617162299443653842013-10-04T15:44:00.000-04:002013-10-04T15:44:41.574-04:00Laugh, Baby! Laugh! Caring for a child with special needs is time-consuming. It's stressful. It's tiring.<br />
<br />
But this laugh??!? <br /><br /> SO WORTH IT!!<br /><br /><iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/76166726" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/76166726">Laugh, Baby! Laugh!</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user13087485">Corbani</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-2911625383826291462013-08-17T18:03:00.002-04:002013-08-17T18:40:44.820-04:00Bath Time, Before and After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_FK0jdgPXVgZbuMCwixWxcYfwNvew-dSD_qRwPbde2UzAi4W9qymtDttZsYQ_UYbxxse1g19wZiqvZowwIeHGgF8wOHd-c8fO0kn45d2C6Sbb6HRe74DF4DzwZ0W2X-iyIHuOl-n3-II/s1600/Before+and+After.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_FK0jdgPXVgZbuMCwixWxcYfwNvew-dSD_qRwPbde2UzAi4W9qymtDttZsYQ_UYbxxse1g19wZiqvZowwIeHGgF8wOHd-c8fO0kn45d2C6Sbb6HRe74DF4DzwZ0W2X-iyIHuOl-n3-II/s320/Before+and+After.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
This is what a year and a half and a couple of surgeries will do!! Plus a little blood, sweat and tears. Ok, a lot of blood, sweat and tears.<br />
<br />
To get Corban to where he is today has not been a walk in the park by <i>any </i>stretch of the imagination. It's been hard! Each day can be a battle... feeding him, bathing him, taking him to doctor visits, researching how to care for him, figuring out what problems are causing what, finding the right surgeons for him, recovering from surgery, battling infections, etc. etc. Sometimes I hold my breath and ask God, "what's NEXT??" And then I exhale slowly. And take each day as it comes.<br />
<br />
Right now, we are still trying to decide where to take Corban for the surgery on his skull. I am finding out more and more that wherever we take him, it most likely <i>won't</i> be a one-stop-shop event. I've been told that Corban will probably need not ONE, but TWO surgeries on his skull over the course of his life. That's <i>if</i> it's done correctly. If the surgery is <i>not </i>done correctly, he will need even more than that. <br />
<br />
He will need followup visits every year with his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craniofacial_surgery">craniofacial surgeon</a> and/or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craniofacial_team">craniofacial team</a>, so I definitely want to choose wisely. This is not a passing phase, but a long term commitment. The decisions we make today will most certainly affect his, and our future.<br />
<br />
But I digress.<br />
<br />
So, back to his legs.<br />
<br />
Don't they look amazing?! I can't get over how LONG they look (even with 3/4 of an inch cut out). They look completely different than the jumbled mess they once were. There's structure, there's form, there's beauty. There's hope.<br />
<br />
He still needs a good bit of work on his knees, and I'm sure there will be many more surgeries to come. But for now, I'm going to revel in the before and afters of bath time, and remember how far (by God's grace) we've already come.<br />
<br />
Ah..... S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-86790574362970909142013-07-27T23:30:00.000-04:002013-07-28T02:23:01.606-04:00Corban is TWO!It's hard to believe, but my baby is TWO YEARS OLD today. Wow! Is that even possible? I guess it is. He's tiny, but he's TWO!<br />
<br />
I briefly thought about writing "a book" on Corban's life to commemorate this occasion, but then quickly realized <i>I don't have time for that! </i>I've got to figure out how to get him to eat, what to feed him, how to juggle his therapies, his splinting, his casting, surgeries, doctor visits, emails, phone calls, paperwork, etc., along with the rest of life and its demands. So, the book will have to wait.<br />
