One year ago today...

One year ago today we brought Caleb home from the hospital with a new trach. We agonized for months before finally deciding to go ahead with the surgery. I was so afraid. That day I wrote...

I've been making arrangements for my other boys, cleaning my house, packing my bags, and working on Christmas cards- and now that I'm all ready, I'm afraid. I'm afraid that it's going to be overwhelming to take care of Caleb in a new way. I'm afraid I won't hear his voice again. I'm afraid that I won't be able to bathe him the same way. I'm afraid that Caleb will be hurting, and I'm afraid my other boys are worried. I'm afraid of going back to the hospital because it has always been such a dramatic experience. I'm afraid that Caleb will be afraid...
The year prior to Caleb's trach surgery, he had a severe case of RSV. He almost didn't make it through that hospital stay. The following months were filled with worry as we watched Caleb turn blue and struggle to breath. He battled pneumonia over and over again. There were many long nights when I held Caleb's mouth open so that he wouldn't obstruct his breathing. I was so afraid to take the next step. I wasn't sure what was best for Caleb. So I prayed. Then I made the appointment for the surgery. I made arrangements for my family. I packed for a hospital stay. On the day of the surgery I was still afraid, but I felt good enough to keep moving forward.
It has been a year. It's been a better year for Caleb. His trach has been a blessing to us and to him. There are many times when I am afraid of what the future holds for Caleb. I'm so tender for him, and I worry. But when I ask, Heavenly Father helps replace my fear with faith- even if it means moving forward one hesitant step at a time,
I can do it
because He holds my hand.
Every step of the way.

Bladder battles

Caleb is still battling bladder infections. These infections have been Caleb's greatest challenge for the past 4 months. He just started a second antibiotic to see if we can finally clear the current infection. Then, hopefully we'll find the right prophylactic dose so we can keep them from re-surfacing! We're crossing our fingers!
Dear Caleb,
Thank you for being brave while we try to figure out how to help you feel better. Even when you feel yucky, you still find sweet ways to reassure us that you know we are doing our very best. I love you my sweet boy.

With bells on

I love finding evidence that brothers have been here...

Fun Run Pictures!

Funfinity

Caleb has a sweet friend who works at Funfinity! When she asked her boss if she could have time off for the fun run, he gave it to her, AND told her she could pick out some special gifts for Caleb!

Thank you for the wonderful surprises and the love that came with them!

Our heartfelt thanks...

Thank you for supporting the Make a Wish Fun Run today! It was such a sweet sight to see many of you and feel your love.

We were so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful community members, ward members, friends and family! We were touched to see other families with special needs children, as well as families who have children in Heaven. We were so sweetly supported by our local schools, and we were tickled to see that Josh and Matthew's teachers were there! I even met a former 5th grade student of mine! We are so blessed to have such dear people in our lives! I wish there had been more moments to give each one of you a BIG HUG for being so special to us.

Thank you, too, for those who weren't able to attend or who live too far away... we felt your support from the heart and are so thankful!

My boys will never doubt that wishes really do come true. More importantly they saw today that we can make wishes come true for one another! I know that we will carry the sweetness of this day in our hearts forever!

Daily Herald Article

This article was printed in the Daily Herald today!

Orem schools’ benefit run to help fulfill children’s wishes
Michael Rigert - Daily Herald
Saturday, November 7, 2009

Caleb Moody, pictured here in a portrait from a year ago, has been selected as the focus child for three Orem schools' annual benefit run in partnership with Make A Wish Foundation. Four-years old, Caleb was born with hydrocephalus, or water on the brain, but his mother, April Moody said her son is an inspiration to their family. Photo courtesy of the Moody family


Spend a few moments with 4-year-old Caleb Moody of Orem and it's easy to recognize there's something special about the little boy born with hydrocephalus, or water on the brain, said his mother, April Moody.

