Going Forward

We have had some great news this week! First, her hip looked great! He wants to take the plate out with in the next 7-8 months because it has served it's purpose and the hip looks like it should! Second, her feet are responding well to her casts and the doctor does not think another surgery is necessary at this point! Praise the Lord!! Third, she is functioning well with the recovery of her arm. She has not lost much motion at this point and we are expecting all she had plus more to come in the next 12-18 months!! I was very nervous about all of these follow-up appointments but God has gone before us and things are going smoothly!
We are enjoying some time with family and getting into a routine at our home away from home. Addie has one more set of casts next week and then we get them off the following week and will be able to travel home again! Praising our God. The road has been long but He has been faithful!

First Casts!

Second set!

Continues to be Faithful

What a faithful God we serve! Once again He has answered our prayers! When we met with the Doctor he said that he was able to clearly see which nerve to take and which nerve to connect to it that would give us our best chance of extra motion. There was no debate but a very definite answer! We are now on our way to my brother's house to relax for the weekend before we head to my Aunt's. She has been feeling well so far with no nausea and no significant pain. We are so thankful for your prayers! Even though it was mentally tiring and physically exhausting our God has been with us. We know our God is working though now we must wait for the end results we are so thankful for His direct answer to our prayers for wisdom and clarity today. Psalm 46:11" The Lord Almighty is with us; the God fo Jacob is our fortress."

Surgery #11

What is a year without a surgery? We wouldn't know! Once again we are headed to Cincinnati trying to give Addie her best chance at function with her arm. The doctor has determined we have another chance at a nerve transfer into her deltoid from her tricep. So tomorrow morning after much prayer and wrestling if this was the right decision we are putting our sweet Addie under again. We asking for prayers that the doctor is able make the best decision on which nerve to take from the tricep and where to connect it on the deltoid. We will have a loss of function at first and won't see the full results or possibly any improvements for 12-18 months as we wait for the nerves to grow. We are trusting in the Great Physician to do what only He can do and to get glory through this trial. We covet your prayers for a successful surgery and especially no nausea after as she has struggled with that the past few surgeries. If there is no nausea we will be able to head to our family and recover for a few days before we head to St. Louis for more casting/ possible surgery and hip follow-up. Before her first arm surgery God gave me this two verses Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful." And  Hebrews 10:36 " You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will reciere what He has promised." While we have had multiple surgeries since then these verses are still true. Our hope is eternity and His will is to walk through this with praise so that we can glorify His name to all we come in contact with.

2019 A New Beginning

Is it wrong to say I am so glad 2018 is over??? Seriously it was probably one of the hardest years of my life. We have dealt with 2 surgeries in St. Louis. 16+ weeks of casting, traveling almost every month for some reason or another, multiple therapy sessions a week, and multiple chiropractic appointments a week. For the past 10 or so weeks we have had 5 appointments a week! Not to mention homeschooling or the boys Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The balancing act we have had going on trying to get Addie the best care we possibly can, teach the boys what they need to learn, and still allow them all time to be kids has been exhausting. I don't know if part of it is their ages or just how long we have been dealing with all of this but this year I lost it. I have dealt with exhaustion and anxiety to a degree I have never dealt with before. And yet I know God has seen me. I had to deal with the crazy traveling and surgeries this year like never before but Mike was able to be with me for most of it. I don't know how I would have made it through without him. We also have had multiple people those we know and random strangers who have blessed in many different ways. We were able to sneak in an extra beach vacation with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins this year right when we needed it. We have had people come and clean our house, do our laundry, bring us food, and give us money. This year has been a great reminder of how we need to listen to God even when it doesn't make sense because you don't know what doing or saying something He tells you will do for the person who is receiving it. We have had Words of Life spoken into us. We have had small phrases spoken to us that God has used to remind us of His faithfulness and that while we are here in the waiting so is He. While our time is not His time, He is still working. That even when life hurts and I can't understand why He doesn't just fix it now like I know He could, He has a plan. Sometimes I get so stuck on my plan that I forget to wait patiently for His plan. My verse for 2019 is Romans 12:12 " Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." I know 2019 will have ups and it will have downs but I am going to hold strong to Jesus through joy, hope and faith! He is the only thing that is worth holding onto each and every year!
Addie is doing well. Her hip surgery and the chiropractor have really helped her stand up much straighter. Her arm is functional yet we are desirous of so much more! There is a potential surgery in Jan 2019 to see if we can get any more function out of it. Her feet looked perfect when we got out casts in November sadly though her right foot is already starting to turn in. We also follow up with that in January. I won't be surprised if we have to do some more casting in order to correct it.
Regardless of the ups and downs I will choose to sing praise! 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
My planner for 2019 because I am sure I will need the daily reminders!