HICCUP UPDATE!!

Ryan says to tell everyone, "Hello!" He is feeling well and has been for the last several days. His hiccups are intermittent, which sure beats the alternative. I must say that if hiccups make a child grow (old-wive's tale), then he will be big as a moose in just a few days. Hee hee.

My crew is certainly looking forward to Youth Camp in Tennessee next month. My prayers are that Ryan will be well enough to go. Even if he can't be at every service, he could at least stay there on the grounds so everyone can come by and kiss him. Pray that way, would you? He needs to be surrounded by all the love he can get.

Sometimes, our other children will come with members of our home congregation when my husband or I can't bring them. But, Ryan was able to be there last year and that meant I got to go too. I hope it goes that way this year as well. Often, we are unable to do things as a unit (you know, all 6 of us at once) because Brother's not able to be "up" for long periods of time. But there, I can take all his equipment and he can lie down whenever he needs to. He loves it, and the rest of us do too...

Church is busy! God is certainly doing a MIGHTY work in our home congregation. Many have given their hearts and lives to our Lord Jesus Christ. And I am soooooo thankful. There is nothing like the birth of a new creature in Christ and the joy it brings to the Mother. I am so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family. I love each one.

If you are reading this, you are being exposed to the miraculous power of a wonderful, merciful God. The amazing things that he has wrought in the life of Ryan are enough to convince the greatest skeptic of the certainty of my Creator. I love him and I owe my everything to him.

Lord, thank you for allowing Ryan to have several good days. Forgive me when I don't understand. I know you have the best of plans for him. I guess sometimes I tend to forget that he has belonged to you all along. I can see your majesty in his eyes and your kindness in his smile.

Photogenic!!

I would like to apologize for taking so long in posting. A combination of computer glitches, scheduling, and mass hysteria all played a part in this delay. LOL!!

Ryan had about a week there when he was feeling very well. He had no hiccups, fever, sweats, etc. It was amazing. Unfortunately the relief was short lived. All of those crazy symptoms are here again. Yet, he smiles through it all. He's tough as a "pine-knot" as my Granny would say.

Last week, Ryan underwent some tests to rule-out possible causes for many of these symptoms. The main concern was that there may be a tumor in his adrenal gland: which would explain much of his situation as of late. Firstly, there had to be a urinalysis to detect specific components to indicate this tumor. Those were found in his urine and hence he was sent for a CAT scan. Thank God, his CAT scan came back normal.

His physicians believe that these symptoms are indicative of an overall neurological decline, not a condition or illness that requires medications or specific treatment. So, we are back to square #1, relieved that he is not facing some crazy surgery, but hopeless that there is nothing we can do but enjoy every moment with him.

Did you see his pictures? The day that he was scheduled for the scan, Sis.F was scheduled to come and do some pictures in our home with the family. I called her and told her that we could do it another day. NO WAY! She came, in spite of half of us being in pajamas, the house upside down, and all of us waiting on the doctor's office to call.

She was as cool as a cucumber and did a beautiful job getting some great pictures. (But, I have to admit that I have some good-lookin' kids)It is just like God to send a sweet spirit into the house (Sis. F) to take our minds off the test and back on happier tokens. Thanks Friend!!

Ryan was not shaken in the least. Drama does not affect him at all. You can see in his pictures that he was happy as a lark. His face shows me that his soul is not troubled over any of this world's worries: his physical condition included.

That's my little buddy... Ain't he cute??? When you think of his little face, you smile too.

Comments

This is Ryan's Bloggy Friend again....had to make a few changes in the blog settings and wanted to let ya'll know....

Comments to this blog are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately some people can ruin a good thing and because of this, comment moderation has been turned ON for all older posts, as well as the word verification step, to make it harder for spammers to leave comments.

I apologize for the extra step this creates for the good people out there who are leaving thoughtful comments, please do not let this prevent you from commenting as it is a wonderful encouragement to Sis. S when you leave comment love for her and Ryan.

Thanks!!!

At a Loss for Words...

"Prayer begins where human capacity ends."
Norman Vincent Peale

Often, when life happens; we are left unknowing what words will express how we feel.

