Wishes really do come true

Caleb is going to have a wish granted by the "Make a Wish" Foundation! We are so excited! The foundation contacted me a few days ago to see if we'd be willing to be the featured family for an upcoming "Family Fun Run" in our area since Caleb will be getting a wish granted soon! The Fun Run is being sponsored by local schools in conjunction with Utah Family Month in November, and all of the money gathered goes directly to the foundation!

The "Make a Wish" foundation grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. It has been a wonderful experience to work with a foundation that focuses on creating magic for children like Caleb and their families! You can check out their website here to learn more about them!

Here is the information for the Family Fun Run:

Family Fun Run
Saturday, November 7th at Orem Elementary
9:00 Registration, Warm up, Meet Make-A-Wish child (That's US!)
10:00 Run Begins
1 Mile/5k Run/Walk
$5.00 by October 29th includes T-shirt
$7.00 after October 29th does not include T-shirt
There will be refreshments and prizes afterwards!
If you are interested in participating, just let me know and I'll e mail you the registration form. If you return them to me with your $5 registration fee I'm happy to turn them in for you!

It's Autumn time

* I will take Caleb outside to enjoy the Autumn sunshine.
* I will let him taste a caramel apple
* I will help him crunch leaves in his hands
* I will wrap his arms around a pumpkin
* I will take him to the canyon to see the magic of the mountains
* I will dress him up for Halloween
* We will experience the magic of this season, and we'll try not to worry about what the winter will bring...

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

Special friends

Make a Smilebox photobook

Gratitude

Dessert

What do you do when there's so much play dough in the kitchen that there's no room to eat dinner?

You make some quick sandwiches

Hand out sodas with straws

and have Caleb for desert!

It was our favorite meal of the week!

Heaven in my home

There is something special about having a little person in my life who doesn't even know how to make mistakes.
He only knows how to love.

And that is how I know I have a bit of Heaven in my home.

Round 1

Today we had 3 appointments at Primary Children's hospital. Dallan took the day off work so we enjoyed a hospital "date" with Caleb.
Our first appointment was with urology. Caleb's bladder and kidneys are structurally sound and show no signs of reflux. So we decided to put Caleb on a low daily dose of antibiotics for 6 months before using catheters at home. Hopefully this will help break the cycle of bladder infections he has been dealing with for the past few months.
Our next appointment was the dentist. Now, who really likes going to the dentist? Not Caleb! They gave his teeth a quick polish and painted some fluoride on them, and it took Caleb quite a while to forgive us! He coughed for so long afterward that he broke out in little dots all over his face!
Our last appointment was with the dysphasia clinic. Caleb's g tube looked great! We met with a dietitian and decided to add a beta protein scoop to his feedings once a day. We have been concerned that Caleb is getting extra fluffy, but decided to keep his feedings the same and monitor him closely before cutting his calories again. He is already getting so few calories, that we want to make sure it's appropriate for him.


So, Round 1 of follow ups done! Round 2 is in a couple weeks with the ENT, pulmonology, and neurology.

Consider the Lilies

When I was expecting Caleb we knew he had significant challenges. We did not know if he would be born alive, if he would live after birth, or if we would ever get to take him home. This song brought me so much comfort during those months that he was tucked inside. After Caleb was born, a dear friend, who knew how much I loved this song, sent it to my hospital room in her CD player. I listened to it over and over during that tender hospital stay.
This same friend brought me lilies on Caleb's first birthday... (Please turn off Caleb's playlist if you'd like to hear it too)

sweet

Last night Matthew came home from his school carnival, and he came running right into Caleb's room with a big smile on his face. He said, "I got some cotton candy! Do you think Caleb could have a taste? It would just melt right into his mouth!" He was so excited he had thought of a treat that might be okay for Caleb since he is only able to eat through his g tube. I loved that Matthew couldn't wait to share something sweet with his little brother. Caleb enjoyed his first taste of cotton candy, and he especially loved the snuggle from Matthew that came with it!

