Wordless Wednesday

sweet baby feet

so peaceful...

Happy 6th Birthday David!!!

Jeremiah having fun

baby Jo Jo awake

Introducing our newest blessing

Well I 've been watiting a long time to finally be able to do this....

But I'm here to introduce to you our newest blessing, Joseph Levi.  He came into the world on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 8:22 pm.  He was 6 lbs. 3 oz and 19 inches of complete perfection.  He and Mommy are healthy and happy, praise God. 

(love at first sight)

We are so in love with this little boy already.  He's the perfect addition to our family and fits right in, spoiled already.  There's hardly a time when he's not being held or gazed upon by someone.  Were so blessed and so humbled that God has entrusted us with yet another gift. Its beyond me to understand how He can be so generous and loving to me.  But when I think of the love I have for Joseph already it gives me a glimpse of the love that God must have for me. 

It's been beautiful to see Chris with him too.  We both have grown spritually and closer together in the last few months, especially with everything that has happened with baby Katie, who is doing awesome by the way.  Praise!!!  But to see Chris as a new father again is very beautiful.  He's so in love with his newest son and so gentle and tender with him.  The kids all are completely enfatuated with him, which can be hard at times because there's usually someone inches away at all times, but I"m really trying to be understanding that they love Joseph as I do and this really is a special time in our lives right now that I do not want to rush through. 

I am also so grateful to all my family and friends who have come to visit us and help out.  I was completely spoiled by Chris and my mom and dad who came and spent the night with us.  My mom and Chris cleaned and did laundry and my Dad spent time with all the kids so I could relax.  It was also so nice to us to share some time just talking and visiting.  Another wonderful memory.  I am truly blessed beyond words and so thankful to God for His abundant grace.

Love and Blessings,

Waiting, waiting, waiting.....

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor."

That was the verse in my inbox this morning.  I love that, especially the "at the right time" part.  At the right time He will life me up in honor!  Wow!  Why should I be honored?  Anyway, it was just one of those things really stuck out my mind this morning.  That if I humble myself before Him, He wants to give me honor.  A gentle reminder from Him that no matter how chaotic life is I need to find that time with Him daily and He'll even reward me for it!  Not that I need a reward for spending time with Him but that's just His heart. 

Pretty cool!

Anyway,  yesterday I had a doctors appt.  Not much has changed except that my cervix is very soft and that I could go at anytime.  I guess its out of my hands and a waiting game is what I'm in for.  I'm still at a 2 but my midwife said that by the time I have a couple contractions I'd be a 5 or 6.  She was very understanding about how fast my labors can be, which was nice. She said don't wait.  If I feel anything just go even if I have to walk around the hospital for a couple hours at least I'm close.  So that's the plan.  We'll see.....

When I got back from the doctors we took the kids to the mall.  Hannah still had birthday money that she watned to spend at Clairs, an 8 years old girls paradise.  And we walked around a little bit and headed home.  A pretty quiet day.  I guess I should really start appreciating those while I have them.  :-)

Well that's about all for around here.  I'll everybody posted on any changes! 

Oh yeah,  Katie is still doing great, smiling all the time, just happy to be home I bet!  Annie has sent me some pics of her smiling and I"ll have to post them on here when I get a chance, she's really adorable.  But as for right now I have to little boys ready for a bath so off I go!

Love and Blessings everyone!

Home Sweet Home

Hey everyone!  I know this is supposed to be a wordless wednesday but I haven't posted in a couple days and I wanted to make sure I posted a full update. 

Katie is home, she went home on Monday night with mommy and daddy.  She's doing great.  As I posted before she passed her hearing test and the MRI and surgery to repair her broviac went great.  The adjustment to home, although a miracle and huge blessings, is still an adjustment.  I know Annie took Katie to have her 2 month shots yesterday and she had her first dose of antibiotics at home as well yesterday.  As of last night Annie had given her a dose of antibiotics herself, which will make things easier since she won't have to depend on a nurse coming twice a day.  But she did say Katie has been very clingy and not sleeping well.  I do believe as great and wonderful as it is to be home its still going to take some time to adjust and poor Katie is probably so scared of ever having to do that again that she's going to want to be in mommy or daddy's arms for awhile. 

