Wink from Heaven

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Vision

Caleb has been a bit under the weather for the past several weeks. The last time his vision teacher came, he wasn't even feeling well enough to open his eyes. This time he decided to sneak a peek, and we even got him to smile!

Peek!!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Spirit

Tonight my four boys and I were snuggling together in my bed. We were watching the movie "Spirit." Matthew wrapped himself all around Caleb and whispered, "I would just die with out you Caleb... because, you know... you're my brother."

tender.

Then and now

5 years ago I would often find Caleb's preschool age brothers quietly keeping watch over their baby brother.

Today I caught a glimpse of them saying good bye before they went to school.

I don't think much has changed in 5 years.

Brother bonds are like that.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Birthday boy

Last year we returned home from a two week hospital stay just in time to celebrate Caleb's birthday! Two of my dear friends even braved a snowstorm to make sure that we got home in time celebrate!
This year we enjoyed celebrating at home, all together, with people we love!
It was a cozy day at home with family. Just the way that Caleb likes it!
The boys loved giving him lots of hugs and helping him with his presents! Mitchell has been asking for the movie "Snow White" and was so excited that Caleb was willing to share it with him!
We are thankful beyond words for the miracle of 5 years...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweet boy

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Happy Birthday Caleb!

My sweet Caleb is five years old today! My mom writes a special story for each of her grandchildren on their birthdays. You can read Caleb's birthday story here.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Christmas Day

Caleb's favorite gift this year...
being home for the holidays
with his brothers

they helped him open gifts,

get a good look

and hold them in his hands.

There's no place like home for the holidays.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Cozy Christmas Eve

Caleb's settling down for a long Winter's nap

With his cozy teddy tucked in by his lap.

He knows he's been good in every way

And that Santa is coming in his magic sleigh!

Sleep tight little one!

Nativity

On Christmas Eve we acted out the Nativity. Caleb made the perfect baby Jesus.

He was wrapped in cozy sweats

and laid in a tumble form chair.

He recieved treasures from wise men and a little racoon.

Caleb held his special gifts for the rest of the evening.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Visions of sugar plums

Caleb is nestled all snug in his bed

while visions of sugar plums

dance over head

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Caleb's Christmas Wish

Last year on Christmas Eve Caleb was admitted to Primary Children's hospital. We drove through a blinding snowstorm to get there and spent a long night in the ER. In the wee hours of the morning, my husband came home so he could be there when our little boys woke up on Christmas morning. I stayed in the hospital with Caleb as he continued to worsen and eventually ended up in the pediatric ICU. I woke up on Christmas morning to the beeping lights on the ventilator and longed for the lights on my Christmas tree. I cried.
I've been reflecting on that Christmas with a tender heart. So this year, as we are hoping to spend the holidays all together, we have been thinking of families who will not. Many warm hearts and helping hands made it possible for us to deliver 120 packages for parents who are in the hospital with a sick child over the holidays! Friends, church members, youth, local buisnesses, and even strangers made it possible for us to compile these care packages. We are touched beyond words.
I know that if Caleb could speak he would tell us that his greatest Christmas wish is to reach out and love others. Thank you to many warm hearts and helping hands for making Caleb's Christmas wish come true!

Monday, December 14, 2009

In His hands

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Polar Express

Dear Caleb,
Today we were able to go on the Polar Express with other "Make a Wish" families. You weren't feeling good enough to come with us this time, but we carried you in our hearts all day. Thank you for being willing to be cozy at home with Daddy while we had a Christmas adventure. Whenever we ring our bells, we will think of you and your special Christmas spirit. We love you Caleb, and we really missed you today.
Love, Mom

Heaven sent...
We were blessed with a little boy who always winked!
Caleb's brain did not form, and doctors didn't expect him to live for more than a few weeks. After 8 days in the NICU doctors sent us home saying there was nothing more they could do. Among his various physical challenges, Caleb was missing one of his eyes. Even though he was never be able to say "I love you" with words, he told us every day with his "wink!" His little wink was a daily message of love from heaven.

Caleb’s spirit radiated pure love. He brought the love of God and light of Christ into the lives of all who knew him. Caleb’s life was a precious gift and a tender miracle. His winking eye was a daily reminder of Caleb’s deep love for all of us. Caleb could have quickly returned to heaven but instead he brought heaven to us for seven years.

Caleb was a precious gift to our family, and now it is our priveledge to live in such a way that we will be reunited with him forever.

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.