More pics

Who wants pancakes!?

First time eating pudding.

Just relaxing with a book.

Family Trip to Tahoe

After Christmas we were able to escape to Lake Tahoe for a few days. Alex was king of the mountain and enjoyed his first time sledding!

King Alex

Ben was a little wary of the whole situation.

A few updates from California

Eli continues to add a lot of joy!

Homemade pizza night.

"Cheese!"

Updated family picture

Dave, Nannette, Alex, Ben and Eli

What in the world???

This is one of those pictures where you have to look past the intended subject to get the whole affect of what is really going on.

Sure Alex is cute - but I am a little concerned about his dad in the background . . . .

This could be one of those "You write the end to this story . . . "


So, Dave, any explanations? (I mean one that we will actually believe!)

Benjamin Update

On Feb. 20, our little Benjamin celebrated his first birthday. He is climbing the stairs lickity split and is acting very normal, is nearly walking, and his neurologist is pleased. We are praising God for these milestones in this young life.

His last MRI revealed there is still fluid in the stroke area. His neurologist is not concerned because he can see the child and knows he is acting very normal, except of course for his vision loss. However, the neurosurgeons (who have never seen the child) reviewed the scan and were alarmed and wanted him to have a shunt immediately due to the amount of the fluid present. They have an appointment with the neurosurgeons in Oakland on the 17th of March to put in the shunt. He will have a repeat CAT scan on the 5th of March and if the fluid level is decreased, his neurologist will cancel the appointment with the surgeons on the 17th. Our desire is that the fluid level will be decreased to spare him having a shunt put in. Pray for grace to handle whatever the Lord desires in this situation.

Also, Nannette had a severe contusion on her leg from the accident. The bruising has healed but she still has pain. He doctor was very alarmed about her having a blood clot and ordered a stat test to determine if there was a clot. We praise God that the test came back negative as she is pregnant and a clot would put her and the baby a great risk. He now testing is for a possible muscle tear.

Continue to pray also for Nannette and Dave as they have many appointments with their lawyer as he continues to deal with the insurance company.

Benjamin Update

We had an appointment with the pediatric neurologist yesterday. In his words he was "stunned at his progress." We have a MRI scheduled in about 8 weeks which will allow us to see if there is any permanent damage to his vision. We will start weaning Ben from the seizure medication in two months. He is able to sit up on his own and has been all smiles. We praise God for how he has healed Ben thus far.

On another note, the CHP is having difficulty finding the accident report. Please pray that this other facet of the accident will go as well as Ben's recovery. Thank you all again for your prayers and support these past few weeks. We look forward to what God is going to do from here.

Dave, Nannette, Alex, and Ben

Good News on Ben!!

Here are some photos from today. Ben is improving and we are grateful to see the Lord answering prayers. He is beginning to track what he sees and has gained back some of his neck strength. His disposition has been much better since he was taken off some the medicine for his throat. He is still on his anti-seizure medicine, and hasn't had one for a week. We have an appointment with the pediatric neurologist this Friday to see how we will manage his care from here on out. Please continue to pray for his strength to crawl and creep. He was just beginning too just before the accident. It has been humbling to see God's hand work directly in our lives in such a dramatic way. Though these weeks have been difficult we still count it a privilege that God would do such and awesome act in our lives. Thank you all for lifting up Ben and our family in your prayers. Please continue to pray for the other facet of the accident, the insurance. The police report has not been released, and we still do not know if the person who hit us was insured. We know that God will work through this situation as he has with Ben, none of this was a surprise to Him. Thank you again for your prayers.

Dave, Nannette, Alex, and Ben

An e-mail update from Dave and Nannette

We got an e-mail update from Dave and Nannette and some updated pictures:

Family and Friends,

These pictures of Benjamin are from Monday and Tuesday night.

Please continue to pray specifically for his vision. The doctors have noted that Ben suffered a small stroke that was induced by the impact at the time of the collision. It occurred in the area of his cerebellum which controls vision. There is no concern of blindness, but possibly partial loss of peripheral vision.

He also has slower reactions with his right side of his body (hands and feet) when stimulated. He is also lethargic from the seizure medicine and the trauma to the brain. Please continue to pray specifically in these areas.

It is a joy and encouragement each hour to know that so many people are lifting up little Ben before the Lord, He is the only Healer.

Thank you all again for your continued prayer and support.

Dave, Nannette, Alex and Ben

If the LORD had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
When I thought, "My foot slips,"
your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.

Psalm 94:17-19

GET WELL BEN!!! WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU ALL

PRAY FOR BEN!

Father, we pray for healing in Ben. We acknowledge that You hold him in Your hands.

Above all, we pray for Your glory to be magnified in this time. Make yourself great!

Do whatever makes Your name excellent, so that You will be worshipped.

Father, keep Dave & Nan from having their fears overwhelm them.

Thank you for knowing the end and knowing that it makes You great.

Keep our hearts and emotions in check as we don't know the end, but we do know you.

Thank you for being above all things, and holding all things in Your hands.

Thank you, that in You we live and move and have our being.

Thank you for keeping Dave, Nan and Alex safe. Thank you for the support that is there.

We want to be, but the distance keeps us away.

Do whatever you must to protect Your name!

Amen

Get well Ben!

Family

Ryan asked for more pics of the family. Here are a few I found. I have more - I will add them in another post. (I have dinner to fix . . . . got to go!)

Dave & Nannette!

See, this is what happens when you play with light sockets!

Up to no good!

Tina