yeah, we are the yak wrestlers

This is a family of yaks that our friend owns. One of the calves needed an ear tag, so guess who they asked to help: Todd the cowboy and his Dad. Here is the calf after being lassoed by Todd and about to be taken down and given an earring. The tackling of the calf seemed to be a fun challenge for all the men involved.
Elijah and Grandma (and mommy!) stayed at a safe distance where we couldn't see any blood. Elijah was the typical boy and begged to be let go of so he could get in on the excitement. (Just kidding, but it is fun putting words in his mouth.)

huckleberries and Banff

Just thought you might like a peek at our delectable breakfasts lately...fresh nectarines and huckleberries that we picked ourselves. Soooo good! Huckleberries are my new favorite food, I think! They are selling in town for close to $50/gallon. I think that the refreshment we gain from picking them off the mountains is reason enough not to buy them! Imagine yourself with huckleberry-stained fingers, gulping in beautiful fresh air while you ravenously gaze at God's majesty all around, tasting these wildly good purple berries as you go -- and I think you get the picture! These two pictures are some of Elijah's expressions when I come to get him in the morning. He is always so happy when he first gets up. It's my favorite time of day with him.

We were so blessed with a quick trip to Banff, Canada just over a week ago. We went to meet up with my brother and his friend who were on their way back from Alaska. We left after Todd finished work, pulled into the campsite about midnight and crashed! Elijah and I slept in the van, and it was our first experience with using Elijah's feeding pump away from electrical outlets. No problems!

'Beauty' does nothing to describe what we saw. I am awed by a God whose creativity knows no limits.
We found a trail that Elijah's chair did pretty well on, at least for a little way. Maybe we're going to have to look into sled dogs for Elijah when we go hiking...


Todd's parents have been here for a few days, so we'll keep you posted on our adventures with them. They are a huge blessing to us!

freedom

Floating on his back, with eyes big and the tiniest hint of a smile, he kicked his legs and moved his arms with determination. So happy and relaxed. The warm water freed him, no longer a prisoner wanting to wiggle yet held inside a body that doesn't cooperate.

Watching, the therapist whispered, "Oh Julie...it brings tears to my eyes to see him with such pleasure on his face. He is enjoying this so much. It's like he is truly in his body and able to use it."

Grateful hearts for little blessings today, Lord...for seeing my child enjoy his world and be able to move.

playing in the wind and water

Last weekend we all got to go sailing! Todd has been a crew member this summer on the pretty boat, the Firefly, and they race on Thursday nights. The owner of the boat let Elijah and I come along last Saturday. So peaceful - so beautiful. Nothing but the sounds of the wind in the sails and the water spraying as the boat skimmed through.
"Dad, this life-jacket feels a bit like a strait jacket to me..."

the handsome Harkins men
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Sometimes I feel like I am part of a social experiment labeled: 'How American Culture Responds to the Abnormal and the Handicapped'. Elijah and I went grocery shopping together a few days ago. It was "Fresh Friday", so the store was packed out. No handicapped parking and no shopping carts. (Elijah is in his little chair, so our system is to grab a cart and park it in an aisle, returning when my arms/basket get full so we can deposit the groceries in the cart.)

Since the store was full, I knew I could probably count on lots of strange looks. Thankfully, this was not a day of raw emotions...my 'game face' was on and I was ready. We started our shopping, finally getting a cart, and the mental volleyball began. Ok, there's a strange look coming our way. Right back atcha with a smile, buddy. And so it went, as we ventured through the produce and the dairy aisle.

I feel like God is building a confidence and strength in me through this sweet life with Elijah, and that is all for HIS glory and because of HIS grace. People (myself included) are so bound up in what is physical and what can be seen on the outside. When I feel like we are being pitied, I think, "They don't know what I have. They don't know what an absolute treasure this little boy is." I wish I could shout it from the roof tops that we are not to be pitied, because we are blessed!

Thank you, Father, for Your gifts that take my breath away. Like azure sky filling spaces between tree-lined peaks. Like a little boy with soft brown curls who brings so much joy. Like learning how to really love, to give, to see people with Your eyes.

good times

The month of July has been PACKED with good times! The next three shots are still from our trip to Montana.

Do you notice the number of cowboy hats there are in this picture? Definitely not your everyday headgear where I come from in Wisconsin.


Elijah and some of his beautiful (girl) and handsome (boy) cousins. All fabulous people.

We took this road heading home to Idaho from Montana. I love this picture! Two ways to tell if a road is NOT on the beaten path: 1) the cows have free range, and 2) there is grass growing between the wheel tracks.

Elijah says, "I just wanna get out of this cage, Mom!"

We were able to go on a bike ride in Idaho with Todd's aunt, uncle, and cousins! They not only lent us gear (including the little trailer) but put up with a multitude of stops checking on the little guy. Our bike ride was sooooo good for me. I was so happy to feel like a "normal person" again. To attempt a day like this would have been out of the question for most of the past two years. Elijah was a trooper, and I was so thankful for...everything.


