JEREMY AND SHNAIDER

Shnaider loves following around the big boys Nick and Jer. He is watching Jer play videogames.

Jeremy is doing great in fourth grade!!!

Nick has been struggling with his new class and routine. Some good days, some really bad days. I had a meeting with the school yesterday to come up with some new stratgies for him. I felt good after the meeting and we are praying hard for Nick to fall into a routine at school. His teacher is wonderful and has much experience with Autism thankfully.

GRACE

I was captivated by this story of infant Grace. She is currently in the hospital and is going to be cared for by the orphanage that Sendy is currently at. If she survives and starts to do well the organization that brought Shnaider here may have a hospital that can fix her feet and possibly hands. This is all just thoughts right now as she is still very sick. The culture of Haiti will probably never cease to amaze me or draw me in. I would go help these infants in a heart beat if it is what God wants our families to do. Until then I will do what I can from here. Steph

From Vanessa:On my last trip to Haiti, I met an angel. Her name is Monique Jacques. She is a mother of 5 children she lives in Citie Soleil. Her husband passed away 2 years ago. She has no possibility of a job. She was on her way to see the Nuns to ask for food to feed her children. In the road trash pile she saw a newborn infant. The baby we have now named Grace. She said she stood there and looked. What could she do. She has her 5 children who she can not feed. But she knew she could not leave the baby lying there. She picked her up and took her to our friend Karen, a missionary who lives in Delmas 31. Karen told her that they need to take the baby to the police because there would need to be a report. Karen took Monique and baby Grace to the police station. Sadly, they would not take a report. They accused Karen of purchasing the baby and now not wanting her. Karen and Monique repeatedly told the baby's story to everyone at the police station. No one would listen. Karen called me and asked if I had any ideas. I told her to bring the baby to Angel Clinic and we would seek care for her. Little Grace has club feet and very tight hands. She was also covered in a terrible rash and there appeared to be other possible issues with this beautiful baby. After making some phone calls around to others we know, Dr. Joey said he would come see her that night. He agreed to her to Father. Rick's hospital, Petit Freres Et soeurs (Little brothers little sisters hospital).People often ask me why do you continue to go to Haiti. Well here is a perfect example. Monique, a mother of 5 who can not feed her own children, spent her entire day trying to find care for a very sick, abandoned baby. This woman who had nothing for herself or her children today stepped out on faith to help a precious child of God. We were able to give her some money that should help feed her family for a week. We also gave her a care package of things we could come up with from the clinic.I ask that you please keep Monique and her children in your prayers. Please pray for baby Grace and for us to get her all the medical care she needs. If anyone feel led to help us help Monique get her children into school, please contact Vanessa at AngelMissions@hotmail.comPlease pray for all of the mothers in Haiti who have children going to bed hungry tonight.

POST OP

We just returned home a few hours ago from Shnaiders latest surgery. His shunt was leaking from the site inside his back. It seems to be draining the fluid between his eyes again thankfully.
He had an extremely hard time comming out of anestheia this time. We arent really sure what happened, possibly a reaction the the amount of Morphine he had but he was hysterically thrashing, screaming, and crying for 7 hours post op. He was totally out of control. It was difficult and my arms hurt so bad today from trying to contain him. About 8:00 pm he finally came out of it and was fine. He is acting great this morning. He even let one of the nurses and the doctors assistant hold him! Usually he cries when someone comes near him at the hospital. Being his 4th time in he is pretty wise to the whole thing.
The doctor would like to go in next week and fix the bone graph in the front and use a special medication as well that crystalizes when it comes in contact with spinal fluid. It will help to create a barrier so the leak can stop. If all works as planned and the shunt keeps functioning that should be it.
Thanks for all the prayers yesterday. I had a feeling going in that it wasnt going to go smoothly for some reason but we made it through. Shnaider is so strong. I cant imagine having having 4 surgeries between the end of May and now.
We will update as we know more about the next procedure.
Stephanie

THEN AND NOW

We had a huge praise in our family today which I will share at a later time but I was thinking several times today "God is good, all the time". Then I realized that I have been focusing on the negative things going on around Shnaider especially since the shunt has malfunctioned. I havent just thanked God for his life and that it is a miracle that he is even alive and his mother sought help for him. I am thankful for the opportunity to help him and to be used by God for this. I am thankful for the ways it will help our family grow and rely on God more and more. I am thankful that I have skills to care for him. I am thankful for St.Vincent hospital and Dr. Young that they are giving sacrificially for his sake and that we have access to medical help in this country. There are so many things to be thankful for and God is good all the time and in control of every situation. He has grown so much just in the 4 months that he has been here!

PICTURES OF SHNAIDERS INSCISIONS

Shnaiders inscisions were totally flat and the bump between his eyes was flat as well. I took these pictures today of what he now looks like. We are scheduled for surgery on Monday to fix the shunt. I apologize if these pictures bother anyone. Dont scroll down if you dont want to see. Steph
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Shnaider Update

Shnaiders shunt seems to be malfunctioning. His swelling is back on his face and is swelling around the inscision sites on his abdomen and his back. We are scheduled for an office appointment at 8:45 Mon. morning and they have blocked out surgery for him after that. He seems to have every complication that can possibly happen. Please pray for healing for him, wisdom for the doctors and strength for our family to get him through this.
Stephanie

IN THE HIGHCHAIR

Shnaiders favorite place to be, I'm convinced, is in the highchair. He loves to eat. Appetite is totally back today and he woke up from his nap very happy. Yeah!!

Nick had another awesome day at school. Praise the Lord!!

