To anyone who has clicked on my blog through someone's FaceBook page and are trying to donate...let me update you. When you click on it though FaceBook it directs you to my blog through a weird way and doesn't direct you to the paypal donation account correctly. The ip address looks weird. You need to actually go to www.thejourneyofisrael.blogspot.com and then click on donate. Sorry for any confusion!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED ALREADY! WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!
In March of 2009 we were blessed with our third child, Israel David. He was born with congenital limb differences and micrognathia. This blog was started to share our journey with friends and family and anyone else who God brings our way. Our hope is to share our miracle with you...and as you read, that you will be blessed. Remember to always enjoy the miracles in your life!
Friday, May 28, 2010
"Baby Walk"
Today Israel has PT at Shriner's...which isn't anything new. For the past 4 or 5 times they have been putting him in a walker that is called a "Baby Walk" (Also known as a gait trainer).
(I realize he looks less than excited in this picture...funny thing is he was actually VERY happy...I just couldn't catch the smile)
The first time they put him in it he hated it and cried through the whole thing! Each time has gotten a bit better as he gets used to it. And today he was in it for 45 minutes and didn't mind at all! This devise is different than the stander that we have at our house. It still offers him support, but allows his legs to be free and lets him move around. Where as the stander that we have at home only allows him to stand in one position and not move his legs at all, making him be passive in movement. Usually Israel just stands when we put him in the baby walk and plays with toys on a table. But today we were working with him on walking in it. Taking his legs in our hands and moving them along. We would stop and see if he would make any effort to move on his own. And he did...he took his first steps today! It was SO exciting! He initiated and moved his leg on his own to go forward....he has NEVER done anything like this before! He did it about three different times :-) You can imagine how proud I was! In addition to that, he was using his arms to push himself away from the table while he was in the baby walk. It was amazing! He is really starting to understand moving and that it serves a benefit to him! Can you imagine how fast he would improve if he had one of these at home and could use it every day...instead of just twice a month?!?! We filled out paperwork and will submit it to insurance to see if they will approve and pay for it. However, we have been told this can take a very long time and most likely will get denied :-( After our terrible experience with the insurance company when we were trying to get Israel's VERY necessary tongue surgery done, I have very little hope that they will approve a $2000 walker! I can only imagine the excuses they will come up with as to why they won't approve it! Well, God knows our hearts doesn't he? A friend of mine posted this on my FaceBook page today after a status I wrote about asking for prayer for the insurance company to approve the walker "Why fight with the insurance company! Why not let the people of God strap on their sword & get Israel his needed walker. If 200 people give $10 that's 2000 bucks! I'm in! May I be so bold (I've NEVER done anything like this before!) to ask friends to step up & provide for Israel. 10 bucks! That's 2 Vente drinks at Starbucks! C'mon let's overwhelm the Turkington's & bless our little boy with a walker so he doesn't have to wait!" I was blown away that someone was so thoughtful as to even think of and offer this to Israel. This has literally NEVER entered my mind, but after thinking about it more, I think it is an amazing idea. I have since had two other friends write and say they would also donate too! I feel so blessed already! So I am stepping out of my comfort zone and asking, can you help? If you feel led to donate, there is a "button" on the top right side of my blog that you can click on to make a safe secure donation through PayPal. If you would rather send a check, just comment me and I will send you my address. Thank you in advance for your gifts, your love and your prayers!
A bit more about the Baby Walk...for anyone who is interested :-)
(From the website)
Mulholland Positioning Systems
We Offer a Full Line of Gait Trainers, Standers, Seating Systems, and Adaptive Components
Mulholland Positioning Systems provides postural support seating, standing, and walking systems for children and adults with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other types of motor development disorders.
Our products are designed by an engineer and are continuously being improved upon as a result of information from families, therapists, physicians, and clinicians. Hand-made with high quality materials, Mulhollands have a reputation for lasting years past their intended use. They truly are durable medical equipment.
