WOW… the sun is beaming and temps are in the 70’s and it’s going to be a great weekend to get outdoors. Speaking of outdoors… we have Noah’s annual Doctor’s appointment today so I am going to have to make this brief. Noah’s high tech communication computer has arrived and we are awaiting the Speech Therapist to call and schedule an appointment. This will take us to new levels of communicating with Noah. We should have much more to report week to week as rehab picks up momentum.

Well, I have to go now and take Noah and Lisa to Dr. D’s (he has a very long French name and tells us to call him that J) I won’t be back before the posting time expires, so please check back with us next week. Noah’s journey continues to move forward. Thanks for praying… the bowls are filling up!

Revelation 8:3-5 “Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth.”

Love….david

____________________________

Last Updated: March 6, 2009
Next update will be posted March 13, 2009 by 6:00pm

I am once again blessed to have Lisa’s insight on the subtleties of Noah’s progress.

The last two weeks have been, again, without therapy, as we wait on insurance approval, but have been interesting in other ways. Emma and I walked Noah down Volvo Parkway to get his hair cut. ( that’s about a mile) Nancy, at the Barber Pole has been so kind, and has gone “beyond” to cut Noah’s hair, so we had an appointment with Nancy.  Every time we take Noah to get his hair cut, because of the lack of neck strength, I hold Noah’s head, while Nancy cuts.  This was the first time that I actually took Noah’s headrest off, and he was able to hold his head up while Nancy cut his hair.  She was impressed, but you know, so was I!  He was, however, too interested in what she was “doing” to him, and he didn’t stay very still, so I had to hold his head still, so he left with both his ears.

As we wait on therapy, I continue to do range of motion with Noah... stretching his arms and legs, hands and feet.  Yesterday, I put some colored blocks on Noah’s tray that sits on his wheelchair. While holding his hand above two different colored blocks, I asked him to knock over a particular colored block.  He would move his finger, and knock the right colored block over, time after time!  But, Noah’s hands continue to be tight, so movement, on his own, will continue to be difficult, if not impossible, until his arms and hands loosen up.  My prayer request would be for decreased tone in his hands and arms, and as a result, increased movement.

I was just thinking of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. He closed out his first letter to them with this interesting remark. As was common in those days, Paul had someone write down his letters and they were circulated among the various churches. (he probably had horrible handwriting like me.) 16:21 “And I, Paul—in my own handwriting!—send you my regards.” Can you and I agree that Noah will one day be able to write the same thing! He is able. Until next time… all of our love to you… david

____________________________

Last Updated: March 13, 2009
Next update will be posted March 20, 2009 by 6:00pm

Therapy officially began this week!!  When we went through the evaluation, I was asked what I would like to have the physical therapist work on with Noah.  I, of course, want the whole enchilada, but said I’d like to start with mastering rolling over.  If Noah rolls over by himself, there would be less need for me to get up every few hours at night and have me roll him over (Noah has to be rolled to prevent bed sores and pressure points).  The thought of a full night’s sleep would be heavenly (moms of little ones will know what I mean)! As I thought about my request, and though it was a tad selfish, it really is the beginning point for all our movements.  As babies, we begin by rolling, then sitting, then standing, then walking.  It only makes sense to start at the beginning and work our way up! I am intensely working at home, following the therapist’s directives, and am excited at how well Noah is working with me to accomplish the movement!

Although Noah has been very vocal at home, he was very quiet in speech therapy, today.  Noah and the therapist need to get to know one another, but they share a love of Sponge Bob Square Pants, so they are off to a great start!  The therapist did work on getting Noah to look directly at requested objects. We are to work on the same, at home.  I had been showing Noah pictures (with no consistent results), but actual items hold more importance to Noah’s brain, so they are better to show him than pictures.  She also requested Noah to breathe deeply as she placed her hand on his chest.  He complied, but his breathe needs to get deeper... it is necessary to talk.  We need lots of air down deep to get lots of sounds, words, and sentences out.  Until today, I hadn’t really thought about what it takes to talk......amazing!

We are still waiting on Occupational therapy (the hands).  I continue to stretch and move his hands, but look forward to the beginning of therapy, I want EVERYTHING moving!!

On my end of things, (this is David… remember me ) we had another “wow moment” this week when Noah’s brain synapses’ seem to fire better than usual. Lisa was sitting with him on the edge of the bed before transferring him to his chair. As is her habit, Lisa will coach Noah at times to motivate him to “push the envelope” and try harder with his legs when standing up.  Well, push he did… meaning that with little effort on her part, he stood almost erect… once again demonstrating that he is taller than his mama! The glee in Lisa’s eyes in moments like that is worth a million bucks!

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Apparently God loves “wow moments” as well. Until next week. Love… david

____________________________

Last Updated: March 20, 2009
Next update will be posted March 27, 2009 by 6:00pm

Noah worked hard in physical therapy this week, and had his therapist constantly saying, “Good job, Noah!”  It has been nearly 3 months since ending in-home therapy, and I was concerned that we may have lost some ground with the lost time. As I soon found out, though, God has been faithful to continue strengthening our Superman! His therapist helped Noah to roll over, and Noah did great helping, and then rolling from his side to his back on his own.  The neat thing was when his therapist rolled him on to his stomach, had him on his elbows, and had him holding his head up, looking into the mirrored wall in front of him.  At home, it was a matter of a couple minutes, before Noah would have his head lying on his arms, not having the strength to hold his head up for any length of time.  On Tuesday, the therapist wanted to see how long he could hold his head up, timing him.  It was 10 minutes and he was still going strong, the only reason we stopped was because we had to move on to standing!  His head never dipped, not once!  He then stood with the assistance of his therapist and myself leaning on the raised therapy mat.  When his therapist asked me how much assistance I was giving Noah, I let her know the only help I was giving him was straightening his knee, not assisting him standing at all!  She and I were pretty impressed... thank-you Lord for your continued faithfulness and love, and to all you, as well, who are so faithful to pray for Noah and our family, and for loving us, Noah is where he is because of Him and all of you, not to mention Noah is one incredible young man!

Well what do you think? Sounds like Lisa is getting this “blog thing” down pat.

This one is for her: (speaking of a virtuous wife)

Proverbs 31:26-30 “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Hannah, Emma, Noah and I say a loud Amen to this!

PS. For those of you out of town, our denomination sent a journalist out six months ago to cover Noah’s story and they decided to actually feature him in our weekly magazine. If you are interested check it out here: Noah's Article

____________________________

Last Updated: March 29, 2009
Next update will be posted April 5, 2009 by 6:00pm