Good Morning Sunshines! Today is going to be a great day!
Alex made the front page of the metro section of the Florida Times Union today and I couldn't be happier with the article! A big thank you to JIM SCHOETTLER for putting a positive spin on this! God is performing daily miracles with Alex and I am so glad that today we give GOD credit for what has already taken place! From day one I have tried to focus on the positives....two books..... "THE SECRET", the "BIBLE" along with my prayer warriors out there.... are what keep me going day to day!
Alex is up and awake and practicing things with us.... he is sooo enthusiastic and tells us he wants to practice different things such as math problems, spelling and tracking. We are working with him today to be able to follow us from one side of the room to the other. It's amazing to see how he doesn't want to give up and wants to work on different tasks each day! Brooks Rehab I hope you are ready for us because we are going SUPERMAN speed around here, lol!!
If you haven't had a chance to read the paper ... you can also go to Jacksonville.com and see the live video interview that Nick and I did with Florida Times Union on Friday. Jim.... thank you again for taking the time to get the REAL STORY and what the REAL FOCUS should be .... and that is ALEX and what GOD is doing in his life!
Hoping you all have a FABULOUS SUNDAY.... because we here at SHANDS are doing just that!!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
JANUARY 30TH (10:30 PM)
A BIG THANK you toooo Frans Boutique and Salon for their fundraiser and to News 4 Jax for covering the story along with Channel 12! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!
You can hear the interview I had with Gator Country 99.9 on my facebook page and I am trying to upload it on this website... probably won't happen until tomorrow! Check out the Florida Times Union as Nick and I were interviewed the same day and the story should appear in the paper tomorrow morning.... if not, then Monday's paper!
Alex is doing geat and continues to amaze me with things he does on a daily basis without being asked!! Theresa Hawkins came in tonight with Caitlyn and friend Elizabeth and we were trying to get him to say see you tomorrow and naturally Alex does things when HE WANTS TO DO THINGS.... so he wasn't having any of that and closed his eyes as if to say... get out of my face, lol. We stood there and talked for a minute before she was going to leave and then she said "ok Alex, I will see you tomorrow" ... how bout that little buggar decides he is going to SIGN... her. Like the letter "C" and then pointed to her for "U"..... in other words... SEE YOU. He also told her he loved her, gave her the sign for I Love You and then waved bye! HE IS AWESOME! Everyday it seems as though he comes up with some little unique way to surprise me or amaze me showing me that he is still in there! THANK YOU GOD! Some of you may or may not know this, I can't remember if I wrote about the day the doctor told me he probably wouldn't be the same Alex that he was once before. I BEG TO DIFFER, ha ha! Same old Alex is in there..... he was just taking a nap for a little while until his brain healed enough to be a smartypants again.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Peace and comfort for the family of the 2-year old from Mayport.... next couple of days are going to be really tough for them, especially the dad, Bert.
PRAY FOR:
You play a huge part in the survival of my precious Alex and I wanted to personally thank you all myself! It was a team effort to get him here that day and you all played a very important role in why he is here today! If you have a minute, please stop by, introduce yourself and take a peek at Alex. Noone can possibly imagine what you saw that day nor can we imagine the image that is stuck in your head when you think of him. It will do you a world of good to come and see him and erase what you must be carrying with you on a daily basis. If anything it will give you hope.... hope for the next time you have to go on a scene or respond to a call.... that maybe... just maybe..... God will perform a miracle on that child as well and be as fortunate as Alex is! I know that you see first hand what people are capable of but I want you to see the work in progress of what GOD IS CAPABLE OF! Things like this happen everyday... again, it's one thing to hear about it.... it's another to witness it! I would love to thank you in person and introduce you to one of the most heroic kids of all time....a strong little fighter... handsome as ever..... come check out what God is doing and witness it yourself! Then you can carry THIS image with you and know that God is present and miracles do happen in the aftermath..... you played a part in this... come claim your prize image....He's a handsome boy with a fight and desire to live and be as he once was! THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY! I love you!
Remember... Sunday is family day... God then family... both are a must! Kiss those babies, hug those babies.... house work can wait! I wish I could hug mine.... so stop and hug yours for me!!
PEACE~ LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
You can hear the interview I had with Gator Country 99.9 on my facebook page and I am trying to upload it on this website... probably won't happen until tomorrow! Check out the Florida Times Union as Nick and I were interviewed the same day and the story should appear in the paper tomorrow morning.... if not, then Monday's paper!
