Buds and Blossoms

It's been a while since I sat to chronicle the happenings in our life. And there are a few things to mention...

First of all, Donovan has been well, and we are always happy to mention that. He's been working hard since his checkup two weeks ago...exercising, taking his meds and eating!!! The only trial he has experienced has been his weight loss. His blood sugars tend to trend downward rather drastically after his morning exercise session and we think that his metabolism is revving too high, burning far too many calories and resulting in weight loss. He can't seem to keep up with his body's need for fuel to be stored for later...just the opposite of my problem!!! He has lost a few pounds since the IV treatment of his fungus and the effect it had on his appetite..so we'd like to see this turn around. We are awaiting an appointment with a diabetic specialist and will hopefully sort this out.

And...we are very happy to announce we are now grandparents to Elijah Kurtis Drader, son of our daughter Katie and her husband Kurtis, born February 18,2009 at 6:10 pm, weighing in at 7lbs 9oz. He is off the charts on the cuteness scale but we are a little biased. He has a full head of dark brown hair, and large eyes, wide open from birth as if to say, "what's all the fuss about?" There was a little floor-pacing on the part of a certain Grandma during the whole birthing process...which was over 24 hrs. from start to finish, but he arrived none the worse for wear, which is more than can be said for that certain grandparent. What an exhausting process!

Katie & Kurtis took their little boy home less than a day after birth, and he's been ruling the roost since. They're both a little on the tired side, but did manage to go to church just 3 days later, so I think they're doing all right. Elijah's arrival gives us one very good reason to make the trek to Edmonton a little more frequently!!! What a tremendous blessing, for which we are so thankful. Uncle Donovan was on hand, camera flashing constantly to take in the first hours of the little guy's life. We managed to get in a few days of cuddling before having to return home for less exciting things like work and school. Thank goodness once again for the technology of Skype, which will hopefully keep us closely connected between in-the-flesh visits! We have another appointment with the transplant docs on March 10, so we hope to make a few days visit and take in some baby cuddling again.

This has certainly been a season of extreme emotions for us. Marveling at baby Elijah's perfect fingers and tiny toes, his round, pink cheeks, the velvet of his newborn skin with its intoxicating scent brings home the knowledge that he is God's masterpeice, as are we all.

The tears flow freely with gratitude that Donovan is alive to meet his little nephew and see the circle of life complete in this next generation. Our double-lung miracle will be revisited each time a milestone occurs in our lives, the welcoming of a new family member, the blowing out of next birthday's candles, greeting each season in its turn...for these things we utter a prayer of thanksgiving and realize the sanctity and preciousness of life, the privilege of an unbroken family tree, gratitude for a new little bud.

Winter is blowing hard once again just outside the front door tonite. Perhaps this is its last frosty breath, one final foray into the -30 range. We welcome early mornings now with a dim glow of daylight instead of the pitch black that makes cold so much colder. Supper is eaten before the sun winks below the horizon in a scarlet blaze...the lengthening daytime gives us all a little more energy, time to plan for a summer we will try to make the most of...bikerides by the river, fishing (for sure!),watching buds blossom in our flowerbeds,and lots of walks through the park with our faithful Scout!

We are dreaming of summer to come on this cold, cold day, but grateful never-the-less for these hours, these days and weeks together, for the miracle of new life, for the miracle of each breath!

Wishing summer in your heart this winter night,

Beth

In and Out!

Donovan's first clinic visit as an out-of-province visiting patient was everything we hoped for and more...

Laurier took him yesterday to Edmonton, and they had a CT scan bright and early at 7:30 a.m., followed by bloodwork and then the docs. Well, Donovan's lungs continue to rock! His FEV1 was 91%!!! Fantastic! He reprots that he did have a higher blow, (93%) but he couldn't repeat it. During the test, the patient sits in a little booth, kind of looks like a gondola booth, and then blows into a device that is hooked to a computer. It takes all kinds of measurements, and they print out the most consistent one. Anyway, his new breathers are doing their job, and we look forward to even higher scores. They can improve up to 3 years after transplant if all goes well, and it will, right?

His CT scan showed improvement as well, not total irradication of the fungus yet, but we'll take improvement. He has to do another month of inhaled treatment for it, but hey, its not IV and its not done in hospital...so that is good news as well.

The best part of today was being kicked out for a whole entire calendar month! Freedom from all things medical in Edmonton!!! hallelujah! And no offense docs, but we won't miss you a bit!!! The only reason we'll head west in the next while is to make Donny an uncle and me a Grandma!

The snow is softly falling leaving a field of diamonds glinting in the moonlight as I sit here tonight in my cozy kitchen. A candles flickers softly. I can hear the cat padding down the hall, and Stephen is strumming his guitar downstairs, preferring that to his homework assignment, it would seem. I glance at the clock, counting the hours until I'll hear Laurier's car, the crunch of it's tires in our driveway, and my heart will be filled as I see Donovan's lanky figure toting the suitcase that was packed for a longer stay in Edmonton, just in case, crossing the threshold of home.

Spring is coming, bringing with it the promise of new life. We have come through fall and winter's grip is slowly loosening its hold. Each season in its turn brings challenges and happiness.

Truly, "to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."

I wish you all the peace of knowing God through each season in your life, and thank you for seeing us through the harshness of ours, and celebrating Donovan's new life.

Love,

Beth

Home is where you hang your heart...

We are home!!! I can't believe it...even though the evidence (many boxes of meds, suitcases in need of unpacking, dire fatigue and "car lag") are all around. Though we know the journey continues, it seems as though we have climbed a mountain, and at this point are gazing at the breath-taking view from the summit. And that view is what we call home. The place we come to hang our hearts.

We arrived home late last night. Donovan traveled with friends Brendan and Chantal (thank you guys!) and dropped them in S'toon and continued on here. I travelled with friends Connie & Randy (thank-you, thank-you) who graciously allowed me to pack the back of their van to maximum capacity with all of our belongings and Scout! When it comes to packing a vehicle, they have skills! We left melting temps in Edmonton for the icy and frostbitten land of Sask. I must admit, the only thing I miss about Alberta at this point is the balmy weather of the last week or so. Hopefully it blows in here in the next few days...I'm not acclimatized to -30 anymore!

Donovan spent today hooking up his computer, and finally moving into the room I re-decorated for him before Christmas, at some points despairing he would ever see it again! He's fillng a couple cabinets with his meds and supplies, figuring out a workable schedule for treatments and the fitness regime he must follow to keep the new lungs in tip-top shape. He already put a few miles on the treadmill, so he's off to a good start. He also surprised Stephen, who was in bed when he got home last night, and up and out the door before Donovan was up this morning, with a trip home from school. Now doesn't that warm the heart?

Not one to waste time, I worked a half day at preschool today, and as usual my cup was filled to the brim with joy courtesy of 20 charming 4 and 5-year old and their wonderful parents, to say nothing of my awesome co-workers. May you all enjoy your jobs as I do mine!

We are home! It feels so good to write those words, and to snuggle into my familiar bed, next to my familiar husband...knowing all is right with our world.

May God Bless all of your homes with harmony, and your hearts with peace!

Love,
Beth