Last Appointment, Baby Dedication, and Tomorrow's Appt.

I finally learned how to transfer pictures from my cell phone to my website, YEAH!!! Taryn was nearing the end of her hospital stay in this one, but I just had to post, because we spent lots of time driving this car around the halls.
April 16th highlight of our return to Vandy Children's was finally getting to meet CHAMP, the hospital mascot. Taryn was all about Champ until I got her out of the stroller, and she wanted no part of Champ, then.
Grammy spoiling me with extra butter at the Cheesecake Factory; we were cracking up, because we haven't been to a meal with 2 adults and 1 child to spoil in a very long time. Grammy was saying people around us, probably thought she was the 1st and only grandchild.
Beautiful Baby Dedication

Okay, I have been a very bad blogger, and I am not even going to use the Mom of 4 kids excuse, so here is a quick update about what has been going on the last couple of weeks. On April 16th we received an awesome report from the Infectious Disease team that we could finish the PIC line Penicillin that evening, and they would remove the PIC line the next day as long as the Plastic Surgery team didn't need the PIC line access. So, we got the PIC line out on the 17th, and it is bitter sweet, but we don't have to see Dr. Williams and the team anymore.

Dr. Shack, the Attending Plastic Surgeon, was very pleased with Taryn's left foot, and he wanted us to continue the dressing changes, and give Taryn's body 2 more weeks to heal before he reevaluates. He said he would definitely be scheduling her for outpatient surgery at some point to "clean up her foot", but he is trying to be as conservative as possible. Taryn has adjusted she just holds her big toe up when she walks. She has a pretty good fall about once a day, because the big toe has alot to do with balance. We give her Motrin for the pain, and she is now sleeping better for the most part. We will leave in the morning to see Dr. Shack in Nashville. Please, pray that we will get a good report, and the Lord will heal her Piggy Toes!!!!

Sunday was a wonderful, blessed time for our family. We started out the day worshipping with my sister and brother-in-law at their church, Macedonia Baptist in Kuttawa, KY. They dedicated their children, Tristan (big sis), Thomas Ray and Taylor Lynn (brother/sis twins) in their church's 1st annual Child/Baby Dedication service. Then our family came to our church, Hardin Baptist, for the evening Baby Dedication service in which Taryn was dedicated to the Lord. Many times when Taryn was so critically sick I thought of Hannah, and how she must of felt about Samuel, and her promise to God if He gave her a child. Dave and I could not make it through the service without several teary moments. The Lord is Good, and I thank Him for letting us still have Taryn with us.

I am also asking special prayer for Gunner Gillespie and his family. Many of you know his story. Even though we have actually never officially met, our family is touched by their dedication to the Lord to carry them through this very difficult time in their lives. Pray that Gunner is Tumor-free, and they will rest this evening while they are awaiting to hear the results of his MRI that will be available tomorrow. Their website is http://www.gunnergillespie.com/

We've Been Home Over a Week

1st night at home and Bubba wouldn't leave my side
Having too much fun with Tylee

My favorite pose "Big Kissy Lips"

Hey Guys,

It is hard to believe that we have been home from the hospital a full week. Taryn is doing great!!! She still has an occasional low grade fever, possibly from her feet. We think she may be in the healthcare profession when she grows up, because she loves to play with the medical cart and pretend to hook herself up to a cardiac monitor. You would think after all she has been through that she would want no part of that. She is still anti-scrubs; she did not like her homehealth visit from the Physical Therapist, but the great news is she doesn't require any physical therapy. She is doing great with her PIC Line and IV antibiotics; she never bothers it, except to try and help us flush the line.(not real safe for an 18mth old) She looks so halarious running around with her little fanny pack of drugs. Dave now has another profession: nursing. I've taught him well, and we have been alternating nights, so Mama can sleep a few hours, too. We also were finally able to celebrate Tylee's 3rd Birthday at Grammy and Papa Ted's last Sunday night, and she just informed me she wanted to celebrate again tonight, so we did use her left over party plates for supper. I am also including some pictures of Taylen after she had just performed at the Kentucky Opry on 03/08/08. She already had plans to spend the night with her good friend Abby H., so she wasn't able to be at Tylee's party.

Please keep praying for Taryn's toes. We leave early Tues. am for appointments with her doctors on Tues and Wed. She really cries during the dressing changes, and we pray that we will continue to get good reports about her lungs and toes next week.