Alex is doing geat and continues to amaze me with things he does on a daily basis without being asked!! Theresa Hawkins came in tonight with Caitlyn and friend Elizabeth and we were trying to get him to say see you tomorrow and naturally Alex does things when HE WANTS TO DO THINGS.... so he wasn't having any of that and closed his eyes as if to say... get out of my face, lol. We stood there and talked for a minute before she was going to leave and then she said "ok Alex, I will see you tomorrow" ... how bout that little buggar decides he is going to SIGN... her. Like the letter "C" and then pointed to her for "U"..... in other words... SEE YOU. He also told her he loved her, gave her the sign for I Love You and then waved bye! HE IS AWESOME! Everyday it seems as though he comes up with some little unique way to surprise me or amaze me showing me that he is still in there! THANK YOU GOD! Some of you may or may not know this, I can't remember if I wrote about the day the doctor told me he probably wouldn't be the same Alex that he was once before. I BEG TO DIFFER, ha ha! Same old Alex is in there..... he was just taking a nap for a little while until his brain healed enough to be a smartypants again.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Peace and comfort for the family of the 2-year old from Mayport.... next couple of days are going to be really tough for them, especially the dad, Bert.
PRAY FOR:
- Alex's swelling to keep diminishing
- Alex's doctor to say it's ok for the catheter to come out now, lol
- For the EVD drain to be taken out in the next couple of days so that we can travel to Brooks for some rehab!
You play a huge part in the survival of my precious Alex and I wanted to personally thank you all myself! It was a team effort to get him here that day and you all played a very important role in why he is here today! If you have a minute, please stop by, introduce yourself and take a peek at Alex. Noone can possibly imagine what you saw that day nor can we imagine the image that is stuck in your head when you think of him. It will do you a world of good to come and see him and erase what you must be carrying with you on a daily basis. If anything it will give you hope.... hope for the next time you have to go on a scene or respond to a call.... that maybe... just maybe..... God will perform a miracle on that child as well and be as fortunate as Alex is! I know that you see first hand what people are capable of but I want you to see the work in progress of what GOD IS CAPABLE OF! Things like this happen everyday... again, it's one thing to hear about it.... it's another to witness it! I would love to thank you in person and introduce you to one of the most heroic kids of all time....a strong little fighter... handsome as ever..... come check out what God is doing and witness it yourself! Then you can carry THIS image with you and know that God is present and miracles do happen in the aftermath..... you played a part in this... come claim your prize image....He's a handsome boy with a fight and desire to live and be as he once was! THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY! I love you!
Remember... Sunday is family day... God then family... both are a must! Kiss those babies, hug those babies.... house work can wait! I wish I could hug mine.... so stop and hug yours for me!!
PEACE~ LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
January 30th (10:15 am)
Happy Saturday My Sunshines!!
Alex stayed up late with Auntie Randi last night and she reminded me this morning of a couple of things we forgot to mention last night!!
When she asked Alex what the mascot of his favorite football team was he mouthed "Gators"!!! What state do the Gators play for and he mouthed "Florida"!!! She asked what state she was from and he mouthed "New Jersey"!!!! HE KNOWS STUFF! HE IS REMEMBERING MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY and is blowing our minds with the knowledge he is sharing and exhibiting! How crazy wonderful is that!
TEAM ALEX IS IN DA HOUSE and coming back strong!
The PA came in this morning looked at the areas of concern for infection and the antibiotics are working so please continue to pray for healing all in his little brain and for the swelling as well. He looks better everyday and is well on his way to a FULL recovery...THANK YOU JESUS!!
A BIG ... BIG THANK YOU....to Fran's Boutique and Salon on Normandy Blvd for their fundraiser, Men/Boys Haircuts $10 today from 10-3! All proceeds generously go to Alex! LOVE YOU LADIES BUNCHES!!!
TODAY IS A GREAT DAY.... and as always... I THANK GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Alex stayed up late with Auntie Randi last night and she reminded me this morning of a couple of things we forgot to mention last night!!
When she asked Alex what the mascot of his favorite football team was he mouthed "Gators"!!! What state do the Gators play for and he mouthed "Florida"!!! She asked what state she was from and he mouthed "New Jersey"!!!! HE KNOWS STUFF! HE IS REMEMBERING MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY and is blowing our minds with the knowledge he is sharing and exhibiting! How crazy wonderful is that!
TEAM ALEX IS IN DA HOUSE and coming back strong!
The PA came in this morning looked at the areas of concern for infection and the antibiotics are working so please continue to pray for healing all in his little brain and for the swelling as well. He looks better everyday and is well on his way to a FULL recovery...THANK YOU JESUS!!
A BIG ... BIG THANK YOU....to Fran's Boutique and Salon on Normandy Blvd for their fundraiser, Men/Boys Haircuts $10 today from 10-3! All proceeds generously go to Alex! LOVE YOU LADIES BUNCHES!!!
TODAY IS A GREAT DAY.... and as always... I THANK GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Friday, January 29, 2010
January 29th (11:00 pm)
Today has been a whirlwind.... first I want to thank everyone who has been praying for the 2-year old that I have been asking you all to pray for. My heart goes out to the family and it saddens me BEYOND BELIEF to say that he passed away today. The father told me right before I went on the air today with Gator Country 99.9 and I had a mini melt down..... I wish ALL KIDS could be Alex and benefit the way he has. Todays events have only made me more thankful, if that is at all possible, for the walk and journey that God has allowed Alex and I to travel. THANK YOU SOOOO VERY MUCH GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY! It makes everything we have been going thru seem so trivial....crazy as that sounds.... I wouldn't trade one minute of this roller coaster if I thought I had to go home WITHOUT Alex. I will keep on riding as long as it takes to get back to what we call normal or rather some sort of normalcy. To think that Alex suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was saved by God's amazing grace and that little 2-year old went home to HIM as one of Alex's angels.... seems so unfair, yet we know it's a MIRACLE! God had a plan for Alex before he placed him in my womb and I can't wait to see what wonderful things he has in store for this little firecracker! Watch out world.... it's coming and it's going to be HUUUUUGE, lol!
