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

Making the Most of It: Hannah Update

Thank you everyone for praying for our girl (and us) last week. Hannah did amazing at both doctors appointments. I was told by more than one nurse that she is a sweet little angel, which I totally agree with, but she does seem to be on her best behavior when she's out of the house :). I think she takes after her brother in that regard.

Thursday, she had her sedated hearing test. Even though I had to wake her at 4am to feed her a last meal before the 9am procedure she had a good attitude.

She fell asleep easily but woke up in the middle so they had to put an IV in. It took her a little longer to wake up at the end, but that was the only hiccup. 

      Waiting for the doctor to show up.

When they brought her back to me.     (So sweet).

The results of the test are that Hannah's hearing is the same in her right ear, but her left ear has declined. We will get stronger aids for her in a couple of weeks. I was sad when I heard her hearing is getting worse, but am encouraged that the aids are helping and during speech therapy (and other times) she really is hearing sounds!!

Friday, we loaded up the minivan at 6am and headed to Cincinnati. 

All I can say is WOW about this hospital. We hardly waited at all, the doctor spent more than ample time with us and everyone we came in contact with was great. 

The doctor taught us a lot more about Hannah's MRI, that speech therapy is  most important right now, what exactly "having a small head" means and more little nuggets that are too hard to explain. We felt encouraged when we left and this doctor will follow Hannah. 

As I've said before there are no outward signs (except for her head & hearing aids) that she is (or will be) behind but we want to be proactive with therapy and seeing the best doctors we can find. She actually rolled over yesterday which is huge y'all!

                     At the doctor

           Eli running off some energy 

After Friday's appointment we traveled back to Louisville via southwest Virginia. That's where my g'ma lives and since she hasn't had a chance to meet Hannah yet we wanted to go see her. Yes, southwest VA is really not on the way from Cincinnati, so that meant A LOT of time in the car but our kids did great. We got back home around dinner Saturday night. 

                     4 generations

             This little girl IS ticklish!

Eli & daddy taking a dip in the hotel pool while it snowed outside. What a treat!

It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but filled with good family time. 

"Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good. 

His love endures forever. "

Psalm 136:1

Being Present

As I have said before, this virus is evil. At this point in the game there is no way to know how Hannah will develop, what she will/won't do and how long things will take. If I think about all the unknowns for too long they drive me crazy.

I think this can apply to anything in life. There are so many unknowns, aren't there? 

Lately, The Lord has really been impressing on my heart to "be present".  Be present in what's happening today. Today, Hannah's doing what any other 4 month old should do, today she's smiling, laughing, rolling and napping (praise Jesus!) 

I don't want to miss these precious times with my family because I'm worrying about what may happen tomorrow. Of course this is easier said then done most days, but I think The Lord has me on the road to learning more about how He cares for his children and how he really does give us what we need when we need it. 

This week has been an off week for us. No doctors appointments and no PT. Next week, however, they start back. The two biggies are next Thursday and Friday. Thursday Hannah will have a sedated hearing test to see if her hearing loss has gotten worse. This should be a semi-easy procedure, bringing home a sleepy baby. I've been praying from the beginning that her hearing won't decline, just because I don't want anything to get worse, but either way at least we'll know where we are. If it does decline she'll have to get bigger/stronger hearing aids. Friday, we'll travel to Cincinnati for a 2nd opinion with a neurologist. This doctor is highly recommended. We pray he can point us in the right direction. 

Since I'm on the topic of "being present" I wanted to share some Eli-isms and things I hope I never forget. 

The day friends arrived at our house and Eli ran over to Hannah (who was lying on the playmat) and whispered "friends, friends are here, Hannah!"

Eli calls the living room "the room room" (I kinda don't want to correct that)

Eli calls Hannah, Banana. 

The look of sadness on Eli's face when the audiologist stuck something in Hannah's ear & it made her cry. 

Eli now requests we sing "jingle bells" & "silent night" before bed. I wonder if I will still be singing it in July?

Eli's favorite cereals are flakes and O's. 

Lord, thank you for my children. They truly are a gift from you!

God is our refuge and strength,

 A very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1