(I realize he looks less than excited in this picture...funny thing is he was actually VERY happy...I just couldn't catch the smile)
The first time they put him in it he hated it and cried through the whole thing! Each time has gotten a bit better as he gets used to it. And today he was in it for 45 minutes and didn't mind at all! This devise is different than the stander that we have at our house. It still offers him support, but allows his legs to be free and lets him move around. Where as the stander that we have at home only allows him to stand in one position and not move his legs at all, making him be passive in movement. Usually Israel just stands when we put him in the baby walk and plays with toys on a table. But today we were working with him on walking in it. Taking his legs in our hands and moving them along. We would stop and see if he would make any effort to move on his own. And he did...he took his first steps today! It was SO exciting! He initiated and moved his leg on his own to go forward....he has NEVER done anything like this before! He did it about three different times :-) You can imagine how proud I was! In addition to that, he was using his arms to push himself away from the table while he was in the baby walk. It was amazing! He is really starting to understand moving and that it serves a benefit to him! Can you imagine how fast he would improve if he had one of these at home and could use it every day...instead of just twice a month?!?! We filled out paperwork and will submit it to insurance to see if they will approve and pay for it. However, we have been told this can take a very long time and most likely will get denied :-( After our terrible experience with the insurance company when we were trying to get Israel's VERY necessary tongue surgery done, I have very little hope that they will approve a $2000 walker! I can only imagine the excuses they will come up with as to why they won't approve it! Well, God knows our hearts doesn't he? A friend of mine posted this on my FaceBook page today after a status I wrote about asking for prayer for the insurance company to approve the walker "Why fight with the insurance company! Why not let the people of God strap on their sword & get Israel his needed walker. If 200 people give $10 that's 2000 bucks! I'm in! May I be so bold (I've NEVER done anything like this before!) to ask friends to step up & provide for Israel. 10 bucks! That's 2 Vente drinks at Starbucks! C'mon let's overwhelm the Turkington's & bless our little boy with a walker so he doesn't have to wait!" I was blown away that someone was so thoughtful as to even think of and offer this to Israel. This has literally NEVER entered my mind, but after thinking about it more, I think it is an amazing idea. I have since had two other friends write and say they would also donate too! I feel so blessed already! So I am stepping out of my comfort zone and asking, can you help? If you feel led to donate, there is a "button" on the top right side of my blog that you can click on to make a safe secure donation through PayPal. If you would rather send a check, just comment me and I will send you my address. Thank you in advance for your gifts, your love and your prayers!
A bit more about the Baby Walk...for anyone who is interested :-)
(From the website)
Mulholland Positioning Systems
We Offer a Full Line of Gait Trainers, Standers, Seating Systems, and Adaptive Components
Mulholland Positioning Systems provides postural support seating, standing, and walking systems for children and adults with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other types of motor development disorders.
Our products are designed by an engineer and are continuously being improved upon as a result of information from families, therapists, physicians, and clinicians. Hand-made with high quality materials, Mulhollands have a reputation for lasting years past their intended use. They truly are durable medical equipment.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Izzy Update ~ 14 months
Israel is 14 months now and we are really starting to see his little personality shine though. He has learned how to glare at people...and he does it ALL the time to anyone he doesn't know, or if he is upset! I think it's hysterical! But I tell him he is being rude and needs to be a happy boy :-)
We have movement! It's slow and small...but we have learned to celebrate even the smallest of victories. Israel can now turn himself around in a circle while sitting on the floor. He can also scootch himself backwards while sitting...very slowly but it's something. I think he is finally starting to see the value in movement. In all the times past he hasn't cared at all about moving. Even if he is sitting on the floor with no toys, he never seemed to mind much. He would just hang out. He reminds me SO much of Jaxon. Very laid back and easy going and does things only when necessary :-) Jaxon didn't crawl until he was a year old and didn't walk until he was 17 months old...and he was fully capable if he wanted to! He just simply didn't care. Israel is making small "steps" (no pun intended) toward becoming mobile. He will get there...but not until he is good and ready.
