Mighty Max Has Turned 2!!!

People always say "having a child will change your life". While I always believed this to be true, I had my doubts about just how much it would change with the addition of our third child. I figured the big changes would be with the first two. After that, there's not much you haven't experienced. Well; as usual, I was proven wrong. Two years ago today our lives changed more than we ever could have imagined. Two years ago today, Mighty Max was born. While reflecting on the past two years I can't help but notice how far we have come and how much we have grown. For instance, I always thought Kerri and I had a very strong relationship prior to Max being born, but it has grown tremendously since. We are best friends and spend almost all of our time together. There was one element missing though that completed us and I had no idea the impact it would have. We started praying together. It seems pretty obvious now. Kerri is so much stronger than me and wears her mask very well. I can remember thinking "how can she be so calm? Isn't she scared?". It was while praying that I felt I could remove my mask and be honest with just how scared I was. I saw Kerri do the same. We kept hearing that traumatic events like we experienced has one of two effects on a couple's relationship. They either grow closer together or fall completely apart. I am proud to say we have grown closer together. I have gained a new perspective on life as well. I can remember asking "why him? why us? what have we done to deserve this?". I eventually stopped asking these questions and now know that God has a plan for Max and he is going to do great things. Everything happens for a reason, but we may not ever understand it. It took a little bit, but eventually I started to understand that the reasons were already piling up. Max has touched so many lives and has inspired them to be better people. He has brought us closer to our family and friends. For me personally, he is my therapy. All the stress from a rough day at work melts away with one smile from him. When things get overwhelming, I remind myself of just how blessed we are. Max has proven the doctors wrong and he is thriving at home with us. We have an amazing support group consisting of friends, family, his therapists, and especially our babysitter Angie. Max loves it there and she does such an amazing job with him. Her coming into our lives was truly a "no accident". Max is laying next to me as I type this up. Each time I look at him, he is watching me and smiling as if to say "if you think the past two years were impressive, wait till you see what I have in store for the next two." I can't wait! Happy Birthday Mighty Max!

Blessed New Year

2011 was full of many blessings! First we got 50% custody of our daughter, Makayla. Then our beautiful Max was born, albeit in less than ideal circumstances. But, I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. That even the greatest moments of sorrow, have blessings hidden within them. I know I have personally grown with all that I have experienced with Max. For starters, my marriage has not only proven its strength in all of this, but has grown stronger. I take great comfort in this. Family crisis can tear a marriage apart, but not ours, I know we can face anything together. Secondly, my faith has grown stronger. I was able to witness miracles first hand. It is such an amazing feeling to pray, and then watch that prayer be answered. Prayer got me through this year, and prayer will lead me into next year. Lastly I think I have grown as a human being through all of this. I am a better person because of this year. Obviously I wish Max would have been born healthy, but he wasn't, I can't do anything about that, so why not learn from my experiences? I think I have done so thus far, and still have a lot of learning to do in my future.

My other baby boy, Gunner, turned 2 this year. What a fun age! I know they are called the "terrible twos", and trust me I see a ton of the "terrible", but this age is so much fun! He has got to be the funniest kid I know! He learns so much every single day, it is just amazing! I know all moms think their kid is a genius, but in my case I really think it is true :o). He is just an amazing little boy...who has recently become more of a momma's boy (yay me!).

We also got a boxer puppy this year, Lola. WE got her just before Max was born, thinking I would be home to train her for 6 weeks. That obviously didn't happen. We didn't know how she would turn out, and were trying to find anyway to get her what she needed in life and still be able to keep her. We found that in Doggy Daycare. Unfortunately our facility no longer offers the daycare, but it was nice while it lasted. Even with less of the training that we wanted to give her, she has turned into a wonderful dog...still a long way to go, but definitely getting there! She is good with the kids, gets a little excited and has to be restrained at times, but always friendly. She's so sweet she lets Gunner take her food bowl aways from her and then feed her individual kibbles. I mean how many dog's would stand for that? Much to Doug's dismay she has started sleeping in bed with us, right in the middle and sometimes under the covers :o)

Professionally, I finally have a supervisor that knows what she is doing! I once again love my job!

