9.25.13 Update on my precious niece Adalynn

Thank you, thank you, thank you for praying!! God is working!

Dear Family, Friends, and Prayer Warriors,

You continue to humble us by your outpouring of prayer and support for our daughter Adalynn. The past 11 days have been a surreal time in our lives and we praise God that we can write you with an update on how God is continuing to heal Adalynn.

Adalynn is beginning to move her arms and legs from time to time and stretch herself out. She is still very weak and movements are not real frequent without stimulation. The medical staff has been able to lower how much the machines are assisting Adalynn’s breathing. Praise the Lord she is able to do more of the breathing on her own. She is also now being fed through a tube that goes from her mouth down into her stomach. After a rough start, she is now tolerating these feedings well. Another huge blessing is that we have been able to continue to hold Adalynn the last few days since she has been breathing better on her own. Prior to a test yesterday morning, Tuesday, Adalynn had been held continuously since 10PM Friday (9/20) night.

As we continue to pray for our sweet daughter, Adalynn, we wanted to update you with some specific prayer requests.

· Pray for video EEG test results.
Yesterday, Adalynn completed a 24 hour EEG (a brain test that shows brain activity) with video to help determine if she is having seizures, since she is at high risk for having seizures. We anticipate the results Wednesday (9/25) morning. The results will likely determine whether or not she needs to continue receiving medications.

· Pray for continued improvement for her breathing.
Adalynn is making progress and we pray that over time the support being given would no longer be necessary.

· Pray for visible evidence of a “suck and swallow” reflex.
If Adalynn is able to develop this “suck and swallow” reflex, there is hope she could also begin to eat without the tube she currently receives her feedings from.

· Pray for Adalynn’s brain functions.
Adalynn’s brain functions continue to be our biggest concern. Please continue to pray for miraculous healing of the global brain injury she endured in the birth process.

We give thanks that God has surrounded us with people who care for us and our precious daughter. We know God has purpose for Adalynn’s life. We celebrate the ways God is working in Adalynn’s life and those that are praying for her.

Please use this information to update the prayer warriors you called upon and express our thankfulness.

Ransom and Beth

9.19.13 Update: Prayers for Adalynn Susanne

Family, Friends, and Prayer Warriors,

We are so humbled by your outpouring of prayer and support for our daughter Adalynn.  On Tuesday, 9/17, twelve hours before the rewarming process began on our precious daughter we called out asking you to approach the throne in prayer on our behalf. God provided prayer warriors in the masses and across the globe and we praise God for your prayer commitments covering all 24 hours of the rewarming process. We give thanks that you have and will continue to pray for Adalynn and our family.

Following the rewarming some additional tests were completed. A continued prayer request for Adalynn involves the findings from the MRI of her brain.  This test showed that her entire brain has been affected by the lack of oxygen during the C-section birthing process; specifically the 13 minutes that her body went without a heartbeat. The medical interpretation from this test is that Adalynn will likely not have any cognitive or physical function because of this injury, but we know that God is not limited by medical interpretation.  

The past 36 hours have been a whirlwind of emotions to say the least but our God has been constant. We are clinging to His promises and every victory!  We praise God that we have been able to hold Adalynn for several hours since she has been rewarmed.  Her kidneys have begun to function better and just this morning her breathing tube was removed from her throat. She is now receiving assistance through a special breathing device in her nose. God has done many great things! The doctors are working to improve Adalynn’s breathing and down the road will need to insert a feeding tube for her nutrition.  Once these steps are complete and her breathing is stable, Adalynn will likely be able to come home with us!  We do not know how long this could take, but we praise God that our daughter will come home.  We are so thankful for the beautiful daughter God has blessed us with and we continue to pray that God will continue to do miraculous things in her life.

No words can thank you for your love and support.  God is just beginning to write Adalynn's testimony and we give thanks for her life.

Please use this information to update the prayer warriors you called upon and express our thankfulness.

Ransom and Beth

The birth of Adalynn Susanne

We need a miracle!!!

On Saturday evening , September 14th, a precious child of God {my niece} named Adalynn was born to Ransom and Beth (Beth is my husband's only sibling). When Adalynn entered this world her heart stopped and it took 13 minutes for her doctors to get her heart pumping again. Since her birth she has remained in the neonatal intensive care unit on multiple life support machines and has been undergoing a special cooling process to help preserve some of her vital organs. Wednesday at 1200 AM (at midnight tonight) the doctors will begin rewarming her body over the following 24 hours. This rewarming period is a very critical period as the doctors begin to see the true extent of injuries to Adalynn's organs, including her brain and kidneys.