<br />
BUT I have heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words. And while I don't have a thousand words today, I <i>do </i>have pictures!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJa0Vclm7yoQrrToytxx6EgI2bpJhOME_kPbmyLNsfzlcbunFGpVPbDc3qqJr0YoTUBPhAjTnEcyHYSZCqVxABrz2rLJLM7Iq4PFDbUdZhmPDiosXvxS8D0qamAyloSJDusrElwKEZg95/s1600/DSC_1670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJa0Vclm7yoQrrToytxx6EgI2bpJhOME_kPbmyLNsfzlcbunFGpVPbDc3qqJr0YoTUBPhAjTnEcyHYSZCqVxABrz2rLJLM7Iq4PFDbUdZhmPDiosXvxS8D0qamAyloSJDusrElwKEZg95/s320/DSC_1670.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBi9x_hERafyR_YPHdHemtnWBgfcIbZRJOC-UnNLJgrcz5koTD6X7GTosDyIUuCYRIOS5N1xhcGfmxaicXPdtovmpiPNyrzA9eysGeAHmife9TQWcjhxU6JeKWbxe0hRdE2VqcbfBI9im/s1600/DSC_1664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBi9x_hERafyR_YPHdHemtnWBgfcIbZRJOC-UnNLJgrcz5koTD6X7GTosDyIUuCYRIOS5N1xhcGfmxaicXPdtovmpiPNyrzA9eysGeAHmife9TQWcjhxU6JeKWbxe0hRdE2VqcbfBI9im/s320/DSC_1664.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2FZWGbcwz2B2fM7pzYgZ7Pv4siJmsYUWoCOxzqYwQW_HDzOead4Be599k2sS3yUNPPc6lUslHdvOcabMem1TVLB9ymfNzj_B16cVSz0Hk6uCWrJquiYfP9cPgurrLpAju8f4_kIUbmg5/s1600/DSC_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2FZWGbcwz2B2fM7pzYgZ7Pv4siJmsYUWoCOxzqYwQW_HDzOead4Be599k2sS3yUNPPc6lUslHdvOcabMem1TVLB9ymfNzj_B16cVSz0Hk6uCWrJquiYfP9cPgurrLpAju8f4_kIUbmg5/s320/DSC_1691.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaV4h2NZzsi8Jz6dTpN1vHGegTRxAjerekiOl_8noy6sO8iSkHzANe-fw6lGQqDXEvgomSmqI6bwstlbVpuKG7znze_fn5_3zaw6KinGvrwJuiEW-_8aFY6eG97ycZFDdpTXmNExUkJKT/s1600/DSC_1694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaV4h2NZzsi8Jz6dTpN1vHGegTRxAjerekiOl_8noy6sO8iSkHzANe-fw6lGQqDXEvgomSmqI6bwstlbVpuKG7znze_fn5_3zaw6KinGvrwJuiEW-_8aFY6eG97ycZFDdpTXmNExUkJKT/s320/DSC_1694.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUbsWTXZeQiPrxrmcJb-VDpdAJOo0Im-ADbvx-n3lGLVz-k0kVbRkMZRYDX4FzqP2kJdLYYoYAFIl-rMYbhnkwhZLWZFyvcSA9Vwq7ss8VYBDpe_5J2HhwFKkpJQVo1NgO7PKwQyKn8y3/s1600/DSC_1697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUbsWTXZeQiPrxrmcJb-VDpdAJOo0Im-ADbvx-n3lGLVz-k0kVbRkMZRYDX4FzqP2kJdLYYoYAFIl-rMYbhnkwhZLWZFyvcSA9Vwq7ss8VYBDpe_5J2HhwFKkpJQVo1NgO7PKwQyKn8y3/s320/DSC_1697.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKtYdJNfIjibMw2xuBtbdHWj5GW5iJRzBD48TT406D_rP65MxgorZlyTd0MmSVqBQL-7gpBW6G2257XY_pnEIPfQANUFC_TPrvXVn7nx-gnGetE8RpGzn00CSwgMgr4-RZoem_xw6Vexn/s1600/DSC_1702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKtYdJNfIjibMw2xuBtbdHWj5GW5iJRzBD48TT406D_rP65MxgorZlyTd0MmSVqBQL-7gpBW6G2257XY_pnEIPfQANUFC_TPrvXVn7nx-gnGetE8RpGzn00CSwgMgr4-RZoem_xw6Vexn/s320/DSC_1702.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOn1mOqqmvDouUabNO8NQTGbAl2e-dY9YkzBEOUfKlD1lBXNMnqCNIezPLu2G_XgcbLcHbdPtGNcGK7nTWiOcGNi3Gk09yI8QTAmEKm_dNd8kjfktyFDtt7iKVmqDcdtI6ahkX4pIvynVc/s1600/Family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOn1mOqqmvDouUabNO8NQTGbAl2e-dY9YkzBEOUfKlD1lBXNMnqCNIezPLu2G_XgcbLcHbdPtGNcGK7nTWiOcGNi3Gk09yI8QTAmEKm_dNd8kjfktyFDtt7iKVmqDcdtI6ahkX4pIvynVc/s320/Family.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLxkSgUzq4EgMeapLxEWICDuunl3F1M4MXgEjwmx4Bfz9UyoBNpDGocy9Wrq_QTfCEebdsThOvQAYJe9EADaMRnv_La8pSws7_Qo8kN0-W0CsZ8rY45LPoXarjvY1ZfsbUaI8aO4tCjRk/s1600/Family+Pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLxkSgUzq4EgMeapLxEWICDuunl3F1M4MXgEjwmx4Bfz9UyoBNpDGocy9Wrq_QTfCEebdsThOvQAYJe9EADaMRnv_La8pSws7_Qo8kN0-W0CsZ8rY45LPoXarjvY1ZfsbUaI8aO4tCjRk/s320/Family+Pic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Out for ice cream tonight....