4 Years Old!

There are several things that strike me as difficult to believe this morning:

1. Yesterday, Samuel turned 4. We've gotten so used to saying 2-27-08 at every doctor's appt and prescription pick up that it is simply hard to believe that that date happened four years ago.
2. It's been a year and a half since I last posted. Geesh! I guess that can be a sign of one of two things: lots going on or nothing going on. In our case, it has most certainly been the former. We've moved to North Carolina, I've started pastoring a church here, we completed a significant home renovation & are still trying to help Samuel make the transition. Which brings me to the third thing that is difficult to believe this morning:
3. I've been up (and so has Samuel) since 1am. The most recent troubles we've been having with Samuel center around his sleep. For years he has been a great and reliable sleeper. However, in recent weeks and months, he has gone from one bad night of sleep a month, to one night a week, to now, 5 nights in a row. Last night he went to sleep at 9pm and was awake at 1am, wide awake, 'No thank you, I'm not planning on going back to sleep anytime soon' awake. And that is with the max dose of melatonin that we're allowed to give him.

So ... would you please thank God for 4 years! It's simply crazy to believe. And would you continue to pray that we would find not only our strength for today in Jesus's love and power toward us, but also our bright hope for tomorrow?

Of course, there is substantially more to tell about the last year and a half, but all that will need to wait for now. In the meantime, here's a link to some videos of Samuel. The most recent one being last week. And here's a pic of him yesterday morning, sitting proudly at the island in our kitchen:

3 Days Post-Op

Well, we've been home for almost 48 hours now and Samuel seems to be doing really well. He is certainly recovering better than from his most recent other surgery (3 weeks ago). There doesn't seem to be lots of pain - more annoyance at either having his arms restrained or his head wrapped, or both. Despite all that, he has slept well both Saturday night and last night.

Samuel is out of school all this week so that means Sara is at home with him most all the time. Trying to keep an eye on him so that he doesn't do any harm to his incisions is a pretty draining task, so prayers for her endurance and energy would be much appreciated. We have sweet friends who are feeding us and checking in on us - we are grateful. I'm not sure how many times I've said this over the course of this blog, but I can't say it too much ... I can't imagine going through any of the stuff we've been through without faithful and loving and supportive family and friends. Jesus has been so good to us (and to Samuel) by putting us in such a community.

home and resting

We made it home around five o'clock this afternoon. It's always nice to get home and be in our own space. Kiddos are down and Samuel's asleep as well, hopefully for the night. Incision is looking good (to my untrained eyes) though it's covered up nicely by steri-strips. Indeed, the Lord has given us strength for these days and we are grateful to him for it. It is a very real comfort to know that in the midst of so much uncertainty there is One who and whose character is sure and knowable and certain. Resting in him tonight and with a prayer that you might be as well.

~ grant