Rent

last summer

1 Mommy, 1 Daddy, 1 Baby Sister. 2 Grandmas, 2 Grandpas. 25 Aunts and Uncles, 15 cousins.
Yesterday, with the bang of a gavel, my brother and his wife's dream of adopting him was crushed, and he will be snatched from us all. Our sweet Zac. Dedicated to the Lord one Sunday morning alongside his baby sister and my Sprout.  Right after her parental rights were legally stripped-jail time and drugs being the path she chose- his birth mother suddenly "remembered" who his father was. And someone from that family wanted him. To be their own sweet boy, what they've always wanted, we can only hope and pray. Greg and Bethany could fight it if they wanted, but we've all been praying for Gods will for Zac, and this seems to be it. And they aren't about to fight Gods will. They both have the Peace That Passes Understanding. I do too, but I'm afraid if I think about it too much, I'm going to throw-up.

We've been sick more on than off since the day after Christmas, and the end of January and beginning of February have quite frankly sucked for various other reasons. B.'s grandma passing away, marriages crumbling, and now this to top it off.
Pray for Greg and Bethany. Pray for Zac. That as soon as he sees his new family, that it would be as if he's known them all along, and has been waiting for them.

And go hug your babies close.

Edited to add: Baby sister is my brother and sil's biological baby

Claire Bear

I can't get it to rotate around, but her bandages are off! Look how good she looks for having major cranial and a some facial surgery MONDAY!!! Praise the Lord!

UPDATE: Daddy got Claire to smile!

Hey everyone!

My niece Claire is having the first of her cranial surgeries today, due to hydrocephalus. If you could send up a prayer for her safety, the doctors who are working on her, and for peace of mind for Dan and Julie, it would be much appreciated! Thankyou!

UPDATE: They took her back for surgery at 12:45 pm EST. I'll post when she comes out, THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE # 2: The surgery is going well, the neurosurgeon completed his part, and now the plastic surgeon is finishing up!

UPDATE # 3: Claire is out of surgery and everything went well! She is off the ventilator and didn't need a lot of blood (thankfully Daddy (Dan) is a perfect match). They did some reconstruction on her face to try to bring her left eye in a bit, and they also extended her forehead to allow room for her brain to grow. I guess it will be rather obvious at first, but she will grow into it.
Thanks again to everyone who has been praying!

UPDATE FOR TUESDAY: Claire was moved out of ICU, and into a regular room. The doctors are amazed at how quickly she is recovering!

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The doctors are planning on removing her bandages this morning!!!
Julie is excited, but a little nervous to see how much her baby has changed in looks.  They brought her forehead out 12mm. She also cracked her eyes open a little last night.

Thanks for the update reminder 'Lish! I was planning to yesterday, but completely forgot!

Claire

My brother and his wife had their second baby yesterday via c-section, Claire (Noelle?),

10 lbs. 4 oz. 23 inches long.

Sweet baby Claire, to their complete surprise, was born with a lot of pretty serious health issues, including both halves of her skull not being fused together, and dwarfism. She was healthy enough to room with Julie last night, but ended up in the NICU (or equivalent) last night, needing an IV. This morning, she was being transported to the local Children's Hospital for more testing, etc.

If you could send up a prayer for Dan and Julie, Danny jr. and Claire, for the Lords healing and peace, we would all be very grateful. Can't wait to see this new little darling and squeeze her! (Mom said she has fat rolls! but first I'd like to kick my cold that seems to be here to stay)

UPDATE: They've diagnosed her with Apert Syndrom. You can click on that and it will take you to a site with info about it if you're interested. There will be a series of surgeries, possibly starting as soon as Friday.

In Memory

Hey Ladies,

If you remember, I mentioned a while back in this post about my cousin and his wife.

Logan John was born yesterday at 3:03am and passed away at 4:42 am. They were able to be with him the whole time. Could you send up a prayer for peace and comfort for them?

Thanks ~

Bon

My Cousin and His Wife

Hey folks-

Just got off the phone with my mom and she had some bad news for me:

My cousin and his wife are expecting their first baby (a boy) in September. Unless God chooses to perform a miracle, he will most likely be born dead, due to very serious kidney problems. If you think about it, could you send up a quick prayer that God would heal/ give him new kidneys? And that God would give them peace and comfort? I know they believe in God, but I don't really know their actual relationship with Him,

thanks ladies!

