....I finished the last requirement to get my Bachelor's of Science in Accounting.
Can you hear me doing the happy dance?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Quote
Daddy was reading Finding Favor with the King by Tommy Tenney (author of One Night With the King) when he went to be with the King. Mom gave Jordan and I the accompanying devotional books for Christmas last year. Yesterday, I read this:
Have you prayed about the difficult or challenging situations in your life? Make sure you've taken care of any wrong motives, unforgiveness, or unconfessed sin in your life. Then prepare a banquet for the Lord through a genuine outpouring of your love in the form of thanksgiving, praise, worship, adoration, and a lifestyle that says yes to Him in word and deed.
This is how you make sure you pray His will instead of merely your wants while also seeking His face as your First Love rather than merely your First Source.
That thought has been challenging to me ever since I read it. The difference between First Love and First Source is all the difference in the world, isn't it?
Have you prayed about the difficult or challenging situations in your life? Make sure you've taken care of any wrong motives, unforgiveness, or unconfessed sin in your life. Then prepare a banquet for the Lord through a genuine outpouring of your love in the form of thanksgiving, praise, worship, adoration, and a lifestyle that says yes to Him in word and deed.
This is how you make sure you pray His will instead of merely your wants while also seeking His face as your First Love rather than merely your First Source.
That thought has been challenging to me ever since I read it. The difference between First Love and First Source is all the difference in the world, isn't it?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Baby hat giveaway!
For a chance to win a baby hat (!!!!), head on over to visit Jen at her blog, Our Journey with Micro-Preemie Twins! The beanie is from Baby Blvd, and that site is also running an offer of free shipping on any orders that mention Jen's blog. Have fun...Christmas is right around the corner!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Quick Medical Update
Well, after 9 appointments in under two weeks time, besides her four therapies per week, we were certainly kept busy, busy, busy! But we had some great news, too, so--worth it? Yep!
Of course, Maddy got her casts off, and her braces made and fitted (and re-fitted, which unfortunately caused her first pressure sore. Yes, that made be sick in my stomach. Unfortunately, I hear it's not uncommon when braces are first adjusted, and since Maddy can't feel anything from at least her waist down, there's no way for her to tell me. Needless to say, we're watching the sore like a hawk, and it is healing, although it does take a while. And this is turning into the longest parenthetical statement in my blogging history.).
We also visited the ENT doctor. Now that the (turquoise) tubes are in the adorable little ears, he wants to go ahead with an ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) test to make sure that she has no hearing loss. With the tubes, we're definitely not seeing any signs of it, but since she isn't babbling much at all yet, they'd like to make sure that we're not missing anything.
The neurologist simply bumped her Keppra (seizure medication) to match her weight. They will do another EEG when she's been on the medicine for two years.
The pulmonologist has scheduled another polysomnogram (sleep study). I don't have a lot of hope for weaning her off oxygen since her SATs continue to drop when she's off O2, but at least we'll be able to make sure that things haven't gotten worse.
Now for some really good news!
First--On ultrasound, Maddy's kidneys (I should say kidney since her kidneys are fused into one horseshoe kidney!) are 75% better since her got her vesicostomy! The vesicostomy was needed because the reflux to her kidneys was severe enough that it was causing hydronephrosis. The vesicostomy is an attempt to take some of the pressure off the kidneys. We assume that she still has the reflux, but now there isn't as much to reflux into the kidneys, since her bladder is constantly draining into her diaper (THAT'S RIGHT! NO MORE CATHING!!!) Dr. Cain was hoping for 50% better one month out from the surgery, so 75% is awesome! He expects that by her next visit her kidneys will not be swollen at all.
Second--Madeline's cell function tests came back from Mayo Clinic. Due to her DiGeorge Syndrome, her T-cells have been just a bit low, not enough to cause major concern. Dr. Belcher tested the cell function, to see how they fight off infection, and they are functioning at 100%. This means that Madeline most likely doesn't have the terribly suppressed immune system common in most DiGeorge Syndrome kids. And since she doesn't have the heart problems associated with DiGeorge, her issue is "only" the spina bifida. We're still trying to keep Maddy away from anything nasty, but this was very good news to say the least.
