Another August Birthday(s)

Sophia with her new Scooby lunchbox (Holly & Hope in background)

 

 

I couldn't let 2 very important birthdays pass too far into history without acknowledging them here. On Aug. 16th my niece, Sophia, turned the big 5! She's almost too big for her britches but adorable, sweet, and endlessly funny. She had a Fancy Nancy birthday (like her big cousin Keliah) in the community garden where they live. So cool...and green! She also just started kindergarten on her actual birthday so she's having new adventures every day. (So is my sister who is struggling just a little bit with the schedule change - I love you!) Happy Birthday, Sophia, we are so proud of you & pray many blessings over you!
Also, last Saturday, the 21st was Holly's birthday; she's 30something which means I am 30somethingplus. Scary how the years just keep piling up. Anyway, happy birthday, Holly! We love you so much & want you to know how much we miss you. I pray God's peace over you and many blessings of abundance!

Newest Update on Baby Hope

So, you know my niece Hope (7 months) was born without an ear canal in her right ear. She is adorable and cuddly and smart. I haven't seen her since she was a couple weeks old, but I get the updates on my sister's blog Dear Blank, and in our long 2 hour phone calls that are infrequent because we both have little ones that make talking so long almost impossible. (Especially on my end.) I have pressed in with prayer for her little ear, I have put out numerous prayer requests on Hope's behalf, I have believed in miracles. It looks like the miracle is in progress. The specialists finally got to do the echo test on her. Here is Holly's report (taken from her blog entry on January 20th):

Hope had her bone conduction hearing test today. We didn’t have to endure the worrisome fasting, the ultra-early morning drive across town, the scary general anesthetic or the endless hours of waiting, all of which colored our previous ABR attempt (thank God).

Instead we drove five minutes to the Research Hospital on our side of town. Hope nursed until an hour before her appointment. Granted, she did have to choke down some vile-tasting chloral hydrate (screaming her head off the whole time), but that was the worst of it. We were in the room with her while she had the ABR, and once it was done, we were pretty much okay to leave. Just had to hang around for a half-hour after she woke up for a little safety monitoring.

(BTW, babies waking up from sedation are hilarious. Hope was full of grins, but totally loopy. Like an incredibly cheerful drunk.)

Anyway. The results were good. Her right ear is functional, pretty much at the exact same level as her left. So, good. Yay.

But the test couldn’t answer my next question: does she hear with that ear? The inner ear can hear (is capable of hearing), but do the sound waves reach her inner ear?

We don’t know. I thought we would. And we don’t.

I know Who knows. Her Great Daddy who loves her and is so jealous over her. The Holy Spirit, who is doing a creative miracle in her ear. Her best friend, Jesus, in whose name I pray. My children continue to lift up their baby cousin each Saturday at the Children's Prayer Watch; they are still believing in the miraculous.

Also, when I talked to my sister before Christmas, she confessed that she and her mother-in-law have noticed a change in that little right ear. It is bigger. On the outside, you can hardly tell a difference between Hope's 2 ears anymore. It used to be much smaller than her left ear and have a squished appearance. The doctors mentioned future cosmetic surgery. I don't think that will be necessary, do you? I believe that God is working slowly in Hope's ear so that she doesn't experience any pain in this process. I believe, in the name of Jesus, that Hope will not need any surgery on her ear AT ALL and by the time she's old enough for school, she will be blessed with perfect hearing.

Thank you for joining your prayers with mine. They are as incense.

Update on Baby Hope

I want to thank you all for responding to my prayer request for my little 6-month-old niece, Hope.

Here is the "official Mommy report" on the surgery taken from my sister, Holly's blog "Dear Blank":

Hope’s surgery went relatively well. The two little bumps are history, as is the cartilage root that was hidden beneath one of them. Her stitches are already out, and her skin is healing wonderfully. She barely even needed the painkillers the surgeon prescribed. So, yay, God!