A Heavy Heart Filled with Praise

It is with the heaviest heart that I endeavor to pen these words. I understand that it is appointed unto each of us a time to leave this physical world. In that departure, we must bid farewell to our dearest companions who dwell with us here, in our present estate. This is so that we may find glorious companionship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; there in that Heavenly home with others who have made the crossing before.

For many, time spent here is filled with personal ambitions: wealth, fame, and worldly gain. Others spend their brief quest here aimlessly: led about by emotions, fleeting decisions, and fanciful notions. Both of these life courses come with pleasure and pain, happiness and sorrow, but also the grandest of all opportunities: redemption through the shed blood of Calvary. Some will choose to embrace this free gift which costs them everything. Others will reject it; holding fast to their everything which is truly worth nothing.

Besides the ambitious and the aimless, there are many types of others who are issued their souls form the very portals of Glory. Each of these having access to the same venue with which to glorify their Master, or not. Of these varying types, I have been intimately acquainted with a particular, and I must call it rare. These are few and far between. These are innocent and free of any personal desires. They have but one goal: to be a living testimony of the magnificent love and power of our Lord. Such is "Little Ryan".

Ryan has been as pure and innocent throughout his life as he was the day his soul entered within my womb. From that point, he has had but one purpose: to bring honor to his Creator. Ryan's presence has brought forth joy, pride, and a love that cannot accurately be described with mere words. Yet, it has also brought about a penetrating tenderness that can only be conceived through suffering.

As I have mothered him, I have witnessed my spiritual vulnerability and reliance upon God manifested through his physical limitations. Throughout his years, he has had wonderful, high times when he was healthy and free of pain. Yet, low times have dipped into an unseen abyss where he has endured countless surgeries, infections, and disorders. And for what? To show the awe-inspiring healing and resiliency that comes from true, undefiled love for God.

Ryan, You are Mommie's inspiration and my hero. My love for you goes beyond space, time, and even life. If you leave this world before me and enter into life anew, my love will always be with you.

About Brother...

YEAHHH!! We successfully moved Ryan into the den and fixed it up with all his special things. Of course, we set up camp in there with him as well. He is such a sweetheart. He has hiccupped for hours now, yet he just managed to give me the biggest Smile!( Boy, we could all learn from his perseverance and temperance. )

Yesterday and today have been a bit taxing on all of us. Brother's Hospice nurse and social worker came out to have a family meeting with us to prepare us all for what may be upcoming in the near future. (The Lord is the only one who truly knows.) Ryan listened to his radio in the bedroom during that meeting- for we do not want to ever say anything that may upset him or cause him any discomfort. That meeting was emotionally exhausting for every member involved.

It was nice that my children were so forthright with their answers and their feelings about Ryan. My kids have an outstanding relationship with both Ryan's nurse and his social worker. In fact, Ms. Jennifer (the nurse) has taken my children on outings, had them over for fun afternoons, and we were even privileged to be part of her wedding. That care and concern for them and for Brother have proven to be very beneficial all the way around. Adam, the social worker, has spent hours with my kids every month just being their friend and a shoulder to lean upon.

I wish I could say that Ryan was feeling good today, but unfortunately that is not the case. He has ran a fever, had hiccups, and multiple seizures. But, he's still smiling. I love him and his strength. Please continue to hold him up in prayer. The greatest thing that we can do for him is seek the will of the Lord for his life.

I want to thank all of you who have prayed and demonstrated support for our amazing little fellow. If you can, keep it up. Feel free to share information about yourself: blogs, phone numbers, addresses, etc. We would love to get to know you all!!

Pictures From Church (Jan 18)

This is Ryan's Bloggy Friend with a few pictures from church tonight. It was wonderful to have Brother and his whole family there at church with us today. At the end of the Sunday night service, Ryan's whole family brought him to the altar and his church family gathered around to have special prayer for the family and Ryan as they go through this time.

Ryan, I just gotta tell ya, you have got a such a sweet spirit. It's awesome.

I'm so glad you were there today, I know your family enjoyed being there with you and it certainly made my day to see you sitting back there in your chair with that big smile on your face.

I love you, big guy, and your church family loves you so much. Hang in there buddy, your mom is very right. You ARE a winner either way!