</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEB0e8szcIDoJfOhvQ_ZLCFWgh1_8lFukC481Ln1ZnwsC8MKtDbZp16tvnU6EOA5yuADw0zsaygV7SFKMjTNKza4SpLE4MZSEw3-ixAA8Achaim5ZnPBWkNns4s6-lqms2caf4lGfPICYf/s1600/Corban9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEB0e8szcIDoJfOhvQ_ZLCFWgh1_8lFukC481Ln1ZnwsC8MKtDbZp16tvnU6EOA5yuADw0zsaygV7SFKMjTNKza4SpLE4MZSEw3-ixAA8Achaim5ZnPBWkNns4s6-lqms2caf4lGfPICYf/s320/Corban9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1M9-ugVBKLJiRwwfAxhB6GHJLNAXPULHCL5CzoF3htbTpmZNpp4FtTaalbu7gpCLBbYt6E5xICMPOq2fg3AHEWy927ljO1tYLGKETl8pKeNZF7El3auBLsuFTIUWDihj188tlMe5rnGq/s1600/Corban12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1M9-ugVBKLJiRwwfAxhB6GHJLNAXPULHCL5CzoF3htbTpmZNpp4FtTaalbu7gpCLBbYt6E5xICMPOq2fg3AHEWy927ljO1tYLGKETl8pKeNZF7El3auBLsuFTIUWDihj188tlMe5rnGq/s320/Corban12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGqJRE9hjZ2j8YKOJ2BVU_i6QYp4yZRIP4Rgq0-9OHR8lta0Eu6tZVNlBNk2ixdYQa2oDJnhWRNJVUYR_X2AzlFPlRBteDXzbqiOTz2kwBi5i8X5lrGK542zHhSd4Ama1LOGZYEhjwV5L/s1600/Corban7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGqJRE9hjZ2j8YKOJ2BVU_i6QYp4yZRIP4Rgq0-9OHR8lta0Eu6tZVNlBNk2ixdYQa2oDJnhWRNJVUYR_X2AzlFPlRBteDXzbqiOTz2kwBi5i8X5lrGK542zHhSd4Ama1LOGZYEhjwV5L/s320/Corban7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfBR2MLE2Af6JyDHAoLaJre8iYKY87is7AHLh75rV8ZVOr-x0e7zltq415OfW4t6BMZTGGfUs6bJ3IVQi2L4-9GTbZHZldH6q1DKwX-y_AJ4eQRViG1uSJq_rIZJmYwvRDbF4Yji5c3SE/s1600/Corban8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfBR2MLE2Af6JyDHAoLaJre8iYKY87is7AHLh75rV8ZVOr-x0e7zltq415OfW4t6BMZTGGfUs6bJ3IVQi2L4-9GTbZHZldH6q1DKwX-y_AJ4eQRViG1uSJq_rIZJmYwvRDbF4Yji5c3SE/s320/Corban8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOIdJggpXb2vGMRkd6Ga-F1o206kI2rgtKsWIYtsPvTyFqPToiwLYjD4fovCdjeBfoKSC9MbU7-N4KHU7_XhiGgYeP5ofQZGkVetaeFFdgK5aJVo6zxwNVG1TiSgDmPo57Txyu8skLXIk/s1600/Corban10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOIdJggpXb2vGMRkd6Ga-F1o206kI2rgtKsWIYtsPvTyFqPToiwLYjD4fovCdjeBfoKSC9MbU7-N4KHU7_XhiGgYeP5ofQZGkVetaeFFdgK5aJVo6zxwNVG1TiSgDmPo57Txyu8skLXIk/s320/Corban10.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrfrqc4aeY_1-eNhl4QfdLgSIIrggAPEcr1IW-jfcFW20IQHGXykr0MNWTs3BFbYCo79Bcz2aPrDr67zxhPLnkTd16kIwcEin8FVDkxe0KwF5Z-W6e0k4_Gy401V4FjCYPN04ckDiwOWt/s1600/Corban+Birthday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrfrqc4aeY_1-eNhl4QfdLgSIIrggAPEcr1IW-jfcFW20IQHGXykr0MNWTs3BFbYCo79Bcz2aPrDr67zxhPLnkTd16kIwcEin8FVDkxe0KwF5Z-W6e0k4_Gy401V4FjCYPN04ckDiwOWt/s320/Corban+Birthday.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESVPUnOhd_Yn6gkllv80zclBXL1O-XMm2l8xfV_zPf3smIvhanf26_uI6c7LXNNDmH_8vi3NBz8oWfZyEHkqTrZ1_MJpzAykuqAdQJp8t47sMPdMNtFeMmECUJRDRtJvhIYl8_4Ol-PdN/s1600/Corban11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESVPUnOhd_Yn6gkllv80zclBXL1O-XMm2l8xfV_zPf3smIvhanf26_uI6c7LXNNDmH_8vi3NBz8oWfZyEHkqTrZ1_MJpzAykuqAdQJp8t47sMPdMNtFeMmECUJRDRtJvhIYl8_4Ol-PdN/s320/Corban11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCM_i5YO-vm_HgREtjlbAT0RhuUWumnUmNEJT03YhFxR_HzgHxbEEpMce9jeOGEc039hSKxn3oqisSfZ0DfLg216etvE5OEuP7FqA55bXgsGAI68NyVh_ywKdz8oV6u8X8k9RLhWPs7n2/s1600/Corban2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCM_i5YO-vm_HgREtjlbAT0RhuUWumnUmNEJT03YhFxR_HzgHxbEEpMce9jeOGEc039hSKxn3oqisSfZ0DfLg216etvE5OEuP7FqA55bXgsGAI68NyVh_ywKdz8oV6u8X8k9RLhWPs7n2/s320/Corban2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, that was it! Hope you liked my "book". Maybe next time, I'll actually use words. Or perhaps I'll just break out in a song. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Like this! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to my dear, wonderful, darling, ever-so-handsome and kissable and squeezable and all the above little baby boy Corban..... <b>Happy birthday to you!!!</b></i></div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-35521621518308385202013-07-12T23:57:00.001-04:002013-07-13T11:25:24.636-04:00Hips, Before and AfterWe got an x-ray of Corban's hips this week, so I thought I'd show you the before and after mugshots real quick.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-8iZcfL_VLmI-SC1LxkusB0RY_0PIRnvEoDNO-n0z8pLddXFDOobYKBdXT_FcwBH7Oitmr6av2fybxIvZZijF2H2cw5MPyLeorgk7Z2hhr3bXXTOFxUJFcWfOfUqQnFdjYc57XNTiPce/s1600/Corban's+Hips+-before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-8iZcfL_VLmI-SC1LxkusB0RY_0PIRnvEoDNO-n0z8pLddXFDOobYKBdXT_FcwBH7Oitmr6av2fybxIvZZijF2H2cw5MPyLeorgk7Z2hhr3bXXTOFxUJFcWfOfUqQnFdjYc57XNTiPce/s400/Corban's+Hips+-before.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