On the less great front, prior to the surgery, she developed a serious ear infection in her “good” ear, so they couldn’t do the hearing test. So we still don’t know if she has hearing in her right ear. Which was the whole reason for having the general anesthesia in the first place.

Grf.

She just finished up a course of antibiotics, and on Monday we’ll see if the infection has cleared up. If it has, we’ll reschedule the hearing test, which will mean another half-day at the hospital, more (but milder) general anesthesia, and more medical bills.

For further Hope news and a funny blog on Mommy-hood, food, and other interesting tidbits, please visit Holly over on Wordpress. I always get a kick out of her point of view and news of the precocious Sophia.

Again, your prayers are so much appreciated. We are still believing for a creative miracle in Hope's right ear. She goes in for the hearing test on Jan. 19th, I believe. Press in with us and claim perfection in Hope's ear in the name of Jesus!

Sorry I don't have a new picture to share with you all of the cutie fuzz-head with her new little tooth. Gotta start claiming my Auntie rights, I guess.

Prayer Request & Funny Carlo Story

Okay beautiful people, I am coming before you, once again, to plea for prayer.
Tomorrow morning, my amazing little niece Hope (6 months) is going in for surgery. They will be removing some bumps from her face that developed in the womb the same time that her right ear mis-developed. They will also be echo testing her hearing in that ear while she's under. Please pray that she is kept safe and totally healed in Jesus' name. Also, please pray for strength and wisdom for the medical staff that comes into contact with her.
And, PLEASE pray for my sister Holly. She is somewhat afraid of the possible side-effects the anesthesia could have on her baby daughter. Pray for peace and strength in Jesus' name for her.
Above all, pray that His name be glorified in the whole process.
Thank you so much.

Now, for that funny story...

Carlo making a funny face

The other day I was driving to Barnes & Noble with (only) Carlo in the backseat. He's 5 and needed a break from everybody - as did I. We have the Christmas music station going non-stop in the car, so I was singing along to Jimmy Buffett's rendition of "Meli Kaliki Maka" which I so totally know because we had the Bing Crosby album while I was growing up. Anyway, when the song was over, I glanced in the rearview mirror and said, "Meli kaliki-maka, Carlo."
Without missing a beat, he responded, "No comprendo."
I laughed so hard I cried.

A Perfect Ear

Hope and Holly

Today is my 3-month-old niece, Hope's long-awaited appointment with the ear specialists at Boys' Town. I am praying for a perfect ear in Jesus' holy name. I am believing for perfect hearing. I am keeping the medical staff lifted up for wisdom. Please join me in all these prayers. She is God's precious daughter and she deserves only good things in her life. Thank you all for joining me and my family in this!

Hope and her soon-to-be perfect ear.

I know He is the God of miracles - I've seen it for myself. (see previous post.)

Pressing In, Power in Prayer

It is sometimes a difficult thing, staying close to family from so far away. I rarely get a chance to visit my extended family in Oklahoma, and I don't talk to my sister enough. I blame my kids for that. They just have no respect for phone calls. Now, I am in this strange heart place of prayer for family. I love them, I know them in a somewhat detached family way, and now I am pressing in for healing for two beautiful children who I am delighted to be related to. I know God is a loving father who only wants good things for His children. I know Holy Spirit is capable of miraculous healing. I know Jesus Christ bore those stripes in His flesh so that we can live in health; and He died so that we can live. I feel these truths. My heart is crying out for their divine healing. I am pressing in because there is power in prayer. Please join your prayers with mine for Coleman and Hope.

Coleman - age 9

This is the email I got from my Aunt Nona, Coleman's grandmother:
Michele has asked that I try to keep the family updated on Coleman's progress. Please pray for her and Brian as they deal with this and having to keep the other kids going.

I believe it has come down to Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. You can find out more about this cancer by going to the Lymphoma Research Foundation web site www.lymphoma.org

Coleman had test ran on his bone marrow and a spinal tap. The Spinal fluid was clear and the bone marrow looked clean. They are sending the bone marrow off for testing just to be safe. So this is good news.

