Merry Christmas...

I had Christmas pictures made of both of my "little" boy's, their big brother decided he wasn't doing pictures this year. Elijah did well for maybe three takes, then he was finished! I still think they turned out well!

Wonderful News- update on Elijah

My little vampire at Halloween!

Wow. It is past time that I post in here. A lot has been going on, Elijah was seen at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital, Kluge Rehabilitation Center. He was seen in the CP clinic where I have to say we have received some wonderful news. A year ago a developmental specialist diagnosed Elijah with Cerebral Palsy, level 4. The spectrum ranges from 1-5 with five being the most severe and anything above a 3 meaning that the child will likely be wheelchair dependant.

After the specialist at UVA examined Elijah he said that he did not agree with the level 4 diagnosis, he changed it to a 2! He says this means that Elijah will walk independently! No wheelchair for my boy, unless he just gets tired at a amusement park or something and wants to ride on a scooter :) He will have a limp, and may tire easily, he will never be a football star or run track. But, I know that God has something great planned for Elijah. He constantly surprised the doctors and the hand of God is evident in his life!

Cerebral Palsy

Elijah is now the owner and wearer of AFO's (ankle foot orthotics) I hope these will help him walk independently. As most of you know he had been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. It is hard to say what caused his CP. I do know that TTTS survivors are at high risk for neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, I have seen statistics that say half of all TTTS survivors are diagnosed with CP. Elijah was also extremely premature, this is a risk factor for Cerebral Palsy, and even though Elijah's brain scans in the NICU were normal,this does not indicate that a brain injury didn't occur. "Nearly one half of all preemies who develop cerebral palsy have normal NICU ultrasounds"

Some early warning signs of CP (for all babies, multiples, preemies, and babies that are full term) are:

• Problems sucking and swallowing.
• A weak or shrill cry.
• Unusual positions. Often the body is either very relaxed and floppy or very stiff. When held, babies may arch their backs and extend their arms and legs. These postures are different from and more extreme than those that sometimes occur in babies with colic.
• Seizures.

One thing I noticed when Elijah was a infant was that it was often difficult to change his diaper. His legs were stiff making diaper changes hard.

Pictures of Elijahs little AFO's will be posted soon :)

Monday Mayhem

Welcome to Monday Mayhem- the happenin' Monday Place to be.Today's we are playing a modification of a tag- the 8's tag. By 'modifications' we mean we edited out some of the questions we never want to see again.Have fun!

1. Are you living the dream??
Maybe a twisted version of it!

2.Is this what you imagined your life would be like?
Honestly, No. But, whose life turns out exactly like they imagined. If I were living the life that I imagined as a young girl then I would have prince charming, a million dollars, and a maid!

3. I'm coming for dinner, what will you make for me??
I hope you like chicken nuggets!

4. What's your favorite cuss word? I don't have a favorite cuss word!
A. does though, thanks to someone near and dear to me who I won't mention, his favorite cuss word starts wit a D and ends with a N!

5. Tell me one thing you would change about anyone's blog and why?
I really don't know of anything I would change, a blog is like a journal, so whatever!

6.What is your biggest blogging pet peeve?
People who don't comment and don't follow...come on I'll follow you if you follow me!

7.What's your favorite tv show this season? I need a new show! :)
This is crazy, I am 34 years old and I am really hooked on that show, Teen Mom!

8. What's your favorite 'down' time {nothing computer related}? Downtime, what is that....I gues when I get it, it is reading, I love a good book!

It has been a long time since I updated on Elijah. Elijah is doing good. He has been officially diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. He has also been fitted for AFO's (Ankle Foot Orthotics) and he has been referred to a CP clinic at UVA. I am hoping these will help him walk on his own. Elijah is such an amazing little boy, God has brought him so far. I am certain that he will continue to amaze us!

I will update you when I know more about the clinic he will be attending!

A little update...

NOW...

AND THEN!

Elijah is doing great. He is learning a lot of words, but he has a hard time getting them out. He is so sweet and funny, he loves to eat. The other day we pulled up at a local drive through(I know, I know, I should know better). The girl came on and said, Hello, welcome to ______would you like to try a smoothie? Elijah piped up in the back and said "YEAH"! He don't even know what a smoothie is, but he knows that food comes out of those windows.

I hope we are able to get braces for Elijah's feet and legs in the near future, I so want my little boy to walk and run! I know that God has left him with us for a great reason, I have faith in that!

Thanks for the blog award!

Tracy from Life of this SAHM

Michelle from Men Are That They Might Have Joy


The Rules:
1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pay it forward to 15 other bloggers that you have newly discovered.
3. Contact those blog owners and let them know they've been chosen.I pass the award along to the following:

• Till The Short Bus
• Sueberry Lane
• Riggs Family Blog
• Life is Like a Box of Chocolates
• crouching mother hidden toddler
• The Stimming Spot
• Till God Brings the Home
• Becks and The City
• Finding my Life in Faith
• My Angels In Heaven Carly and Hannah
• Triplets
• My Adventures in Mommyland
• Our Crazy Little Life
• Praying For Jonah
• Mommy I'm Home

Wordless Wednesday

See more pics or link up....

Wave of Light

In memory of David 4/12/08-4/12/08 and Lucas 4/12/08-5/6/08

From my Myspace blog:

Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Very sad....