So anyway, all is well on that front as of now.  So now my prayer is of course is for the continued health of Katie and no remissions, but for Annie and Richie to really continue to draw upon the Lord and seek Him and give Him the credit for the healing of their daughter.  It seems harsh that God might have allowed that to happen so they would have nothing else but to look to Him, but God knows better than we do what we or others need or have taken away to fully depend and have faith in Him.  I know for myself, I've never been closer to the Lord than when I'm in a "valley" of some kind.  And for those "valleys" I end up thanking and praising Him even more.  Thank you all again for your prayers, support and thoughts. My family and I are more thankful than you know!
On the homefront,  everything here is going fine.  Working and living.  Nothing exciting. Yet.  I have a doctors appointment tomorrow that should tell me if anything more is happening.  Last week my midwife told me I was 2 cm and about 50% effaced so tomorrow should be telling.  It's just a waiting game and a very anxious one.  I keep asking myself "is today the day?".  And I know my day is coming soon but its constantly in the back of mind, if not the front!

Anyway,  I wish you all a great wednesday! 

Love and Blessings,

God is good!

Hey everyone!  I just wanted to give you a quick update!  Katie is going home tonight!  She passed her hearing test with flying colors, her MRI looked great and the surgery to repair her Broviac went without a hitch.  They have home health coming in the morning to give Katie her dose of anitbiotics and she gets immunizations tomorrow as well.  She has a check-up with the neuro surgeon next week as well as a scan.  But how wonderful to be going home~  I think we all doubted this day would come, but as we well know by now~ "with God all things are possible".

Thanks for the continued prayers and support!  I'll continue to keep you updated as well!

A frustrating Katie update

Hey everyone, well they moved Katie to the recovery floor yesterday. A very good sign and one step closer to going to home because she's so stable. Well I get a call from my sister late last night. The nurse who came in to give Kate her antibiotic left the cap off her broviac, which is her permanant IV line in her neck, therefore exposing her very bacteria in the hospital for 2 hours. Now Katies on a third broad spectrum antibotic to kill whatever she came in contact with because of that. The night nurse comes on and tells her what happened, they check Katie and realize the Broviac is now clogged, and the nurse goes about to flush it out with an entire siringe full of fluid! Cause Katie to jerk up in massive pain and scream and break the Broviac. Now my little neice has to have another surgery this morning to repair the Broviac if possible. Katie also isn't supposed to have morphene or anything close to it and the night nurse gave her codene, which is in the same family, and that affected Katies breathing again. My sister raised heck last night and demanded to be moved back to the PICU and they said no. The charge nurse said they'd only be assigned top nurses on that floor from now on. The two nurses they had who made these mistakes were new! Why are new nurses being assigned and not even checking her chart is beyond me! Anyway, I really need prayer for them. Katie has been through enough and now to be subjected to another surgery because of total and complete incompetence is very frustrating. Annie just wants to take her home and let her recover and that's going to be set back even further. Please pray for all of the family and Katie and for them to be assigned competent nurses that won't set Katie progress back further!

Happy Friday

"You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done."

Psalm 92:4

Reminds me a lot of this last week and half or so.  What is possible with God.  I can say I couldn't even have imagined it could be.  From the depths of complete agonizing grief to perfect joy in days.  And even with the ups and downs that have happened since, nothing compares or even shadows what we know God has done through Katie. 

She's doing great and feeling great.  The picture above is from yesterday, the same day that she smiled for the first time!  What a blessing to brighten a drab hospital.  To experience your childs first true smile.  I think its a picture of what's to come for Annie and Rich.  And future full of brightness and smiles.  I also have linked her picture to the left on my sidebar to her care page at CHOC if youd like to send a message directly to the family or just check in on how she's doing.

Well on the homefront~things are good.  I'm just ancy as I know I could go into labor any day now.  I have a doctors appointment yesterday.  Everything looks good and baby Joseph seems to be doing great too.  My midwife examined me and said about 2 cm and 50% effaced so it could be anyday or a couple of weeks.  Now is the waiting game....the hardest part for me I think.  I just want him out of my belly and in my arms.  I want to see him and touch him and smell him, but I'll have to wait for God's perfect timing and trust His timing will be perfect. 

For someone like me with anxiety and the desire to plan every situation, labor can be a tough lesson.  I cant plan it, I can make a plan of action for when it does happen, but I cant plan its every details, so this waiting is REALLY hard! 

I also want to remember that today is 9-11.  Eight years later but still fresh in our memories and hearts.  I'm remembering the heros and loves ones that we all lost that day and that God's presence is strong with the family members left behind.

Anyway,  that's about it for now.  I hope you all have great day!  Oh yeah, please keep my mom and dad and my sisters 3 other kids in prayer.  They are all really sick with the flu...I appreciate your prayers and support!

