Aggie's News Feed

Monday we saw the Neurologist about Aggies EEG results. They were abnormal, but consistant with her MRI. Her brain sends "sharp waves", which can be the start of seizures. Thankfully her "sharp waves" were short in duration, and if it were a seizure it would sustain for a longer period. So basically it tells us what we already knew, Aggie is at risk for seizures. It is good to have a "baseline" EEG, so that future ones can be compared with it for progress or decline.

Yesterday Aggie had an Upper GI. Happy birthday to her!?!? She was not sedated for it, she had to drink contrast and they watched it go down her and took pictures. The test did not show any new findings, but did confirm her reflux problem.

Also, on a less medical note, she has a couple teeth poking through.

I was thinking on Monday in regards to my darling Aggie, how sweet it is that despite our changing health here on earth, and the trials we face, it does not change our status before our Lord, b/c of the finished work of Christ! How awesome of Him to be so unwavering for us in times of flex! How wonderful to think of the day we will all be renewed and enjoying Him for all of eternity.

Keep your eyes fixed dear friend, He will see you through!

Happy Birthday Aggie Rae!

My sweet little angle baby turns one today. We had a little celebration last week while our families were visiting. Of course all the children enjoyed the cake, and Hosea was eager to help out with the candle blowing. She is such a joy and delight to my heart and we are very thankful to have had the pleasure to enjoy her this past year. May the Lord use you for His glory my precious little one.

Ankle support........CHECK!

I'm not the only one.

The other day, about 2 weeks ago Hosea woke up from his nap and laid on the floor here with his blanket to try and finish waking up. It didn't work, he slept here for about an hour.

Beach

The families spent a lot of time at the beach and the pool while we had visitors, I missed out on some of this fun. This particular beach is the National Seashore at Perdido Key on the sound side, and I was able to participate. The kids enjoy catching hermit crabs there. This is right after we released our catch.

This is the first time Aggie enjoyed being in the water and did a little exploring with her hands.

Ballet Recital

Last Saturday Shiloh had ballet Recital. She did lovely, and looked the same.

Everyone came to see. Left-Right (Back)Mike, Grandpoo, Grandma, MeMa, Aggie, Me, Papa,

(Front) Shiloh, Brooklyn(my niece), Hosea.

The round-up

This week was difficult, both my parents and Mike's family were visiting. We were torn in many directions trying to enjoy, please and coordinate all. Additionally Aggie has had several apts. the past couple weeks, so I would be off doing that, and Mike still needed to work and is studying to take the GRE on Monday. It's very busy and I'm pretty exhausted, though now that everyone is gone, I'm not feeling quite so overwhelmed. We found out this week that Aggie will need to have a surgery or two? And some more testing. She for sure will be getting tubes in her ears. She may be having a surgery or two on her stomach. She spits up A LOT and hasn't gained weight in 3 months. Pray that she will take a bottle, she refuses and this is necessary for some of the testing they need to do next week! Her EEG of her brain last week was abnormal, we have an apt. Monday to discuss the results of that. She has an "upper GI" on Wednesday. We talk to the surgeon a week from Tue. about the tummy procedures. We are having a hard time finding a pediatrician that will "accept" her as a patient b/c of all her medical needs. This is very frustrating, b/c we can not proceed with her care until we find a new one, for insurance reasons. Please pray for us, we are weary as we are trying to trust in the Lord as we walk through this. The Lord is definitely using this to break me and any self-sufficiency i may still have running through my blood, to Him be the glory.

Around we go.....

Soo....... I think my day of war on the ants, slowed them up a bit. There was a few days where there were no signs of them. We made some homemade ant traps with borax, pb, sugar and water. We left them to set, just in case a return was made...... And it was, they have sent their children in the house for food. No joke, miniature ants about 1/4 the size of the previous ants are now coming in. I couldn't even see them with out squatting down to the floor. The good news is they are feasting on one of the traps, so hopefully they will return to their queen soon and serve up our special dish. If they aren't gone in a week, I'm totally moping with the geranium oil, thanks CR.