Anyone Else on Overload?

My brain has been feeling especially full lately. Of everything. Part of the reason I haven't been blogging much. When I am frustrated, I get more sarcastic than usual. A little sarcasm is funny, but a lot is unbecoming and borders on bitter.

I wanted to climb back into bed this morning and "sleep it off", but knew I shouldn't, and we are getting HUGE amounts of rain, which is melting snow, and I had to stay up and listen for the pump in our sump crock. I cleaned up a flooded basement 5 months after we were married, and don't care to do it again, thankyou.

I have it in my head that I should be able to fix things, and have not been trusting God that He can do it. I hate bothering people for things, so guess Who else I've been trying not to bother?

Yep. One morning last week I was checking my e-mail, and can I tell you how much I hate reading headlines? They make my head spin. "Please Lord, this is so depressing, could you give me a verse that will lift my spirits? After reading these and thinking of everything that needs to be done, and how far behind I am in general, I feel like I'm drowning". Before I could even finish my plea, He answered. 1 Peter 5:7. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

Not some anxieties, not these few anxieties, but ALL.

So that has been my constant prayer, Lord please take this anxiety, Lord help me cast this (fill in the blank) anxiety on you. And its not easy. I keep things so tightly grasped, I have a hard time letting go. Because I should be able to fix them.

Would you believe one of my anxieties these last few weeks has been what to plant in the garden? I'm not a fan of hybrid plants, I'm not a fan of things being genetically altered, but last years complete and utter failure of a garden has made me a bit fearful of trying heirlooms. I mentioned this to the Lord and He mentioned right back that HE is the one who causes things to grow or not grow. HE is the one who can make those heirloom varieties grow and flourish, when hybrids are being touted as the best for abundant yields. So I am working hard at uncurling my fingers, and letting go, trusting that God cares about my plant choices, and how my garden grows.

I am still feeling like my brain is on overload, I'm still thinking about starting my day with a good cry, simply because it seems like a good idea, even though I'm not a cryer. But I am also thinking about the fact that He cares for me, and I don't have to fix it myself.

Eli's In Surgery

Eli's been in surgery since this AM, they are not expecting any updates until at least 8 tonight. Surgery is, naturally risky, but its the coming out of anesthesia that tends to be the real test.

I do know he'll have to be in the hospital for a month after this surgery. Will post more when I hear it.

UPDATE: As of yesterday evening, Eli came through surgery fine, and the Doctor thinks the echo they did of his heart shows that it is working perfectly!

He is still being very closely monitored (3 nurses and a doctor constantly by his side), and his little chest is open for drainage tubes, etc. but so far so good! Praise the Lord!

Please keep lifting him up when you think of it, prayers are being answered!

Someday, I'll get around to posting, but right now, all posts would include lots of snotty noses and snow. Who wants to read about that?

Sarah and Elisha, if you want, I can email you the link to Eli's status since you know Amanda or family. Let me know- Bon

Surgery Today

Baby Eli's surgery is today. I'll post more if I hear anything!

Edited to add: no surgery today, Eli's running a low fever, and they are trying to pin point the cause, meds or something else.

Baby Eli

Hey folks, a friend of mine, and my sister-in-laws sister, had her 3rd baby today at 4:00pm. They knew beforehand that he has a severe heart defect, and will require surgery in the next few days, then again at 3-12 months(?) and again at around 5 years old.

I understand Amanda didn't even get to see him before the rushed him off to the nearby children's hospital immediately after birth. Could you send a prayer up for Amanda and her husband Tommy and their 2 other children (they are 3 1/2 and 1 1/2, staying with her parents and my brother and his wife) They are trusting the Lord for baby Eli, but are understandably under some stress mixed with joy right now.

Thanks Ladies!

Sort of an update: Eli was put on a respirator today, they were happy to be able to put that off as long as they did, instead of needing it right away.

It looks like he'll have his first surgery Monday.

With that, I'm going to go snuggle my baby, and quit fighting off tears.

Bon