Winter Season

We went for a winter hike at the RBG (Royal Botanical Gardens) last week.  It was bitter cold, but beautiful. We took a few pictures and we'd like to share them. 

 Getting ready to slide down the hill.

Aleah enjoys being pulled in the sled.

Caleb enjoys pulling the sled.

We spent last week away from home, avoiding the flu.  Tim got sick on Tuesday morning, and so on Tuesday morning the three kids and I packed up and went to live at our friends' home.  It was steroids week, and my understanding is that it would be easier for Caleb to "catch" whatever is going around.  We don't want him catching the 'flu!  We lived away from home for three days, and seemed to have made it through without getting sick, hurray!  This is flu number 2 for us, and again it didn't spread to anyone else in our house.  We're pretty happy about that. 

Once again, steroids week was milder than what we've been used to.  It wasn't quite as nice as the last round, but nothing like what it's been in the past.  So strange, we'll never understand.  They increased Caleb's dose of Dex because his weight has increased, but that didn't seem to make a big difference in overall side effects, for which we're thankful.  We have so much to be thankful for. 

We've heard from the nurses that there is a good possibility that when Caleb finishes his leg needles we will also be finished with tummy needles (blood thinners).  This is what we're praying for, so please join us!  Our lives will change quite a bit when Caleb finishes leg needles: we will only have one clinic trip per week and the visits will not be as long because the drugs are less complicated.  Apparently, his counts will also likely become more stable once we're done leg needles.  Sounds like it may be a good time to think about going to school, like we didn't do in September.  We've been talking about it a lot at home and, Lord willing, Caleb will begin JK this Spring.  Caleb really wants to go, and we really want him to have this opportunity.  This is another thing you can join us in praying for.

Thank you again, everyone, for your support and your prayers.  We are continually aware of answers to your prayers as evidenced in Caleb's life and the life of our family.  Tonight at supper we were talking about Jesus' healing, and then we asked where else we see healing today.  Caleb pointed to himself as someone who is being healed.  We are thankful for the gift of medical research and dedicated men and women who work to preserve the lives of our precious ones.  Praise God for the gift of healing.  Remember those who suffer with chronic pain and hardship. 

Peace.

 
J