The trail we took was called the Hiawatha, and it was approximately 14 (?) miles long. It had nine tunnels and is built over a railroad. Here is one of the trestles, and we are the pinheads waving.
My wonderful brother Jesse came for a visit! He is on a manly motorcycle adventure, driving from Wisconsin to Alaska. Here he is with his fellow motorcycle buddy, Seth, and Todd. These three guys did some off-roading in the mountains.
"Oh no, Dad's sleeping. How am I gonna get out of here? Help me, help me, Mom..."
Our latest thrill has been picking huckleberries in the mountains. (Elijah watches for bears while we pick, and Todd carries the bear deterrent.) This was the first berry-finding mission (we didn't even know what huckleberries LOOKED like), accompanied by our friends below...
Patience and I went to Bible school together a LONG time ago. We have a lot of fun and crazy memories together. This is my dear friend Patience and her husband, Brian.
Huckleberry cobbler and icecream!

helpless one

I went in to check on him before going to bed...and what I found made me sad.

Vomit pooled in little puddles on his face. His eyes and ears were small lakes of vomit, and his hair, pillow, and shirt were covered. Somehow, we hadn't heard him this time, and who knew how long he had been lying there like that. Helpless. Softly crying. Unable to turn his face or roll over so he wouldn't be covered with his own vomit from the reflux he's had his entire life.

Not even able to call out for "mommy".

As I comforted him and washed his face, he stopped crying. But tears formed in my own eyes and I wanted to cry my heart out for my child. "You are so helpless, little son...and so very "undeserving" of a life so hard." It's easy to compare Elijah's life with other two-year-olds, and feel like he got cheated! (Yet who are we to say what a "good" life is?) When it comes down to the bedrock of what we believe, we know that God doesn't lie, and that He works good from bad. Turns what isn't, into what IS. We'll trust You on that one, Lord, even when our hearts ache...when our small boy lies helpless in his vomit.

Thank you, Lord, for all Elijah teaches us...to learn in small ways your compassion. To have my heart moved by his struggles.

"Mom, are you serious - that guy right there is really my uncle?"
Two special friends...

We can tell Elijah's making progress by comparing this photo with any other ones of Elijah with his great-grandpa...he's not crying here! Yay, Elijah!
Heading off to start 'the great hike' to see family history in Montana. This was such a fun day! Todd and I even got to hike together...Todd's mom and a few other ladies stayed with Elijah and we relished our freedom like little kids!

Here we are...this was kinda like a date!

photos for you

Here's a few more photos from our trip...
Elijah loves the evening light (maybe it's easier on his eyes) and here he seems to be looking at the trees against the sky. This was after a full and beautiful day with my family in Wisconsin.
Cousins...taking this picture was funny because "B." kept trying to pull Elijah's hair. Most of the other photos we took have an intervening hand in the middle of the picture.
"Ahhh, I am really enjoying playing with my Dad."
I think we might have a little teaching to do about being nice to girls...
Elijah with his Grandma and Grandpa at the campfire. Long sleeves so the mosquitoes stay away!

fun with the family

Here is our little cowboy in Montana, hitching a ride with Todd's cousin Ogden. Elijah says: "I know he's not holding onto the reins. I'm just gonna sit really still, close my eyes and pray".

This is my Mom, (some of) my sisters, and me. We were getting ready for Natalie's graduation party, thus the mounds of raw vegetables. Lawn tractor rides are somewhat of a tradition in my family. My Grandma used to drive us around her farm in the same wagon. Here is Elijah in the copilot's seat with his uncle Jordan and cousins in Wisconsin.

We are back in beautiful Idaho again. It was a strange feeling to realize as we drove into town that it really is starting to feel like home. All is grace and gift from the Giver!

I am so thankful that we got to see our families and a few special friends. Elijah also did better on this trip than any previous one. We even had a few relaxing hours in the car where Elijah wasn't crying! That is AMAZING!! I felt like I was in a dream...just enjoying the scenery from the passenger window with a happy child in the backseat and a dear husband beside me. A blessing, I tell you!!

If you can't guess, most of our previous travels across the country have been endurance events. Elijah would cry for the entire time in his carseat, never sleep, and nothing we tried would distract or comfort him. As a mom, it is miserable to listen to your baby cry his heart out for that long. Of course, we knew that Elijah's fussiness was due to his brain injury, but I would feel (as I have often felt) so frustrated at my inability to calm my own child...and so incredibly exasperated by the lack of "reason" for his crying.

Thankfully, God is helping Elijah improve...and we are enjoy the little times to relax when we get them!

More pics and stories to come!

family - how we love them

This is a short hello to let you know things are ok with us - we're on a trip visiting both sides of our family. It's been wonderful and a lot of fun. We'll post some pictures when we get home. In the meantime, it's all about being together!

