Weekend Fun 9/20/08

I can't believe that it is almost time for J and the kids to head home, they will fly out in the morning. The last few days have just flown by, but boy was it great to have everyone here together. We have had a busy few days. We celebrated Kaydee's birthday with a cookie cake and presents at the apartment on Thursday night. We went to the zoo on Friday morning and then just hung out at the apartment on Friday afternoon and evening. This morning we went to the park and played with Caed, our friend from Texas. Then we headed to the mall for Kaydee's big birthday present, she had her ears pierced today and she was so excited. This is something she has been looking forward to for several years. Overall we had a great few days and I am sad they will be going home tomorrow, but I also know that this means that my stay in Omaha is about halfway over (we hope). Kensley continues to do well as she weighed in at 10 lbs 10 oz's, this morning. She has had more stools the last two days, which we are a little concerned about, but we just changed her formula concentration and cut her TPN down. I am hoping that it will just take her a few days to adjust to the changes again. I am cutting this update short again, so I can spend as much time as possible with Kaydee and Cooper. Hugs from Heaven, Tana

(Birthday Fun)

(At the park with our friends Caed & Lori)

(Let the Piercing Begin)

(The finished product)

(Kensley Video)

Prayer Request


Please continue to pray for Kensley and Cade and their team of doctors here in Omaha. Also please keep Jake and his family in your prayers. I have not received an update today on how he is doing and please pray that J. and the kids have a save trip home tomorrow.

Family Reunited 9/19/08

Yesterday I picked J., Kaydee and Cooper up at the airport. They came up for a weekend visit. I couldn't believe how wonderful it was just to see them standing there at the airport, and when I finally got my arms around them, I did not want to let go. Today we all went to the zoo. The Omaha Zoo is really good. Kensley even enjoyed it. Being together is wonderful, a little loud and crowded, but wonderful. The update on Jake is that the transplant went well, and is in that critical recovery time. Thank you all for following us through this journey. We love you all. I am cutting this blog short so I can spend as much time as possible with J. and the kids. Hugs from Heaven, Tana

(Kensley Happy to see Kaydee & Cooper)

(My Whole Crew at the Zoo)

(showing daddy how I eat solid food)



Prayer requests:
Travel mercies for J., Kaydee and Cooper as they go home on Sunday morning. Pray especially for Caed today as he had his weekly dressing change today, and because it is a totally different nurse and system and a totally different way of doing the change. This is very traumatic for a five year old. Pray hard. Pray for Jake as he continues to recover and for the donor family as they grieve. God bless you all.

Put your Faith Where Your Blog is...

OK believers, it is time to pray. As I sat here watching Kensley take a peaceful nap I received a call telling me that little Jake is being prep-ed for his heart transplant. I simply cried for joy and grief. This is a miracle and we need to pray for everything to go successfully through the surgery and through the long recovery process. Pray for strength for Jake's mom, and dad, and big sis. It is difficult to have any member of your family undergo surgery, but to give your 1 year old son over to the doctors must be especially difficult. Jake will have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life, but he has a chance at that life now. Pray for the doctors who will perform the surgery, may the great physician give them blessed knowledge and skill. Also, I ask you to pray for the donor family. I do not know who they are or under what circumstances this gift was given, but God does. Pray for their grief and generosity. I know it must be very hard. When I told my mother the news she said simply, "Life can be so hard." She is correct, but it is so beautiful too, and as believers we end our time on earth with Jesus leading us on to something even more beautiful. Praise God for the beauty of life on earth and in Heaven. Hugs, Tana