The bump is even flatter today (this pic was yesterday too). No fluid at all in it.

Steph

Shnaider Update

Shnaider is doing well today. He slept all night last night and is in minimal pain. He has pointed to his back a few times and whimpered. That is all! He is eating and playing some with toys. The fluid has completely drained as you can see in the top picture which is what we were hoping would happen. Now the leak should be able to seal itself without all that pressure built up and we will go in soon to fix the front.

Nick had another great day at school yesterday and seemed good getting on the bus today. We take it day by day. We have noticed he has good months and bad months sometimes it seems to come in spurts. He is still bothered by Shnaiders crying or loud talking and told me yesterday he feels a little jealous. That is huge for him to say what his feelings are and that is an entirely appropriate feeling to have. Im not sure he fully grasps what jealous is or could define his exact feelings about it. We are trying to do as much as possible with the Jer and Nick one on one with either myself or Tom. This experience of Fostering is new to all of us.

Thanks again for all the prayer.

Stephanie

NEW UPDATES

We made it home from the hospital a few hours ago. Shnaider did a very good job. It was a tiring night. He is still sore and not too happy today but he took a long nap and is eating in his highchair now. His bump is about half the size it was. It should continue to drain the rest of the way. We have another appointment the 28th and we will then have to schedule his next surgery to repair the bone piece that has come off from the first surgery. Will update more on that as we know
Nick had 2 good days at school which is a blessing. Our basement is cleaned up now too. Hopefully we are headed in the right direction now. Thanks so much for all your prayers.
Stephanie

PROCEDURE TOMORROW

Shnaider is having a lumbar drain placed tomorrow. They have to drain the fluid permanently in hopes of the leaking spot to heal. We will be in the hospital overnight tomorrow. Pray all goes well. He has been on the crankey side I think because of all the pressure built up. My kids start school tomorrow. We have made some major decisions related to my husbands and my jobs and our family life. Our basement flooded a few days ago and many other stressors are happening right now.

Shnaider will most likely need another surgery soon to make another repair as well and will need to stay much longer than we had originally thougth.

We have much going on with our family right now and Satan is taking advantage of the stress. The beginning of the school year is always a huge stress with Nick. Change and something new do not go well with Autism.

Thanks for all your prayers.

Stephanie

UPDATE SHNAIDER

Just a quick post, he is still doing well. His bump has totally swelled up again to as big as it was before. We are supposed to hear from the surgeon today about potential surgery Wednesday this week. He is eating and sleeping and playing fine. We are praying to get the surgery this week and start moving in the right direction for healing for him.
Steph

UPDATE ON SENDY

I have received word from His Home for Children where Sendy currently is. They still do not have anywhere for her to have surgery at this point. We are still praying for them to find somewhere that will help this little girl and I am praying that God's plan is that we might still host her.
Stephanie

UPDATE ON "THE BUMP"

We took Shnaider over to the pond to feed the ducks the night before his procedure. He wasnt too sure about these creatures. It was funny. My kids are with their grandparents. They have been gone since Saturday. We miss them but they are having a blast with one set for a few days and then the other set for a few days.

Shnaiders "bump" as we call it between his eyes has changed. Yesterday (the day after the procedure) he was extremely fussy. After his nap the bump was less than half of its original size and he had some drainage comming out of his nose. I called the doc and they will be reviewing the scans today. If he would start running a temp or acting like his neck hurts we have to take him to the E.R. There is risk of menningitis now if it is leaking into his sinus cavity.
Thankfully he is acting like usual today and no fever. The bump is strangely flattened still and no more drainage. We will know more after they call us with the results of the scans today.
Keep praying for us.
Stephanie

MAC-N-CHEESE

SHNAIDER-LOVIN' ON SOME MAC-N-CHEESE

MOM-NOT LOVIN' ON THE MESS SO MUCH

I forgot how messy little ones can be when eating!!!

Steph

FRIENDS

Jeremy and Shnaider get along pretty well. Jeremy offered to babysit every morning while I get dressed and read email in exchange for a new video game in 10 days. This was all his idea and it has helped me tremendously!!!
Steph

THE CISTERNOGRAM

Shnaider had his big test today. God was with us for sure. He went to sleep for the first part of the procedure and then they let him wake up and we had to wait for 3 hours with packing in his nose and and IV in. He wasnt very happy but a little morphine helped him sleep for 2 of the 3 hours we had to wait. Taking the acutal scans we had to just hold him down crying but he was a trooper and we made it through it. He took a 3 hour nap when we got home! He is a little cranky tonight.

We hope to have the results of the test and a surgery date soon. Thanks to everyone for all the prayers. I definately had a peace the whole day and Shnaider did great considering everything they did to him. We pray they find the leak and it will be minor to fix.

Steph

NEW FRIENDS

CRACKIN' ME UP

Nick was making me laugh last night in bed. People with Autism are very concrete thinkers.

I said "Nick you need to get over your fear of going to bed by yourself." He said " Noooo, I have to stay under it!"

We were reading a book about feelings and what rejection was and what it meant. The solution for rejection was to surround yourself with positive people and positive comments if you are being rejected by someone. We role played with a toy and gave it positive comments after we pretended it had been rejected by its friends.

A few minutes later I was reading and he said I wasnt doing it right and he had to do it so I said "Nick I am feeling rejected right now and sad." He said "Its okay mom you have really nice jammies on tonight though!"

Nick has been incredibly good with Snaider being here. Any change in routine can spell disaster for him sometimes. I believe God has been definately covering him this last week. He amazes me all the time.

Steph