This week has been a bit eventful for Aggie Rae. She finished off a round of antibiotics for another ear infection, #4. She has developed eczema, I'm thinking it may be an allergy to the antibiotics, or bananas, or cheetos? And sweet little girl hasn't gained weight in 3 months, to which I replied "I do feed her". Her primary care Dr. has decided she is no long suited to be Aggies Dr., she is overwhelmed with Aggie and feels very uncomfortable overseeing her care. I am thankful for her humility to confess that. The clinic at Whiting field for the first time has showed compassion toward us, and is wanting to be helpful. Prior it was like pulling teeth dealing with them. I am thankful for this change. We now have a referral for a civilian Dr, Dr. Vanostenbridge, that has come highly recommended by friends and professionals. The tricare guy, Mr. Don told me "if you are not satisfied with the care there, even if the nurse smiles wrong, come back and we will find someone else, b/c we want you to be well taken care of" . Wow!!!!! This has never been my experience working with tricare, though Mr. Don has always been friendly. I think someone has talked with nearly everyone and explained our situation, and thus all the compassion. I am so thankful this was my experience on Friday in the clinic, as I normally enter there with my game face on anticipating opposition.

Prayer Request:

I cried twice this week. I was feeling overwhelmed. Aggies shoulder muscles are tight again, they need lots of stretching. She has kind of a permeant shrugged look. As she is bearing more weight, her left ankle is starting to turn out a bit, needing special stretching also. This in addition to the torso strengthening exercises and Range of motion stretching we are doing is a lot. I need to be more selective with my time commitments. God is sufficient and will provided all I need to do all He as called me to. Living this out daily isn't always as easy as saying it is, though I am certain it is possible.

Next 2 weeks line up:

6/13-PT

6/14-Audiology, Ballet Recital Rehearsal

6/15-EEG of brain

6/16-Ballet Dress Rehearsal

6/17- Endocrine, Mema and Papa Arrive

6/18-Recital, Grandma, Grandpoo and uncles arrive.

6/19-Happy Fathers Day

6/20-ENT

6/22- GI

6/24-PT

6/29- AGGIE TURNS 1!!!!!

Faith

"What God declares the believing heart confesses without the need of further proof. Indeed, to seek proof is to admit doubt, and to obtain proof is to render faith superfluous. Everyone who possesses the gift of faith will recognize the wisdom of those daring words of one of the early Church fathers: 'I believe that Christ died for me because it is incredible; I believe that He rose from the dead because it is impossible.'" A.W. Tozer

The true vine

"Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." John 15:2-4

This week has been a little tough. It has been of my own doing really. But the 2 weeks prior were so sweet and filled with grace, that a mere reflection of the two makes the difference very clear. "A branch cannot bear fruit by itself". And thus pruning was needed.

I'm so thankful for my pruning, and am hopeful some day, not so far away, I will bear fruit once again. As His word says this is the very reason for the pruning.

And so........... I abide.

ANTS!!!.......ANTS EVERYWHERE!

PLEASE TELL LITTLE QUEENIE THAT I'M NOT GOING DOWN WITH OUT A FIGHT! GRRRRRR!

Wedding

Shiloh and Hosea were honored to be the flower girl and ring "bear" for our friends Heath and Kristiana's wedding here in Pensacola. They did great and we of course super cute.

Here they are with their game face on.
With the lovely couple!

Hosea Skills

Shiloh Skills

Swim Lessons

The children had swim lessons the past two weeks and made excellent progress!

Shiloh loved jumping off the diving board and SWIMMING to the ladder.
Hosea got brave going under water and looking at his squids, he is well on his way to swimming, but is still working through some fear issues, he'll do it when he's ready.
All-in-all they had fun. I'm so proud!

Will work for Food!

Ok.... I confess I started feeding Aggie Cheetos again, she just didn't like the "gerber" ones as much, healthy alternatives are never as yummy. The truth is she loves the cheesy goodness and will stop at nothing to get one. It has become a key tool in physical therapy. I couldn't get her to "rake" in order to pick up things from her tray untill.......... there was a big fat puffy cheeto on the tray.... Then she was obliged. Her arms are also "low tone" and her reaching up, and across her body needs some improvement. So guess what little girl with reach for? You got it! ;)

Curb Appeal

Before:


During:




After:

Note: Some of it got planted in back.

My little Nut

Aggie has such a fun personality. Additionally she loves her daddy. When I say she loves him, I mean she adores him, far more than any of our other little people did at their age. Anytime the man is in her view she tracks him steadily with a full out grin just waiting for him to respond. As a result, she enjoys making him laugh, and once she does something that does, she will repete it over and over. Here is one little game they started playing recently, I'm elated at her responsive interaction!!! Praise God for such a blessing!