before the craziness ensues

I guess a mere apology (I really am sorry about it) might not quite suffice for the fact that it's been a month since our last post - and July was maybe the 'slowest' month of our summer!

Our last post mentioned a weekend trip to the beach with Anna Catherine and Colin. Well, they loved it! Colin couldn't get enough of being battered by the waves and tossed about in the surf. It was so fun to watch him enjoy himself, coming up sputtering, smiling and looking for more. Anna Catherine was much more content with the sand and looking for sea shells and other fun beach treasures - the waves weren't really for her. Sara and I did enjoy our time away and though we didn't sleep quite liked we had hoped (we did still have two little ones with us after all), it was a good and restorative respite. We are so grateful to the folks that looked after Samuel while we were gone and for the Kapp family on Edisto and their wonderful hospitality to and taking care of us. The weekend away was a wonderful time for us full of memories.

In other news, Samuel has really begun to sleep a little more predictably. He normally ('normally' because he didn't follow this pattern last night) falls asleep between 7:30 and 9 for the night and doesn't wake up until 4-5am. And then he is just awake while we change his diaper and feed him. Then he normally falls back to sleep till 7 or so.

We continue to be able to feed him 7-8 times a day, 4+ ounces each time. While he doesn't necessarily find great comfort in being fed, he is growing and getting bigger - up over 14 lbs now. We haven't had lots of doctors appts as of late - which is a nice change. But have begun some weekly therapy.

A few special things to note for you:

• When two women from the South Carolina Deaf Blind Project came out to the house, they were able to get Samuel to respond visually in ways we had thought were not possible! They were able to get him to track objects and follow them, even shifting his gaze from one to another. This blew us away! While shiny and bright things are easier for him to see and we're still not really sure what 'seeing' means for him, we were so encouraged and excited to watch him watching things.
• Samuel's next schedule surgery is coming up in 2 weeks. August 19th he goes in for his initial lip repair. The surgery will be done at Children's Hospital of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. They will also be doing several other procedures at that time for which Samuel needs to be under general anesthesia - tubes in his ears, an ABR (hearing test), and checking out for choanal atresia. They have told us to expect a 2-3 night stay.
  
• Our August is nuts! It's full of good stuff: time with family, weddings, etc. But it is FULL of good stuff. Thursday, while Sara drives to St Louis for a wedding that she is in (and I will be sad to miss), I will take Samuel to Atl for his pre-op visits with Plastic Surgery and Anesthesiology. Then Friday I will take the 3 kids up to Tennessee for a week of vacation with my parents and siblings - Sara will rejoin us on Sunday. Then we'll travel back to Greenville on Friday, the 15th, leave our 3 kids here with my brother, his wife and two kids and Sara and I will head on to Edisto Island (just the 2 of us!) for the Kapp wedding. Then back to Greenville on Sunday. Sometime between Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon, my brother's family will leave and Sara's parents will arrive in town to keep the big kids while we're in Atl for Samuel's lip surgery. Sara, Samuel and I will head to Atl Monday evening since our surgery is set for 1st thing Tuesday morning. Then in Atl till he recovers and comes home. Then I think the craziness calms down a little. In all of this we recognize that 'man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.' So, we'll see how it all goes.

I want to leave you for now with a hymn. May it encourage you to rest in Jesus, no matter what comes your way in the days to come.

Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide -
In every change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heav'nly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God will undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shall you better know his love, his heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From his own fullness all he takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord -
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone;
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.