Wink from Heaven: Homeward Bound

Monday, May 30, 2011

Homeward Bound

Caleb has made a lot of progress and we're hoping to bring him home in the next day or so! Our hearts have been full as we've felt the prayers offered in his behalf. Today Caleb's lungs have become more diminished. He hasn't had to go back on the ventilator but doctors think he'll likely need more ventilator support at home for the next several weeks while he continues to recover. He has also had a lot of seizure activity for the past two days. We're hoping that as he recovers, his seizures will calm down as well.
HAPPY THINGS...
Pomegranate frozen yogurt in the cafeteria today
Visits from people we love
Caleb lost a tooth! (I told the tooth fairy she can come when he gets home since the PICU doesn't really appreciate glitter)
I finally got to hold Caleb today and we rocked in the rocking chair until my sitter almost grew to the seat.
We're definitely homeward bound... HOORAY!

14 comments:

Devon said...: So glad to hear!!!!!!!; May 30, 2011 at 7:39 PM
Suzanne said...: Your family and especially Caleb have had a special place in our hearts the past few days. Yea for home vents so we can take our little ones home!! Yea for an amazing PICU that does an amazing job taking care of our complicated little ones.; May 30, 2011 at 7:55 PM
The Kings said...: AWESOME, awesome, awesome news!!!!!; May 30, 2011 at 8:17 PM
Anonymous said...: Hope Caleb's seizures settle soon.

I also cant wait to hear he is home with you all again x; May 30, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Aubrey Baadsgaard Poffenberger said...: That is wonderful news! Wishing you a speedy recovery little Caleb. You are quite the fighter!!; May 30, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Aubrey Baadsgaard Poffenberger said...: Such wonderful news! You are a little fighter Caleb. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.; May 30, 2011 at 10:29 PM
shirlgirl said...: So glad to hear that he is about ready to come home. It will be nice for your lives to get back to as normal as possible. Sending you lots of love and prayers.; May 31, 2011 at 5:03 AM
Becky said...: I'm so excited to hear he is improving so quickly. AMAZING! Miracles continue. xoxo; May 31, 2011 at 9:17 AM
Emily said...: So glad to hear this. My heart has been so anxious for you-especially since I've been out of town. Plan on me bringing dinner as soon as you make it home. Hang in there. I love you.; May 31, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Lacey said...: I feel so horrible, as I sit here and wallow in my own misfortune of the last few months, I totally missed that Caleb has been so sick! I'm glad he is doing better! And thanks for the wake up call that life isn't really as bad as I think it is. Jax is here after all, that alone is a miracle for me to be thankful for!; May 31, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Junior said...: so, so happy to hear that you are headed home soon. Give Caleb hugs for us.; May 31, 2011 at 5:15 PM
Brad and Hailey said...: yay! I am so glad to hear that!; May 31, 2011 at 7:13 PM
Jenn said...: Yay Caleb!; May 31, 2011 at 7:23 PM
Kirsten said...: I am so happy to hear that Caleb is progressing well and will soon be able to be home with you all. I will look forward to hearing that is home again soon. Hope his seizures settle down soon. Thank you for sharing your experiences with precious Caleb. They have touched my heart deeply.; November 30, 2011 at 7:47 AM

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.