Strikes for Stroke

Have you ever heard of a "Strikes for Stroke" Event? Probably not! Well, you better get ready for one! We are in the process of organizing one. This is how it works: Every participant get 3 games and a pair of shoes for a certain amount of money. All proceeds go to CHASA (Children's Hemi & Stroke Association) and the NICU at Trinity hospital. We will have a silent auction and hopefully the local businesses will be generous enough to donate some prizes as well!
http://www.chasa.org/wpr/pediatric-stroke-awareness-2012/strikes-for-pediatric-stroke/

This will be the first of a number of fundraisers we will be doing. I'm really looking forward to it! 14 September will be the 1st anniversary of Isaiah's survival so we have something planned for that day as well. We will probably be in Germany at that time spending some much needed time with my family but no worries, you will still be able to support the cause ;)

Once we get closer to the event I will post more info on how you can participate, donate, sponsor and support!

Love,
Mimi

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Isaiah is 4 months now and he has been recovering well from his stroke. He quickly learned to suck, gained control of his right hand and leg and we even corrected his preference to look to the right. We almost thought we had overcome it, almost. At Isaiah's 4 months appointment the doctor noticed his head circumference had dropped dramatically from the 50th percentile to the 5th. That could mean that his brain isn't growing fast enough. I also noticed that he wouldn't use his right hand as much as his left to reach for things and grab them. His nurse Sarah, who comes to visit him weekly observed that at times he doesn't put weight on his feet when holding him in a standing position. This setback was a quick reminder that our journey is not over yet. We still have a long way to go before we know if he's going to be completely fine. It was saddening. I was taken back to the moment he stopped breathing, the time in the NICU and it clicked. Instead of being sad I need to give thanks, thanks for him being alive and thanks for his recovery so far. I need to remind myself that not I am in control but God and He has plan. He sees the big picture, he sees Isaiah's future, not just fragments. Whatever His plan is, it is the right plan and I know that He will not put more on us than we can bare. So I stopped what I was doing and did exactly that, I gave thanks. I thanked Him for everything that He has done in Isaiah and all the healing and restoration that was yet to come. For by His stripes we are healed!

And what can I tell you, yesterday, late at night he reached for his toy with his RIGHT HAND! It's still not as coordinated as his left hand yet but it is a start!

Love,
Mimi

2011: a year in review

It's been more than a year since we arrived at Minot International Airport and a new chapter of our lives began. We've been through quite a bit within this past year. Shortly after our arrival we found out I was pregnant again. We moved from the small apartment downtown into our big house on base. We survived our first, and worst so far, ND winter. We survived a flood, yes, a flood! At some point we couldn't drink the water and when it was safe again to drink it was limited. We have said goodbyes to old friends and are saying hello to new friends. I gave birth to Isaiah. He survived a stroke and has come such a long way. We've been through ups and downs, had good days and bad days. Happy days and sad days. We are excited to see what God has in store for us this year, trials and blessings.

Love,
Mimi