We're home!

Thank you for all your prayers--Lyla is about 90% back to her happy little self. Lots of smiles today, and she even went from 4-point (crawling position) to sitting position all by herself! Back to progress...

We thank the Lord for hearing our prayers and bringing Lyla back to health.

Hospital :(

As many of you probably already know, we are at the hospital with Lyla in Tucson. She got a nasty virus (at least that's what we suspect it is) and wasn't eating or drinking for a few days. She also was having pretty high fevers and vomitting and was very lethargic. She got dehydrated enough that the doctor said she needed to go to the ER for IV hydration. They have ruled out meningitis, UTI, and pretty much see no evidence of any bacterial infection. Also, the IV antibiotics she's been getting have not brought down her fevers or made her feel better. That's why we're thinking it's viral. She's coming around very slowly, but surely. She's no longer dehydrated so they capped her IV this morning. She's eating and drinking better, and is keeping it down, so there's a possibility she could be discharged this evening. That would be great! The care here has been really wonderful, but it's no GL. :) Thanks so much for all your prayers and support. I'll try to keep the blog updated.

Crawling!

Here's what I could catch so far...

Milestone

Very exciting Lyla news! Yesterday, on September 10, 2010, Lyla crawled on her own! She's been kinda toying with it and moving her hands and feet in 4-point for about the last week or so. But yesterday she just decided to take off and crawled about 8 feet across the carpet in her bedroom! Of course, I didn't have the video camera handy when she did it, but I will try to catch her crawling on video within the next few days. We are SO amazed and thankful. The Lord continues to do a miracle in Lyla Jane! Crawling will really help to continue to strengthen her core and arm/shoulder muscles--all good stuff! :)

Apple Annie's

We went on a little trip to an apple/peach/pear orchard, and it was lots of fun!

Naomi Rose (eight weeks old!) :)

Charis and Sophie picking peaches

Those peaches were yummy!

tractor-trailor ride

This & That

Cuteness--with a delicious mix of spaghetti and chocolate pudding around her mouth :)

Our new pets

Update/Praise/Prayer

I was thinking, I really like having a blog primarily because it's an easy and fun way to keep friends and family updated on Lyla's progress (and on our life in general I guess). But I also like it because it's a great way to communicate prayer requests! I am so thankful for so many of you who pray for us! I just want you to know, too, that we would really love it if you would communicate your prayer requests to us as well! You can always email or call or leave a comment (if you can possibly figure out how--it ain't easy!) We love to support others in prayer because we have been so supported by other's prayers. :)

Our latest updates are as follows:

• Joel just accepted the job we were really, really hoping he would get at the VA Hospital!!! We thank the Lord!!! Great location and great benefits-we are so thankful and excited!

• We put in an offer on a great house that's in the same subdivision that my brother and sis-in-law and nieces live in. It's a short sale so it could take awhile for the bank to respond. We are praying they will accept our offer, and that the process will go quickly--especially because Joel's family is coming to visit in November and we would love to have a place for them to stay. Also (obviously) we are looking forward to having a home of our own!

• Lyla is doing very well and is really starting to get used to my parents' house. She can go for long walks inside and is becoming much more confident standing and walking. She is almost 21 months old! Again, praise the Lord! In other Lyla news, a geneticist that spoke to us about Trisomy 18 the day after we found out that Lyla was diagnosed with it, recently asked us if he could use some pictures of Lyla in a presentation he gave about Trisomies 13 and 18. Of course we said yes, and just the other day he emailed the presentation to us. I'm going to try to post a link to the presentation on the blog soon. It's very informational about Trisomy 18 and 13. And it was just a great reminder as to how much of a miracle Lyla truly is.

• Also, I just wanted to share my heart a little bit here to ask for prayer. Joel and I would really love to provide a brother or sister for Lyla. We have been trying since she was about 6 months old. We had a miscarriage in January, which was of course hard. But we started to try again in April and ever since, with no success. I know that the Lord has perfect timing, but sometimes I am so impatient and I worry that maybe there is something wrong. It's been a struggle for me recently, and Joel and I would really love your prayers for us in this area--that we can just trust the Lord, have peace in our hearts, that we can have patience, and that we can have another baby! So there you have it.

• As far as a job for me, I am going to wait until we get settled into a house and until Lyla gets used to yet another transition. Then I will start looking for something part-time.

• Oh, and I can't forget to mention that we will be getting another new niece or nephew in March! Joel's brother and his wife (aka Uncle Faz and Auntie Bryana) are expecting, and we are soooo excited!

So that's the update! Enjoy the latest pics...

Naomi is 6 weeks old now and is growing like a weed!

Uncle Linc time :)

Naomi is so strong--she loves to stand up

Lyla loves her little cuzzie!

Pretty views from our drive to Pena Blanca Lake

Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

Pics & Vids

Hiking in Madera Canyon--Lyla loves hikes!

Sophie = cutie

Fun at the park

swinging

reading

walking :)

The desert sky never ceases to amaze :)

barrel cactus flowers

Mt. Lemmon

Joel, Lyla and I went on a camping trip on Mt. Lemmon which is about an hour outside of Tucson. It was so beautiful! We camped at about 7000 feet elevation and the difference in temperature was absolutely refreshing! It was about 75 degrees during the day and got down to 55 or 60 at night. It was like being in the Colorado mountains--amazing! It was a fun little family getaway. :) And Lyla seemed to really enjoy hiking, as you can see...

This was on a hike near the summit of Mt. Lemmon (9000 ft in elevation)

one of many scenic lookouts

our campsite

Rose Canyon Lake

some wildlife around the lake

lookout to Thimble Point (can you see the thimble?)

Lyla on the drive home :)

Thank you Lord, for the beauty of Your creation!

Arizona Beauty, Arizona Cutie

AZ Moments

A beautiful sunset in my parents' back yard

Naomi with her loving daddy :)

Panama

Joel and his dad made it back from their 10-day trip to Panama safe & sound. Thanks for your prayers! They had a great time...here's a sampling of some of the pics they took.

a conch Joel picked up while snorkeling

the Panama Canal

Darien Jungle wildlife

Joel caught a 20 lb mahi-mahi (right) and a mackeral (left)

their bungalow for 3 nights on San Blas Island

lots of minnows!

Can you find the sea turtle?

Joel's dad with a peacock bass he caught

peacock bass cooked up