Wink from Heaven: January 31,2005

Monday, January 31, 2005

January 31,2005

January 31, 2005

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to send out a few more photos of sweet little Caleb and let you know how he's doing!
Last Thursday he turned 3 weeks old! We celebrated with some cupcakes that a sweet neighbor brought over and blew out candles in his room with him to celebrate! Last week we also increased his Seizure medication after a few hard days, and that has seemed to help him have more relax time in between seizures so that he can breath easier and be restful. Caleb had his first "bathtub" bath on Saturday since his cord finally came off! He was so cute as he let me scrub him all up. It was so fun to lather up his sweet little body and rub lotion all over him. He smelled so good, and I couldn't stop sniffing him the whole day! He has so much hair in the back and after it's washed, it gets so cute and fluffy. He loves to have his hair and head brushed with those spongy brushes that the nurses give you in the hospital. Matthew and Josh love to brush his hair for one of their special jobs. Josh likes to spike it up and then Matthew combs it down:)
Today Caleb was weighed, and now he's up to 7 pounds!! His cheeks are getting nice and round, and his little legs are starting to fill out. He has the cutest little toes that I just love to nibble every time I change the monitor on his foot!
Caleb has brought an overpowering spirit of love into our home. We feel so honored to be with him. Every time we change his diaper, rock him in the rocking chair, kiss his soft little cheeks, or even just stare at him through tear filled eyes-- we are reminded how much Heavenly Father must love us to bless us with this time with our little miracle. Our hearts are wrapped so tightly around our little baby. We are just so in love with him! He responds so much to love, and as we hug him, sing to him, or stroke his little face- his oxygen levels and heart rate always seem to improve.
We are so thankful for the faith and prayers of each of you and thank you with all of our hearts for the sharing your hearts with us. We love you!

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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.