Monday he will have an x-ray of his head and neck to see if there are any tumors in that area. Then a scan of the whole body will be done later in the week. They are waiting for the insurance to approve this scan. Friday is the date set to enter the hospital to have a shunt put in for the chemo treatments. He will have his first treatment at that time. He will probably be in the hospital for the weekend.

Some of you already know this but Coleman has a web site. It is www.hotshot99.com if you want to check this out.

Thank you for your prayers and kind words. Please keep praying for all of us.

Nona

Please pray for complete healing for Coleman - a miracle by faith to glorify God! Strength and peace and love over Coleman and his family. Wisdom over his doctors and nurses.

Baby Hope (now 2 months)

As I've written before, my new little niece, Hope was born without an ear canal in her right ear. When I visited my family in July, I took note of her ear being somewhat misshapen and smaller than her left one. It looks a little smooshed. Otherwise, she is baby perfection and quite cuddly. The initial tests they ran came back all fine. Her appointment with the specialists at Boys Town is on September 25th, then it will be determined if her inner ear is developed and where she goes from here. I know that's still a little ways off, but I am believing for a total creative miracle before then. I am praying that her ear is completely healed before that appointment. Thank you, Lord!

Thank you all for your prayers. I know that they are worth more than gold.

Verse of the Day:
"'Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.'
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:29-31

Missing the Kiddos

Well, it's true. I'm missing my 4 oldest kids who have been "away" on vacation to the Midwest for the last (almost) 3 weeks. True, I did get to fly out with them and spend time with Cecelia and Keliah while I was in Omaha, but I'm a bit "kidsick" (i.e. homesick). Antonio and Rocky went to Oklahoma almost right away to stay on the farm with my Aunt and Uncle. They'd already had adventures with horses, fireworks, fishing and a coyote-mauled kitten by the time I flew home. Plus, they got to examine Uncle Rodney's collection of rattles from the snakes he's killed so far this summer. Joy. The girls went to Oklahoma with my parents, my sister and her family a couple days after I left. They got some farm time in and visited all my grandparents that week. Now, the boys are in Lincoln with Nick's parents and his grandma for a fun-filled week. The girls have already managed a sleep-over at Aunt Holly and Uncle Michael's house with Sophia and little Hope. Today, they're having a Fancy Nancy party at Granny's house to be thoroughly girly and frou-frou. Soon, it will be their turn to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's and the boys will finally get to relax at Granny and Papa's house. Although, they've had this summer vacation planned so full, I bet there's not much time allowed for resting. My dad may think that would be a good idea, but if I know my mom she's got lots of interesting possibilities lined up already. Maybe a return trip to the zoo? Movie night? Activity time at the Library?
I just wish they'd write me a letter.

True, I've gotten to talk to all of them on the phone, but a letter is something special. I better write one to them today!

They'll be home in a week and 2 days. My parents are flying with them to have a vacation of their own here in Florida. It's been almost 7 months since they saw Carlo, Luca and Sabina, and I know my mom is dying to teach the word "Granny" to Sabina. I've been trying to tutor her a little. So far, though, all I've gotten out of her is "Yeh-yeh" the name for Grandpa on "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan" on Nick Jr. The bilingual Chinese-American adorably kawaii show is totally addictive and I think my 3 youngest love it as much as lollipops. It's certainly as sugary. (I have not been paid for or asked to mention this show.)

Anyway, as I was saying, I'm missing my big kids a bit. Yesterday, I resorted to Antonio's favorite exclamation: "OH! Dis!" It was slightly nostalgic and made me giggle. I better get on the ball and get the clean sheets on and restore their rooms to temporary tidyness. The next week and 2 days is going to fly by and then we will be restored to normal chaos.

Wonderful, so wonderful...

Above you'll see Cecelia (8) cradling her new little cousin, Hope, during our recent visit. Do you see how amazed and in awe Hope seems while looking at Big Girl Cecelia? Can you tell the love and tenderness, even protectiveness, Cecelia feels toward newborn Hope?