You are not alone! 9-17-08

Have you ever heard the phrase "Bible Thumper"? I am not sure what exactly is meant by the phrase, but here is how I interpret. When ever I am feeling a little lost or confused or angry or frustrated, I simply pray "God please speak to me through your word" and then I flip through the pages of one of my Bibles and let some thing draw my attention. The verses I am drawn to always seem to speak to me of a need. I feel like I've been thumped on the head like a V8 commercial. Well, if you read yesterday's Blog you will know that I was feeling restless and anxious yesterday. Here is where I was led, 2 Kings 4:8-37 and 8:1-6. I am reading out of the Women of Faith Study Bible NIV(best $25 I ever spent at Wal-mart). Well this story is about the Woman of Shunem. We never learn her name, but most of us could just fill in our name and it would make perfect sense. She has been disappointed in life because she is barren. She is wealthy enough, she is generous and kind, living a good life, BUT because of disappointment she feels that she can trust no one but herself. A real do-it-yourself-er, a gal after my own heart! Let's face it moms, we have been let down a few times so we just stop expecting people to help us. And sometimes we feel let down by God. He didn't answer our pray or immediately fulfill our need, so we decide to do it our self, depend on our own abilities, and stop needing others, stop needing God. Well, for all of you who have tried this, I have one question..."How's that working for ya?" It all boils down to faith and sometimes our faith alone is not enough. This is a lesson that I live with everyday. Kensley's life, her condition, is out of my control. There is nothing I can do that will make it go away. She will not escape this without the constant reminder of the frightening start she had in life (a five inch scar will always stretch across her abdomen) and she may have certain health challenges for the rest of her life. Her life is in constant danger because of the central line that allows her to receive intravenous nutrition. BUT, God gave her back to J. and I. Just before her third surgery we prayed to God telling him that we understood that she was His child first. He is in control, and we would abide by His will. Well, I guess I have to give Him control everyday, because I try to take it back everyday. It really is about trust and faith. The Shenum woman had probably prayed for a baby, but she never had one. Yet she remained kind and generous. She provided for Elisha the prophet, giving him a place to stay and food. In return Elisha asks what she needs. She says nothing because she doesn't want to expect any help from anyone. Then Elisha offers to pray for a child for her. She tells Elisha not to get her hopes up because she does not believe that God will help her. Her faith was not enough. Thankfully Elisha's was and she had a son the next year. Sometimes our faith is not enough and we need the faith and prayers of all the people who love and support us. POINT: Thank you for loving and supporting Kensley and I with your faith and prayers. I know that sometimes my faith has not been enough and your prayers and faith have held us up and seen us through. Kensley is proof of that! By the way, she tried her first bites of rice cereal. Wow! God is great. Thanks be to God and too all of you. Hugs from Heaven, Tana
Prayer requests:
Southeast Texas Residence as they recover from Hurricane Ike.
Caed as he continues to fight the battle of SBS. Jake who continues to be strong in his wait for a heart transplant. I would also ask each of you to pray for your churches and pastors. And, our country as we go into the election. May God guide the leaders of our great nation, present and future.

Cabin Fever! 9/16/08

Cabin Fever! Boy have I got it. I feel very restless and anxious. Probably because today is Kaydee's birthday and I am not there and today is Doctor Day, which is always a hectic morning. It was a great appointment. Kensley is up to 10 pounds and 5 ounces. Her labs look good and her IRP team was very pleased. I have to tell you about Dr. Mercer. It is so wonderful to meet a doctor who isn't just doing a job, but his life's work. Today I had Kensley on the exam table (cute purple outfit and purple headband included) when Dr. Mercer came in and kneeled down and took her little hand between his fingers. He just held it and talked to her. God Bless Dr. Mercer. He has young children of his own and he wants Kensley to do well, not to make his stats better, but to make her better. Then there is Brandy, and Brandi, and Valerie, and Dr. Grant, and many more. They are great. Praise God that I am here! Now having said that, I am so ready to get out of this apartment. I want to go home and, I am craving Mexican food. I have been told that it is OK to take Kensley out, but with her tubes and feeding I have been reluctant to do so. We are doing so well that I don't want to take any chances that might make our long term stay longer. I am sooooo tired of drive thru food and frozen dinners and CSI on TV (Do you know how many CSI and Law&Order re-runs there are everyday?). YES, I am whining! Guess I'm human after all. Don't worry though, I've got more than human help. His name is Jesus. AND, J. and the kids will be here on Thursday (which is probably why I feel so anxious). There is always a blessing around the corner! It's just hard to wait til you get around the corner. So if something is making you restless or anxious, thank God for what you have now and keep waiting for what is just around the corner. Hug from Heaven, Tana
Prayer Requests:
Pray for Kensley's continued progress, no infections or feeding/stooling issues. Pray for our precious little friend Caed (curiousaboutcaed.blogspot.com). He had a scope performed today, and although I am sure the doctors here gave the best of care, it is always scary to put a five year old through any medical procedure or test. Pray for Jake, who is doing better, as he waits for a heart transplant. Pray for Melissa as she battles Lyme disease and MS. And please know that I pray for everyone who reads this blog, that you might be forever blessed and feel the love of Jesus Christ in your life.

