Wink from Heaven: February 24, 2005

Thursday, February 24, 2005

February 24, 2005

February 24, 2005

Hi our family and friends that we love!
Caleb is 7 weeks old today! He is doing well and now weighs 8 pounds 5 ounces! His little cheeks are getting chubby, and he's starting to grow into his skin! He is an absolute delight and we're so thankful you let us continue to share our sweetheart with you!
In our little family I have a birthday tradition of making up trivia questions for the birthday person- so here are a few "Caleb Trivia" questions you might not know:)

1. What are Josh's nicknames for Caleb?
Mister Caleb Bubbas (I'm not sure why- but he and Matthew call him "Bubbas" quite often:)

2. What are Matthew's nicknames for Caleb?
"Ta-wub" Bubbas Little Cay

3. What Color is Caleb's eye
BLUE

4. Who do Caleb's hands look like-- Mom or Dad?
MOM-- nice long fingers!

5. What are Caleb's favorite songs that the boys sing him?
I am a child of God
Families can be together forever

6. What does Matthew leave in Caleb's crib every day?
New toys for him to "play with"-- the other day I walked in and Caleb had a big rubber lizard laying across his tummy with the head right next to his. I knew Matthew had been visiting him!

7. What does Caleb's pediatrician call him?
His "little Israelite prince"-- and "Elder Caleb"

8. What does Josh bring to church with him so that he can check on Caleb whenever he feels worried about him?
A cell phone

9. Where does Caleb have the most hair?
In the back! He has a lot more hair than either of our other boys. On top, he has a nice little spike that the boys love to poke up and rub their faces on.

10. How many wires and tubes does Caleb have attached to him?
4- one on each side of his chest to monitor his breathing and heart rate- one feeding tube- and one sat monitor on his foot that monitors his oxygen saturation and heart rate.

11. Who does Caleb love the most?
All of you for loving and serving him and his family!!!!!!

Happy 7 week birthday Caleb!

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Prayer for Caleb

(written by Caleb's Grandma in her weekly column -2008-)

In my family we have a secret code to communicate our love for each other when we are out in public. We wink. When one of us is about to perform or speak, we look for a family member’s face in the crowd. Then we wink at each other. Closing one eye and winking is our secret code for saying, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

About three years ago, my grandson Caleb was born into our family. He must have known before birth that he would never be able to speak to us because he was born with one eyelid permanently closed. So, he is always “winking” at us, always communicating, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

Caleb has one eye lid permanently closed because he is missing one of his eyes . . . and he is also missing his brain. All the doctors said he would die soon after birth. They were wrong. Caleb is three years old. He is a medical miracle. The doctors say he can’t see, hear, speak, think or move. Those who know and love Caleb understand he has his own unique way of experiencing the world and communicating his love to those around him.

After Caleb was born the hospice people told us to buy a burial plot and continually warned us of his imminent death. We soon learned you can not live well in a state of fear and sadness. We decided we could spend Caleb’s entire life anxious and scared he might die at any moment, or we could celebrate each day we were blessed to have him with us. In the beginning, my daughter April celebrated Caleb’s birthday every week instead of every year with balloons and cupcakes because we simply did not know how long we would have him with us. We stopped the cupcakes after we gained ten pounds, but the celebrating goes on.

We all prayed for a miracle when we first learned about Caleb’s condition. We got one. Caleb’s birth, life and mission have had a deep and lasting impact on our lives. His spirit, eternal identity and most of all the loving, individual relationship he has with each of us is truly a miracle. Because of Caleb we know that each of us has a divine purpose and that the physical body is a sacred gift we should never take for granted. We better understand the worth of a soul and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Caleb’s five year old brother Matthew said, “Grandma. The doctors said Caleb was going to die, but he didn’t. That’s the first miracle I ever saw!”

Sometimes Caleb’s baby brother Mitchell pulls out his feeding tube while they hold hands riding together in their double stroller. Sometimes the only intervention that can get Caleb’s heart rate up is when his older brothers Josh and Matty crawl in his crib, hug him and sing, “I am a Child of God.” ...If you have a moment please offer a prayer for the little boy who has never been able to utter a single word and yet has taught everyone who knows and loves him – all the secrets of a rich and meaningful life.