Love and Blessings,

The Latest

Here's the latest everyone! Katie is scheduled to have the 2 drains removed today from Tuesday's surgery. She's doing great, hardly on any pain meds and nursing. They're even talking about getting her out of the PICU and transferring her a regular recovery room in the hospital. I'll let you know anything I hear about that. I'm continuing to pray for Annie and Richie, they're very homesick and miss their 3 other kids. And I know Richie has to go to back to work soon, so I'm praying for the adjustment to be as smooth as possible and for Katie to begin her recovery at home soon! Thanks for the continued prayers and support!




Love,

Heather

Baby Katie 9-8-09

Hey guys!~ Katie came out of surgery at 3:30 pm. She did very well, the surgeon said there was no puss just a small amount of fluid where the big abcess and small abcess on the left side were. So that sounds positive. She was already off the ventilator and breathing on her own and wide awake. She's obviously going to be in a lot of pain. This is the second surgery in a few days and reopening her head cant feel very good. She's also not being kept asleep like she was last time either. Which is a good sign but very sad because she will feel the pain. They are going to give her pain medicine as soon as she's out of recovery. (Which has already happened, I'm sure).


Were still left with no answers. And with that we still have to maintain a positive attitude and total faith in the Lord and the Great Physician. He has brought her such a long way and I think compared to where we were last week as this time (life and death, literally) she's a miracle!

My dad and Richie's dad were able to see Katie in recovery very quickly and they were both also able to talk to the surgeon. Who told them exactly what he's been telling Annie and Richie. They have no answers. They still do not know why it's in her brain and what the long term affects will be because of it. Her brain looks great. But the left side is smaller than the right because of the pressure of the abcesses and fluid. So her developemental delay will remain to be seen. They cannot say how she's been affected by this and what kind of damage has been done to her brain. They did say that her right side looks great and the right side will be able to compensate for left side in learning things if it has too. But again, it's going to be a waiting game to see exactly what, if any, damage was done.

Again, Annie is super positive and grateful for Katie's strength and amazing ability to come out of these surgeries so well. She is so strong and already a hero to the whole family. How many more surgeries will there be if any???? Remains to be seen. But the scans this week will give more answers and for that we have to be grateful and really hold on to the positive.

She has made remarkable progress and hasn't taken any steps back. No new abcesses have formed and no puss either. So that tells me that the medicine is doing its job. But again, doctors have NEVER seen this before. So they are really being cautious, and understandably so.

Anyway, that's the latest. I will continue to update whenever I hear anything new! Thanks again for prayers and thoughts!

Holiday wrap-up and of course, Katie....

Hey everyone!  I hope you all had a great and safe Labor Day weekend!  We were pretty busy around here, has we have been for the past week.  Wow, what a rollercoaster life has been lately.  Let's see, on Friday I basically caught up on housework that got put on the back burner because of going up and down the hill to the hospital.  Saturday was Hannah's birthday.  We hung out here at home and she opened one of her gifts and her card from Grammie and Papa.  Then when Chris got home we went to church, had cake and ice cream and watched Hannah open the rest of her presents.  Sunday we headed back down the hill.  We stopped by Chris' grandmas house and had birthday cake for Hannah there as well.  We also made our way to the hospital and hung out there with Annie and some the family too.  It was nice to visit and I know they love the distraction also.  After that we took the kids to the park and then to target where Hannah spent a little of her money and I got some stuff for Joseph also.  Yesterday was Labor Day and we bbq'd here at home with a couple friends and just relaxed.  A nice way to end the weekend and start the week.  Everything here is going fine.  I'm getting closer to my due date now.  I'm 36 weeks today, so that gives me about 4 weeks left but most likely 2 since I tend to deliver at 38 weeks.  So I'm getting nervous, excitied; all kinds of emotions rolled into one.  I have a doctor's appointment on thursday, I'm going to ask my midwife to check me and see if anything's starting because I've had some signs that I'll spare the details on, on here.  :-)  But I'll be sure to let you know what happens with appointment.

Now on to Katie....

She's been doing great!  What a miracle baby she is.  A perfect little picture of God's glory.  She has had her MRI and is in surgery as we speak.  My heart is at the hospital right now for sure.  She is so strong and amazing and after the journey the Lord has taken on with her I don't doubt for second that she'll be fine and we'll have a wonderful testimony to God's grace and what is possible through faith and prayer.  I'll never again see God the same or be the same again.  He's taken my relationship with Him to a new level and for that I wouldn't trade any of the pain and grief I suffered. 

Annie and Richie are seriously the strongest people I know right now.  They know the Lord but haven't been walking with Him.  And through this they've been seeking prayer and finding comfort in God's word.  It's been so exciting for me to see them comforted by God and giving Him the credit for Katie's amazing turnaround! 