I must get back to my schoolwork....Only 9 more days to go and I'm done, Done, DONE!!
Of course, Maddy got her casts off, and her braces made and fitted (and re-fitted, which unfortunately caused her first pressure sore. Yes, that made be sick in my stomach. Unfortunately, I hear it's not uncommon when braces are first adjusted, and since Maddy can't feel anything from at least her waist down, there's no way for her to tell me. Needless to say, we're watching the sore like a hawk, and it is healing, although it does take a while. And this is turning into the longest parenthetical statement in my blogging history.).
We also visited the ENT doctor. Now that the (turquoise) tubes are in the adorable little ears, he wants to go ahead with an ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) test to make sure that she has no hearing loss. With the tubes, we're definitely not seeing any signs of it, but since she isn't babbling much at all yet, they'd like to make sure that we're not missing anything.
The neurologist simply bumped her Keppra (seizure medication) to match her weight. They will do another EEG when she's been on the medicine for two years.
The pulmonologist has scheduled another polysomnogram (sleep study). I don't have a lot of hope for weaning her off oxygen since her SATs continue to drop when she's off O2, but at least we'll be able to make sure that things haven't gotten worse.
Now for some really good news!
First--On ultrasound, Maddy's kidneys (I should say kidney since her kidneys are fused into one horseshoe kidney!) are 75% better since her got her vesicostomy! The vesicostomy was needed because the reflux to her kidneys was severe enough that it was causing hydronephrosis. The vesicostomy is an attempt to take some of the pressure off the kidneys. We assume that she still has the reflux, but now there isn't as much to reflux into the kidneys, since her bladder is constantly draining into her diaper (THAT'S RIGHT! NO MORE CATHING!!!) Dr. Cain was hoping for 50% better one month out from the surgery, so 75% is awesome! He expects that by her next visit her kidneys will not be swollen at all.
Second--Madeline's cell function tests came back from Mayo Clinic. Due to her DiGeorge Syndrome, her T-cells have been just a bit low, not enough to cause major concern. Dr. Belcher tested the cell function, to see how they fight off infection, and they are functioning at 100%. This means that Madeline most likely doesn't have the terribly suppressed immune system common in most DiGeorge Syndrome kids. And since she doesn't have the heart problems associated with DiGeorge, her issue is "only" the spina bifida. We're still trying to keep Maddy away from anything nasty, but this was very good news to say the least.
I must get back to my schoolwork....Only 9 more days to go and I'm done, Done, DONE!!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Maddy's Dedication
In case you missed it on Facebook, I'm posting the link to view Maddy's dedication on Sunday. Thank you, Jed, for capturing the moments for us. If you don't want to see the entirety of the video, move ahead until you see Pastor take Madeline. It's priceless. :)
We were very thankful to have Glen's parents and sisters with us for the dedication. I wished that my Mom could have been there, and I especially missed Daddy since he had dedicated his other four grandchildren.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to pause the music that is already playing on my blog. And then....Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJsbNLRAlcY
We were very thankful to have Glen's parents and sisters with us for the dedication. I wished that my Mom could have been there, and I especially missed Daddy since he had dedicated his other four grandchildren.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to pause the music that is already playing on my blog. And then....Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJsbNLRAlcY
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
A day at the park
Carli and Olivia spent part of yesterday afternoon at the park with our sweet friends, Jed and Alyssa. Jed took along his DVD camera and captured some memories, as well as interviewed the girls on theology. Jed and Glen are constantly discussing/debating/bouncing ideas off of each other, and it's so frequent that Alyssa and I occasionally join in (either that or roll our eyes!). This is definitely a case of "iron sharpens iron." No fighting, no raised voices. Just thoughtful discussion. Isn't that the way it should be?
Anyway. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and pause the playlist and then watch this charming little clip! And thanks, Jed, for sharing.
Anyway. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and pause the playlist and then watch this charming little clip! And thanks, Jed, for sharing.
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