Don't forget MEN/BOYS if you need a haircut stop by FRAN'S BOUTIQUE & SALON on Normandy for your $10.00 haircut on Saturday from 10-3! All proceeds GRACIOUSLY go to Alex!! They will also be selling necklaces and bracelets with a picture of Alex on it for all you ladies out there.... you may just wanna pop in and check em out! Mine is sacred to me as it has a picture of me AND Alex!
I really want to thank the Children's Miracle Network and Gator Country 99.9 as today was a very therapeutic distraction for me for most of the day. Eden, Steve and Amadeus.... thank you for making me feel right at home with your sweet spirits. Your compassion and understanding put me at ease today when facing one of my biggest challenges in having to tell my story. I am soooo glad you all got to meet Alex and I can't wait for you to meet the REAL ALEX as you will so fall in love with him! I felt like Alex and I could finally give something back today... even if it was just our story. Thank you all for inviting us to share our story because it truly is an amazing story and if I wasn't living it.... I'm not sure I would believe it myself. If we can get 5 people to donate on behalf of Alex and have just 1 person benefit from those donations then we have accomplished something. Until put in this position, you don't really understand or realize just how much each and every little bit helps during someone else's time of need. Going thru this has made me much more appreciative of the nursing profession, especially in pediatrics because I just don't know how they do what they do and detach themselves from all of the patients that come in here. I can't express enough how awesome all of Alex's nurses are and how much we both love them, how great the Doctors are... Tepas, Garcia, Vitarbo... I LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you for doing what you do on a daily basis ... thank you for your wonderful bedside manner... it means the world to a mother of a son with a traumatic brain injury fighting for his life! Minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day!
Today was a great day for Alex... as I always say... any day that he is alive and breathing is a great day! He continues to amaze me... we did subtraction and division today and he got them right! His memory is getting stronger every day and he was actually mouthing answers to Randi..... CRAZY!! He is moving his left hand much more today.... pointing to things that hurt, itching his nose, rubbing his eye, pulling at his catheter, blowing kisses, telling nurses thank you and probably so much more that I can't remember right now! HE REMEMBERED HE AND BROOKS' HANDSHAKE!!! WOWOWOWOW.... that was awesome to see! He got Nick teary eyed today when he said " I LOVE YOU NICK".... I love seeing him interact with different people and watching their reaction to see their emotions because SEEING A MIRACLE puts their lives in a whole new perspective!
The swelling is still going down so keep up those prayers... they are surely working. The blood in his urine has dissipated and looks ALOT better today... almost back to normal. Pray for comfort for Alex as his catheter is one of our biggest challenges at this moment. And notice I said moment, lol. The rollercoaster may change tomorrow but it's ok... we are ready for the turns and climbs. ME, ALEX AND J.C..... WE GOT THIS! Thinking we will be at Brooks Rehab middle to end of next week.... but I don't want to rush it.... I want him to be 100% ready to go when we leave here so that there will be no holding back when rehab begins.
Thank you to all who gave me the THUMBS UP for my interview today.... I tried not to cry too much, just speaking about Alex fills my heart with pride and it was mostly tears of happiness that I still have him here with me today. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU GOD!
Signing off for now... sleepy , mentally drained and I need to go kiss on Alex before I fall asleep!
Have a great weekend..... make time for family... go to a movie... play a board game...kiss and hug those babies! Remember once it's gone ... it's lost and you cannot get it back! Live for today always!
Don't forget MEN/BOYS if you need a haircut stop by FRAN'S BOUTIQUE & SALON on Normandy for your $10.00 haircut on Saturday from 10-3! All proceeds GRACIOUSLY go to Alex!! They will also be selling necklaces and bracelets with a picture of Alex on it for all you ladies out there.... you may just wanna pop in and check em out! Mine is sacred to me as it has a picture of me AND Alex!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
January 29th (4:47)
If you missed Alex's story this morning... tune in to Gator Country 99.9 in the five oclock hour for a replay!
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND KUDOS I GOT TODAY!! WHEW... I tried not to cry too much, lol!!
Will post later tonight!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND KUDOS I GOT TODAY!! WHEW... I tried not to cry too much, lol!!
Will post later tonight!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
January 29th (8:00 am)
Good Morning Sunshines!!
