Week 38 : Mar 2 - Mar 8

Johnny,

Well, You must have felt the prayers being lifted for you this week. You had such an awesome week! You reached milestones and tried new things. I am so proud of you!!
I know I've said it before but for me...I need to hear things over and over sometimes. God's timing is always perfect, even if we don't feel that way most of the time. I have to remind myself that God is not in control if I'm still trying to get things done in my own power. God will not compete with me for control of my life. I need to lay everything down at His feet, then step back and wait for Him to do the work. It seems so simple and yet when I give things to Him I find myself taking them back. Patience Jennifer! I just love you little brother, so much, and I'm struggling to understand. John 11:40 says, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" I do believe! Isaiah 59:1 says, Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. What comfort it is to know that He hears us. I lift you up Johnny, so much so that I'm sure God is saying, "you again!" Ha!

Your speech therapist tried something new with you this week. Lisa used electrodes to shock your swallow muscles. She is going to do this every day. This first picture the setting was on low which caused you to feel needles and pins. The next picture the setting was raised and it was just grabbing the muscles. You did really well with it! It's true what they say, if you don't use it, you lose it. Well, in this case it's not lost, it just needs to be retrained.



I have to say that I've looked at this picture several times this week and it filled my heart with such joy everytime, making me laugh and cry at the same time. Just to look at the picture it looks like your poking me in the eye and cracking up about it but that's not the real story. I first have to apologize to Buddy because this is most definately at his expense although after he sees how you hearing the story made you crack up, I'm sure he won't mind being the butt of the joke. So, Buddy, I apologize. Here goes - Mom and I were talking to Kim, your therapist, about how you skipped over the cussing stage in your Rancho stages. I told mom that I thought you actually went through the stage because you were very angry and used your right hand to grab and throw and pinch. It was a wild time for your right arm although you never uttered a word. That's when Buddy came into the picture...I was telling mom, don't you remember when Johnny pinched Buddy on his chest and would not let go. I looked at you and you were cracking up. You sounded like muttly, the cartoon dog, laughing. Meaning, there was a little sound but clearly your face was laughing. You laughed for a while, long enough for mom to get her camera. I love the moments like these with you...I know it's just a matter of time!!

During therapy, Kim had you raising your foot to meet her hand. You did it several times. This is something you've not done before. We think you must have gotten a heads up that it was report card day. It was funny, and there's not a picture of it, but when Kim was having you lift your knee from a straight position to a slightly bent position, you wouldn't do it. But, as soon as she turned her back you popped that knee up. I was standing at your head and saw the whole thing. She'd turn around and you would do nothing and then turn her back and you'd do it again. You have such a perfect sense of humor! She was playing along too...little did you know, you were getting your therapy done : )

Here you are raising your knee to meet my hand. You really are making great progress!!

Mom was trying to get you to put your lips together. That's one of your speech therapy exercises. I just love the way you look at her. Why does it take an accident to slow people down enough to show how much they love each other?


Love you!! XO Jen