I can't express my gratitude enough to all you prayer warriors!  You cant know how much peace and strength you've brought, not only to Annie and Richie, but to our whole family!  It's appreciated more than you can know.  It's amazing what can be done when God's people come together! 

Anyway, I'm off to do homework with David.  I hope you all have a great Tuesday!

Love and Blessings,

Miracle Katie

Katie is doing very well as of last night. EKG came back fine, her heart rate has been dropping because of the surgeries, which they said is very normal, but they aren't taking any chances and really taking everything very seriously. She is scheduled for surgery tomorrow (tues) to go and drain whatever fluid is there and make sure there is nothing else. The CT didn't show anything else so far...Praise God!!!! She's an amazingly strong little girl! She's off morphene and very alert just sucking on her binky like crazy, really wanting to eat. Finally, after 18 hours, Annie was able to feed her again! I will continue to keep you updated and feel very blessed to have all of you so concerned for my family. I'm also feeling fine as well. 36 weeks and counting. I have a dr. appt on thurs and will also let you know how that goes for me. Let me say this birthday and preganacy will never be forgotton but have drawn me closer to the Lord in a way that is unexplainable and for that I am so grateful! Love you all!



Heather

Katie update- afternoon of Sep. 5

the lastest as of this afternoon is that the MRI showed that there is a small abcess recollecting on the left side of her brain. She goes into surgery on tuesday. I believe its to remove it, I'm waiting on the details. Continue praying warriors! We've prayed through the worst of it already...




thanks,

Heather

Happy Birthday Hannah and Katie Update!

As of Sep. 5-
Katie update:my sis got to got nurse her for yesterday 15min on each side! The vent and drains are all out, the neurosurgeon examined her head and said it felt a little larger than he'd expect but it could've been swelling from the surgeries, they're doing an MRI this morning to be sure. Pray for unwavering faith for annie and richie, we know God is bigger than this but they are nervous and need to be lifted up! Thanks for all your continued prayer and support!

On another note.  Today is my only daugther birthday!  8 yrs. old today and 8 years that have flown by way too fast.  Sometimes, well most of the time, faster than I'd like.  Were going to do presents and cake tonight after church, then head down the hill tomorrow to visits Chris' mom and grandma and take her shopping to spend her money most likely.  We also plan on visiting Annie and Richie too.  She would like to see Papa and Grammie, but we'll have to see.

Anyway,  I promised the birthday girl pancakes for breakfast so I better get on that!  Thanks for continued prayer and support for my family I so appreciate it!

Love and Blessings,

Friday Morning...

Hey everyone!  Wow what a ride this past week has been!  But I wouldn't have changed it for the world.  Not after what I can humbly say I was blessed to be a part of.  The pain is so worth the closness I feel with God.  Being front-center to a miracle isn't something that I can say I do everyday or will ever do again.  Although I don't doubt anything anymore. 

Here's the latest:

As of last night, they were thinking about taking out the ventilator.  They tested her breathing first.  Basically they shut off the machine competely and let her breathe on her own.  She does but she's not breathing out enough carbon dioxide, which is completely normal for someone after surgeries.  She also is much more alert, and therefore, fussy because of all the "stuff" she's hooked up to.  So when she cries it affects her breathing.  The docs just want to play it safe and sound, now that she's come so far, so fast.  They said the vent will most likely come out this morning, I'm waiting to hear.  Two drain tubes should be coming out today as well.  She's scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday so see if everything is still looking good. 

They said the most amazing thing about yesterday's CT scan was was that when you drain abcesses there is empty pockets left in the brain from where the abcesses were.  But in her case, there's not even that.  Not only are they completely gone but there isn't even the empty pockets.  Which left the surgeon completely baffled again.  Also the pathology came back that the only bacteria is strep phneumo.  Which doesn't cause abcesses but the infectious disease specialist said "well they did here".  So she said she's going to be studying this case and investigating it.  I'm sure all the surgeons will be too. 

Anyway, that's what our God can do.  Leave specialists baffled and us speechless!  He's awesome!  He would still reign no matter what the outcome, but how wonderful to rejoice in such happiness! 

I will keep you all updated!  Thank you again for the prayers, they are appreciated more than words can express!

Katie last night (thursday night)

Katie-Sep. 3 11:00pm

Just got back from the hospital! What a turnaround from last night! Katie was awake and alert. Playing with her Daddy's hands. She would stick her hand out and he would play with her fingers and then she would grab his fingers so tight. Then she'd let go and he'd play with fingers some more. She was kicking her feet and letting everyone know she cant wait to have all this stuff out of her. I've some pics on my phone of her tonight, but I'm not able to get them on facebook for some reason. But I will try again tomorrow.