I just love Stephen Curtis Chapman's song, "Cinderella" It reminds me of how quickly our children are growing up, and they will soon be gone. Midnight can strike any of our families at anytime; I still just Thank the Lord for His Miracle of Life!!! When I look in Taryn's face I see God and the prayers He answered for us. We can take all of our concerns to Him, because He understands!! A sweet family sent us a card that said "He understands your pain, because He watched His own Son suffer", oh there is not even a comparsion of what Taryn went through compared to Jesus, oh how thankful I am for serving such an understanding God!

PS: I tried to load the song, but I am not too techno savvy, and my disc drive is giving trouble, so any expert bloggers out there I could use some help in the music area. Also, check out the two posts below this for more pics; they all wouldn't fit in one post.

In Christ,

Traci

Photos Cont.

Our 3 year old Birthday Princess
A very excited Birthday Girl
Happy about eating all that cake
I have enjoyed reading all my get well cards, and please be patient with Mommy she is trying to work on all the Thank you notes.
The Birthday party crew

Taylen receiving her check at the Opry "You go Girl!"
Posing for Mom afterwards
God is Amazing!!! 4 weeks ago today we took Taryn to the ER at Murray. She is sporting her IV Pencillin fanny pack with her Dora gown and she obviously just finished her raisins, notice her box in the floor.

Thanks to All...

Hello again everybody,
We have been home 6 days now and I would like to say we're sorry for just now blogging to everyone. It has been very hectic since Taryn came home, but we are very happy to be home. I have been working extra long hours at the new Outdoor Store to try and catch up and Traci has been dealing with keeping the IV antibiotics going for Taryn and trying to catch up around the house. Traci and I have been switching up every other night staying up to start and stop the IV medicines that the doctors have Taryn on. All-in-all, everything is wonderful because we are at the place we love, HOME!!!
I wanted to say a special thank you to all the doctors, nurses and staff at both Vanderbilt and Murray Calloway County Hospitals for all the hard work they all did to help get Taryn back to our family. We all know that God was the reason that Taryn's life was spared, but God is the one who gave everyone who worked on Taryn or worked with us the ability to do what they do. Our words will never be able to say or mean what our hearts feel because there are not enough words to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts, hard work, and phine calls. It has been overwhelming to me the number of people I don't even know who come up to me and ask how Taryn is doing. WOW!!! THANKS AGAIN FROM OUR ENTIRE FAMILY TO EVERYONE, WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU ALL.
We will hopefully start to see everything get a little more back to normal over the next few weeks and it looks like Taryn will make a full recovery. God Bless Everyone, Dave

Home Sweet Home

Hello everyone,
We have not updated since Taryn came home Friday night. it has been pretty hectic and we have just enjoyed being at home. We are at Teddy and Teresa's house having a Tylee birthday party and a Taryn welcome home party. It is really amazing to watch Taryn walking around and laughing. God truly is awesome and His mercy is wonderful. It is also overwhelming when I sit here and see Taryn and realize that i am not dreaming. She is still with us after all we have been through. Let me just say that it is easy to try and be a "tough guy" and be strong but emotionally it is a true rollercoaster ride. God has truly changed our entire family's lives and He has opened up a new way to look at life. Life is about our relationship with Christ and it is also about FAMILY. Our family is returning to normal with kids screaming, laughing and playing. What a joyous sound to hear Taryn joining in the fun of being loud and happy. Thank you all so much for the hugs and tears at churc
h this morning. It is very nice to be home-sweet-home. Love ya'll, Dave

We are Coming Home!!!

Well, this day just keeps getting better. We just received clearance from all four of our teams, and we should be home tonight!!! We actually are going to be waiting on Daddy and Tycen to pick us up, because the discharge orders have just been completed, but they are on their way.
We are supposed to meet our home health nurse to start IV infusion between 8 and 9 pm tonight. Thank you all so much for all of the prayers, calls, visits, cards, gifts, and more!!!
We can't began to name each one of you, because during this roller coaster ride; we would surely leave someone out. It is hard to believe that less than 3 weeks ago our child was brink of passing away. As a mother it is hard to even say those words, but the Lord has given her back to us. Don't ever stop praying or trusting, because HE IS LORD!!! We are going to keep this blog open, because Taryn still has several follow up appointments with her illness, and then we will probably make this into our family blog. Thank you for taking this journey with us. We love each and everyone of you, and if there is ever anything we can do to help you in anyway including your prayer requests, please let us know!

The Power of Hope "Happy is he. . . whose hope is in the Lord his God." Psalm 146:5
The Lord will sustain us through life's trials. Hope tells us there is a day coming when we will know perfect and unending peace, joy, and happiness. Hope is not just wishful thinking. God can do and will do what He promises. (from book Promises of Comfort)

With much gratitude,
In Christ,
Traci