Wink from Heaven: Our own little pioneer day campout

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Our own little pioneer day campout

Caleb and I had our own Pioneer Day camp out. Since he still isn't feeling well, we set up camp in his hospital room for another night and watched the Disney channel until our eyeballs wanted to fall out!

Happy things:
* Yesterday there was an extra lunch so the nurses gave it to me! YUMMY!
* The nurses loaded my little boys up with cookies and treats when they came to visit.
* No more IV's for Caleb, just the PICC line.
* I can see the Y on the mountain from my window.
* Cafe Rio & a lime squeeze

Tender things:
* Caleb is having a strong reaction to one of the antibiotics he's getting through the PICC. He gets red man syndrome (that's really what it's called :) and get highly agitated.
* He's still pretty miserable and is requiring a lot of medication to be somewhat comfortable.

Hopeful things:
* We hope we can come home today!
* We hope after we finish these antibiotics that Caleb will feel a lot better.
* We hope we can have some future hospital stays at Utah Valley- it's been great to be close to home so I can slip home and take a shower!

We hope you've all had a great pioneer day weekend!

8 comments:

Junior said...: Lots of prayers that Caleb will start feeling better and you guys can come home. Hugs; July 25, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Lacey said...: We want to come play with you when Becky and Junior come. Let me know the time and place!; July 25, 2010 at 5:35 PM
Krista said...: Poor Caleb. I had Vanco once and had the red-man reaction...so miserable. I hope you guys get to go home soon. Way to look on the bright side of things! Miss you.; July 25, 2010 at 7:02 PM
The VW's said...: So sorry to hear that you and Caleb are in the hospital! Praying he feels better soon and you are both able to get home again quickly! Love, Hugs and Prayers!!!; July 26, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Tara Bennett said...: Your outlook is always so positive and I love ya for it. I'm sorry you're still in the hospital. Will you call me? I'd like to come visit sometime this week if you're still there, although I really hope you're home soon. Love you and praying for Mr Caleb. Get better, buddy!; July 26, 2010 at 12:04 PM
Becky said...: I'm trying to catch up...and I know you are home now which is GREAT! Wondering if they changed his IV meds? I'll call you. xoxo; July 26, 2010 at 7:17 PM
Janene Baadsgaard said...: You are able to find your blessings even during difficult times better than anyone I know.; July 27, 2010 at 6:53 AM
The Five Jacksons said...: So sorry to hear about Caleb's struggles. We pray things improve. Thank you for your example in looking at the bright side.; July 27, 2010 at 3:33 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.