Happy Spring! Ha!

We got a heavy, wet, large snowfall overnight last night that the boys and I had so much fun with today. Dan is out of town for the week for work, so he sadly missed out on the block's coolest, tallest, most awesome snowman. This one takes the cake! (Based on its height, guess who built 99% of it!)

A few days after Elijah's tummy was back to normal last week Dan and I both caught the bug. It was horrid. I spent two days unable to do anything. We were a miserable family over the weekend! Thankfully, we are all feeling MUCH better.

Elijah's teacher called me today with a mostly good report. She has noticed some "differences" in him in the past month. There are certain things he is fighting with his school work more than ever (math and writing) and this wasn't a surprise (this is an NLD thing). He fights these things at home, as well. The good differences that she noted are also things we have seen at home in the past month. He is able to transition much better, he handles himself socially much better and he can be talked down from an almost-bad situation much more easily.

We have noticed at home that things have been much improved. Sleep is better, using the restroom is (mostly) not a big deal anymore (umm, this is HUGE), anxieties overall seem to have lessened and situations that would have set him off two months ago can sometimes be averted easily. WHY? I have no idea. Essential oils? Prayer? We've been consistent with both of the above, so maybe one or both are the answer?? The ONE thing that has been worse than usual is his attitude toward Sammy. He is usually so good with Sam and they play together so well. Lately he has been mostly positive to everyone except for Sam. Tonight I had the thought that Elijah's confidence seems to have been boosted. When he interacts with all of us, he has a much more confident spirit. For some reason, that confidence is translated into negativity when he interacts with his little bro.

In conclusion! Ha! I have no idea what is going on, but I am accepting most of these changes with open arms and hope that they only continue to blossom into better times and attitudes. Whatever is sparking this change, thank you!

That's all I've got for now. More later, as the week without Daddy unfolds! Thank you for peeking in!

A miracle before our eyes!

We still know nothing specific about the EEG results, aside from the fact that they were "abnormal." We have an appointment on Wednesday morning at 8:00 to discuss the results with Elijah's neurologist. It's anxiety-inducing to think about it, if I'm being honest. I know it'll be an answer for us and it's another step toward figuring out the Elijah Puzzle, but I am a mama and I do worry.

Now for amazing, miraculous news that will blow you away. If you don't believe in God and the power of prayer, you might reconsider after reading this. You might remember me writing about what Dr. L said to us after E's recent ear surgery. He told us that there was very very little hope that Elijah would ever be able to hear again out of his left ear. He said that the only reason he was telling us there was a chance was because he didn't like to say the word "never."

You know the rest of the story. We have been moving forward with the assumption that Elijah's left ear is deaf and will be forever. In the past week or so, though, Elijah has been insisting that he can hear a little bit out of his left ear. Dan and I have tested him a few times by plugging his right ear and whispering very softly into his left ear. He was actually repeating words back to us! But I still thought that maybe his right ear was just super-human.

Fast forward to today. Dan brought E to see Dr. L for surgery follow-up. They gave him a hearing test to check for the small chance that there might be residual conductive hearing. Guess what. HE HAS CONDUCTIVE HEARING. It's minimal, just like it was before surgery, but it exists! The doctor said, "There is really no way to explain this." Dan said, "Yes there is! Prayer!" There have been so many people praying for Elijah about this specific thing in the past month. SO MANY PEOPLE. Dan has been telling me since January 7th, as I sat crying in the waiting room at Children's Hospital after being told that Elijah would be deaf is his left ear for his entire life, "A miracle is going to happen. He is NOT going to be deaf. I just know it." Sure enough, my faithful husband has been right all along.

Elijah's footplate on his left side was literally broken in half and totally damaged. It had been that way for some time, based on the fact that there was no fluid in or around it. The fact that even a few cells survived is a miracle. THANK YOU all for praying. Thanks to your prayers, a miracle has happened right before our eyes and our oldest boy will be able to hear again.

At some point this coming summer, we'll do another surgery to check for cholesteatoma regrowth and also to see how much hearing can be restored in that ear. Until then, we will manage with what we have! Elijah has been cleared to return to school for half days for one month, and hopefully he'll be ready for full days after that. I'm waiting to hear back from a few people from his school, but I'm assuming we can get him back soon! (Pray for good-behavior angels to surround him, please.)

One last thing that made us giggle. Dan was explaining to Dr. L about the abnormal EEG and how we are trying to put all of these puzzle pieces together to figure out what is going on. Dr. L said, "Elijah's just an evil genius, controlling everybody's minds." There you go, puzzle solved. :)

And THERE YOU GO....you can now say you know someone who God performed a miracle upon.

Could every week please be like this one?

Standing all by himself! He's getting better and better every day. Tomorrow he has a PT appointment and a speech evaluation. (Look at the fluffy Elvis hair! Another haircut needed soon.)

I haven't written anything in a few days, but that is because we have been having a drama-free, low-key week. Every night this week we have had dinner together as a family, which is something we hardly ever do in the summer with Dan working so much in the evenings. I love it. It is so important to me that we all sit down together at the end of the day to eat a healthy meal. The weather has been gorgeous, so we have been taking walks to the park every day after I get home from work. Elijah giggles his way through all of the swinging and wagon riding. I finally have some help at work with a few projects so that has helped my mood tremendously. I was beginning to feel like I was swimming through quicksand every time I walked into my office. It has been a really positive week.


THIS is the rocket I point to all the time


Finger in belly button


Reading my big book



I woke up at 5:00 this morning crying my eyes out because of a dream I was having. It was a good dream. In it, Dan and I were sitting in the church in my hometown, Manning, Iowa. It is a pretty big church with a big congregation, and we were sitting toward the middle and it was packed. It was about halfway through worship when my dad got up in front to announce something. He grabbed the microphone and said, "Megan and Dan, I just want you to see something. I want you to see how loved Elijah is, and how loved you both are. Now, could everyone in here who has ever prayed for our little Elijah please raise your hand?" I looked around and EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the church had their hand raised. I put my face in my hands and cried. It was so moving. I couldn't stop the tears. I woke up crying into my pillow. I didn't stop crying for at least ten minutes. I knew it was true. Many many people have prayed for our baby. It feels so good knowing this. So, THANK YOU, everyone who has lifted our little boy up in prayer. You have made such a difference in our lives. We have felt your prayer surround us, and we are so grateful.


He has been really interested in exploring his body. It cracks me up. Yesterday he found his nostrils and was wedging his fingers up them as far as he could. Then he started folding his ears in half. Here, he's checking out his belly and hair at the same time.


His eyes are also very intriguing because he pokes his fingers in them constantly. Last night at dinner he was poking so hard at them that I actually started to get worried. He's just checking everything out!