So needless to say, I have high hopes for 2012. First and foremost I pray that God will heal Max's brain and restore health to him. And I ask for all of those that are willing to please keep Max, as well as his friends from the ICN, in your prayers. I can't wait to watch Gunner and Makayla as they continue to grow. I look forward to spending another year married to my best friend. And I hope that I am able to grow and thrive in my job.

I don't usually make New Years Resolutions, but this year I am going to make three. #1 I want to get my house and life more organized. #2 I want to help spread my faith...not by bible thumping or anything like that, I personally feel that forces people away from God, but by finding a way to share my experiences to those that WANT to hear. #3 get Max closer to health.

OK, I'm done. Love to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR may 2012 be the best year yet!

October

We have been on a self imposed hiatus from visitors, but it is over on Friday! We are headed to Salisbury for Kathleen's wedding and we can't wait to see everyone! Gunner was on the phone with Memaw and Papaw tonight. He kept telling Papaw, "I like Sissy"...boy does love his sister, God help any of her future boyfriends, he's a mean little toot, they don't stand a chance! But I think he is excited to see Memaw and Papaw. He'll be even more excited when Owen and Aiden get there. I can't wait to get some pictures of Aiden and Max together. Doug and I ordered a new Canon Rebel T2i for our anniversary, the UPS tracking said it will be here on Friday. Of course it requires a signature, so hopefully we will be here to sign for it and can use it this weekend!

Last weekend we went to the pumpkin patch. It was so much fun. Max did great with all the new sights and sounds. There was a petting zoo for all the kids, Makayla really liked the holstein calf, Gunner liked the llamas. They had pony rides which both kids loved! I think I have Makayla convinced to take horseback riding lessons in a year or two! We watched a Toy Story skit, and the kids went through a hay stack maze, and obstacle course. You should have seen Gunner climb the fences in the obstacle course! He was half way through the course before Doug caught up to him!

Makayla has her first tumbling competition next month, in Kansas. I can't wait to see it! She seems pretty excited about it as well. Gunner is still in tumbling, although I don't think he enjoys it as much as his sister. He spends a lot of the class time looking at the instructors like the are dense for asking him to jump on a trampoline or sit on a mat :o) oh well.

Max was sick this week. He caught a cold that had been going around the house, he was the last one to get it. Poor guy. He did well, though. All the doctors expected him to end up hospitalized with any cold he got, but we have managed to stay home. When his temperature reaches 101F we have been instructed to get him to the emergency room. I'm assuming it is because he has a history of febrile seizures, but don't really know the exact reasoning. We managed to keep his temperature down below 101F, but barely. His heart rate was also a little faster than normal, but nothing extreme. It had me in fits of nervousness, I stayed home for three days with him. But he has kept his fever down today, so I think it is safe for him to go back to daycare tomorrow.

At the suggestion of my friend, Teri, we tried gravity feeds on Max. Did his first one tonight. So far so good. She tried them on her son, Finley, with some success. If Max can keep the food down this way it will take or feeding time from about 1.5 hours every three hours to 5-15 minutes every three hours! That would be great, for all of us involved.

While I was at home this week, I saw a documentary on a little girl that had a huge tumor on her face, and all of the surgeries they have done to remove the tumor and reconstruct her face. It was so sad, and made me realize how blessed we really are. Thank you, God, for all the healing graces you have bestowed on my family. Thank you, everyone, for all the prayers you have offered up for our family. We have much to be grateful for, we are truly blessed. My Aunt sent me this verse, and I like it and want to share it. 1Peter 5:10 "and the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast."

All that have prayed for Max, will you please keep our little friend, Finley, and his family in your prayers? He is going in for open heart surgery November 2nd.

way past due

I've had requests for an update, sorry it has taken so long. Max has been home for a little over a month and doing great! He is still having his spells, but he is having them less frequently and they seem less severe. All of his doctors, thus far, have commented that he is doing better than he expected...we aren't sure how to take that :o).

We were able to get Max's 6 month pictures done by the FABULOUS Rebecca Peters. Keep an eye out on her blog for the pictures, RebeccaPetersBlog.com. She took some with Gunner, Doug, and I as well. We unfortunately didn't have Makayla with us during the pics, but we'll get family pictures later.

