Monday Morning Back at Work

Good morning everyone. Hum, I'm sitting at my desk wondering what I should do first. I want to thank everyone who has been lifting Rian up in prayer. God is faithful and Rian is much more active and trying to verbalize more and more. The doctors say that we will continue to see improvements from the treatments for up to 6 months. ( I know that is true as we saw that happen with Rian last year as well.) We are in contact with the Mayo Clinic to set up an appointment with an Allergy Specialist. We are also going to start Rian on the Ketogenic Diet in June. I realize and understand this is a journey with Rian, and I am glad God is walking with us. Especially in the valleys, well, I take that back, it's awesome to have Him on the mountaintops too! (I'm sure that's why we hit those mountaintops, because of Him.)

I know with all my heart God placed friends and family like you to help us through this all. I also am convinced God has a mighty plan for Rian,

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."
Jeremiah 29:11-14

This is what happens when 4 people sleep together in 1 bed for 2 weeks! (They slept this way for about a half an hour.)

Our Last Full Day in Florida

Good Morning!
This is our last full day in Florida and I feel we have such a long way to go with Rian here yet. Doctors would like to try to identify what is triggering these seizures. I was telling a good friend this morning, that it is times like these when you don't know which way to go, you must go back to the promises God has given you and trust.

"Let me hear Your unfailing love in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should walk, For You I lift up my soul."
Psalms 143:8

Tuesday - On the Home Stretch?

Hello Everyone -
We talked to the Dr. after Rians morning treatment. Are very encouraged that Rian's brain waves are normal in between seizures on her EEG's that she has had. They are wanting to find out what it is that is triggering these seizures. They are going to be doing a MRI or CAT scan of her sinisus to see if there is a problem there. Pray for the Dr's as they continue to explore Rian's case further. They are encouraging us to stay and continue treatments until the answer is found. Pray for me as I am struggling with these very difficult decisions.

Rian continues to improve with talking, walking, and exploing her world. Doctors say that her brain is waking up . I was changing her diaper yesterday and she plugged her nose and said "Pee Hew!" I couldn't believe it! She had never done that before. It was fun!

Thank you for your encouragement you've been senting on the comments and emails, I am sharing it with others in the center as they are stuggling with many difficult situations as well. I am so thankful for all my family and friends! We are truly blessed!

It is raining here today. I know you all feel sorry for us don't you?

Weekend Update - Monday Madness

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful Mothers! My wonderful Mom & I spent the day attending church at Coral Ridge Church with Dr. James Kennedy (it was great), then had lunch at Olive Garden and the remainder of the day was spent poolside, VERY nice!

I am going to be really honest this morning, I am not very upbeat, although Rian seems to be. The Doctor decided to raise the meds to the original level and told me to be patient. (God could you give me the gift of patience, and be quick about it!!) The Doctor would like to see Rian's seizures under control with the help of the oxygen before we start to lower her meds. This concerns me as I know we are planning to leave Thursday and I need wisdom from God as to which path to take. Please pray God will show us the right path for Rian!

On the brighter side, Rian's brain continues to wake up! She is talking so much more and is more active!

I will update you later today after her 2nd treatment of the day. She is now at 14 treatments.

Friday - One Week Down, One to Go

Hello everyone -
Rian had her two treatments today, and we have started to lower her two seizure medications. This afternoon we took a nap together in the chamber. Boy, it goes much faster when your not wrestling with a two year old in tight quaters! (she has now had 10 treatments, and we are hoping to get 10 more in before we go.)

"The heavens declare your glory, O God, And the skies proclaim the work of your hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; Night after night they reveal knowledge." Psalms 19:1-2

"I will exalt You, O Lord, for You lifted me up and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to You for help and You healed me." Psalms 30:1-2

Tuck this one deep within your heart,
"As for You, O God, Your way is perfect; Your word, O Lord, is proven. You are a sheild for all who take refuge in You. For who are You besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except You, our God?" 2 Samuel 22:31-32

No matter what you are going through in your life, He stays the same, His Word stays the same. That is comforting to me. It says to me, you can go on no matter what is happening around you, your feet are planted on the ROCK.

Blessings to all of you, your prayers are felt.