It's a bit hard to decipher what's going on in the above picture, but can you at least see the ball joints? Notice how they are NOT in socket and they are NOT pointing in the right direction? Well, here's what they look like today...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM-lY-OecaiGWozYo9MVA0LqQN0TASTuuAb2Oe6H3lruNc1bekFusf0v0doeu-Qp0kVS20FmSZHeNVp7S-So0q7Gr4Qok14TGWZSw3FUagLwPs8MSY_shgnVapjaRwJ7R1C-eh4py36Cs/s1600/HIPS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM-lY-OecaiGWozYo9MVA0LqQN0TASTuuAb2Oe6H3lruNc1bekFusf0v0doeu-Qp0kVS20FmSZHeNVp7S-So0q7Gr4Qok14TGWZSw3FUagLwPs8MSY_shgnVapjaRwJ7R1C-eh4py36Cs/s400/HIPS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Beautiful! Simply beautiful.S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-50806506091379308602013-06-29T18:50:00.000-04:002013-06-29T18:50:32.001-04:00Yet Another Surgery - on His HEAD!!<br />
We found out this week that Corban has something called <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/doernbecher/programs-services/brachycephaly.cfm">bilateral coronal synostosis</a>. It means that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronal_suture">coronal sutures</a> in his skull have prematurely fused together. Not good news.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Well, firstly it means that as Corban's head continues to grow, the bones will not be able to shift correctly, resulting in a misshapen head. I have already noticed his forehead bulging out, a significant difference from what it was a year ago.<br />
<br />
It also means, more importantly, that his skull could restrict his brain growth, affecting his cognitive abilities (including memory, speech, communication, processing, etc.). His optic nerves could be affected as well, so there is the potential of vision loss. If untreated, the pressure inside his head could become painful, causing nausea, vomiting and even seizures.<br />
<br />
So, really none of this is good news. It's down right awful news, to be honest. With everything that's happened these last few weeks (from the broken leg, to hip surgery last week, to fevers, to thrush, to peed casts, to half a dozen meds) I'm TIRED! Corban's tired. We're all tired. Not sure if we're ready to handle another major surgery just yet. But we're also not sure how much time we have to spare. The surgeon mentioned performing the surgery in 3-6 weeks, so it sounds fairly urgent to me.<br />
<br />
He did mention two other possibilities for Corban, other than the original mac-daddy-forehead-removing, bone-cutting, brow-rebuilding procedure. There is a smaller procedure where they would be able to make a small incision in the scalp and take out the fused growth plate. But this surgery would not take care of his misshapen head, nor would it prevent his head from growing even more asymmetrical as he gets older.<br />
<br />
The third option would be to wait and watch his optic nerves, to see if they start showing signs of pressure. The problem with this option is, how often are we going to have appointments with the ophthalmologist? Every 6 months? Every 3 months? And what happens if something changes in between the appointments? Do we risk permanent damage? <br />
<br />
So, we're back to the original option. Not my favorite. But none of them are.<br />
<br />