Max is still growing like crazy. They have limited his caloric intake. They don't want him gaining too much weight since his muscle development is behind. Hopefully they will be able to get his physical therapy and occupational therapy started soon!

He's going to daycare now. WE were a little concerned about him attending daycare instead of staying home with a nurse. Not because we didn't trust out babysitter, Angie, but because we weren't sure how he would react to the commotion of the other kids. He's doing great! He seems to love it there! All the kids love him. He watches them and shows interest in what they are playing, so ultimately I think it is a blessing that we didn't qualify for nursing care!

Gunner and Makayla are doing well with Max as well. Makayla is super nurturing, always has been. She is great with both him and Gunner. Gunner is very loving with Max, but having jealousy issues. He is gentle and sweet to Max, but has started refusing to sleep. We have to rock him until he is completely asleep, and then he usually climbs into bed with Doug and I at some point throughout the night. Any suggestions would be welcome! Right now we are trying bribery...if he sleeps throughout the night in his own bed, he gets candy in the morning. It doesn't work usually.

Makayla is on the gymnastics team. She really seems to enjoy it. I can't wait to go to her first meet. She is in pre-school and loves it. Gunner is also taking tumbling, but doesn't love it quite as much as his sister :o)

I guess that is our major update! God Bless to all!

Max is home

OK, sorry for taking so long to update everyone on Max's status. He is doing so well. We have been home for two weeks now and we see improvements everyday.

We came home on August 21st, one day before his 5 month birthday, and were greeted by the entire neighborhood outside waving streamers, with signs in our yard, etc. It was quite the welcome home! He is on several monitors, an apnea and pulse-ox, and of course his oxygen. He sleeps well through the night. We have in-home nursing for at least the first 3 weeks, which is nice for our comfort level. He is averaging 2-4 spells a day, but he only had one yesterday and hasn't had any so far today!

He is gaining weight, and has started to try to lift his head. This morning he found his voice and it is so funny to listen to the noises he makes! We love having him home. We are slightly sleep deprived, but wouldn't trade all the sleep in the world for these moments!

Yesterday we celebrated Makayla and Gunner's birthdays with Doug's parents and grandparents. Just having them in the house was quite a bit of commotion for Max and he was rather fussy, but, with the exception of the one spell, handled it all very well. He slept most of today to make up for it.

I have one week left in my leave, then I have to go back to work. I'm going to miss being home with him, but am looking forward to getting into a regular family routine for all of us.

Being at home and watching the daily improvements with Max makes it so easy to see how blessed we are, and all the healing that God has provided for our family.

Parent Care Room

We successfully completed our first night in the parent care room. We didn't sleep very well, but will happily trade sleep for having Max home. Max slept like a champ. He was kinda pukey the day before, so I think he was pretty tired.

Right now my dad is with the kids at home, watching them. Hopefully they aren't giving him too much trouble...well I know Makayla isn't, so hopefully Gunner is behaving himself with Poopa.

This past week, two of Doug's brothers, Greg and Scott, came up to help work on the basement. They got so much done! Tiling is complete and most of the wood floors are put in. Then Heather and Janice came up to help me organize the upstairs, it looks great! We are really blessed to have the wonderful support system that we do!

We will spend one more night here in the Parent Care room, then we will be headed home! I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait! And it couldn't have been on a more perfect weekend! We actually have Makayla this weekend, so we get to come home and be a complete family!

Thank you all for the prayers and support that you have given us. We have a long road ahead of us, and ask that you still keep Max in your prayers. He is still having his spells. We are coming home on an apnea monitor, pulse-ox monitor and oxygen. So, will all of you pray for continued healing of Max, and that the spells will go away? Thanks and love to all! I'll update more once we make it home.

answered prayers

Max is doing sooooo well! He hasn't had a spell in 29 hours, and he used to have 9-13 every twelve hours! They started him on the new anti-anxiety med and it has made all the difference! He is pretty sedated by the medicine, but sedate is better for him than agitated, since his agitated can have serious consequences. And, I'm sure that as he gets used to the meds they will have less of a sedative effect on him. But regardless, the point is, he is doing so well! yay Max! Praise God!