Sunny Saturday 9/13/08

Today was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, which was nice considering it has been raining for two days. It is tree-filled and green here, which is VERY different than Lubbock, Texas. BUT, I miss those dry, flat, windy plains because that is where J., and Kaydee, and Cooper are. I don't know why the weekends make me more sad and lonely for them, they just do. Kaydee is, like most ten year old, ready to be a teenager. Yet, she still plays with her dolls ever so often, and loves her American Girl doll. I remember how when she was 18 months old we would go to Walmart and she would sit in the basket and just squeal at the top of her lungs and then smile. People would come around the corner and look at me to she if I was doing something wrong and Kaydee would just smile from ear to ear. I couldn't make her stop. She was just full of life and joy and she could not contain it. Cooper is just plain cute! He has the funniest sense of humor. One Sunday he decided that he did not want to go to the church nursery, so I kept him in church with me. When communion came around, I gently moved around him and did not let him have any. After communion was all gathered up and done, he sat beside me obviously disappointed. I ask him what was wrong and he said, "I don't like big church, they don't share their snacks" We had to leave the sanctuary because I was laughing so hard. God is so good. He blesses every day of my life with the love of my husband and children. Already I can see Kensley look at me with such love and confidence. Thank you God. Thank you God. I wish each of you love in big and small ways, in big and small people, and always in God. Hugs from Heaven, Tana
Prayers:
Continue to pray for Jake, and Caed, for a dear lady named Melissa, and for Kensley. The Holy Spirit knows what to pray for, so leave it to him and know he will go perfectly to God with our needs and requests.

Hoping and Praying (9/11/08)

Kensley is 9 pounds and 13 ounces today. She is sleeping about 6 hours through the night, which is nice. Her intestines appear to be absorbing all they can, they are just not long enough to get it all. We are blessed that she is so young, because her intestines have the opportunity to grow and compensate more than an older child or adult's would. The adaptation process apparrently takes up to two years, and she may have to have a lengthening surgery. I pray that we avoid surgery. It would be like starting over on feeding her again. You always hear that God will not give you more than you can handle. That saying is not so comforting to me. I have discovered that I can handle more fear and pain and anger and frustration than I ever thought possible, but still we go forward...very slowly. Patience and hope are the hardest test the Lord has ever given me. But what is the choice. I go forward, praying and hoping, and waiting patiently. I read God's word every time I feel myself begin to worry and I get down on my knees when fear overtakes me. And even though there are times when I do not think I can keep this up, God blesses me. I am never lonely. Kensley smiles and laughs and plays. We spend lots of time just playing on the floor, cooing and giggling together. Maybe all the fear and frustration has been worth it. Maybe all the hoping and praying is working. I know it is. Hugs from Heaven, Tana

Prayer requests:
Little Jake is on the transplant list. I was informed that he did not have an infection. It was a false positive on the first blood culture and the second came back negative. He is however having an issue with one side of his heart. He has received a pump on the other side which is keeping him going until a donor heart can be found, but now the other side is swelling. (Please forgive me if these details are not exactly correct. I am getting information second hand, but it is always safe to pray. Afterall the Holy Spirit knows what we should pray before we even begin) So let's pray that his heart is healed. God is the God of miracles. Let's pray for that miracle and expect it to happen. God is that big! This little baby boy needs a chance to live and love and grow. Pray with me that God heals his little heart so he can be a testimony for the Glory of God through the His son Jesus Christ. Continue to pray for Caed and his whole family as they begin their stay here in Nebraska, that they may find the answers and the healing that God has planned for Caed. Please pray for Kensley to continue to thrive and avoid all infections and illnesses during this critical first year. Pray that her intestines grow longer and adapt and absorb all she needs to grow and thrive. AND thank God. Thank him that we all get to pray together through this blog and that He has seen fit to give us smiling happy babies, blue skies, green grass, people to love, puppies to pet, etc. etc. May God bless each of you.