Update

 (Pictures from week in WV, first several are from our 3rd Anniversary at Tygart Lake, then some from Cooper's Rock, then from all the family on Tygart Lake on Saturday)

Wow, it has been a while since I have blogged! I have got to stop waiting so long! My blogs end up being too long as I update you if I don't keep up with it. I'll try to keep it quick!

• Dillon's day nurse, Barb, quit. She hasn't been here in over a month. She hurt her back and is still on light duty. We really liked her and how good she was with Dillon. However, she told me today that she has taken another job that is more "light duty". We need to start with a new nurse, so please pray for God's will here. I will be meeting one, possibly two, next week to decide who to go with.
• Last Monday we took Dillon to the doctor and he confirmed what I suspected, ear infection. He started Dillon on an antibiotic. 
• We left right from there to go to WV to see Josiah's family. It was our anniversary last Wed. so they watched the boys and let Josiah and I go out on day trips and such. It was so nice. Thank you SO much for all your help with the boys Dad, Mom, Hannah, and Dan (he was there too)! And HAPPY 3rd ANNIVERSARY (again) Josiah, I love you so much! You are a wonderful husband! I couldn't imagine life without you, you are my best friend.
• On the way to WV Dillon aspirated. He threw up milk and then coughed literally 30 minutes without stopping! It wasn't until I gave him a breathing treatment in the car that he stopped. But he was just put on the antibiotic, so we just gave him the extra oxygen he was needing. Then one week later, at home he did it again, at least he was still on the antibiotic. He is doing better now, still needing a tiny bit of oxygen, though. I have started masking him again. I had stopped when Barb quit, but I think it is necessary for his health that I continue with it.
• A night nurse started Sunday, so we should have all 7 nights covered again by two different ladies. They are both very sweet to Dillon so hopefully they will stay.
• Yesterday I took both boys to CHOP by myself! Dillon had an appointment for pre-surgery stuff for his tubes (which go in on Sept 15). It wasn't too bad! I stopped once going and once coming on the side of the highway to help him, but other than that we did ok. It took a while to unload, once Dillon and all his stuff was on the wheelchair, I strapped Jay to me with the baby carrier and away we went! I met a mom there with the same kid kart (wheelchair) that we have. Her daughter has CP and is almost two years old. She was so cute! I asked her how she was doing and her mom told me that she just had blood taken so not too good and right then the little girl smiled so big! Typical little kid, trying to prove Mom wrong! :o) I was able to give her Dillon's story, I think she will probably relate to much of what is in it. (be prepared, I am about to get on my soapbox for a few minutes!): There are so many people hurting because of disabilities, CP in particular. 2-3 Children per 1,000 born in the US will have CP; this is about 10,000 a year! Some may be mild cases, but many are severe, some even as severe as Dillon. 80% or more marriages end in divorce once a disability enters the family through a child. I even read that the life expectancy of a mom with a special needs child is 10 years less then Moms without special needs children. People are hurting! I know how badly I hurt and I know I am not the only one out there. We, as Christians...as Churches, need to not forget this mission field! We have the answers, we know the God who forgives sin, Who cleanses us and makes us whole, we know the God who is in control of everything, who is merciful in letting this happen to our children in order to give us time to come to repentance...yet are we sharing it with the parents who are hurting so bad? I am so annoyed with Americans, myself included, that we live in the mentality of "It won't happen to me!" Wake up! I had the most picture perfect pregnancy possible, I had an easy, short labor, I was young, I was healthy, I exercised during my pregnancy, I was newly married, just starting our life together...IT HAPPENED TO ME and IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU! Just as we aren't promised a tomorrow, we aren't promised healthy children. These people who seem so different and you are scared to talk to - may be you in the blink of an eye if God chooses to allow you to have a child with disability. Please! Don't be afraid to talk to parents when you see them with a special needs child, more often than not they will be thrilled to know someone cares about their child and isn't just staring at them like a freak show. Trust me, every time I am out with Dillon I feel like a freak show! People turn their heads 180 degrees when we walk by and often do the whole "ohhhhhh poor baby" thing. Please - don't. Just love them, just show them that Christ loves them and gave his life for them. The song I love has the words "How can we reach a world we never touch, How can we show them Christ, If we never show them love" You want to make a lasting impact on a family, to go along way in planting a seed for Christ? - open your heart to a special needs family; be willing to learn from them, be willing to pray for them, be willing to listen to their burdens, and be willing to cry with them, most importantly - be willing to love them as Christ does. 

Ok - I will get off my soapbox...for now. Please know this is not directed at any person, it is just what has been on my heart for a while and I felt with was the perfect time to share it.