Dear Matthew,
Thanks for sharing your cotton candy with me! It tasted very sweet in my mouth! Thank you for looking out for me even when I couldn't go to the carnival with you.
I love you Matty.
Love
Caleb

KIDZ

Last Winter I met Tara from the KIDZ website while at Primary Children's hospital for Caleb's g tube surgery. I've enjoyed reading her KIDZ web site that shares stories of other parents with special challenges, gives creative ideas, and provides inspirational thoughts. I've been given the opportunity to post there from time to time, so you'll have to check it out!

A friend indeed

Sometimes when you have a special child,

you get to meet special friends,

and you quickly discover

That they are kindred spirits.

Dear Hunter,
Thank you for being my special friend and for sharing your sweet mommy with mine.
I love you.
Love,
Caleb

The Shepherd will supply thy need

I listened to this song over and over when I was expecting Caleb, and now I listen to if often with him on my lap. It has become one of "his songs" to me. (Please turn off Caleb's play list if you'd like to hear it too)

Holding

I walked into Caleb's room on Sunday and this is what I found.

brothers holding hands for comfort

and holding hearts forever.

I know!

"Josh, I think I know where your glasses are!"

Caleb is such a tease

Labor day

On labor day we didn't labor.
We didn't hurry

We enjoyed being together

We spent the evening at the park

And we stayed until the sun set.

Bladder

Caleb has been battling a bladder infection for several weeks now. We've been on 4 different antibiotics but he still seems to be uncomfortable.
Last week we spent 4 hours in in the hospital to see if we could find out what the problem is. He had an ultra sound on his bladder and kidneys, and they appeared to be okay. Then we had a VCUG. Doctors sedated Caleb, put a catheter in, then filled his bladder with contrast so they could watch how he empties. It quickly became apparent that Caleb is not emptying all the way, so his bladder is a breeding ground for infection. The good news is that he doesn't appear to be refluxing into his kidneys. The challenging news is that there is probably not an easy fix. We may need to start using catheters at home or consider surgery. We have an appointment with a urologist on the 23rd to see what our options are. Hopefully we can find some manageable solutions!

Rise and SHOUT!

Caleb's name means "having courage in the face of overwhelming odds."
So you can bet that Caleb never doubted that BYU would be victorious over Oklahoma! You see, Caleb knows a little bit about being the under-dog. He knows what it's like to face seemingly insurmountable challenges. And most of all, he knows that no matter the odds, you can come out shining!
And that my friends, is why Caleb bleeds BLUE with the rest of us!
Go Caleb and go Cougars!

RISE AND SHOUT!

Caleb's game face.
He keeps his composure almost as well as Bronco!

25 words

Today in Relief Society we had the opportunity to listen to President Monson's talk "Joy in the Journey." This is one of my favorites talks. I love how he taught that we should never let a problem to be solved be more important than a person to be loved. I love how he said that we should focus less on what is missing and instead realize the abundance that surrounds us. I loved his council to make memories, to cherish those around us, and to find joy in our journey now! Today, however, I learned another truth from his inspired words.

Lately, I have been thinking about what I would want my children to hear from me if I knew my time with them was limited. If I only had a few words left, what would I want them to be? President Monson spoke of a man who was a prisoner of war for 2 years and was finally allowed to write a letter to his family. His letter was limited to 25 words or less. That story was so tender to me. I thought about what I would want my 25 words to be. There have been times when my heart has been in agony as I've watched Caleb struggle. I've worried about what I would want my last words to be if I had to say good bye.

As I continued to listen to president Monson's talk, I heard him teach us that the most important thing we can do is to create a legacy of love. It brought my heart peace. I realized I didn't need to worry so much about last words. I needed to continue creating a legacy of love now. And maybe then, if time was short,words wouldn't be so necessary because those who I cherish will already know.

Here is President Monson's talk in it's entirety. It's worth watching again and again.

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