Despite being born with most of his brain missing and having limited physical and mental abilities, Dallan and April Moody say their third of four boys has been a blessing in their family. Because only one of his eyes formed, the family refers to Caleb as their "Wink from Heaven."

"Anyone who meets him can't deny the big spirit he has inside. It's very subtle, the way he communicates, but very real," April Moody said. "It's just a privilege that we get to take care of someone so special and pure."

When Caleb was born, doctors were very skeptical, referred the family to hospice care and guessed he wouldn't live more than a few weeks. But the Moody family took those emotional lemons about Caleb and turned them into lemonade. April Moody said the family chose to live each day they had with Caleb with joy.

"We had a birthday party for him every week," she said.

Today three Orem schools -- Mountain View High School, Lakeridge Junior High and Orem Elementary -- are joining forces as part of their Family Month activities to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation that helps fulfill wishes of terminally ill children and their families. For a sixth consecutive year, the schools are holding a benefit Family Fun Run at Orem Elementary, 400 W. 400 South, to assist Make-A-Wish in ensuring that the wishes of children like Caleb and his family come true.

Carol Jean Bishop, family life commissioner for the Mountain View and Lakeridge PTAs, said the annual event has become something that students and community families rally around. In recent years, upwards of 800 participants have come out for the 1-mile or 5K fun run or walk. Last year's event raised $7,000.

"One way it has helped teenagers in high school and junior high is for them to get out of themselves for a moment," she said. "They see someone disadvantaged who they can help out."

In recent weeks, the student councils at Mountain View and Lakeridge have held Family Fun Run assemblies and rallies to get students excited about helping families like Caleb's. In concert with the Family Month theme, the event also gets families walking or jogging together, Bishop said.

The per person Family Fun Run entry fee, $7 or $5 if pre-registered, is kept purposely low so families can still afford to contribute. And the event itself is aimed at being physically inclusive so that even the very young or senior families members can get involved, she said.

The schools also make individual contributions for music and food, and there is a raffle for prizes donated by local businesses.

What's Caleb's wish? April Moody said she and her husband would like to find a way to set up a special swing, either inside or outside their home, perhaps as part of a playset, where Caleb can enjoy spending time with his family.

"He just loves to be with his brothers, to be rocked, to be outside," she said. "We wanted to find a way the kids can make memories playing together."

April Moody said her family is amazed at and grateful for the public outpouring, from friends and neighbors, to the efforts of the three Orem schools trying to make a real difference in someone's life.

"To show it in such a neat way has touched us to the core," she said. "We are forever changed. My kids are at ages where it's teaching them that wishes really come true. ... I think they're also learning that we can make wishes come true for each other."

The Moody family maintains a personal blog of their joys and experiences with Caleb at www.winkfromheaven.blogspot.com.

You can read the link to the article at the Daily Herald.

Reading

Reading with someone you love is one of life's greatest pleasures.

Matthew wanted to do his silent reading with Caleb. Luckily, Caleb is a silent and snuggly reading partner!

The Brother Bag

I love to watch my boys spend special brother time with Caleb every day. They each have their favorite things to do with him...read a story, rub his feet, brush his hair...
but sometimes they like to have an idea.
So, I decided to make a special brother bag.
Each week I'll put 4 or 5 special objects in it
so that they can have some ideas how to interact with Caleb!

I'm trying to include a story to read, something he can feel, something he can hear, and a toy or puppet that is visually exciting.
Yesterday I watched Matthew squishing play dough into Caleb's hands, and I knew that the brother bag was here to stay!

An Autumn walk

Mitchell defended Caleb from all of the "bad guys!"

Because that's what brothers do!

Crunchy

Feeling the crunchy fall leaves!

Happy Halloween!

The wonderful thing about Caleb

His top is made out of rubber, his bottom's made out of springs!

He's FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN

and he's the only one!

TTFN!

A touch of pumpkin

While the other boys were busy designing their Jack O' lanterns, Caleb got to play with the pumpkin goo! He was the bravest of all- his brothers thought it was way to slimy and gooey!