I am up blogging early so that I can get ready for my big radio debut! Alex is still sleeping, looking like an angel! I forgot to mention a couple of things yesterday.... one being he got his report card and he still did great and was doing good before that tragic day! He makes me proud once again. We also got to SKYPE for the first time yesterday with his Aunts Kristen and Sherry and cousins Brooklyn, Gus and Lou....THAT WAS WAY COOL! He did all his little tricks for them and put them at ease since they came when this first happened but had to leave and go back to their everyday normal routines of life. By the time this is over... he will be a SKYPE expert!
Last night we noticed some blood in his urine and we aren't real sure what is causing this so they took a culture and we are waiting for results later today or hopefully by tomorrow. It seems to be clearing up a little this morning, so maybe something was just irritated with the catheter and causing some bleeding. PRAY! This as well as the EBD drain will all have to be resolved prior to us getting to leave and moving onto Brooks Rehab Facility!
I continue to get lots of emails thru the website at alexrosstrust@gmail.com and thru my FB page.... THANK YOU! Alex has touched soooo many peoples lives in more ways than you can possibly imagine. He has led people in giving their heart to Jesus Christ, he has led people to walk back in their faith, he has made a believer out of many and he has even SAVED two lives that were contemplating suicide. I AM IN AWE! Thank you all for opening your hearts and sharing your stories with me...... you are my saving grace along with my hot showers at night, lol! It's hard to believe that I have been here 23 days... it's all still very vivid in my head and feels like yesterday. THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!!
I need to sign off for now and get moving..... I will keep you posted on the urine situation and hopefully will know something by the time I get back on to write. Please continue to pray for the 2-year old ... he is still here...THANK YOU GOD!!!! Give his father the strength that you give me as he just a mess and my heart breaks every time I see him.
Wishing you all rainbows and sunshine today!! TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY.. I JUST KNOW IT!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!
Lisa
I am up blogging early so that I can get ready for my big radio debut! Alex is still sleeping, looking like an angel! I forgot to mention a couple of things yesterday.... one being he got his report card and he still did great and was doing good before that tragic day! He makes me proud once again. We also got to SKYPE for the first time yesterday with his Aunts Kristen and Sherry and cousins Brooklyn, Gus and Lou....THAT WAS WAY COOL! He did all his little tricks for them and put them at ease since they came when this first happened but had to leave and go back to their everyday normal routines of life. By the time this is over... he will be a SKYPE expert!
Last night we noticed some blood in his urine and we aren't real sure what is causing this so they took a culture and we are waiting for results later today or hopefully by tomorrow. It seems to be clearing up a little this morning, so maybe something was just irritated with the catheter and causing some bleeding. PRAY! This as well as the EBD drain will all have to be resolved prior to us getting to leave and moving onto Brooks Rehab Facility!
I continue to get lots of emails thru the website at alexrosstrust@gmail.com and thru my FB page.... THANK YOU! Alex has touched soooo many peoples lives in more ways than you can possibly imagine. He has led people in giving their heart to Jesus Christ, he has led people to walk back in their faith, he has made a believer out of many and he has even SAVED two lives that were contemplating suicide. I AM IN AWE! Thank you all for opening your hearts and sharing your stories with me...... you are my saving grace along with my hot showers at night, lol! It's hard to believe that I have been here 23 days... it's all still very vivid in my head and feels like yesterday. THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!!
I need to sign off for now and get moving..... I will keep you posted on the urine situation and hopefully will know something by the time I get back on to write. Please continue to pray for the 2-year old ... he is still here...THANK YOU GOD!!!! Give his father the strength that you give me as he just a mess and my heart breaks every time I see him.
Wishing you all rainbows and sunshine today!! TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY.. I JUST KNOW IT!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!
Lisa
Thursday, January 28, 2010
January 28th (9:30 pm)
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP FOR A
GREEEEEEEEAT DAY!!!
Swelling continues to go down! Keep up the great prayers! Alex is loving me and Randi like crazy mad with love and affection! He has impressed visitors like crazy with showing his teeth, Wiggle eyebrows, thumbs up... all his normal daily tricks lol. Tonight... out of nowhere.... are you ready... I got:
I LOVE YOU MOM!! Shut the front door!
Brooks got.. I LOVE YOU BROOKS and
Randi got... I LOVE YOU AUNT RANDI!
He is also smiling and we saw his DIMPLE tonight! Everyday just gets better and better and to Thank God and all of you .... just doesn't seem enough! A million Thank You's cannot begin to cover how thankful I am that it is DAY 22, Alex is still here living and breathing and I was given something like 3 hours.... HOW CRAZY, AWESOME, WONDERFUL IS GOD!? God continues to work thru Alex and he is just making leaps and bounds in progress and my feisty lil firecracker is still in there! I can't wait till the day he can talk.... talk about all of this.... from beginning to end....it's coming... he remembers soooo many things that I firmly believe he will surprise us all and tell the tale of January 6th, 2010!!! THANK YOU JESUS! Until then.... we can bask in the glory of God and thank him daily that Alex is still with us and that he continues to AMAZE us at his strength, his will power to survive and spunk! His homecoming party is going to be the BESTEST EVER and I hope that all my little prayer warriors will be there to meet and greet him because we couldn't have gotten thru this without each and everyone of YOU!
