Wink from Heaven: Hospital holiday day 9

Friday, January 2, 2009

Hospital holiday day 9

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Caleb sends loads of love to you for 2009!
Yesterday was a pretty calm day at the hospital. All of the tests that were run for Caleb's fever came back in normal range. Caleb's shunt series came back normal as well. Usually shunts have lots of problems so we've been really blessed that we've never had any trouble with Caleb's in the 3 years he's had it! We reviewed the results of Caleb's EEG. Most of his seizure behavior doesn't record as seizures, which makes it difficult to medicate. The events that did show as seizures probably wouldn't be helped very much with medication unless we want him so medicated that he's sleepy all the time, so unless they keep getting worse, we're just going to keep our medications the same for now.
Dallan and I start ventilator training tomorrow and if all goes well we should be able to bring Caleb home on Monday or Tuesday. Just in time for his birthday! Dallan is going to spend the day with Caleb today while I catch up around the house and spend some time with our other cute little boys!
Wishing you a 2009 full of happiness and love!

4 comments:

Joy said...: I hope that all goes well with your training and Caleb can come home soon. Thanks for the heads up about the game, but we got it covered on this end. I told you the blood in my house runs VERY BLUE, COUGAR BLUE that is. The kids are still very excited to go. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.; January 2, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Becky said...: Hooray Caleb! Keep showing those doctors what a fighter you are. I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that you are home for your birthday! :) Love you both.; January 2, 2009 at 7:45 PM
shirlgirl said...: So glad things are getting better for Caleb. You and Dallan will do great in your training. I am sure the hospital will have a respiratory therapist come to your home for awhile to make sure all is going well. It'd be great if Caleb can get home for his birthday--nice present for him and especially for you and your other three boys.; January 3, 2009 at 7:01 AM
Kel said...: You and Caleb are my inspiration.; January 3, 2009 at 4:53 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.