CaringBridge

Catch Up!

Holy Cow, it has been a while!! I apologize for the lack of updates, I know so many of you love and pray for Izak and our family.  We have been busy, things have been going amazingly well, and time just seems to slip away. But, there has been A LOT going on, so I am going to back up a bit to say,,, MARCH lol, and try to get you filled in on everything. This will be long lol!!! 

On March 2nd, I took Izak into his pediatrician after battling congestion for a few days.  He had been on an antibiotic and I gave it a couple of days to kick in, but Izak just wasn't getting better.  Izak's Dr. immediately sent us to Kosair to get checked out, he didn't like the way Izak was breathing and sounding.  After a couple hours in the ER, it was determined that Izak had RSV.  He was on 3 liters of O2 (which is A LOT) to keep his oxygen saturations up, and we were directly admitted to the PICU.  It had been a LONG time since we had a stay at the hospital, and I guess Izak wanted to visit all his old Drs. and nurses, so off we went!  I was nervous, Izak has never required any kind of oxygen support, and the poor baby was just SICK.  The PICU Dr. came in and gave the whole what I like to call "worse case scenarios" and talked about putting Izak on the vent if he didn't improve overnight.  UGH.  I gotta say, my little man is one strong dude!!  After a few breathing treatments and IV antibiotics, he started getting better.  I am telling you, this kid of ours is one determined, strong, and powerful little fighter. By the time morning rolled around, Izak's O2 was turned way down, and his breathing was much less labored.  HA!  So we just had a quick stay overnight in the PICU and then we were sent to a regular floor to continue to recover.  We still ended up staying a week at Hotel Kosair, but we were discharged on the 10th with no problems and our Izak back :)  He has been doing amazingly well since.  A few bouts of snotty nose and upset tummy, but normal kiddo stuff.  One of our old nurses we had when Izak first began his journey 5 years ago came in to visit while we were in the PICU.  Izak was a baby then, 14 months old, and she just couldn't get over how big he was now...This is a good thing, a REALLY good thing. Why? Because it means it had been ages since Izak was in the hospital, and she actually looked up the last time we were admitted and it had been in 2007!!  WOW!!  Not that we haven't had our battles since then, but to know we had avoided a stay in the "H" word for 4 years,, pretty amazing.  God and Izak are quite a pair, I have always said this.  A force to be reckoned with.  God is good.

SO, we got home on a Wed. or Thurs., can't remember, and on Friday I ran to the drug store, because I just had a feeling that something was going on with me that was off just a little.  I was quite irritable in the hospital, extremely tired, and smells were just burning my nose like you would not believe.  I just had a feeling.  Well that Friday we found out that my feelings were confirmed, and I took a pregnancy test (actually a couple of them) and learned that IZAK WAS GOING TO BE A BIG BROTHER!!  Yes, I am pregnant :) Jason and I are over the moon!! I am now over the halfway mark, 22 weeks and 2 days today!! We had our ultrasound a couple of weeks ago and found out that Izak will have a little BROTHER!!  I am going to be way outnumbered in this house.  Even the dang cat is a boy :),, but that's okay, I love my boys!!  My family all had their opinions on what the gender would be, and the overwhelming consensus was a boy :) NOW, if we could just agree on a name lol, but that will come.  Izak is soooo excited, I think he is cooking up some plans on how he is going to teach his little bro how to wrap mommy around his finger :) Eveything on the ultrasound looked great, the baby is doing wonderful, and I have had a really easy pregnancy so far.  I cannot even begin to describe in words how Blessed we feel. I am Thankful each and every day for how rich our lives are.  Not rich as in money or possessions, because when you have walked a path like we have, you learn that although those things are nice, none of it really matters.  It is the simplest of things that are the most valuable, like Izak doing something new at therapy, or eating a whole cup of applesauce, the baby kicking away all day in my belly, family and friends,, that is the stuff you can't put a price on.  We are Blessed beyond what we will ever ever know.  God is good. So, we are so so so so so happy that another little monster is going to be joining our family.  The baby is VERY active and he is bouncing and rolling all over thee place, it is an AWESOME feeling, it fills my heart. I am due on Oct. 16th.  Please join us in praying for a continued safe and healthy pregnancy.  We are also planning on banking the baby's cord blood.  There is just SO SO many reasons to do this.  I will save that for another time :)

ALSO, the Sunday after we were discharged from the hospital, we had our annual St. Baldricks event.  First, I want to thank each and every one of you who contributed their time, efforts, support, and donations to this cause.  This was the 3rd year we have participated, and the 1st year we actually held our own event, and we had a goal of raising $10,000, I am so Blessed to tell you that TEAM IZAK raised $10,267!!! AMAZING!!  There are so so so many people to thank for making this possible. Our family, friends, sponsors, the list is great.  So from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for making this possible.  I am VERY passionate about childhood cancer, and this organization is near and dear to my heart.  THANK YOU!!