P.S. Elijah recovered and his lungs are just fine. We are thankful!

exploring our local ER

It's been a long time since we've been to an ER (the last time was in the Philippines), but we just made our first visit to the little emergency room here in town. They were wonderful, and it is soooooo good to know that we have pretty much immediate care just blocks away from our house. Ours was the third car to park in front - obviously, one big advantage in a small town is that you don't have to wait! (Thank you Lord, for planning that...)

It started out with a 'throw-up' episode for Elijah, which is still happening periodically for him due to reflux. However, something was different this time...he was gurgling and having a hard time breathing well. The ER staff suctioned him with a tube down his nose, and things improved. It was hard to stand there and watch him being held down, screaming, thrashing, and not understanding.

They they took some x-rays of his lungs, for which Elijah decided to sleep through. (I think we wore him out with all the crying.) We're supposed to keep a close eye on him tonight and watch for signs of a fever.

On a funny note, the nurse guessed his age at FOUR. (No, really, ma'am, he's just barely two years old.)

So thankful that Todd was home for all of this (he had JUST arrived - less than five minutes before Elijah threw up), and that God said 'yes' to our prayers today!!

A few photos to share...

This is our latest entry for the father/son look-alike contest! Todd is trying to imitate Elijah's facial expression, and I think he's doing a good job of it.
Here's little E doing great holding his head up! He's learning to kneel and put weight on his arms and legs. Several weeks ago he would have just cried in this position.

Thank you, Lord, for little gifts...progress we can see. Help us persevere in times we can't; help us keep working and helping, hoping and praying for whatever you have for this little boy's future.

the little things of the day

Elijah had his first dentist appointment today - he was so cute! He grinds his teeth a lot, so I didn't know what we would hear...but all is good, at least for now. Yay!

We stopped to visit Todd at work afterwards. I am so blessed to be with a man who always makes me feel like I'm the highlight of his day, even if he is loaded down with responsibilities and pressures. I love stopping in at his work!

The speech therapist was supposed to come to our house in the afternoon, but Elijah and I took a vacation today instead. We played on the floor and (I) made chicken soup, a little antidote to all the cold weather we're having. There was even snow dusting the tops of the evergreens today on the mountains.

It felt good to free up our afternoon and just relax a little. Every time a therapist comes to our house, which is several times weekly, I think everything needs to be tidy...and today I just didn't want that pressure. I love an orderly home, but I would also like the ability to swallow my pride and be completely non-apologetic (and also completely comfortable) if someone stops by and things aren't perfect. Keep working on me, Lord...

birthday boy!

Our 'baby' boy turned two on the 31st! That is SO hard to believe. We are enormously thankful for the blessing of Elijah! He has a sweetness to his personality that is hard to capture in pictures. I love kissing his soft cheeks and knowing him well enough to understand the expressions on his face. He has a lot to tell us...we probably will never know just how much.


Of all the things in this world Elijah will never be able to do, he can do the one thing that is most important: he knows how to love! He may not be able to express it with words, but he loves.

Thank you, friends and family, for helping us celebrate the gift of Elijah! Your phone calls, cards, presence at his party, and gifts were all so sweet. We love you.

Somehow I overlooked the fact that we only had three matches in the house. The little breeze we had extinguished all three, so we sang happy birthday but didn't blow out the candles!
This is how Elijah enjoyed his cake (mainly "playing" with it). He even tried a tiny crumb I put in his mouth without reacting.
One of the beautiful party-goers eating her cake on a convenient table.
Elijah had to try out his new sunglasses; after all, he is two years old now and practically a grown-up. Don't you think they make him look cool?
Reading his new book with the different textures to feel inside. He liked it!

I love this picture...Elijah is yawning and his new friend doesn't know what to think of him falling over on her. We think he planned it.
Later in the day, a big smile trying out his new jacket and bib with Dad.


We are THANKFUL for our two years with you, Elijah! Love, your Mom and Dad

smiles

We had a great memorial day weekend...we spent time with a special family (and company), got to attend the grad party of a wonderful girl, and stayed the night with Todd's aunt and uncle. It still amazes me that of all the places in the USA we could have lived, the Lord put us HERE. Here where we have family and even a few friends nearby.

This is Elijah learning to balance himself...he can sometimes sit for 30 seconds or even a minute on a good day. I'm trying to learn the art of not over-protecting my child with special needs. In other words, I let him tip over when he loses his balance (on a soft surface). How else can he learn how his body works? I have to remind myself that all babies have to learn this in the same way. Although Elijah happens to be nearly two, the process is the same.

Here is a little series of pictures to show you what a blessed Mom I am: Elijah had these beautiful smiles and expressions when we got up today. I didn't catch the first and biggest smile on camera, but these are just about as cute! I am so excited that Elijah's face is showing more emotion. It's still so very subtle most of the time, but occasionally he breaks out with a heart-melter smile.

My heart was drip, drip, dripping this morning.