Don't forget to tune in to GATOR COUNTRY 99.9 tomorrow morning at 11am! I, Lisa Dillard, get to tell Alex's story with the Children's Miracle Network! I get my one shot at fame tomorrow morning... the chance to tell ALL who can hear.....of the MIRACLE BOY....ALEX MICHAEL ROSS! I am honored and proud to call him my son and I am by far...THE LUCKIEST MOM IN THE WORLD!!
Tomorrow is a gift....and I can't wait to thank HIM again for ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
Hope you all enjoy the THUMBS UP pic... YOU ALL DESERVE A THUMBS UP YOURSELF!
Throwing out some love, hugs and kisses tonight for all of you tonight. GOD BLESS YA! xoxo
Lisa
Swelling continues to go down! Keep up the great prayers! Alex is loving me and Randi like crazy mad with love and affection! He has impressed visitors like crazy with showing his teeth, Wiggle eyebrows, thumbs up... all his normal daily tricks lol. Tonight... out of nowhere.... are you ready... I got:
I LOVE YOU MOM!! Shut the front door!
Brooks got.. I LOVE YOU BROOKS and
Randi got... I LOVE YOU AUNT RANDI!
He is also smiling and we saw his DIMPLE tonight! Everyday just gets better and better and to Thank God and all of you .... just doesn't seem enough! A million Thank You's cannot begin to cover how thankful I am that it is DAY 22, Alex is still here living and breathing and I was given something like 3 hours.... HOW CRAZY, AWESOME, WONDERFUL IS GOD!? God continues to work thru Alex and he is just making leaps and bounds in progress and my feisty lil firecracker is still in there! I can't wait till the day he can talk.... talk about all of this.... from beginning to end....it's coming... he remembers soooo many things that I firmly believe he will surprise us all and tell the tale of January 6th, 2010!!! THANK YOU JESUS! Until then.... we can bask in the glory of God and thank him daily that Alex is still with us and that he continues to AMAZE us at his strength, his will power to survive and spunk! His homecoming party is going to be the BESTEST EVER and I hope that all my little prayer warriors will be there to meet and greet him because we couldn't have gotten thru this without each and everyone of YOU!
Don't forget to tune in to GATOR COUNTRY 99.9 tomorrow morning at 11am! I, Lisa Dillard, get to tell Alex's story with the Children's Miracle Network! I get my one shot at fame tomorrow morning... the chance to tell ALL who can hear.....of the MIRACLE BOY....ALEX MICHAEL ROSS! I am honored and proud to call him my son and I am by far...THE LUCKIEST MOM IN THE WORLD!!
Tomorrow is a gift....and I can't wait to thank HIM again for ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
Hope you all enjoy the THUMBS UP pic... YOU ALL DESERVE A THUMBS UP YOURSELF!
Throwing out some love, hugs and kisses tonight for all of you tonight. GOD BLESS YA! xoxo
Lisa
January 28th (9:30 am)
Gooood Morning Sunshines!
Last night Alex was too cute! Nurse Michelle had Alex in his new boxers that say "I'm too sexy for my shorts" that Miss Rhonda Smith bought him! Michelle bathed him and had him looking like a GQ model, lol! He was TOO SEXY FOR HIS SHORTS!! Sorry you can't see the pics... they will be in my book and you will be able to see all the pics from beginning to end as I have been documenting constantly!!!
Today is looking to be a great day so far! Swelling is still decreasing! Thank you God along with my prayer warriors....areas of concern seem to be looking better and not as red. There is still one area of concern so please continue to pray for infection to cease, if that is what it is, and full healing to begin!
Doctor Tepas came in today and Alex did all the tricks he is supposed to do on the spot......math..., multiplication.... mouthed "Hi".....YAY! WAY TO GO ALEX!! He makes me so proud... it's the little things in life!
While Alex seems to be on the upside and progressing every day, I ask that you please continue to pray for him and also the little 2-year old boy that is in here as well. He was life flighted to Shands 2 Monday night I think, with severe head trauma. I don't watch the news because from my experience first hand... it's not always as it seems and so I don't know what happened or why... I just know that he needs MAJOR PRAYERS as he is in much more critical condition than Alex at this point. WE have all seen the miracles that God is performing daily in Alex's life and I know that he can do the same for this little boy. I told God that if he needed to take a break from Alex and concentrate on him that I was ok with that! ;0)
He just had physical therapy with his personal trainer and is slap wore out and sleeping like a baby!
I will keep u posted throughout today if anything major happens... always know that... NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY! I give you all the glory, honor and praise for Alex's healing and progress! DAY 22... TEAM ALEX IS IN DA HOUSE!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Last night Alex was too cute! Nurse Michelle had Alex in his new boxers that say "I'm too sexy for my shorts" that Miss Rhonda Smith bought him! Michelle bathed him and had him looking like a GQ model, lol! He was TOO SEXY FOR HIS SHORTS!! Sorry you can't see the pics... they will be in my book and you will be able to see all the pics from beginning to end as I have been documenting constantly!!!