Thursday, May 11th

Rian had 2 treatments today. We have not begun lowering her medications yet but hope to do so in the next few days. Rian's favorite thing to do is walk and run along the beach. One thing we notice is she is starting to say words spontaneously, like she has known them but now can begin to verbalize them more! Thank you for all your prayers and support, we feel them daily!

We are starting to meet more people at the center and learn about their struggles.

We met a young family (husband & kids) from Michigan who brought their mother/wife (Vonnie) down, she recently had a heart aneurysm. She had total loss of oxygen to her brain and is in a vegatative state. Vonnie is in her late forties, please pray for her and her family as it is very hard on them. Pray that we can share our faith effectively with them during our time here.

Thank you for all your prayers and support, we feel them daily! I hope all is well in Minnesota, I heard it is COLD:) (p.s. it is VERY HOT here)

Wednesday in Florida

Good morning!
Rian is having two treatments today. She is doing very well in the chambers. You all must be praying for her! She is still having about two seizures per day. We are hoping to see that decrease with the help of God!

We are moving to a new hotel today as the one we were in is full this week.

I think Rian is more alert and trying to talk more. She loves to go down to the ocean at night and RUN along the waters edge. When the water rushes over her toes she giggles. I love to hear her giggle and see her smile. Bronwyn bought Rian a shovel and pail at the local store. Rian learned how to shovel sand and put it in the pail! She is really having a fun time as she discovers new things everyday.

Mom and I awoke early this morning and had coffee while the sun came up. We prayed for a good day here and that God would direct our path and give us wisdom and the courage to follow His lead for Rian's sake.

"I desire not only to call You, "Lord" but to do what You say. By your grace I will come to You, hear Your words, and put them into practice. Then I will be like someone who built a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built."
Luke 6:46-48

Update on Rian

Good Afternoon!

I just returned from picking up Grandma Engel from the airport. She is joining me here to help out with Rian and Bronwyn. Rian has now had 4 treatments (2 yesterday and 2 today), and I think she is doing really well. I believe she does better than I do in those tight chambers! She is already trying to talk more and interact more with me today.

Yesterday, we toke Danny and Trey the airport to catch their flight for home. I was sad as we said good bye. As we drive off, Bronwyn and I started to cry.

A quick little observation about God before I sign off for today. This past weekend, we got to see the Military Air & Sea Show right outside our hotel on the beach. It was so fun as Trey's eyes were as big as cup saucers as those planes would zoom by! Trey looked at me and said, "Mom the only thing that would be better would be if Air Force 1 would fly by with the President on board" I said, "Trey that's probably not going to happen" On Monday Trey and Danny flew out of Ft. Lauderdale and just as they were ready to take off, the pilot came on and said, "Folks, I'm sorry they have shut the whole airport down for 1 hour, we can't take off, The President of the United States is landing in Air Force 1." So Trey got to see Air Force 1 with the President on board land right before his eyes! Who says God doesn't do things "Just for Kicks and Giggles" anyway? (Needless to say, Danny didn't have as many "kicks and giggles", as they missed their connecting flight in Memphis, and by the time they got to Minneapolis they couldn't land because of a storm, so they circled the cities for an hour, then had to land in Fargo because they were low on fuel, stayed over night in Fargo and got home late afternoon today. Trey sure enjoyed it though, as he saw Air Force 1 AND got to miss school again today!)

Thank you to my church family at Harvest, the flowers are beautiful! They brighten up our room and remind us of you all! Blessings!

Sunday Our Last Day Together in Florida

Good Morning!
Today is our last day together here in Florida. Danny and Trey fly out tomorrow and arrive home late Monday night. We are having a great time together and it's so refreshing to re-connect as a family. It's so weird to not have a time schedule! Rian continues to improve and her lungs are starting to clear. We are hopeful she will be able to start her treatments Monday morning.

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in the synagogues preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various deseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them."

Matthew 4:23-24

Thank you to everyone who is holding us up in prayer. We can feel God strengthening us as we embark on this healing journey for little Rian. May all of our Faith increase through Rian's journey.

"And without faith it is imposible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him"
Hebrews 11:6

For our last night together in Florida we toke a sunset walk along the beach. Rian ran, and ran, and ran some more. Danny and I couldn't believe how fast she was running! It was fun. I think she will be well enough to start her treatments tomorrow morning. We'll see what God has for us tomorrow. Good night.