Author: eric

eric
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Lots of laughter

As i type this, our little Anne is sitting on the sofa right next to Kate and Canon talking and singing about all sorts of topics. The things she says continue to slowly inprove in their context. She just seems a little more “with it” regarding her ability to understand what is happening around her. She occassionally says very funny things that make us all laugh and laugh, and Anne just loves this. . . . . then she will re-state the funny to ensure she milks all of the laughter she can from us. She gets a huge smile across her whole face during these episodes, and i think seeing her smile just brings such joy to our hearts it gives us the freedom to laugh even more.

We went to the pool today and Anne seemed actually excited about the trip. It appeared she was thinking about the future just a little bit – actually anticipating something beyond the immediate present.

Little Anne still really only has use of one limb – her right arm. Her left arm will occasionally move, and while she can move her legs, the high tone is preventing much progress in the way of any standing or walking.

Please pray for her mind to sharpen, and for her memory to improve. Little Kate prays every night that Anne would “soon be able to walk, and run and dance”. We so look forward to that day!

-eric

Anne’s funny phrases

Little Anne is such a joy to be around. She is engaging and talkative. She seems to draw a crowd wherever she goes. At the moment, she is sitting with us at the dinner table and entertaining us all.

Little Anne has lots of funny phrases. She always says these with a smile and typically to get a laugh out of us. Most of these are from things she has heard:

“Daddy, kiss me with your beard”
“Everybody is kung-fu fighting” from the movie Kung Fu Panda
“Daddy, teach me to whistle”
“Hey camsters” when calling her brother Canon
“You are amazing God” from her favorite song
“Hey mopsters” when calling mommy
“Mommy put me at the table” when she is hungry
“I want some strawberries”
“MeMa boo” when she wants to scare her grandmother
“boo boo chicken” we have no idea??
“I’m not sweet, I’m sour” – when we tell her how sweet she is
“I like your earrings, can i bite them off?”
“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”
and most of the childrens catechism!

One funny aside… After answering every children’s catechism question correctly in children’s church, one little boy said, “She might have gotten bonked on the head, but she sure does know her catechism.” LOL!

Because she repeats and remembers things we say so easily, we work hard to give her good words to think about – like Bible verses, or Christian songs, or just good kind words. Those around her in therepy, or friends, or family also seem to naturally do this.

– eric

Another busy weekend

Spending the day with daddy, going to the pool, going to church, spending time with friends, sharing a meal with family, and more. . . . . and little Anne right in the middle of it. . . . it still amazes me that Anne just takes it all in stride; she seems to know that it is all good and seems to enjoy the journey. How i should learn from little Anne!

Little Anne continues to make bits of progress: She has begun to inhibit herself from throwing food on the floor and does this less than 25% of the time now. She is also now able to place her sippy cup on the table after taking a sip, instead of throwing it on the floor. The inflection in her voice has improved slightly. She has also improved her ability to carry a tune. She is beginning to read three letter words with assistance. She seems to be a little more expressive with her eyes and face. And she is now sitting quite well in a kid’s chair with very little assistance. GO ANNE!

All of you do such a wonderful job of connecting with Anne whenever you see her. You all have shown such compassion for her and it continues to minister thoroughly to me. Little Anne has never wanted to draw attention to herself and was always so shy. . . . but most of the shyness has gone away. She seems to really love all of you being a part of her life. We see all of the interaction she has with God’s family as fantastic therapy – all of the communication with little Anne through these encounters is just great for her. Thank you for not being afraid of Anne or her condition. Thank you for just talking with Anne and sharing yourselves with her.

-eric

4th of July weekend

Our little family had a busy 4th of July weekend, and little Anne was right in the middle of all of it. Lots of swimming pool fun, a cookout, spending time with friends, an adventure getting to church with peachtree rd closed, and plenty of warm July sunshine :-) . Anne is really good at taking it all in stride. She is almost always happy, is quite engaging, and has a sunny little personality – we are so thankful for these 3 traits.

One of our prayers has been for Anne’s “no” answers and negative responses to turn to the positive. God has answered! Anne is now very positive – and seems always willing to try any new thing. Anne has also begun telling us what she wants to do, or where she wants us to take her, or how she is feeling.

Please continue to pray for Anne’s walking, reading, and writing. These are the three goals we have for her in the day rehab program. These three things seem almost impossible at the moment, and are such huge goals, but we serve a mighty God. I often find myself praying while i am on a run around the neighborhood – that one day Anne would be able to run beside me and that i would have a hard time keeping up. i can’t really imagine it, but for some reason i feel God calls me to pray that prayer. What an exciting day that would be!

