Wink from Heaven: A new chapter

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

A new chapter

We've had Caleb home for almost a week! We've quickly adapted to the changes in Caleb's care and feel like things are getting back to normal. Our little boys have been really sweet about Caleb's new look. Josh is over-coming his nervous feelings and is realizing he doesn't need to be so worried. The trach hasn't phased Matthew at all, he still crawls into Caleb's crib to snuggle and cuddle him. Mitchell is happy to have his roomie back even though it's a bit more noisy! Caleb has been recovering well. He's had fevers on and off, and a few scary spells where we've had to bag him and change the trach tube, but over all he is getting better each day! On Sunday I took him off of oxygen and his humidifier and put an artificial nose on him to see how he would do.....he did really well for almost 2 hours! I just loved having him on my lap with out so many tubes attached! He hasn't turned blue since his surgery, so I think we're on the right track! I think having the tubes in his ears has helped him, too. Sometimes he smiles when I start singing to him, and I even startled him the other day when I coughed! We're really looking forward to this new chapter with our sweet little boy! We're so thankful for the sweet concern that has been shown!
Mitchell and his "roomie"

4 comments:

Janene Baadsgaard said...: Wow! Caleb looks great. Thanks for keeping us updated. I'm so glad everything is going well for you guys. I love you so very much. MOM; December 2, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Amber said...: Oh so happy he is home and safe with you guys. What a lovely big brother giving kisses..xx; December 3, 2008 at 2:52 AM
Becky said...: those pictures with his brother made me cry. SO sweet. He looks great April. It's a testament to your love and caretaking. Hopefully each day Caleb will continue to improve. I'm glad that the trach ties work for his neck. I wish I would have known that because there are times when Ben's neck doesn't look so good. Definitely something to keep in mind for future events. See? I'm learning from you too! :) Kiss your sweet boy for me. Love, Becky; December 3, 2008 at 4:55 AM
KimMoore said...: I am so glad to hear he is doing so well! He's such a handsome little man!; December 3, 2008 at 5:15 PM

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.