So nice to see smiles and joy, instead of the tears and pain of last night. God has used "Kater" as a vessel to glorify Himself in the most spectacular way I've ever seen. And I am so humbled to have been this close to it! I sent a verse to my sister yesterday from Romans: "Rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those who are weeping". And I told her I am weeping with you now and praying that we will rejoice together soon! Never did I imagine this! I pray we all never forget the power of God and what He can do. I can say I've witnesses a true miracle and for that I'll never be the same! Love you all! And thanks for praying....lets pray without ceasing....we're all witnesses to it's power!

Miracle

I have no words to explain what has just happened...other than its a miracle!  God still does miracles!  I was in the middle of writing a very angry blog about everything that is happening and my phone rings....it's Annie....

My heart sinks. 

I say hello. She sounds normal, almost happy....

She says, they just did a CT scan of her brain and the abcesses are gone!  Her brain is perfect!  There's nothing there anymore except a small amount of fluid that they used yesterday to flush the abcesses out.  I am at a loss for words.  My pounding heart is praising Him for now!

Katie Update as of 10:00am Sep. 3, 09

Okay guys, here's the latest. I was there at CHOC for a few hours last night. Annie and Richie are holding up as well as can be expected in the situation. They are amazingly strong people for what they're going through. As you know they cant fully remove the abcesses because they've taken over half her brain, but they did put drains in the drain the abcesses and flush them out. That procedure went extremely well for what they're dealing with. She is stable and they're waiting on MRI results today which is huge and pathology results as well. Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support, it is appreciated more than you can imagine. Katie is an angel, she is astounding doctors, nurses and all of us with her strength.




Jesus hasn't changed! He STILL reigns!!!

Wordless Wednesday exception

I think you'll understand the expection of my words on "wordless wednesday".  If anyone follows me on facebook you'll understand the depth these pictures this morning.  But here's is an update from my facebook note:

Okay everyone! We need you prayer warriors. Here's the update about what is going on. I know my sister and her husband will appreciate any prayer you can lift up on their behalf. Baby Katie, my neice, is very seriously ill right now. Annie took her to the doctor this morning because she had a gut feeling something was wrong with Katie. She said she just wasn't acting right. The doctor immediately had her transferred to CHOC hospital. They did a brain scan and found several masses on her brain. They have since done a brain biopsy where they found 5 open, infected absesses on her brain which are producing huge amounts of puss. They removed a cup of puss from her brain and she is scheduled for brain surgery tomorrow where they are going to remove the absesses and the puss. The problem right now is that they are completely baffled as to what the infection is and where it came from and why she has it. There is an infectious disease specialist there asking a ton of questions. She is completely baffled how a 2 month old has this amount of infection in her brain and isn't seizing or even having a fever. So please pray for Katie for Annie and her husband. Pray for the surgeons and for the lab techs to have wisdom to get the answers they didnt as soon as possible. I keep telling myself that God is still on the throne and He's bigger than this! Thanks guys for all your thoughts and prayers! I will keep you all posted as I hear any news. Please keep in mind tomorrow for Katies surgery. I dont know an exact time but God does! Thanks and God Bless!

Since I wrote that yesterday evening there have been some changes.  Not good ones.  They got the MRI results back and the abcesses are the biggest they've seen on a 2 month old.  They are not sure if the surgery will work because of the size of abcesses they cant be sure that her whole brain isn't infected.  They wont know until they get in there.  They kept her asleep all night in case the abcesses grew at all they would rush her into surgery.  Thankfully she made it through the night. 

Today is a different story.

I was awoken this morning with a text from my Dad to get on my knees and pray for healing.  There was no new news but his spirit was stirred to pray and so I did.  And I had been off and on all night long.  But I went to my knees and pleaded and petioned to the Lord like I never have before.  "Can we see your glory in that hospital and still keep Katie? Can we praise Your name and still hold her?"  I was led to a verse in Mark chapter 9 verse 23, Jesus said "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes".  I believe!!! I dont doubt with one ounce of my being that my Jesus can cast a passing glance upon sweet Katie and she would be instantly healed.  But what if the Lords will isn't to heal her?  Will I still believe?  I am so overcome with emotion.  I don't know who to handle pain like this.  This is beyond anything I've even dealed with, ever in my 32 years.  But God is still on the throne.  Jesus still reigns.  And in my pain, through my tears that's all I have. 

I didn't think it was possible to physically ache in pain or cry and sob so loud that used a towel to quiet them for my sisters grief.  She is beyond grieving and I dont know who else to help her but to pray and cry for her.  This is the valley of the shadow of death....I have a new understanding now. 

He still reigns,