Today is looking to be a great day so far! Swelling is still decreasing! Thank you God along with my prayer warriors....areas of concern seem to be looking better and not as red. There is still one area of concern so please continue to pray for infection to cease, if that is what it is, and full healing to begin!
Doctor Tepas came in today and Alex did all the tricks he is supposed to do on the spot......math..., multiplication.... mouthed "Hi".....YAY! WAY TO GO ALEX!! He makes me so proud... it's the little things in life!
While Alex seems to be on the upside and progressing every day, I ask that you please continue to pray for him and also the little 2-year old boy that is in here as well. He was life flighted to Shands 2 Monday night I think, with severe head trauma. I don't watch the news because from my experience first hand... it's not always as it seems and so I don't know what happened or why... I just know that he needs MAJOR PRAYERS as he is in much more critical condition than Alex at this point. WE have all seen the miracles that God is performing daily in Alex's life and I know that he can do the same for this little boy. I told God that if he needed to take a break from Alex and concentrate on him that I was ok with that! ;0)
He just had physical therapy with his personal trainer and is slap wore out and sleeping like a baby!
I will keep u posted throughout today if anything major happens... always know that... NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY! I give you all the glory, honor and praise for Alex's healing and progress! DAY 22... TEAM ALEX IS IN DA HOUSE!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
January 27th (9:30 pm) 3 WEEKS TODAY!
Well Well Well My Friends..... TODAY HAS JUST BEEN AN AMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAZING DAY!
Let's talk about how amazing Nurse Alisa is and all the wonderful things she has Alex doing!!
3 + 2 ... he held up all five fingers
2 x 2 ... he held up 4 fingers
He mouths "Bye" and "Hi" and waves bye with fingers
Wiggles Eyebrows
Scrunches nose
Flares nostrils
Shows his teeth
Music to the video came on at the beginning of his movie and he was tapping his hands on the bedside tray table to the beat! Incredible!
He is off of Loratab round the clock and is only given when in need.... HASN'T BEEN IN PAIN ALL DAY, Thank You God!! This also allows him to be more coherent and perform tricks for mom and nursing staff! Swelling continues to decrease........it looks soooo much better tonight than last night..... KEEP PRAYING, it's working!
Best part of today... he mouthed " I LOVE YOU" to me around lunch time and in front of Dr. Garcia! The most incredible present a mom could ever want in my situation! Kudos to Nurse Alisa for surprising me and working with him to give me such a MUCH NEEDED gift! He also said it to Brooks tonight which again was amazing in itself! He continues to get better every day.... your prayers and support are working tremendously!!
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
Remember to hug those babies tight.... kiss em and love em....don't sweat the small stuff and LIVE FOR TODAY and most importantly.....THANK GOD DAILY !!
Signing off early tonight so I can spend some more quality time with my boy! See you all in the latter part of the morning... can't wait for another blessed day!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Let's talk about how amazing Nurse Alisa is and all the wonderful things she has Alex doing!!
3 + 2 ... he held up all five fingers
2 x 2 ... he held up 4 fingers
He mouths "Bye" and "Hi" and waves bye with fingers
Wiggles Eyebrows
Scrunches nose
Flares nostrils
Shows his teeth
Music to the video came on at the beginning of his movie and he was tapping his hands on the bedside tray table to the beat! Incredible!
He is off of Loratab round the clock and is only given when in need.... HASN'T BEEN IN PAIN ALL DAY, Thank You God!! This also allows him to be more coherent and perform tricks for mom and nursing staff! Swelling continues to decrease........it looks soooo much better tonight than last night..... KEEP PRAYING, it's working!
Best part of today... he mouthed " I LOVE YOU" to me around lunch time and in front of Dr. Garcia! The most incredible present a mom could ever want in my situation! Kudos to Nurse Alisa for surprising me and working with him to give me such a MUCH NEEDED gift! He also said it to Brooks tonight which again was amazing in itself! He continues to get better every day.... your prayers and support are working tremendously!!
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
Remember to hug those babies tight.... kiss em and love em....don't sweat the small stuff and LIVE FOR TODAY and most importantly.....THANK GOD DAILY !!
Signing off early tonight so I can spend some more quality time with my boy! See you all in the latter part of the morning... can't wait for another blessed day!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
January 27th (1:30 pm)
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS??? I had to jump on here real quick and give you some FANTASTIC news!!
Soooo Nurse Alisa has been practicing a new trick with Alex behind my back and gave me the most wonderful present yet TODAY!
Alex just MOUTHED... the words... I LOVE YOU!!!! OMGGGGGGGGGGGG, can you believe it?? I am crying tears of joy and in awe of how my little soldier boy is progressing!
Miracles are unfolding before your very eyes.... THANK YOU GOD! Thank you God!
Thank you God for one of my most precious gifts ever from you... ALEX MICHAEL! I LOVE YOU!
Have a great rest of the day.... MY DAY IS FAAAAAAAANTASTIK!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP.... WITH LOTSA SMILES COMING YOURWAY!
