Leona's Lovely Bows Hits the Web!

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Riley's Children's Hospital with Leona

We were at another doctor's appointment today, only the 6 hour round trip in the car made it all the more interesting! Leona actually enjoyed the whole trip! She barely fussed, which is not normal for such a long time in 1 day.

We met with Dr. Stanley. She spent 2 HOURS with us! We really felt listened too! She confirmed that Leona's regular pediatrician, Dr. Wendy, was doing everything right! We guessed this all along, but it was great to hear that out loud from a pediatric developmental specialist.

Dr. Stanley's first step will be to look at how she intakes food. She has ordered a Feed Study. This is basically when the doctor's x-ray her while she eats & drinks. She also wants to have a pediatric specialist review her recent MRI. All in all, she feels there is definite concern to watch her growth carefully! Her length to weight ratio is not well balanced. Due to this concern we met with the dietician for ways to beef up her calories. We will be changing her to a Pediasure equivalent only with Soy.

We are praying that we will be able to do the Feed Study here in South Bend, but the dr. only approves of 1 dr. up here to do it. Otherwise, we will be traveling the trip twice in the next 2-3 months!!

The ups & downs of 2009 have continued into 2010, but we are so thankful for God's faithfulness in our lives! We are truly thankful for His peace & provision. Not only are all of Leona's medical bills taken care of, but He has provided a tutoring job equalling over $300 the past 2 weeks, several Leona's Lovely Bows orders, an on-call pay check for Ben, a free gift card for our anniversary meal on Friday & some free cash from Ben winning the Biggest Loser contest at work---losing 20 lbs. in 6 weeks! Need I say more?

A Long Day at the Hospital

Well on Friday we spent over 3 hours at the hospital with Leona!

Leona was scheduled for an MRI at 10 AM. We arrived & signed in! We got to the radiology department waiting room. After waiting about 10 min. we were off to a waiting room.

We were nervous at how all this was going to go. I mean, how in the world do they keep a little 1 year old still for a MRI?? Well...they knock them out!! We kept her busy walking the little hallway until they were ready for us. Many patients loved watching her Be-bop around the hall!

She got MANY comments like...
"Oh how cute!"
"She is so little!"
"She is such a happy baby!"

After 2 1/2 hours of waiting we were ready for the sedation process. They gave me the oral sedation medicine to give her. She was so good! She just sucked it down for Mommy & Daddy! In about 10 min. she was snoring away!

The MRI process went well. She did twitch for 1 test that they had to re-do. Even asleep she doesn't sit still!!! HA! Afterwards she was still zonked. It took about an hour to get her up enough for the nurses to check her so we could finally leave!

SO---I am sure you are wondering if we got results. I called the pediatrician's office this morning. The nurse said that the dr. had written an exclamation point & NORMAL MRI

We are just praising the Lord for His goodness to us! Now--we just have to face the trip to Riley's July 14.

Leona turns 1

It is hard to believe that Leona is now a year old. This year has been full of some many things, so I guess it feels like a year, it just surprises me how much she has grown up. This Friday will be exactly 1 year that we brought her home from the hospital & it is very humbling.

We took her to McDonald's for the first time today. She DEVOURED the hamburger, leaving just a lonely bun! It was the first time she ever ate a french fry, too. She would rather eat the meat...our little meat hound!

Psalm 127:3 says, "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him."

We know & believe this. We are so humbled to be parents & pray that God would give her a desire to know Him & serve Him with all of her heart.

What plans, LORD??

"For I know the plans I have for you..." (Jeremiah 29:11a)

God certainly has plans for all of us, but sometimes we get into the "fog" of life & wonder what He is doing? Often, I feel this comes before a big change.

Before Leona was conceived I felt the same way. I remember sitting in my car with my sister-in-law, Alissa, telling her that I felt like God was doing something. Little did I know that a few mos. later I would be meeting with a powerful group of women who would pray for a little one into our life & then 6 mos. later we would be praising God for the miracle of life!!

God has been so faithful to us. Both Ben & I landed jobs in Elkhart right out of college. I had the most wonderful position at a great christian school! Gotta pay back those loans somehow!! He blessed us into a house the next year. He has healed my migraines & my back after 2 stretches of unpleasant health issues! Maybe I should explain that...no miracles here...just His providential acts...God using normal situations to work out His plan (thanks Pastor Schloegel for that theology lesson :)!!

Our little family has changed...MAJORLY since then. Not only do we have a child now that takes so much work & time, but I am a SAHM (stay at home Mom). I have also started my own business called "Leona's Lovely Bows n' Things" with making little girl hairbows & hair clips, which may just end up being a hobbie at this point!!?!??! We'll see as eBay hasn't really taken off like I hoped, but I just have so much fun doing it!!!!

On top of my life changes, Ben is working on-call over some weekends. This is his first weekend & he has had TONS of calls. He was busy from about 8-12 pm last night. Today has been pretty frequent too!! Ben is definitely ready for a change when God brings it. He gets so frustrated to get paid so little for doing such a huge job!!

So I am back to my ? What plans, LORD?? "...plans to prosper you & not harm you, plans to give you a hope & a future." (Jeremiah 29:11b) BRING IT ON, LORD!!