<i>Oh, Lord! Give us strength for this path you've put us on. Help us find refuge in the shadow of your wings. Guide our footsteps as we walk this road with Corban, and lead us in the way we should go. Help us, Father! We need you! Amen.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLGW2N92tK0hiZh10Hdtz-zwlAIZl3514R5EX1KoGqjbBWqJvidGjUC0rMOuwpKeaJa7xok0w05pXztC81RnBYRIyPHSp-nukAEKBrXrkSN8zKUcYEvxT6tR0vlbR566CjCstvAzzhRyJ/s1600/Corban's+head.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLGW2N92tK0hiZh10Hdtz-zwlAIZl3514R5EX1KoGqjbBWqJvidGjUC0rMOuwpKeaJa7xok0w05pXztC81RnBYRIyPHSp-nukAEKBrXrkSN8zKUcYEvxT6tR0vlbR566CjCstvAzzhRyJ/s320/Corban's+head.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-39700754968469576562013-06-20T20:57:00.003-04:002013-06-20T20:57:45.204-04:00Surgery, Sufferings and Recovering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2v0V29aFBSbfaDomH2vWOsi2YfM-NinP4fhFYBVDMFwWliSWTZTRQzap51HxFhd2Mu4zlzfCfijcGp-5dWL6bECK8Zf5LNZGEttwRExoMYzO69cA1WXXR8H_4kP_NjKgZZeJw_3rJdyI/s1600/IMG_1397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2v0V29aFBSbfaDomH2vWOsi2YfM-NinP4fhFYBVDMFwWliSWTZTRQzap51HxFhd2Mu4zlzfCfijcGp-5dWL6bECK8Zf5LNZGEttwRExoMYzO69cA1WXXR8H_4kP_NjKgZZeJw_3rJdyI/s320/IMG_1397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Corban is resting well now. But it was a long day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Surgery started yesterday at 12:30pm and didn’t end until
close to 10 o’clock last night. The surgery was originally scheduled for 7
hours, but ended up taking about 9, as Corban’s hips and legs proved to be a
real challenge for the surgeon. Though he’s done many surgeries similar to this
one, Corban’s was, in his words, “the most difficult case.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were many reasons why it was so challenging, but
probably the biggest one was that Corban’s hip sockets were deformed from
having the ball joints resting behind them for so long. The ball joints made
little indentations in the sockets, so they were not as rounded as they needed
to be. This made it extremely difficult for the surgeon to fit the ball joints in
socket. He told us after the surgery was over, that at one point he really thought
about coming to tell us he just couldn’t do it. He just couldn’t get them to
fit! But praise God, he didn’t give up. He kept trying and with much patience
and much maneuvering, somehow he managed to get them in. I know this was the
Lord’s mercy and the result of many prayers! So, thank you all for praying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for praying for us last week as well! It was such
a crazy week. But the break in Corban’s femur ended up not being an issue for
surgery this week, as the femur would have needed to be cut anyway. The surgeon
just cut the bone where it was already broken. Then he took ¾ of an inch out of
each leg, rotated the bones, screws in the plates, lined up the ball joints,
placed them in socket, stitched him back up and put him in a Spica cast (which
he’ll be in for the next 6-12 weeks). Sounds easy, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No, not easy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Corban did end up losing a lot of blood during surgery, as
it was such a long procedure. So he had to have a “large” blood transfusion to
compensate for the loss. But he recovered well and by the time we saw him last
night, he looked nice and pink. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The anesthesiologist ended up sticking around until Corban’s
surgery was completely over (I think she fell in love with him and didn’t want
to leave), then set him up in the PICU with an epidural and a constant drip of
heavy pain medications. Despite the heavy pain meds, he cried most of the night
and thrashed his head from side to side. It took all night and half way into today
before he really started resting and sleeping peacefully. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was also pretty miserable half of the day with
a fever of 103, but he’s doing much better now as the fever has since come