Please join us in praying for Adalynn especially during this critical time. Our vision is to have at least one person praying and worshiping God every single minute during the 24hour rewarming time period. We are looking for you to commit for at least 1 hour that you will be praying and worshiping God during this time. We recognize a continuous hour of prayer might not be obtainable in your schedule on Wednesday. While we ideally wish for an hour of your time, we know God hears every prayer and ask that you please pray for Adalynn. Please let Ransom, Beth, Adalynn and our family know of your commitment by sending an email including your name. Also include the specific hour of time that you will be in prayer if you are able to make this commitment.

Email address: prayingforadalynn@gmail.com

Praying for an hour seems like a long time, but here is a simple guide to help organize your prayer time. For the first 15 minutes spend time thanking God for who He is and the hope and confidence that He has given us by sending His Son to die for us. The second 15 minutes pray for God to touch Adalynn's life and that His plan for her life would be fulfilled. That a miraculous physical healing would take place if it is His will. The next 15 minutes spend time praying for Beth and Ransom as they stand together through this very difficult time at their daughter's bedside. The final 15 minutes thank God for the blessings He has given you. If you have extra time after you have finished praying, sing songs of praise to God. This is only a suggestion of how this time can be spent.

Words cannot adequately express this experience but it gives us great comfort knowing you are praying on our behalf.

You are invited to use this email and information given to enlist additional prayer warriors.

{Fun Find Friday}

{Wordless Wednesday}

{Tuesday's Tip} clean sink

Let's be honest, cleaning the kitchen is an endless task! It is not just the dishes that accumulate after preparing and enjoying three meals a day but it is also the counters, floor and sink tubs that need our attention!  I try to keep up with the kitchen throughout the day but I often do not attend to the filthy floor and sink tubs as I should. Before long the sink tubs become gross and I no longer want to be cleaning dishes in them.  You'd think I would learn to keep them in better condition!  Anyways, due to the fact that I let the sink tubs get mucky last week, I can now share Tuesday's Tip with you highlighting a product I use for cleaning.

Let me introduce you to Bar Keepers Friend.
BKF is a cleanser and polish with mild abrasives.  It can be used in your kitchen, bathroom, for laundry, general household cleanup and for auto cleaning.

My mother introduced me to this product with raving reviews and a guarantee it would clean up my sink.  I am unsure if it is due to not having a garbage disposal or what but the sink tubs in this home seem to get gross fast!

My apologies for the side-ways photo; when it uploads, it rotates like this!  The condition of the sink tubs above is what they looked like following me wiping them down with a Clorox wipe. Sideways or not, I hope you can see the lines and markings that will soon be cleaned! 

Directions for using Bar Keepers Friend as printed on the product:  Sprinkle BKF on a thoroughly wet cloth and rub gently.  If applying BKF directly on metal, porcelain or plastic, make certain surface is wet - then rub gently until rust or discoloration disappears.  Rinse.  For difficult stains, rust spots, tarnished surfaces...make a paste by adding a few drops of water to BKF.  Let paste remain on stain no longer than one minute before rubbing. Rinse immediately.

Rinsing sink so I can place BKF directly on porcelain

BKF sprinkled in the sink tubs

Scrub BKF with a rag and rinse well

Sparkly clean sinks!

Yea for clean white sinks again!  

I will post a disclaimer that this cleaning product contains oxalic acid and should be kept away from children.  While I do try to use more 'green' cleaning solutions, sometimes I just commit to using stronger products to get the job complete.  I used this product when my son was taking a nap and had it secured in a location my child is not able to access by the time he awoke.  As always, please be safe when using any cleaning products!

Let me know if you use Bar Keepers Friend!  I highly recommend it for those tough stains and rust spots!

Have a great afternoon!

parent fail

So, apparently yesterday was Grandparent's Day!  Did you celebrate?  We receive the big F for Failure as we did not recognize the special day and acknowledge the special grandparent in our lives or the grandparents of our child.  Can we get a re-do?  Thank you to the friend who did post about Grandparent's Day last night on Facebook so that I can at least send a belated message!  

Happy belated Grandparent's Day to Grandma Connie, Poppy, Grandma Bev and Granddad!  You each bring such joy into our little love's life and we are so blessed that he will grow up knowing the love you each have for God, your spouse and our family.