Giving and Working

It is a relief to be surrounded by people willing to help us care for Calvin. His days are getting much better than they were before but he still demands around the clock care. We now are going to Spectrum for feeding therapy and have a physical therapist, Michelle, come to our home once a week for an hour. She's awesome. My sister-in-law, Amy, has volunteered to come over once a week to help me out with the extensive program that I do with him everyday. My mom and dad (hosting our entire family) also come to the rescue many times with us trying to keep our family up and running. My sisters, Kristin and Carly, have helped in every way possible, I'm so grateful.

This is Michelle and Calvin on his therapy table (thank you Carly and Aunt Cheri!). Every day I am working with Calvin on the floor or on this table.


Kristin passed her Bumbo on to us so now Calvin is practicing head control exercises in it. It would be such a milestone if he could gain head control. It's getting tiring to carry the little tyke around in newborn fashion.

I've created a sensory box for Calvin with all sorts of items. Who knew he likes to have his hands in all sorts of things from paints to gel-like balls! We've made little bracelets with bells on them to go around his ankles and wrists to provide feedback to his brain regarding his movement.

Not sure if Calvin likes all of this stuff as much as the other kids do!

By evening I'm pretty much shot. Then my little night-owl comes along and does her own "therapy" with Calvin. He likes her style much more than mine.

The days all roll into one and it's hard to distinguish where I am in time. My morning jolt of Starbucks (thank you, Heather!) usually gets my wheels rolling.

It's been a roller coaster lately with a lot of draining days. Calvin has been having a hard time with stiffness and is going into extension constantly which leads to choking, painful posture, etc. I've been having a hard time seeing anything but a very bleak future for our family as a whole and for Calvin. It is a constant battle to trust the Lord that He knows what He is doing; from my perspective it often feels everything is wildly out of control.

We did have some major highlights too-- Darryl and I were able to go out on a date (thanks Kristin and Ellis) for the first time in...well, who knows how long! Another highlight was seeing a dear old friend, Mary, for the first time in many years. We went to high school together and also did a six-month stay in an orphanage in Bali, Indonesia back before we were married. It was a highlight to see her again and meet her growing family.

Look at all those kids! Dederts (us) on the left and Rogers on the right.

Some friendships will never die no matter how much time goes by.

Thank you to all of you who care for our family and show that by helping with expenses, giving of your time, sending little fun surprises, and keeping us in prayer.