Prayer requests

Summer fun and Summer challenges

This morning marks the first time ever (for our “new Anne”) that she has gotten out of her bed all by herself! She was bored and impatient waiting for me to come up to get her – so she got out of bed, scooted herself over to her bookshelf and started to play. This is what I found when I came upstairs this morning!

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I was THRILLED! This mess represents desire, determination, motor planning, independent thinking, and courage with a bit of mischievousness. These are new qualities that we are seeing in Anne this summer. She seems to be restless – like her brain is craving new challenges and stimuli. This is a good sign of growth and progress – but it is also challenging for the whole family! We feel like we’re cleaning up after Anne ALL. THE. TIME.

Fifteen minutes later, Anne’s room looked like this:

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I’m happy to clean up after Anne if it means she’s making progress… But she does keep us busy!

Next week, Anne begins three weeks of intensive TheraSuit therapy. This could not come at a better time as she is ready to be challenged! If you think of us, please pray for energy for both me and Anne as we tackle the taxing schedule of intensive therapy. Thank you for your support and prayers and for sharing in the joy of Anne’s long-term recovery!

An “Anne” Update :)

After spending three months in hand therapy (Oct/Nov/Dec) and three weeks of January driving back and forth to suit therapy, February has been a welcome break!

This break is short-lived however, as Anne receives Botox to loosen the tight muscles in her left arm, hand and foot tomorrow (3/3). After Botox, Anne will begin another three-month session of hand therapy (March/April/May) and then start a three-week session of Suit Therapy in June.

I guess I’ll rest in July :)

Anne is doing really well…she is showing improvement in walking with a cane and has recently displayed a stronger, more independent spirit. God continues to provide for our every need – spiritually, physically and emotionally. We’re very grateful for His constant provision!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support in this journey. If you think of it, please pray for endurance for Anne and us to persevere through July :) And mostly, for Anne to continue to improve as a result of her many therapies.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

-Psalm 27:13-14

 

Pray for Anne…

November 2014’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. That she would begin to regain the use of her left hand through regular hand therapy.
  2. Anne has just been diagnosed with ADHD (as a result of her brain injury). Please pray that we would find the best medication to help improve her attention.
  3. Finally, please pray for God to give Anne endurance and determination. She is being challenged both academically and physically and she needs the will to overcome!

Thank you for your prayers!!! Your continued prayer and support after all these years is so encouraging to our family!

Pray for Anne…

September 2014’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. Anne has had a great start in school. Her reading has improved and her teachers are impressed with her academic progress!
  2. Even though Anne is progressing academically, she is struggling behaviorally. Her shortened attention span and increased impulsive behavior negatively affect her academic performance. Over the next few months, we will inquire with several doctors about medications to improve Anne’s attention. Please pray for wisdom as we begin this new journey.
  3. Finally, please pray for God to give Anne PATIENCE. Anne’s desire for independence has increased (which is wonderful), but…her frustration level has also increased. She needs a healthy balance between determination and patience.

Thank you for your prayers!!! Your continued prayer and support after all these years is so encouraging to our family!

Pray for Anne…

August 2014’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. Anne starts school August 4th. Please pray for a smooth transition to 3rd grade. Pray for Anne’s teachers – that God would give them special wisdom for how to teach Anne well.
  2. Please pray for Anne to make great progress in reading and math this year.
  3. Please also pray that Anne would experience the peace and presence of God in special and significant ways.
  4. Finally, I humbly ask you to pray for me. After 10 glorious years of being a stay-at-home mom, I’m re-entering the workforce! I begin my new job as Latin Teacher at ACCA tomorrow (Canon and Kate’s school). I need God’s help as I try to balance my new responsibilities as a teacher with my ongoing work at home.

Thank you for your prayers!!! Your continued prayer and support after all these years is so encouraging to our family!

Overnight Camp for Anne

We dropped Anne off at Camp TBI this afternoon. I can’t believe I actually left my precious Anne at camp. One part of me is desperately sad, and the other part of me is beyond excited.

She’s in a cabin with four other girls and their counselors. She’ll get to do activities like horseback riding, swimming, biking, arts & crafts, music – just normal camp stuff – but all made accessible to kids with disabilities. It’s a fantastic facility. I think Anne will have a great week!!

Please pray for Anne to have FUN and to not miss us too much. I don’t want her to be sad. I just want her to make new friends, feel loved and have fun. Thank you!

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Bye Anne! We’ll see you on Friday!!!

Pray for Anne…

July 2014’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. Praise God that Anne’s seizures seem to have subsided along with her extreme emotional outbursts! Anne has become her delightful self again – bringing us joy with her quick wit and loving attitude :)
  2. We also praise God for an outstanding time at a summer day-camp for special needs kids and their siblings. Anne and Kate both attended and came away with great memories and a closer relationship.
  3. Finally, Anne has been accepted into her first ever overnight camp!! It’s a camp specifically for kids with traumatic brain injuries. Camp TBI (To Be Independent) is held at an accessible camp facility and provides one-on-one counselors (all of which are OT students) for their campers. As the date for this camp approaches, I’ll ask for prayer for Anne to ease her homesickness.

Thank you for your prayers!!! Your continued prayer and support after all these years is an inspiration to our family!

Pray for Anne…

June 2014’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. Summer is in full swing and I’m already tired and overwhelmed. Please pray for patience for both Anne and me. For me, to tackle one task at a time – and for Anne, to wait for me to tackle one task at a time ;)
  2. Anne is having micro-seizures that cause her to have extreme temper tantrums. Thankfully, they are short. Please pray for these seizures to subside either on their own or with increased medication.
  3. Lastly, please pray for Anne’s encouragement – spiritually, emotionally and just with pure fun. It’s summer after all … we’re supposed to have fun!

Thank you so much! Your continued prayer and support after all these years is an inspiration to our family!

Pray for Anne…

May 2014’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. Anne’s self-awareness has improved so much that now she becomes extremely angry when she doesn’t get what she wants or has to wait to get what she wants. She screams, cries and bites. Her biting is dangerous because sometimes she bites herself. Please pray that Anne would learn to control her anger and for us as we try to calm her during her anger spells.
  2. Summer is almost here! Please pray stamina as I seek to find new ways to challenge Anne this summer.
  3. Please continue to pray for Anne’s walking and reading. She has made great strides in her walking and small strides in her reading. I’m praying for her reading ability to explode this summer!

Thank you so much! Your continued prayer and support after all these years is an inspiration to our family!

Pray for Anne…

April 2014’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. Praise God that MEDICAID APPROVED ALL of TheraSuit therapy!!!! SO thankful!!!!!!!
  2. Anne is still battling a stuffy nose…please pray God would give her the will and strength to persevere in therapy and also that he would heal her quickly,
  3. Please pray that Anne would improve in strength, balance, walking and eye tracking. Anne has responded so well to this therapy in the past. We are grateful for the opportunity and provision to do this therapy for a third time!
  4. Finally, pray for wisdom for the therapists and for Anne and me to be encouraging to the therapists and other families – that God would be glorified in our lives and witness.

Thank you so much! Your continued prayer and support after all these years is an inspiration to our family!