Innocence

It only took 7 months.

It only took 7 months for someone to ask me what was behind Hannah's ears. It came from an innocent child who was no more than 10. I was sitting at the IKEA snack bar with both children while Keith got us some ice cream before we piled in the car and drove 2 hours home. Hannah was smiling and laughing and the little girl noticed, commented about how cute she was and asked. 

I really don't mind being asked. 

I love to talk about Hannah and I loved explaining why Hannah wore hearing aids to this girl. 

What I wasn't expecting was the reaction (or non-reaction) of her father. 

The father never directly looked at me. He just sat there listening to his daughter and other children. He was expressionless and eventually told his daughter to stop asking me so many questions. About that time Keith came with the ice cream so we parted ways. 

I'm sure the father didn't know what to say and he was probably exhausted after enduring IKEA with his children, but the way he handled that situation kind of shocked me. 

It also made me sad. 

Is this what Hannah will face her whole life? People looking at her but not saying anything? Or worse, looking and making fun? I pray she will have the maturity and knowledge to know how to handle those situations. And so will I. 

I know life is hard and if Hannah doesn't get made fun of for wearing hearing aids it will be something else, but as her mama all I want to do is protect her. 

But then I remember to take it one day at a time. 

Right now I am her voice and I'm privileged to be. 

Right now I get to hold her a little longer and enjoy the baby that she is. 

For that I'm thankful. 

Easter Happenings

I love Easter. Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, everyone gets outside and it's the day that reminds us of the hope we have in the resurrection. I am so thankful that the stone was rolled away and we are forever redeemed.

This year Eli understood a little more about the meaning of Easter. He says it is about Jesus, a cross and church. We are getting there. 

Between the cooking, egg dying and egg hunting we had special times as a family and with friends. 

Needless to say the Easter bunny is still not a big hit...

But this little bunny is a hit in our family...

Siblings. So precious. 

The best shot of the 4 of us. 

Hannah is doing well. We see her move and try new things almost daily. We will travel back to Cincinnati this week for another neurology appointment and one with a developmental pediatrician. The pediatrician specializes in hearing loss and hopefully will give us some helpful info. Please continue to pray for Hannah's left side and that she will begin to bear weight on straight arms when on her tummy. 

Here are a few more pics of our girl doing her thing. 

Thanks so much for your prayers. I'll update you next week. 

Hannah at 6 months

Hannah is doing so well with her therapy. It may just be her age, or the fact that we are working with her intentionally, but she is starting to do so much more.

She is behind with her gross motor skills, but we kind of expected that. She cannot quite sit up, but she's trying hard. 

She's also found her voice. Whether her hearing aids are in or not she makes herself heard. I wish I had a video to post of just how loud she can be. Maybe next week. Here's a picture of her yelling so you can probably imagine. 

Oh sweet Hannah. We love you so and are so privileged to be your parents. You continue to amaze us everyday. 

We have noticed tightening on her left side. Please pray she will gain complete use of her left hand and left side. Right now the only thing we can know about is her hand because she's so young. 

Thank you everyone out there for praying for our girl and us. As a friend told me when we got the diagnosis "you will have high, highs and low, lows", that is certainly true. We must cling to truth and ultimately Christ. 

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2 Corinthians 4:17

He's 3!

My baby is growing up!

From this...

To this...

We had a great weekend celebrating Eli. His spunk, determination, love, independence and head-strong-ness make him the boy I'm proud to call my son. 

Because of his love for all things cars I tried my hand at cupcake decorating. Thank goodness my mom was in town because I would have never been able to do these without an extra set of hands to help with the kids. 

My inspiration. 

The result. 

Not too bad for my first attempt. I wish I had captured Eli's expression when he first saw them, but I did get a few pics of him enjoying them. 

Eli,

Your love for life is contagious. You make everyone you come in contact with smile. I especially love seeing you with Hannah. How you encourage her to "flip" over and you join in with your Dad and I as we help her during physical therapy. It brings tears to my eyes. I know you are the brother God designed for Hannah and I look forward to watching your relationship grow. May the Lord continue to draw you close to Him so you will know Him as your personal Lord and savior early in life. 

