Rub a dub dub...

Caleb always has a smile for bath time! He loves the nice warm water. He loves the cozy towels. He loves getting fluffed and buffed and he loves the smell of baby lotion when he's all done. Okay, Maybe I love that part. What's not to love about this sweet little body?

Here's Caleb right after his bath...(pardon my baby talk voice, I can't help it, he'll always be my baby, even when he sprouts whiskers!)

Good bye for now!

Dear Nana and Poppa
Thank you for being such wonderful missionaries in Maryland! I know I received many special blessings while you were away! Even though you're home now, I know you'll continue to help people remember Jesus with your special missionary spirits. I was so excited for you to come home, and I loved snuggling with you while you were here to visit! I can't wait to see you again in a few months!
I love you
Love,
Elder Caleb

Create the Magic

This week Caleb and I had a wonderful opportunity to speak with some special employees at Utah Valley Hospital. Each week the employees gather for a "create the magic" meeting. At these meetings they are taught about various medical conditions so that they can have a greater understanding of what their clients are dealing with. Caleb and I had the opportunity to tell them our story and teach them about his various medical conditions and cares. I think anyone at that meeting would agree that of the two of us, he was the best teacher. I just had the privilege to be his voice.
I was so very touched by the way they opened their hearts to us. There was a wonderful spirit as I was able to share my feelings about Caleb and answer their sweet questions. Thank you IHC employees for sharing your magic with us!

Three's

3 weeks with a stubborn bladder infection
3 outings to the pediatrician
3 different antibiotics
3 little words for Caleb:
I LOVE YOU
Thank you for being so brave my sweet boy
Caleb is starting his third week with a bladder infection. I took him back to the doctor tonight because he still isn't feeling well. He received two more shots and yet another antibiotic prescription. We'll go back on Monday to follow up. We have had a VCUG scheduled twice, (various tests for his bladder and kidneys) but we have to keep rescheduling it until his infection clears up. We may end up needing to visit with a urologist first. My heart tells me he's not having random infections. I think we're dealing with a bigger bladder issue...

Hopefully we'll continue to get information that will help Caleb be more comfortable.

Comfort

This morning after I dropped the older boys off at school I heard Mitchell talking to Caleb in the back seat. He was saying, "I'm sorry, Caleb, I'm sorry you miss Joshie and Mattie. They'll come back soon...Don't worry, I will play with you..." Then he held Caleb's hand all the way home. Sometimes It's hard to miss your big brothers.
Dear Caleb,
Thanks for comforting Mitchell in your own quiet way. I'm so glad you have each other!
Love, Mom

Stroller buddies

Mitchell loves to ride in Caleb's wheel chair stroller.
He crawls up onto the footrest
He scoots Caleb's feet to the sides,
then sits right between them.
He holds onto Caleb's feet
whenever we go over bumps.
Brothers are good like that
They help keep you safe
when the ride gets a little bumpy.

Smile

Dear Caleb,
One of your dearest friends sent this song to us today because it made her think of you. What a lucky boy you are to have special people who love you! Thanks for making us smile!

(please turn off Caleb's play list if you'd like to hear it too!)

Introducing Caleb

Dear Caleb,
This weekend we went to an extended Moody Family gathering and you were able to be with many family members who have never met you before. I was able to visit with some of the children who were curious about your special body. I know that chidren have lots of questions about your body, so this is briefly how I introduced you to them:

"You might have questions about why Caleb looks a little bit different than other children. You might be wondering why Caleb has one eye that is always closed. That is just how Caleb's body was made, and we think it's pretty lucky! Since Caleb doesn't know how to talk, Heavenly Father helped him to have a special way to say 'I love you.' Caleb has one eye for looking, and one eye that winks. His wink is his secret code for 'I love you.'

You might be wondering why Caleb has this plastic piece on his neck. It's called a trach. Sometimes Caleb would have a hard time breathing, so we got a trach put in to give him another place to breath besides just the nose on his face! He is lucky because now he has 2 noses! Sometimes he even has boogies that come out of his trach, just like sometimes you have boogies that come out of your nose!

You might worry about the tube that comes out of Caleb's tummy. It's called a g tube. This is where we feed Caleb because he doesn't know how to eat with his mouth. You be concerned about the little cloth that is taped around his g tube because it looks like a bandage, but don't worry. It just helps him be more comfortable, and it doesn't hurt him at all! This tube that goes into his tummy is just like a big long straw, and his food is pumped right into his stomach! Caleb is lucky, because when we have to give him icky medicine, we can just squirt it in through the tube. He doesn't even have to taste it! Sometimes, though, when I'm eating a piece of licorice or a Popsicle, I put it in Caleb's mouth so he can taste it, because all kids need to taste sweets, right?

Caleb doesn't feel sad to have a special body, he feels happy because he knows that it's a great big blessing to have a body! Just like you and I have special jobs to do on the earth, so does Caleb! Caleb is lucky because he doesn't know how to make mistakes, he only knows how to love. That makes him really special. He can help people remember what Heaven feels like. He reminds people about Heavenly things.

Even though Caleb can't talk, he can help you feel things in your heart that are true. He is a great missionary for Heavenly Father. I'm so lucky to be his mom, because sometimes I get to explain to people why they feel a special feeling when they are with Caleb.

No matter what challenges we have, Heavenly Father will always help us to fulfill our mission on the earth. Just like he helps Caleb, he will help you do all that he wants you to do too!

Moody Missionaries

Nana and Poppa just returned from serving as mission presidents in the Baltimore Maryland mission! Poppa hasn't seen Caleb for 3 years! They came to visit this week, and we have loved being with them again! They even brought Caleb some special surprises!
When they were set apart for their mission, I had the sweet feeling that Caleb would still be with us when they returned. I know that Caleb has received some special blessings as a result of their faithful service. Thank you Mom and Dad Moody for your example and love!

Don't look now!!!

No wonder Caleb kept one eye closed!
YIKES!

The Zoo with You!

Caleb went to the ZOO for the first time today! It is so sweet to go on a family outing all together ! I hope I won't ever take that for granted.

Dear Caleb,
I'm so tickled you were able to visit the zoo today. You are such a sweet little monkey!
Love,
Mom

Brotherly love

There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother. ~Astrid Alauda

Matthew always finds a few minutes each day to be with Caleb. When I happen to peek in on those moments, it truly is a sacred glimpse. Matthew will gently put Caleb's arms around his neck so that he can feel a hug from him. Caleb lights just lights up!
I know one day Caleb will run to Matthew, wrap him in a Celestial embrace and thank him for being such a special brother.

O2

Guess who hasn't needed oxygen for 5 whole days...........!!!
You guessed it... SUPER Caleb!
I love you, my sweet boy!
Love,
Mom