-eric

God’s sovereign hand

So amazing it is to look back and see God’s sovereign, good hand at work in our lives. Examples:

  1. Two months prior to the accident, Kathryn had been praying with Canon that God would use our family to glorify Himself and that we needed to trust and obey God through trials that we face.
  2. God made it clear that we needed to be open handed with our possessions – thus causing us to reduce possessions several months prior to the accident. These resources can now can be used for little Anne’s rehab and the lack of those possessions help us focus on what is important.
  3. A number of months ago, God pricked our interest in the topic of the existence of suffering in a world created by a good God, so we read some on the topic. It helped to know Biblical truths during this journey.
  4. Many of the relationships that God engineered in our lives have been an incredible influence during this time.

oh, i suppose it is all just coincidence. . . . . HA! not a chance!! :-)

1 Cor 1:18 – For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

-eric

Wow,

…Anne is home. Anne has really done so well adjusting to home – even with the juxtaposition of having many new experiences for Anne mixed into the familiarity of home:

  • she has learned to sit on her own for 5 minutes or so before falling over.
  • Anne has continued to eat really well, although she still makes an enormous mess :-)
  • she is sleeping better here than at the hospital
  • she seems happy and is only fussy when hungry or constipated
  • we took her to the pool and she enjoyed a short water therapy session

Canon and Kate have been really sweet and are always wanting to assist Anne. Anne pokes their eyes, pulls their hair, and squeezes their noses, but Canon and Kate just love on her. Tonight Kate said to Anne right after Anne pulled Kate’s hair – “I love you, Anne”. Somehow at 4 years old, Kate understands where Anne is in her recovery and is willing to be on the journey with Anne – only God could make that happen.

Pray for Kathryn – it has been hard: While at the hospital, the comparison was the miracle of Anne moving from the stillness and silence of the PICU to Anne’s speech and movement while at inpatient rehab . . . . but at home, we are much more reminded of (and mentally compare her to) Anne’s little person prior to the accident. So we continue to have joy through some tears when remembering the past . . . . but we know God calls us to be in the present with Him . . . . and Anne.

The day rehab program starts on Monday, so our journey continues. . .

Pray that Anne will continue to heal! We have three goals for our stint at day rehab – Reading, Writing, and Walking. Please pray that God heals Anne in these ways.

-eric

Overactive

Over the last week, little Anne has been what we are calling ‘over active’ with her movements and her speech (and thoughts). She has trouble controlling her movements, her emotions, and what she says. She is the opposite end of the spectrum from where she was when she entered rehab several weeks ago. We know this is part of the healing process, and it is progress, but has its challenges. This activeness is physically and emotionally draining for us – and Kathryn has been in the trenches fighting with little Anne daily in her rehab. Pray that God continues to send fortifications for the two of them.

Anne was particularly fussy this afternoon and this evening, so Anne and i decided to sing this song together tonight:

Lord, you are more precious than silver
Lord, you are more costly than gold.
Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds, and
nothing I de-sire com-pares with you.

This really calmed her while we were singing.

Kathryn and i continue to be so blessed by all of you who are reaching out to us by praying, and by giving of your time and resources to help us. i so look forward to telling Anne’s story over and over and over in the coming years. A story to tell to my neighbors now, to my children as they grow, and to my grandchildren when i am old and grey. A story of how in little Anne’s time of need, God provided healing, and how God’s family showed up with a mighty force of support, help, and care. i knew God’s strong arm of healing and support was there in theory, but to experience his help and such a tangible way continues to be amazing. i find it difficult to pray any prayers but thankful ones these days – we are just so grateful that so many are on the journey with us – it makes no logical sense that all of you would be reaching out in this way – but in God’s economy, what seems foolish to man is wise (1 Cor 1:18-21).

-eric

Anne’s out of surgery

The procedure was very successful. She will be in the ICU for a night or two, then hopefully back to rehab. She is experiencing pain now. She is saying OUCH alot and crying some. She is reaching for what is bothering her on her head – the many, many, many staples holding her scalp together.

Kathryn and i were so worried that she would not be herself for some time after surgery. . . . but she is already talking a little, holding our hands, and opening her eyes wide to watch us!! PRAISE GOD.

The primary nurse during Anne’s iniital stay in ICU is her nurse today – she was amazed at how great Anne looks and was blown away when she heard Anne speak!

Please pray:

  1. that there will be no complications from the surgery – no infections, no issues with the bone replacement, etc.
  2. that she would be able to get back to her rehab schedule tomorrow or the next day 
  3. that she would not be in any pain

-eric

Anne’s in surgery

Little Anne was just taken back for her surgery. The surgery will take approx 2 to 3 hrs.

Please pray:

  1. that there will be no complications from the surgery – no infections, no issues with the bone replacement, no anesthesia complications,
  2. that she would be able to get back to her rehab schedule tomorrow, and
  3. that she would not be in any pain

Anne SPEAKS!

WOW! This morning while feeding her breakfast, grandmom asked Anne: “why are you leaning to the left in your wheelchair?” Anne responded: “I have no idea”. We all gave her cheers and HOORAYS! She then said it several more times to other questions.

This morning she also said four new words: “Me-Ma”(our name for grandmom), “OK”, “Your name is Canon”, and “Daddy”. Wow, what an amazing answer to prayer!! So many have been praying for her speech!

Then Canon sang the song “5 green and speckled frogs” while laying next to her. Then Anne started saying other words that i couldn’t quite understand.

Her words are still quiet and a little garbled, but they are still WORDS!! Praise God for His healing for Anne!

Keep praying for more speech!!

-eric