We started Monday off super great! When I walked in Cale’s room this morning He was sitting at the sink, PT and OT were helping him brush his teeth. It was so exciting! He wasn’t very willing to put the tooth brush in his mouth but he did let them do it and then he did drink some water, attempted to swish it around, and then opened his mouth over the sink. Wow! How far he has come from the days in ICU when he wouldn’t even open his mouth! After they were done with mouth care, they pulled his wheel chair over to the bed, and Cale helped transfer! He reached to his chair and started the transfer and they just guided him over! Oh goodness! I feel so overwhelmed with joy! It’s so amazing to watch him do all of these things!
Report Day:
Cale now weighs 136.3 pounds! He’s only a few pounds off from what he normally is! Woohoo! They changed his feeding to 400ml, still 6 times a day and are now giving him water along with that. He has a couple more days on the medicine for his infection and then they will retest him. Let’s pray his body is clear of ALL infections! They’re saying he’s keeping both eyes open about 75% of the time during the day. There’s a few different times mentioned that he’s progressing with ADL (activities of daily living) and that gets me crazy happy! Haha! Time frame now says…11 weeks! So there is no confusion, they haven’t extended Cale because of progress, it’s military related…and a HUGE blessing!
Dancing has a very special place in my life. It’s such a beautiful thing. In 2004 a bunch of us were going to prom together. Cale and I went just as friends and the very next day he asked me to date him. Less then a year later we were married :) At some point that night during our silly dancing, Caleb Michael Darling won my heart. After he deployed the first time and I was in New York, alone without all of my friends and family, I spent a lot of time dancing with the Lord. I have a special song that when I hear it, I go to a place that’s just me and God and I twirl and I feel His presence so strong.
This journey that I’m on right now is just like dancing. We have taken steps forward (so many steps!) and we’ve taken steps backwards. There are always new steps being added and steps changing. Every time Cale has been reaching out to me or hugging me I feel like I’m twirling, and every precious sweet kiss he gives, I feel like I’m being dipped. God is singing over us, holding all of my the tears, and I know He delights in us and our love for each other.
From the first night we were together, and for as long as God allows, I will hold Cale’s hand and dance.
You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. GOD, my God, I can't thank you enough.
Psalm 30:11-12 (the message)
wow amazing!!!!! all of it, amazing!!!! so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSo awesome to start your day this way and so awesome for me to end my day to read all these things he is doing. Powerful things our God is Kathleen. As the old hymn says" A mighty fortress is our God" This is so good to read. We love you and miss you and of course expect only good things for you both. And we are praying for Cales infection everyday. Sleep with Angels flights of fancy my darling.
ReplyDeleteJean and Charlie
What a beautiful heart you have for the Lord, kathleen. This entry warmed my heart :) Its only a matter of time before you two will be dancing again !
ReplyDeleteKathleen,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Angela Mangum, I live in Clayton, NY and am friends with many who know and love you. Though we have never met, God has woven you into my heart through your blog and the way that He calls me to pray for you and Caleb.
I want to share with you the prayer that He has put on my heart for Cale, I hope that it will comfort and drive you! When I first heard of the request to pray for you and Caleb I simply would pray for peace and healing. But, as I continued to pray and read your notes, God led me to a specific verse and prayer. Psalm 139:13 says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." The prayer that God gave me for Caleb was that He would knit him together again just as He had done in his mother's womb. In that secret place where no one could see or know Caleb, God knew him and so intricately pieced him together...I believe that He is doing that again now. In the secret, hidden parts of Caleb's mind and body God is knitting him together. And at the same time, he is weaving such a beautiful testimony in both of you!
I can not tell you how your faith and courage inspire me. God does not teach us things for no reason, do not forget this...continue to dance with him and know that the master weaver is busy with the work at hand!
Much love and many prayers,
Angela
Kathleen! You always know how to make my heart melt! :) I love you both so much! I cannot wait to hear what Cale is doing for the next 11 weeks!
ReplyDeleteContinue to dance Kathleen...."Out of these ashes... beauty will rise"...and one day Cale will again be in your arms1!!
ReplyDeleteI heard this song (by "Steven Curtis Chapman) after reading your post....and thought of you...
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It was the day the world went wrong
I screamed til my voice was gone
And watched through the tears as everything
came crashing down
Slowly panic turns to pain
As we awake to what remains
and sift through the ashes that are left
behind
But buried deep beneath
All our broken dreams
we have this hope:
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning, beauty will rise
So take another breath for now,
and let the tears come washing down,
and if you can't believe I will believe
for you.
Cuz I have seen
the signs of spring!
Just watch and see:
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning...
This is our hope.
This is the promise.
This is our hope.
This is the promise.
That it would take our breath away
to see the beauty that's been made
out of the ashes...
out of the ashes...
Much love and continual prayers,
Judy Jay (Dryden, N.Y.)