Other Children - Boys

While we were gone with Baby Boy in the hospital, our other children were in wonderful hands.  We are so thankful for those who helped watch our children while we were gone.  Here are few pictures of some of the fun the boys had.

These two three year olds had a lot of fun together.

When they came over to visit, Daddy went with

the boys and our friends to a children's museum in town before 

they went back home.

This guy was quite tired on the way home.

Taking his scooter for a ride.

Helping to do some chores.

Big J playing tennis with his friend.

It is amazing what you can do with one arm

(Oh, for those who didn't know, Big J

fractured his elbow two days before we left

for surgery for Baby J!!)  

He is doing well and hopefully will

have his splint off in 3 weeks.

They also went with our friends to their lake house for a day.

I do believe these boys had quite the fun week.

So thankful for such wonderful friends to be 

joyfully willing to love on our boys for the week.

Thank you doesn't seem enough.

Friday

Friday was an exciting day for Baby Boy.

First thing in the morning he got his

bandage off.  YEA!

Later in the afternoon the girls came to visit.

We have missed them so much, so it 

was wonderful to see them and Baby Boy 

was so happy to play with his sisters.

Grandpa and Grandma came to visit too.

(As you can see from the picture below, Baby

Boy also received his helmet today)

Lots of love for their brother -

I do believe they missed him!

It was a good day.  Baby Boy is back to full energy

and ready to go home.  We are hopeful to be heading

home tomorrow (Saturday).

Pre Surgery Pictures

A dear friend of ours came and took some pictures of Baby J and I last week before his surgery.  It was so sweet of her.  They turned out really cute.

He was all about sticking his tongue out this particular day.

Love this guy so much!!

Our baby boys verse that goes with his name is:

Jeremiah 17:14

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;

    save me and I will be saved,

    for you are the one I praise.

Love how it even applies to this situation!

Praise you God that you have healed our baby, 
and took him through this surgery,

- you are the ONE we praise!!!!!

More Hospital Stay Pictures

So far our stay at the hospital has gone smoothly.  Jeshua is doing wonderful and is back to his active self - even with one or both of his eyes swelled closed.  Thankfully the left eye only stayed closed overnight and for a few hours this morning.  The right eye has been closed for a few days now; but tonight looked like it was finally starting to open again.  But, this boy is quite the trooper and hasn't been fussy at all about his eyes.  If he is upset, he is hungry, tired, getting his temperature taken (under the armpit, so we have to hold him still for a few minutes) or frustrated that he can't go walk the hallways on his own yet (mom and dad would prefer his hand right now as we don't want him taking any tumbles).  But otherwise, he is his normal happy self.  He might be enjoying this two on one attention right now - having all of mom and dad to yourself as baby number five is quite the accomplishment.

Here are some more pictures from our the week.

Tuesday after surgery in the PICU.   

He wasn't so sure about all these wires hooked to him.

Starting to get up and move around.  

Wednesday morning - April 27th

(right eye swelled closed)

Moving rooms - he was doing great and we

were able to move to the Peds floor on Wednesday morning.

Our friends brought the boys over to see 

their baby brother.

Baby J was so excited and happy to sit next to BIG J.

Little J wasn't so sure about his baby brother at first.

But it was so sweet as Baby J kept wanting to give Little J 

plenty of hugs!

The girls are hopefully coming to visit tomorrow.

Since he is doing so well, we have been able to take him for

many walks around the hospital.

He was having all sorts of fun with daddy

and bouncing around his crib.

We are so proud of this guy and so thankful

for his happy personality.  

Hoping we can go home soon.

Baby Boy

Most of you know about our precious baby boy and what has all taken place over the past two weeks. To sum up, he was diagnosed with sagittal synostosis and within two weeks we were in Iowa City for surgery.  He had surgery on Tuesday, April 26th and are praising our LORD greatly that he is doing so well.

We are still in the hospital in Iowa City and will most likely be for up to a week.  But at this point he is doing well and although his eyes are swelled shut (this is normal), he so far has been in good spirits.  Tomorrow may bring a different story for his mood, but we are just so THANKFUL to our Lord and Savior, we will endure an upset baby boy for a few days knowing that we can bring him home soon (God willing).

I thought I would share a few pictures of our journey thus far!

Sweet Baby Boy on our trip over for his CT Scan on April 25th.

Before surgery on April 26th.

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Getting prepared for surgery. 

Going for a wagon ride while we waited.

Wait for the Lord;

    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14

Snuggling mom after they gave him the medicine to

put him down for surgery.

(not going to lie, there were some tears this morning)

“Do not fear, only believe.”  Mark 5:38

Getting to see our baby boy after surgery.

Praise the Lord - such a wonderful feeling

to have him back in our arms.

He put a new song in my mouth,

    a song of praise to our God. Psalm 40:3

Resting after surgery.

I could share so much about how amazing 

this journey has been - and although it has been a quick

one to this point, it felt like a long two weeks as we 

awaited surgery.  Although it was scary and we had

our moments of fear, again our LORD proved Himself

faithful and showed us that HE truly is our ROCK!

But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God therock of my refuge.

Psalm 94:22

The amount of people who were praying for Jeshua 

was amazing.  Nathan and I were in awe (and still are) with

how much love, concern and support we have received from

so many.  We can't begin to say THANK YOU enough

to all the people who lifted up their hands and voices to

our Lord and Savior on Jeshua's bahalf.

  The power of prayer Nathan and I felt 

can only come from our God.

  The peace that it gave me personally can 

only come from the Lord - PRAISE HIM!

 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

And although this trial is not over yet, we still have a ways to

go - days yet to stay in the hospital, follow up appointments and so

forth - there is NO doubt in my mind that this trial thus far

has shown me once again how AMAZING our God is and

how FAITHFUL he is to be with us at ALL times.

It confirmed once again that God is my creator, that Jeshua was

his before he was mine, and that I could and still can, completely

trust the Lord in all things.  

I don't know what lies ahead, but I do know

the God who will never leave me, and never forsake me.

I know the God who loves me with a perfect love

and who I can trust with every outcome in life.

My love for my Lord has grown - I truly feel like this verse below:

I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6

Once again THANK YOU ALL who prayed and still are praying for us.

Your prayers mean more than you can even imagine.  

ALL Glory to OUR LORD AND SAVIOR!

Zoo

We took a trip to the local zoo as a family.

This little guy loved feeding the goats

Brother Love

These two are really starting to enjoy

one another company.  It is fun to watch.

It also can be a little crazy and LOUD too.

Not sure if he is going for a kiss or a bite below...but

either way, Little J was giggling the entire time.

Watching Little Brother

While Ms. Purple Girl was "watching" baby 

brother for me, she was trying to convince him to 

rock to sleep.

Except it was mid morning and 

he was not quite ready for nap time.

But she did a good job watching him.

Lots of Love

Baseball

BIG J is playing baseball this spring.

He pitched for the first time this past weekend.