On May 1st, we passed a big milestone, 5 years since Izak got sick with Viral Encephalitis and also diagnosed with Neuroblsatoma, 5 YEARS!!  There have been many ups and downs in the past 5 years, but to think about how far we have come, how many odds we have beat, it is all overwhelming.  I have to hit my knees, and Thank God for all the Mercy, Grace, Healing, Miracles, Lessons, & Blessings we have been given.  On that fateful day on May 1st 2006, our world came crashing down within a matter of hours.  God had a mighty mighty plan for our family (though we didn't see it at the time) and with our Faith, Hope, and Love for God, and the many many prayers of all of YOU, we have been on an AMAZING journey. Life isn't always easy, in fact it is downright hard, but if your keep your eyes on Him, and fill your heart with Hope and Faith, God will not fail you.

Without the support of our family and friends, we wouldn't be where we are today.  My husband is AMAZING.  He works 2 jobs to support us, and is the MOST selfless, giving, loving person I have ever met.  He is my best friend, and my soulmate.  God put us together, I have always thought that.  I love him more and more every day.  In fact, I am pretty much head over heals for him.  I could not dream of a better husband or father for our boys. My family is AWESOME. They are always there to pick you up when you fall, to share in the celebrations, to help when needed, to encourage and support you.  We are Blessed to have such a tight knit supportive family.  Not only would any one of them do anything in the world for Izak, it's the little things too.  Doing all the laundry, stocking up our fridge, washing all my windows, cleaning out the baby's room, cleaning the bathrooms (Mom & Dad), babysitting Izak at the last minute (Aunt Cindy), helping us buy a new pool (Grandma Vicky and Uncle Scott), the support we have is beyond what I could ever ask for.  To all my family, THANK YOU, we love you more than words can say.

Not only has our family been a great support, but all of our friends, all of YOU, who have loved our family for a long time, and prayed for us and stood the gap when we needed it.  A couple of weeks ago, I had the HONOR of FINALLY meeting a family who is near and dear to my heart.  The Shuberts.  They are from the St. Louis area, and Sharon and I have been friends for a long time.  We talk on the phone, a lot, lol, and have shared in all the ups and downs that come with raising a medically involved child.  The Shuberts lost their son Curtis on Christmas Eve 2 years ago to NDD, a neuro-degenerative disease.  Since then they have set up a foundation in their son's honor, and began fostering children, and are now in the process of adopting a little girl with special needs who has been in an institution since 5 months old (she is 3 now I think).  This family is just amazing and full of Grace and Faith.  Sharon is a HUGE advocate for special needs kids, and has an amazing ability to make me laugh, and she is full of life experience and wisdom.  You name it, she has been there and done it, the good the bad & the ugly.  She is full of spunk and has a tell it like it is attitude.  I LOVE THAT FAMILY!! Anyways the whole dang crew (all 6 of them) drove here for a visit.  What a Blessing. She brought ALL kinds of things for the baby that she had. It was so nice to finally be able to give her a GREAT BIG hug, even though I had to bend over, she is short lol (sorry Sharon).  Her pastor calls her the Tiny Tornado (a perfect description). It was an awesome day. 

Oh my, if you made it this far, congratulations :)  I know there is so much I am forgetting (I blame pregnancy brain for that), but I wanted to update on the important things since it has been way too long and so much has happened. I am going to try and get better at this :)

Thank you for checking in on us.  Thank you for loving my family, and most importantly praying.  Please join us in praying for Izak's continued health and strength.  He had Botox done again on his legs last month, and we really really need to focus on strengthing them, and getting some bone and muscle built up. Please pray specifically for this.  The longer he gets, the skinnier his little legs seem, and we need them to grow strong and straight so he can get into his walker.  If I had one concern right now about Izak this would be it.  Please pray for a continued healthy & safe pregnancy,, as I sit here typing he is just kicking away in there :) Please pray for my mom and dad as they leave the country this weekend to go to Austria.  Pray for safe travels.  Pray for all of those who are hurting and suffering right now.  Pray for all of Izak's buddies, God knows who they are and what they need.  We love all of you. We are Thankful for so many things, especially for our family and friends and the prayers sent up for our family. Be Blessed today.  Think about all the little things in your lives that God has Blessed you with, or the big things, and Thank Him.  I will try to get back on here and update again soon, as I am SURE I have missed telling you something. Please, drop in and say hi, we miss hearing from all of you!!! God Bless,,, 

I will try to upload some recent pictures on here soon, and pics of our new pool!!  It is going to be great for Izak and his legs and a very pregnant mommy this summer!!  (Thanks Grams & Uncle Scott) I update a little more on Facebook, and have lots of pics on there, I am under Jami Poore.