Wow, am I feeling this post tonight. Trusting, trusting, trusting…
Prayer Request: Brooklyn’s Surgery on Wednesday
Once again, we humbly come to you and ask you to say a prayer for Miss Brooklyn, who will be having surgery on Wednesday. Thankfully, it is only foot surgery, but they are estimating it will take about 4 hours and, of course, she will have to be put under.
She will be having surgery on both feet, although they will most likely do more work on her left foot. The name of the procedure our surgeon will be performing is Posteromedial Lateral Release, which basically means she will be making Brooklyn’s feet flat and straight. Unfortunately, the Achilles tendon surgery Brooklyn had last year to flatten her feet wasn’t successful, and her clubbed feet that were corrected with the casts have started to turn in. This surgery is necessary to correct both of those things so that she will be able to properly stand and bear weight on her legs.
We also ask that you pray for Brooklyn’s recovery process, as she will have pins in her feet, as well as splints and casts on her legs for 7 weeks. We aren’t quite sure how this will go over with our little rock star, but we are hopeful that she will be her usual rock star self and “make it work”!
The good news is that once she is fully recovered, we will be measuring her for a stander, which is very exciting! Because she lacks feeling in her lower legs (below the knee), she doesn’t quite understand that she can use them to stand. But once her feet have been corrected, we will be able to teach her body what to do by using this device. What a joy it will be to see her standing on her own two feet some day…we can hardly wait! I have a feeling she is going to love being off the ground and closer to her two big sisters!
For now, Miss Brooklyn more than enjoys sitting up and playing independently. And as of last month, she can even push herself up from the ground all by herself. We are so proud of her! She isn’t attempting to crawl since her knees don’t quite want to bend the full 90 degrees, but she is starting to get curious about moving around. We are working on her core strength to help her accomplish that, but it is more likely she will “scooch” or army crawl instead of a 4-point-crawl. As with all things Spina Bifida, we will just have to wait and see!
As we prepare for Wednesday, we ask you to pray for any (or all!) of the following:
1. God’s protection during the surgery and as she comes out of the anesthesia
2. A successful and peaceful recovery process — no complications
3. God’s miraculous intervention to restore all nerve and muscle functions (We have to ask! 🙂
4. Peace for us during the surgery
5. Peace for Emma and Kendall as they spend time away from us and as they pray for their little sister
Thank you all for your continued love, support, and prayer. We cannot express how much every one of your prayers means to our family. Sending our daughter into her fourth surgery (eek!) is definitely not an easy task, but we feel God’s love and power through all of you.
We will keep you all updated on how everything goes on Wednesday. Thank you so very much, and may God bless you all!
Photo credit: Erin Olson Photography
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7
Take THAT Spina Bifida!
Make
So I’m not really a crafty person, but I have to admit that I’ve had the itch to make something with my hands the last couple of years. I even asked for a sewing basket for Christmas a few years ago and was ecstatic when I also got a sewing machine. Okay, yes, it is still in its original box and collecting a whole lot of dust, but I WILL learn to use it someday. (It’s on the life list, right next to learning to play the piano and touching a letter on Wheel of Fortune.)
Anyway, when I started planning Brooklyn’s birthday party, I decided it was a good excuse to go a bit “Martha Stewart” and try my hand at some DIY party stuff. You know, do the whole “theme” thing and actually buy materials to make things like banners and cupcake toppers…things most sane people would buy from the store.
If there is one thing I have learned this last year it’s that life is something to be celebrated. And although the party preparations totally stressed me out and only about half of the guest list ending up attending, I don’t regret one of those crafts or little touches that I knew I wanted at this party. Something inside of me wanted to express — with my own two hands — just how beautiful life is to me these days.
How simple pleasures can mean everything.
How something as simple as tissue can turn into a beautiful flower. How colorful paper can dress up a cupcake. Or how fresh flowers in the middle of a table or a bag of gummy worms might make somebody’s day a little brighter.
Yes, Brooklyn’s 1-year mark gave us a lot to celebrate. “Big” things like successful surgeries and a functioning shunt, and “little” things like kicking legs and contagious giggles. But, what we have really learned is that EVERY day is a gift that should be celebrated. And perhaps more importantly, that joy is not found in what you are given, but what you make of it.
Ignore the fact that the pink flower on the left is hiding the letter “b” in “birthday.” It’s not a big deal…really. I mean, it doesn’t bother me at all. Not at all.
(*Note: I did not make the pinwheels. Those were purchased from this crafty lady.)
A HUGE thanks to my Mom who helped me make a ridiculous number of tissue pom-poms. XOXO
The absolutely gorgeous dress made by my friend Katie that Miss Brooklyn tolerated for almost the entire party.
My three garden fairies…
Big sister making sure little sister inhales as much sugar as possible.
Not sure if she ever found the cake, but she sure did love the icing.
“Yeaaaaaahhhhh!” (One of her favorite words…second only to “Hi!”)
And the big finish… showing off her latest trick — pushing to sit!– that managed to squeeze out a few tears from her adoring audience. (Video later this week.)
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14