Lisa
Soooo Nurse Alisa has been practicing a new trick with Alex behind my back and gave me the most wonderful present yet TODAY!
Alex just MOUTHED... the words... I LOVE YOU!!!! OMGGGGGGGGGGGG, can you believe it?? I am crying tears of joy and in awe of how my little soldier boy is progressing!
Miracles are unfolding before your very eyes.... THANK YOU GOD! Thank you God!
Thank you God for one of my most precious gifts ever from you... ALEX MICHAEL! I LOVE YOU!
Have a great rest of the day.... MY DAY IS FAAAAAAAANTASTIK!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP.... WITH LOTSA SMILES COMING YOURWAY!
Lisa
January 27th (9:00 am) 3 WEEKS TODAY!
21 DAYS! Holy Cow! For me it still seems like yesterday and all so very vivid in my mind! LEAPS AND BOUNDS IN 21 DAYS!
My little prayer warriors will be happy to know that the swelling is GRADUALLY going down... 1cm it has gone down! THANK YOU GOD....I knew you would come thru for me!
PH 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
This is what I have been unable to explain to you guys! I have a peace and this my friends... this is it! This verse explains it plain and simple! Many of you say constantly that you don't know how I do it.... that you think I am amazing and so strong.... it's GOD. It's all HIM! I tell him what I need and he provides!! If I can give you anything out of this... hopefully it's a hunger for HIM. HE is simply amazing and unless you are being tested or have walked in my shoes... it is unexplainable, but I want you to believe it! I am not just some nutcase looney bird who has now seen the light. I have known all along who was in control... I just had to BELIEVE it myself! It's one thing to know it... it's another thing to believe it! Thank you God for showing me because I want everyone to have the knowledge and the peace that you have shown me. I didn't know what was missing until you gave it to me! WHAT AN AWESOME FEELING OF COMFORT I have about me now. I want EVERYONE to feel like this.... I want everyone to experience this.... I want everyone to choose God as their drug of choice! There is nothing like it in the world and you won't find this feeling out there with anything other than GOD! Soooo, kudos to you God! THANK YOU!
Alex is doing great this morning... like I said.. the swelling has gone down 1 cm and I know with all your prayers it will continue to decrease throughout today! THANK YOU! He is getting his bath as I write... he doesn't like it so much but he feels great afterwards and is able to rest really good!
A very special thanks to TREEMENDOUS BBQ and all of you who went last night to support Alex! You have truly touched my heart and I can't believe the sell out of food! AMEN! You all continue to bless me in more ways than one... the prayers and emails I LOVE... keep sending them! They are my saving grace and are actually addicting, lol! Last night before I went to bed I read and replied to 15!! I think it took me an hour... but it didn't seem like it so keep them coming!!!
TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY.... WATCH AND SEE... SEEING IS BELIEVING... and remember... With HIM all things are possible!!!
Stay tuned... Alex's new tricks to come later!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
My little prayer warriors will be happy to know that the swelling is GRADUALLY going down... 1cm it has gone down! THANK YOU GOD....I knew you would come thru for me!
PH 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
This is what I have been unable to explain to you guys! I have a peace and this my friends... this is it! This verse explains it plain and simple! Many of you say constantly that you don't know how I do it.... that you think I am amazing and so strong.... it's GOD. It's all HIM! I tell him what I need and he provides!! If I can give you anything out of this... hopefully it's a hunger for HIM. HE is simply amazing and unless you are being tested or have walked in my shoes... it is unexplainable, but I want you to believe it! I am not just some nutcase looney bird who has now seen the light. I have known all along who was in control... I just had to BELIEVE it myself! It's one thing to know it... it's another thing to believe it! Thank you God for showing me because I want everyone to have the knowledge and the peace that you have shown me. I didn't know what was missing until you gave it to me! WHAT AN AWESOME FEELING OF COMFORT I have about me now. I want EVERYONE to feel like this.... I want everyone to experience this.... I want everyone to choose God as their drug of choice! There is nothing like it in the world and you won't find this feeling out there with anything other than GOD! Soooo, kudos to you God! THANK YOU!
Alex is doing great this morning... like I said.. the swelling has gone down 1 cm and I know with all your prayers it will continue to decrease throughout today! THANK YOU! He is getting his bath as I write... he doesn't like it so much but he feels great afterwards and is able to rest really good!
A very special thanks to TREEMENDOUS BBQ and all of you who went last night to support Alex! You have truly touched my heart and I can't believe the sell out of food! AMEN! You all continue to bless me in more ways than one... the prayers and emails I LOVE... keep sending them! They are my saving grace and are actually addicting, lol! Last night before I went to bed I read and replied to 15!! I think it took me an hour... but it didn't seem like it so keep them coming!!!
TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY.... WATCH AND SEE... SEEING IS BELIEVING... and remember... With HIM all things are possible!!!
Stay tuned... Alex's new tricks to come later!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
January 26th (8:15 pm)
DAY 20... WOW! Thank you GOD... THANK YOU! I will take 360 days here at Shands Hospital rather than going home 1 day without my handsome boy!