I just wanted to let everyone know that our little Lucas went to heaven earlier this evening. While he passed he was in the arms of myself and his daddy. I know he was suffering greatly and that he is now in the arms of the Lord. As he passed there was such a peace in the room and I could feel the presence of God all around me. I know he went from our arms to Gods arms. I believe God took him home because he already had suffered so much and he fought such a brave fight. He had a severe brain bleed from birth, had he lived he may have been severely handicapped maybe blind and/or deaf. God took him home where he will be a happy healthy child and I know I will see him again, along with his brother David. I want to thank the Lord for giving us our Lucas for almost a month, I know it was in God's will that he go back to be with him. Thank you all for your prayers, continue to pray for Elijah, he continues to improve but it is such a long road. Once again Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts, I will continue to update on Elijah on here.
Love,
Denise

Lucas

David

Weekend Blog Hop

Blog facelift

My blog has received a much needed face lift! Thanks to my sister from Life of a SAHM!

Pay her a visit and tell her how great it looks. I will be updating on Elijah very soon! Lot's to tell you!

Hi welcome to my blog, please comment and follow me, I'll follow back!

Weekend Wind Down Blog Hop- Fav Holiday

This week's question:With Labor Day weekend just passing, what is your favorite holiday and why?

My favorite holiday is Christmas! I know that is probably what everyone says but I love Christmas. Time with the family, the lights and decorations, the joy on my children's faces. I am excited because this year Elijah is old enough to understand more about what is going on!

And last but definitely not least Christmas is the celebration of my Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Time for school..

Wow, it has been a while. I'll try to do better, I promise! Elijah is doing very well. He can say several words now. He is trying to walk but we may have to get some braces for his feet. Elijah will be starting school soon. He is going to be in a program through our local school system. I am so excited! I know the program and the teacher, she is great and it is a great program for kids with developmental delays! Be looking for some back to school pictures soon! Right now I'll leave you with some more of our vacation photo's!

Hanging with big brother!

Papaw's Boy!






We had a good summer it is hard to believe that it is almost over!

Elijah update

Elijah now attends a "summer enrichment program" along with his big brother. He seems to love it. I am so proud of my baby boy, he is taking off with language. I always knew he could understand us, and now he can show us just how much he understands. He says "Bus" when he wants to go to school, he says "eat" and "more" and "all done", he says "puppy". When I ask him who I am he says "mumma", when you ask him who he is he says "EiJah". He also says, up and book, and "get down". I am just so excited that he has finally started talking, I was beginning to wonder if he ever would.  God is truly great!

Wordless Wednesday

 

Blog Hop

I am participating in a Blog Hop with the Riggs Family Blog, click on the link and join in!

Sorry

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. Elijah's eye surgery went well, we actually go for our 6 week follow up tomorrow. I am praying we don't have to have another surgery. Elijah is coming along great, he still doesn't walk, but he is cruising around like crazy. He doesn't say much, he says "Mama", "Dada", "Bubba" (that's his big brother), "Alex", "ba ba"(bottle), "up", "Nana" and "Papa". Elijah is very smart. I have been testing him to see if he actually understands what I say. I will put a few items in front of him, these are items that he is familiar with. I will ask him to get a certain item and bring it to mommy, and he does. This shows me that Elijah understands and that he can learn. I am thrilled with this, since you never know with brain injuries, especially when he can't express himself or tell us what he needs in words, this makes for a lot of tantrums!

I promise to try and do a better job keeping everyone posted!

Denise

More surgery

Elijah went back to his eye doctor and he is going to have muscle surgery on his left eye. I really hate for him to be put under anesthethia again but the doctor says the sooner we do this the better. I know God will bring him through this. This will be Elijah's 5th surgery, he has had 2 bowell surgeries, a multiple hernia repair and this will be his second eye surgery.

Vote for this cause....

Gwendolyn Strong Foundation

Chase Community Giving from Bill Strong on Vimeo.
 
Whenever I start feeling sorry for myself I am always reminded how blessed I am and that there are people out there going through worse things. God bless these children. Please vote for this cause, this disease is heartbreaking! You will have to scroll down and cut the sound off on my playlist to hear this video....

Elijah update...

Elijah (held by his "Bubba") in his Spider costume at Halloween, he wasn't crazy about it.

Elijah is doing great. He is coming right along with all of his therapies and is even starting to tolerate textured foods now. He is cruising around in the playpen, and in a walker. He babbles alot but isn't really talking  alot yet. He will say mama, dada, nana, bubba (that is his big brother), and he tries to say Alex, that comes out as "aaaaaaaaaaaluh"! He can use sign language for "more" and "mommy".  He is extremely bright but is somewhat locked in due to his motor delays.
Elijah weighs 24 lbs now, and is quite a little butterball! He is such a blessing, and I am blessed that God chose me to be his mommy!

Elijah should qualify for early preschool services through the school system when he turns two, it will be so good for him to be around other children and receive his therapy at school, I think that school will help with his language skills.

I guess that is all for now I'll write more as soon as I can! :)

Why do bad things happen?

I found this scripture on another blog and had to post it here. It really bothers me when people say that when bad things happen to people it is because they "aren't right" with God. Like nothing bad has ever happened to them? I am so glad I came across this, I needed to see it!

John 9:1 says,As he [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
2- His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3- "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

God Brought Elijah from here....

To here!

The work of God has been displayed in Elijah's life many times and continues to be displayed in his life!