down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It really does stink, you know? The pain. It stinks. I
really hate standing there watching him suffer and not be able to take it from
him. It hurts a mommy’s heart! But, I think of how God must have felt to see
his Son struggling so (on the cross), and know he couldn't take it from him
either. To accomplish salvation, Christ <em>had</em> to suffer. To do great things, he
first <em>had</em> to die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, as I sit and watch Corban tonight, I am hopeful for his
future—knowing that this suffering will bring about great things. His suffering
<em>will</em> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">accomplish </i>something, just as
Christ’s sufferings accomplished something. It is not pointless. It is not in
vain. And our sufferings in this life are not vain either. With that, I am comforted.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sbiTBgqj479Uq45ntCF6GcEYE4gt2DGZ4bLwfp1ukBl0-n9yijPdySZEvyMX8F88NzcIHeK7QhkdAbTjZLwHY0Hx8QRCL2RwAxWju9AJ-QYtR9EpxtTnkQyNtjHik83NWidh0wOo5YFD/s1600/IMG_1396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sbiTBgqj479Uq45ntCF6GcEYE4gt2DGZ4bLwfp1ukBl0-n9yijPdySZEvyMX8F88NzcIHeK7QhkdAbTjZLwHY0Hx8QRCL2RwAxWju9AJ-QYtR9EpxtTnkQyNtjHik83NWidh0wOo5YFD/s320/IMG_1396.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeVhe60nTacoYLrFs0qPG-DOPg7xUErnLCXkXpsSliAW6fZIVKVIN19aIM6wngiVU92AZ5VZOa4OvjrQyIu0-pp9cWVj2mP2bVQMOl21jeSyXuAUGMJ9fX8jeyQPv64kYCJd8fm8w2yk_/s1600/IMG_1399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeVhe60nTacoYLrFs0qPG-DOPg7xUErnLCXkXpsSliAW6fZIVKVIN19aIM6wngiVU92AZ5VZOa4OvjrQyIu0-pp9cWVj2mP2bVQMOl21jeSyXuAUGMJ9fX8jeyQPv64kYCJd8fm8w2yk_/s320/IMG_1399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-68132484410739439062013-06-18T20:34:00.000-04:002013-06-18T20:34:52.045-04:00Surgery is Here! It Has Come.After waiting close to a year and a half for Corban’s hip
surgery, it’s hard to imagine that the time has finally come. Is it really
time? It can’t be! I’m not ready! I’ve only had a year and a half to get ready—that’s
not long enough.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No amount of waiting or prepping will help. It’s only the Lord and His
goodness that will get us through the long journey ahead. For this surgery is just one of many, and
tomorrow’s knife is not the last. One day I will go into more detail about some of the other
procedures we are looking at as possibly in Corban’s future, but today, I will
focus on tomorrow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tomorrow... will be a long day. The surgery itself should take
about 7 hours. The hospital stay should be about 4-5 days. The Spica cast and
recovery will take 6-12 weeks. And the plates the surgeon will screw into his
legs will take 18 months. So, tomorrow... will be a long day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it’s already been a long week. To our surprise, Corban
wriggled his way off our bed last Tuesday night and into the ER with a broken
leg. His leg fractured in two places, so we were sure the surgery that we’ve
waited so long for, would be called off. But <i>thankfully</i>, the main place it
fractured is approximately where the surgeon would be cutting his femur anyway, so he will still be able to do the surgery! Praise God! And there have already been so many things like this that have happened this week—things
that started out very bad and the Lord worked out for good—that I take comfort
