He is Risen!

He is Risen...He is Risen Indeed!!!! Happy Easter everyone!

This morning as Luke was going thru his Easter basket using both hands, I thought to myself there is no way he was doing that last Easter. So, I went thru the pics from last year, and look at the difference:

Last year, not using his left hand at all, in fact it is contracted up against his body.

This year, using lefty to help rip open the package. In fact, we call him shredder in our house because he loves to rip and tear up stuff.

Using both hands to open up his eggs.

Sunday is coming....

Today is probably the darkest day in the history of man kind. The day that Jesus died on the cross. It was no doubt the most darkest, most painful, most horrible, most discouraging, most awful day of His life. It was the day he died, and to many it looked like the enemy had won. We all know that was not the case, for God had other plans. They may have put him in a crave, blocked it with a stone, but as we all know, Sunday morning was the beginning of a better story!!

The Easter story teaches me that no matter how frustrated I may be when Luke seems to have reached a plateau, or is really acting out, or just frustrated by what he should be able to do and should be doing, or how long it has been since he got hurt, there is a greater plan. We will not be stuck on Good Friday forever. Someday, our Sunday is coming. We know He will have the final say in this story, and it will be good. God bless you all this Easter weekend...I am excited because Sunday is coming, and HE IS RISEN!!! Death could not hold him!!

Frustrated

We finished up this week with all of Luke's appointments for awhile, hopefully. He had an MRA for his aneursym, and it is stable. Now, he will not have another one for three years, which makes me nervous. We also tried out a few different therapy places to try and find a good one for Luke to do some intense work this summer. I found one yesterday, that I like and am cautiously-optimistic about. We also visited yesterday with the BEST neurologist ever, Dr. Cardenas, at St.Joe's. I honestly have not had a doctor take as much to talk about Luke with me in a long time, he spent almost an hour! He recommended a "mood-enhancing" drug for Luke to hopefully address some of the behavior issues we are seeing. I am very against drugging him, but after talking with Mike's cousin, Shelly, who is a dr herself about it, am willing to give it a try to see what we notice. Hopefully it will be positive:) Dr. Cardenas is also going to talk with the team at St. Joe's that is doing the deep brain stimulation there to see if they feel Luke may be a candidate for it. He tends to think not, but is willing to at least check, which I am thankful for. The bad news came at the end of the appointment when he said effective June 1st he will no longer be able to see Luke, due to a contract he signed since St Joes is merging with PCH, Luke will now have to see a neurologist at PCH. I have not found one neurologist at PCH I like or one who truly understand TBI. Dr. Cardenas did. Honestly, Luke does not have to see a neuro, but I just really liked him because he understands Traumatic Brain Injury A LOT!!! So back to square one on that front. Luke's neurosurgeon, Dr. Manwaring, whom we love also, I found out a few weeks ago is also no longer at PCH. I am guessing now, that is due to the merger too. I am trying to track him down though:) I was really stressing about it because I feel like everything is two steps forward, ten steps back. I found this in my email box last night. I have not gotten on of their emails in a really long time, but this one was right on time, funny how that works! So we are pressing toward the Promise:)

Press toward the Promise TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “...Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Hebrews 6:12, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Are you facing a challenge today that seems overwhelming? Through faith and patience, you will see God’s promises come to pass in your life. Understand that the enemy always fights the hardest when he knows you are closest to your breakthrough. He’d leave you alone if he thought you were going to live in mediocrity. If you keep pressing on toward your promise, through faith and patience, you will get there. Don’t be like the Israelites in the Old Testament who were right next to their promised land when they talked themselves out of it! They said, “There are giants in the land. It’s too difficult.” No, today, don’t look at the obstacles in your life. Lift up your eyes because you serve a supernatural God! Follow the example of Abraham who believed God even when his circumstances looked impossible. Remember, God always rewards the people who seek after Him. Stand in faith and keep believing because God will take you places that you never dreamed. Keep pressing toward the promise so you can live in the supernatural victory He has prepared for you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Heavenly Father, I come to You today choosing to believe Your promises. Fill me with Your faith and patience to press through to victory. I give You all the glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

blessed.

Today's post is by Luke's big sister, Lynsey. It is something she posted for her friends. Lynsey's world was rocked upside down four years ago when Luke was hurt. She is amazing though and has made us SO very proud by adapting and accepting the "new" Luke and this new way of life with a brother that requires a lot of our attention! This writing certainly makes us proud...enjoy! And side note: she is a straight A student, so not sure what is up with the grammar/capitilization/punctuation things, just one of those cool "teen" things I guess??


well, i guess today i just feel the need to post something, well powerful? if you could say that. but, most often, every body finds themselves in such a wreck, and they think their life is going terrible, for all the wrong reasons. maybe, no money, or maybe bad luck. but, what we all don't understand is what really matters in life, what God's plan for you is, not YOUR plan for you. most of us dwell on all the negatives in life, and are too depressed or too sad. but what none of us understand is that, everything happens for a reason maybe you don't like that reason, but everyone needs to find a way to deal with it. OPTIMISM IS KEY. if you don't like the path you are going down, its as easy as getting yourself out of it, as it is getting yourself in it. don't dwell on the negatives in life, because half of the time, its only you feeling bad for YOURself. there are people out there who may not have the money to even have a home, or may not get to eat anything at all, and then here we are complaining because our house is too small, or we have no "good" food?! think about it. EACH and EVERY one of you, is blessed.

XOXO.

Special Olympics

Well...he did it! Luke competed in the Special Olympics on Saturday (despite the 100 degree weather!) There were no other participants that showed up for his event, but he competed anyway and WON:) Yeah Luke! We are proud of you! Here are some pics from the day:

The face of a winner...getting ready to compete!

Ready, set, GO! Thanks to Papa for helping him!

Luke's fan club!

Getting his medal.

Love the message on the back of his shirt.

Special thanks to Luke's cheering section: Nana, Papa, Kaylee, Tyler, and his teacher, Mrs. Alaniz, who gave up her Saturday to come and cheer him on. Also, thanks to our neighbors, the Riggs, for the yummy peanut butter protein balls they made for him. Yeah Luke!!