This is a portrait of me (all of us) and God. I am amazed and in awe of God - Big, All-Powerful, Incredible God. How can it be that I am made in His image? How can I compare to Him in any way? And God - well, of course, he sees me with love and tenderness. He cradles me in a sweet protective embrace. He also recognizes my holiness and knows how much I still have to grow. He knows I am destined to become more like Him; I just can't see it yet since I am so small and immature.

Oh, Lord, I love you. Let me see with Your eyes for just a while. I could use some sight-seeing time of the AWESOME!

There is a great worship song called Beautiful One with the words: "Wonderful, so wonderful is Your unfailing love; Your cross has spoken mercy over me. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart could fully know how glorious, how beautiful You are." This is how I feel today. Actually, the whole song's lyrics are exactly what I'm talking about! "You opened my eyes to Your wonders anew, You captured my heart with this love,'cause nothing on earth is as beautiful as You."

My heart is full of Him.

Back in the Saddle Again

This is my sweet baby niece, Hope, on the day I said good-bye. She's a pretty emphatic napper. It was so great to see her and hold her and revel in the newborn-ness of her. There is something magic about babies. Anyway, I had a great visit with my family and even snuck in a brief visit with my in-laws, who are big blessings. My sister, Holly is handling the transition from being mom of a preschooler to being mom of 2 (one of which is totally dependent, and the other making a big adjustment to life as "not the baby") very well. I think as soon as her stitches fully heal, she'll be ready to take on this new life with all her usual passion! Please continue to pray for Hope's right ear. They have an appointment with a specialist in September to determine if her inner ear is developed, and what the future looks like regarding her ear. Her ear canal is closed, so right now we don't know if she has hearing on that side, or not. Her other ear is perfect, though, just like the rest of her.

I'm glad to be home with Nick and my 3 little ones. They handled my absence well, but BOY, have they been clingy the past few days. On Thursday, they fought to sit on me. I spent a good part of the day watching Noggin with 3 kids laying, sitting, squishing on me.

I'm excited to be getting back to OHOP too. I will be spending a lot more time in the prayer room starting Monday. I need to concentrate my prayers and do the work God is calling me to! The whole family will be attending the set from 10-12 every Monday morning, so look out - here we come! We really feel like we should have the kids in the prayer room more, raising them up "in the temple" as it were. Hopefully, we'll have a crew of Samuels who will know the voice of God.

I'm gonna wrap this up and spend some QT with my Sweetie. Come back this week to hear more about my adventures in Omaha & Lincoln. Blessings!

On Vacation...

I feel bad about not posting for a week! It's been a crazy time, though. We had a houseguest from Kansas last week and then I flew out on Wednesday afternoon with our 4 oldest kids for Omaha. They get to have lots of fun visiting with grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins - not to mention long-time family friends in the midwest during the whole month of July. I flew up here for the week to visit with my parents and especially my sister, Holly, and her family. Her new baby girl, Hope, is 2 weeks old today! She is a doll and is good at sleeping and eating! Her big sister, Sophia, loves to tell everyone that they have a new baby girl. She also likes to be just a tiny bit bossy about how to act around Hope. But, hey, that's big-sister perogative, I think. I will have to post pics of them after I get home on Wednesday night because I forgot to bring my camera cord.

I'm packing in as much fun as possible over the next couple days, so you probably won't hear from me till Thursday or Friday. Tomorrow's schedule includes: a short sight-seeing flight with my dad who happens to be the pilot and my 2 big girls, a call-in meeting for OHOP, spending the afternoon with Holly and Hope, and possibly eating out and watching Monsters VS. Aliens. My time here is flying by, but I miss Nick and my 3 munchkins. It will be good to see their little faces again. In the meantime, I'm really not missing the mountains of laundry, dishes, and messy diapers. Please pray for Nick as he is doing a great job with them on his own. Thank you!