in knowing He will work this surgery out for good as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s not to say we shouldn’t pray! We NEED you to pray tomorrow! Please pray.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pray that Corban would be the tough guy that he is, and make it through the surgery, anesthesia and recovery. Pray that he would be protected against infection. Pray that the doctor would be well-rested and ready for the long day ahead. Pray for wisdom. Pray for strength. And grace. And strength.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29cUWnaGP5Wfwno_fOu5BKHRAf2Nj7xQN8QScVz_AJc6BiwhlFs2ZsPT-zAb59aGHjl9Ib-BFtalXbKOj84V58QF-4wLrmOTzcpVeP4OyW2bb8ayMZ8sMzYr7iSppngk56nkN7hjbOiwN/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29cUWnaGP5Wfwno_fOu5BKHRAf2Nj7xQN8QScVz_AJc6BiwhlFs2ZsPT-zAb59aGHjl9Ib-BFtalXbKOj84V58QF-4wLrmOTzcpVeP4OyW2bb8ayMZ8sMzYr7iSppngk56nkN7hjbOiwN/s320/IMG_1381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-76288410537143421032013-05-16T13:20:00.001-04:002013-05-16T13:20:52.818-04:00My Bionic Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHG95gPmjsG8M0dvW-_4u6gmb1mm7uvFExqCJVz-Gy1_QCQb-NtzKtzRf4Tt9bVzkVbB_G3JZ-mUI_tt7vI_S0HAD71E2h6Tvw6N0bnojbd46YQnKnoEnwSZGYfL33C2fgWCmXi9IW_uib/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHG95gPmjsG8M0dvW-_4u6gmb1mm7uvFExqCJVz-Gy1_QCQb-NtzKtzRf4Tt9bVzkVbB_G3JZ-mUI_tt7vI_S0HAD71E2h6Tvw6N0bnojbd46YQnKnoEnwSZGYfL33C2fgWCmXi9IW_uib/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2i496T7jEZustK6jargV4vgYScPOkaLLiV8OOCwGIbc-_DKlmKj1gJKvobhl6oz8IgF70RPlE0UrTx5vghdojWATh3isZEblNsL7jvvlVqB7JzyEkwyrxkV2-x1V5e92NczWqcvqotiv/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2i496T7jEZustK6jargV4vgYScPOkaLLiV8OOCwGIbc-_DKlmKj1gJKvobhl6oz8IgF70RPlE0UrTx5vghdojWATh3isZEblNsL7jvvlVqB7JzyEkwyrxkV2-x1V5e92NczWqcvqotiv/s320/3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few nicknames come to mind today, as Corban sports his fancy new hand splints. Robocop, Terminator, Cyborg, Iron Man, to name a few. But "Bionic Baby" really has a nice ring to it. Don't you think?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With these bad boys, he really does look like a force to be reckoned with! And that's ok. He's been through "hell" and back and lived to tell about it. He's rough. He's tough. He's Bionic Baby. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Don't cross him. He might just whack you in the nose with his metal arm.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTS7fmydGFeicqY5dgk4zMrnZkqtAFlLf3SoOha1K6db2Cpd6z9h-W6QfGjBy8wE1B4RLoOGru9ASQ2zDYD5MikdB_AsjPYGxplh8ZYLg8eXC-_4jYpKbqNBKRfmlriWkW9WAVeAO6LJE/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTS7fmydGFeicqY5dgk4zMrnZkqtAFlLf3SoOha1K6db2Cpd6z9h-W6QfGjBy8wE1B4RLoOGru9ASQ2zDYD5MikdB_AsjPYGxplh8ZYLg8eXC-_4jYpKbqNBKRfmlriWkW9WAVeAO6LJE/s320/4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357023264280032823.post-35376433808671182612013-04-01T14:40:00.000-04:002013-04-01T14:41:26.014-04:00Hip Surgery Now that things have sort of slowed down for us, the question we are frequently asked is "so, what's next?"<br />
<br />
And the answer is...? <br />
<br />
<b>THIS</b> is what's next: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsGaCelsRklZmZpDwTTbPnhld083bjuXAwcU6tkTEClJFlCJzFCE5cx-Mjj4UwKT0c4h_D7gmwmnSR2h0MK2hftTDDcAB-ODMOXLZ427KMC2A3o1U6vhaba2iMVdozv6PbusniiVYtVkq/s1600/Corban's+Hips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsGaCelsRklZmZpDwTTbPnhld083bjuXAwcU6tkTEClJFlCJzFCE5cx-Mjj4UwKT0c4h_D7gmwmnSR2h0MK2hftTDDcAB-ODMOXLZ427KMC2A3o1U6vhaba2iMVdozv6PbusniiVYtVkq/s400/Corban's+Hips.jpg" width="400" /></a><b> </b><br />
<b>Hip surgery. </b><br />
<br />
Yep. Mid June.<br />
<br />
Half of me is really excited and the other half of me is petrified at the thought of it. The excited part of me says, "praise God that there is an option for your little boy and that his mangled little hips <i>can </i>be corrected!" And, "be grateful that there is a qualified and competent doctor out there, who is willing to tackle this mountain of a mess!" And, "how exciting is it that your son might be able to walk one day!"<br />
<br />
And I am. I am excited. And grateful.<br />
<br />
