Sunday, August 25, 2013

Hi, again!

So, it's been a little too long but I'm back to try to give an update. I'll start by saying we've had a good summer and I can't believe it's passed by already. Selah has been potty training and she's doing so well with it! She's so proud of her big girl panties and she will show them at anytime or any place...so modest like her mama, ha! She's also been going into a "regular" two year old class at church for the past few weeks. She's enjoying it and it's been going well. Her teachers are great and our precious friend Toto from the special needs class moved up with her too. Toto is there as support, extra hands, bodyguard...a true blessing! Selah has also started back to group therapy at the Children's Center and it's also a blessing! She's just getting to be a big girl!:)
Now, on the medical end...we've followed up with the neurosurgeon at UMMC. We will also follow up again with the physicians in Orlando within the next couple of months. For now there aren't any decisions made on the timeline for starting her jaw surgeries. We know that there are different abnormalities with several of her vertebrae...different issues with different vertebrae, in different areas. At the moment there isn't anything showing up as a result of the abnormalities...not affecting her at the moment as far as symptoms. She's currently "stable" and no immediate action is needed. But, from what we've been told and understand, it's likely that this will change. As to when or how or what we don't know. What may be done to intervene is also uncertain. The surgeries involved will be risky and invasive. For now the nuerosurgeon recommends monitoring her for the next couple of months and just waiting to see what happens...as she develops and grows. And, these concerns are all separate concerns, care, and surgeries from the jaw. I hope all of this makes some sense??!!
I'm just trying to process it all and make sense of it all. As we've learned about the vertebrae and spinal abnormalities and concerns regarding those, I've been overwhelmed. I'm overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness, fear, hurt, and disappointment. I don't know...I feel Ike my mind and heart are whirling around with "who, what, why, when, how??" I don't want my baby girl to hurt or suffer. I don't want my sweet baby's life to consist of hospital stays and ongoing surgeries. I just don't want it to be so....hard at times...
So, all this has been what I've been feeling and thinking. In the middle of it all though, our faithful Heavenly Father has yet again reminded me that He has got it. He has gently been leading Spencer and myself to remember and cling to His promises and His faithful presence. He has been reminding us to look back at all He's done...immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. He's reminding us to keep clinging to His truths and to just trust, just hope, and just thank Him...for all the good and blessings we have! 
So, we've been trying to just soak in sweet Selah and all the blessings she brings along. We've been trying to just cherish her precious smile and her silly and gentle and yet sassy spirit. We've been trying to just enjoy the time we've been given together and to try to remember and live out that it's all God's....to His glory...
"...And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope." Romans 5:2-4
Thank you for your continued support and prayers! I pray the blessings are returned to you!! And, as God is calling us to, I pray your able to also...hope on!!:)