We love you,

Mama

"Children are a gift from the LORD; 

they are a reward from him."

Psalm 127:3

All Things New

Snow. 

It's so beautiful. It makes everything clean, white, new. Well, last week, like lots of you, we got it and got it and got some more. Over a foot of snow!

It came in Monday and our first attempt out was Thursday. By that point the daily high was in the single digits so I bundled the kids up and we hit up every drive-thru we could find. 

Snow does make all things new. As does a baby. The newness of the little life, everything they do for the first time, soft skin, cooing, crying and so much more. 

My kids keep me on my toes but it is such a blessing watching them discover things for the first time. Everything from Hannah grabbing her toes to Eli putting a puzzle together. 

Hannah has been doing really well lately. She is reaching and rolling and gabbing away. I find myself getting more anxious about her hearing loss and what that will mean in the future. How will she fit in? Will she be able to follow conversation? Will she feel isolated? All I can do is give those things to the Lord. Please pray for me, I really do want to be the mom she needs to face all these emotions and trials she will go through. 

We did get encouraging news last week. Her lab tests now show no trace of CMV. This means the anti-viral meds she is taking are working. Her counts may go back up after she finishes the medicine but we pray no more damage is done. 

We pray, like snow covering ground, God will make Hannah new. We pray her body has no lasting effects of the virus outside of hearing loss and that she will know the Lord as her savior. 

And the one seated on the throne said: "Look! I am making all things new!" Then he said to me, "Write it down, because these words are reliable and true."

Revelation 21:5

Happy Valentine's Day!

I had an excited little boy leave the house this morning on his way to school for his first valentines party.

Yesterday we made valentines. Eli still cannot help a lot with crafts, but I chose a (semi) easy DIY valentine. 

Tuesday we went to the grocery store and bought all the supplies. 

                                        Oranges!

Then we started assembling...

                                                Ta da!

Eli got really into putting the oranges in bags, then I closed them up and attached the tag. 

Of course, this happened when I wasn't looking...

Fortunately we had 1 extra orange so Eli got to partake. 

So if you need a last minute valentine idea you can find it here.

Sorry to say this was not an Ellie original.

                     Hannah doing what she does best. 

Happy valentine's day everyone!

"Dear friends: 

let us love one another, 

for love comes from God."

1 John 4:7

Not to be Outdone

Last Friday at approximately 4:20pm Eli and I were playing on his new bed when he tripped (either over my leg or all the wadded up covers) and fell face first into the side of the bed and then to the ground. I immediately went to him and he began screaming in pain. I called the dentist who thankfully was still there and is only a short 5 minutes from our house.

Eli fractured his front tooth and took a big gash out of his gum but nothing that won't heal. He just had to get a few x-rays and a brief exam. He was brave. He got rewarded with a popsicle, a prize and an ice pack. 

I think the ice pack was his favorite. He kept it on even after the coldness faded. 

I often wonder how all this stuff with Hannah is effecting him. How it WILL effect him in the future. 

As a mom I don't know why The Lord chose me to be Hannah's mama. Wouldn't someone else be able to deal better with her? Be more financially able to give her all the care she needs? When I really think about it I'm thankful I'm her mama, do I wish she didn't have CMV? Of course! But thankful to be used by God in this way. 

But Eli? He didn't ask for a sister much less a sister with special needs (there, I said it). 

But The Lord did. 

I know this will shape his character, give him patience and love for Hannah that Keith nor I can ever provide. 

We may not see the extent of Gods plan through Hannah's illness until heaven, but what a revelation it will be. 

            She really does love him. 

        And he loves her so much too!

So, maybe bump ups like a busted lip are just what Eli needs (for now) to get some extra TLC from his parents. 

His lip getting better also shows him how The Lord heals. We pray every night for Hannah to be healed. The Lord is over the big and small healings in our life!

"We love because He first loved us." 

1 John 4:19