But the petrified half of me knows--it will not be a walk in the park. Corban's hips are a mess! His hips are bilaterally dislocated and his ball joints are backward. Yes, that's right. They are <b>backward</b>!<br />
<br />
Why? Well, at birth, both of Corban's femurs were badly broken. But all we could do at that point was to leave them alone and let them heal. So they healed. Backward.<br />
<br />
To fix this problem, Corban's femurs will need to be cut (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteotomy">osteotomy</a>) and rotated (180 degrees or so), "pins" put in his legs, and ball joints placed in socket (probably, for the first time ever). There's also a good chance that the surgeon will need to take a small section of his femur OUT, in order to fit his hips into socket. Yuck.<br />
<br />
The surgery is supposed to take all day (about 7 hours), with a 4-5 day hospital stay, and a total of 8 days away from home.<br />
<br />
When he comes home, Corban will be in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthopedic_cast#Spica_cast">spica cast</a>, which will look something like this picture below. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0zqa1SuWfOE9wuwRZoF8TAsbUaaqOvdNH2BOZZFFZXIUU9iO6i-H3KiQgOc01pftIFAOlfsMU4xZFz5itUDLAEQYeSYUJWQhYUEJRJ3LLrW7FnxsA4Iht0MFDV9GShOmuEq5KCUNXMjg/s1600/spica-cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0zqa1SuWfOE9wuwRZoF8TAsbUaaqOvdNH2BOZZFFZXIUU9iO6i-H3KiQgOc01pftIFAOlfsMU4xZFz5itUDLAEQYeSYUJWQhYUEJRJ3LLrW7FnxsA4Iht0MFDV9GShOmuEq5KCUNXMjg/s1600/spica-cast.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
He will be in it for 6-12 weeks after surgery, which will make for a looooonnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg, hot and stinky summer. He will not be able to take baths while in casts, and we will need to staunchly protect the casts from any and all liquids (including those that come out of the body).<br />
<br />
He will be in pain. He will not be able to sleep. He will cry. He will not want to eat. He will be miserable. And so will we. <br />
<br />
Our other two kids will have a hard time with it all. They will be stressed. We will be stressed. Corban will be in pain. They won't understand. It will make for an even longer summer.<br />
<br />
So, when you think of it, <i>please </i>pray for us! Pray that God would see him through the surgery. Pray that Corban would tolerate the shock of it all. Pray that he would not feel betrayed as we hand him over to the doctors to be "tortured." Pray that Corban forgets all of this when he's older. Pray that the Lord guides the surgeon's hands as he cuts my baby's flesh, bones, and then puts all the pieces back together again. Pray the doctor is well-rested, focused and doesn't encounter any unexpected problems during surgery. Pray the anestesia would do it's job and that Corban would not taste excruciating pain. Pray he wouldn't have any reactions to the drugs he's given. Pray he would not get any infections. Pray the Lord gives us strength and mercy to help Corban through the recovery process. And pray that God would surround us all in his perfect peace.<br />
<br />
Pray. Just. Pray. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TquHytYWyKRDc6ZL47aAajnyw0ErUkZWEY0W95GjvPdj7LySAyi8Ct-cnrzakFQ4EPsObw_cwc-slm0wUmYBfo3w5AH2FM2snRDEaTajYZJH3NC96Pm1v2_EATnkVnBskFLp2L1sx3ZU/s1600/Corban+face.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TquHytYWyKRDc6ZL47aAajnyw0ErUkZWEY0W95GjvPdj7LySAyi8Ct-cnrzakFQ4EPsObw_cwc-slm0wUmYBfo3w5AH2FM2snRDEaTajYZJH3NC96Pm1v2_EATnkVnBskFLp2L1sx3ZU/s400/Corban+face.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9Zj0ZGRmtBK_-7QMG_yhvaco5Jt_tiobacFzNfNxeWC9OIAoTVL6VbRfEW5Yfyd9yspHPBeMouLMnZYVVs_RfgN1eK83Xj4K44zluKke1W8Oe9PnENoFrU6srZUunO4vJFZOfw_jNucS/s1600/Corban+edited2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
S and Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04244525416257249035noreply@blogger.com3