Another bit of news, Israel decided he is a big boy now and has no need for a bottle! This was TOTALLY his own doing. We have never tried to get him off the bottle, and about a week ago he just up and decided that he didn't want a bottle anymore, but a sippy cup instead. Wow...talk about an angel baby! With Rachel and Jaxon we had to take the bottle away and suffer a few cranky days for it! But not Izzy :-) He likes sippy cups with no valves (stoppers) or straws. It's pretty cute to see him growing and changing so much lately. Seems like it's happening all to fast though!
And...more teeth! He now has 3 teeth really in, 1 that just broke through, and 2 more that are super swollen! I remember this happened with the other two kids too...it seemed like all of the sudden they went from being toothless to getting them in all at once! Poor guy though has been a bit crabby from it though. Although I can't blame him...it has to hurt!
Well, there's just a little update on Izzy. I decided not to do the monthly updates anymore since he is one now...but it just seemed like he has been changing so much that I had to make another post to share it all.
We have movement! It's slow and small...but we have learned to celebrate even the smallest of victories. Israel can now turn himself around in a circle while sitting on the floor. He can also scootch himself backwards while sitting...very slowly but it's something. I think he is finally starting to see the value in movement. In all the times past he hasn't cared at all about moving. Even if he is sitting on the floor with no toys, he never seemed to mind much. He would just hang out. He reminds me SO much of Jaxon. Very laid back and easy going and does things only when necessary :-) Jaxon didn't crawl until he was a year old and didn't walk until he was 17 months old...and he was fully capable if he wanted to! He just simply didn't care. Israel is making small "steps" (no pun intended) toward becoming mobile. He will get there...but not until he is good and ready.
Another bit of news, Israel decided he is a big boy now and has no need for a bottle! This was TOTALLY his own doing. We have never tried to get him off the bottle, and about a week ago he just up and decided that he didn't want a bottle anymore, but a sippy cup instead. Wow...talk about an angel baby! With Rachel and Jaxon we had to take the bottle away and suffer a few cranky days for it! But not Izzy :-) He likes sippy cups with no valves (stoppers) or straws. It's pretty cute to see him growing and changing so much lately. Seems like it's happening all to fast though!
And...more teeth! He now has 3 teeth really in, 1 that just broke through, and 2 more that are super swollen! I remember this happened with the other two kids too...it seemed like all of the sudden they went from being toothless to getting them in all at once! Poor guy though has been a bit crabby from it though. Although I can't blame him...it has to hurt!
Well, there's just a little update on Izzy. I decided not to do the monthly updates anymore since he is one now...but it just seemed like he has been changing so much that I had to make another post to share it all.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Mother's Day
May seems to be a very busy time of year for us, filled with birthday parties (Lots of them!), baby showers, end of the year parties, wraping up school etc. So once again, I am behind on posting some new blogs. I realize Mother's Day was a few weeks ago, but I couldn't not post about it.
My husband has always done an amazing job at making me feel so special on Mother's Day, and this year was no different. The day started out with me sleeping in, which is always the best way to start my day! Followed by a homemade gormet breakfast. The table was set with my mother's day gifts and two boquests of flowers from my children. We went to church, then off the the beach. The weather was decent, for the Oregon coast. Loved watching the kids play in the water and the sand. Went to MO's for dinner...so yummy! I had an amazing day, and was reminded of just what a blessing it is to be able to celebrate Mother's Day.
The reason I get to celebrate Mother's Day
Blessing #1
Blessing #2
Blessing #3
My husband has always done an amazing job at making me feel so special on Mother's Day, and this year was no different. The day started out with me sleeping in, which is always the best way to start my day! Followed by a homemade gormet breakfast. The table was set with my mother's day gifts and two boquests of flowers from my children. We went to church, then off the the beach. The weather was decent, for the Oregon coast. Loved watching the kids play in the water and the sand. Went to MO's for dinner...so yummy! I had an amazing day, and was reminded of just what a blessing it is to be able to celebrate Mother's Day.
The reason I get to celebrate Mother's Day
Blessing #1
Blessing #2
Blessing #3
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