We are still on the roller coaster .... will it ever end? Normally I love riding roller coasters with Alex but I think we both are ready to get off of this one! THE SWELLING IS BACK... Please pray for the swelling to go down and the HEALING to begin! "Alright Lord.... people are once again watching and you know that when they see it... they will believe it! DO YOUR THANG AND SHOW THEM WHO'S BOSS!!"
Alex had a good day...all his vital signs are great, it's just that silly head wants to swell and put us back on watch. He did some tricks earlier today and he winked at me tonight and even gave me the I love you sign without me asking for it when I got Nurse Alisa to fix his trach collar that was bugging him! He yawns big.... still wiggles eyebrows, showed us his teeth and I could swear he even "smizes" with his eyes! If you ever watch America's Next Top Model... and yes, Alex would watch it with me, lol.... Tyra taught her models how to smile with their eyes, smize, and I swear he does it, lol! As long as vitals continue to stay the same and he shows no signs of regressing.... Doctor says this is to be expected and we basically watch and wait. Soooo, while we watch and wait... LET'S PRAY!
While asking for prayer for Alex, I must also ask you to lift up in prayer... the 2-year old that was transported here from Mayport. He is in critical condition as well and it breaks my heart! God my baby didn't do anything to deserve this and neither did that baby.... show the world who is Boss and show them your healing powers.... show them the great miracles you are capable of... heal them both from the top of their heads to the bottom of their toes. Wrap your arms around both of YOUR children and comfort them! I know Alex has great things in store for you Lord... LIFT HIM UP AND HEAL HIM! You are an awesome God and I have ALL my faith that you are in TOTAL CONTROL. It is a little scary to see and yes I worry but I really really have a peace about it and know that HE is in control! It's unexplainable... just take my word! Follow me my little prayer warriors and walk in my Faith with me! You will be amazed and blessed all at the same time!
A TREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEMENDOUS THANK YOU to Treemendous BBQ! The calls I have been getting tonight put me in tears! Thank you to the 100's of people that went tonight to support Alex!! I simply cannot believe it! A MILLION THANK YOU'S TO JACKSONVILLE FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT OF MY LIL GUY! I can't wait till he is able to comprehend just how many lives he has touched and how much our community is pulling together FOR HIM! For my little Alex!
OMGGGGGGGGGGG...Randi just called me over to the bed as I was typing this and Alex just took his hand (by himself) brought it to his lips, puckered them and BLEW ME A KISS.... ALL BY HIMSELF! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! HOW AMAZING IS THAT??? That's you God... guiding him and working thru him to get back all of his functionality.... we will be in and out of Brooks Rehab before you know it! Maybe even out before your 17th birthday on March 30th! I really feel like God just did that to show me that "Hey... I know you're scared but watch this.... watch what I can do with Alex "! I have been working with him for two days trying to get him to blow me kisses or pucker his lips... he tries... but gets frustrated and closes his eyes at me and we move on to the next trick I can get him to do. GOD JUST PULLED ME OVER THERE TO SHOW ME HE IS IN CONTROL...... BELIEVE ME!!!
Tonight has been amazing! Sell out at Treemendous BBQ.... Alex blowing me kisses on his own.... WOW!
Nick comes home Thursday and he just simply won't believe his brother's progress! This swelling thing... WE GOT THIS.... Me, Alex and J.C.!! WE HAVE DEFINITELY GOT THIS! He just showed me what I already knew!
ALEX MICHAEL... YOU ARE..... AND WILL FOREVER BE... MY HERO! I LOVE YOU COFINITY AS YOU USED TO SAY TO ME WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE.
Until tomorrow my precious friends and followers..... FAITH IN HIM... ALWAYS... THANK HIM DAILY....Kiss and hug your sweet children, take time out for them, don't sweat the small stuff..... You can never get back what is lost and you will never realize just how much those little things mean until it is taken from you!
God Bless You and Keep you in HIS care....
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!
Lisa
January 26th (1:15 pm)
I am soooo sorry it has taken me this long to get online today! No news is good news thus far!! He is on the new antibiotic and I really feel good about it and feel like it will do what we need it to do!
You will all be as happy as I am to announce that he SLEPT thru the night, lol! Randi and I stayed up until about 3am and that little turkey was just a snoozing away! Maybe he is just tired and his body needed a little more rest... that's the way we are looking at it, lol!
So far today has been a great day! Nurse Alisa has had him doing some math problems and he is doing fabulous! She asked him what 1 + 1 is and he put up 2 fingers... and then what is 2 + 1 and he put up 3 fingers!! YAY! He is also blowing kisses... well somewhat... he puts his hand to his mouth and then opens his hand to throw the kisses to momma and when momma blows kisses to him he catches them in his hands.
MEDIA:
KUDOS to Channel 4 today.... THANK YOU for your positive input on Treemendous BBQ fundraiser today and your support! There are many more fundraisers if you would like to cover those too, lol!
THANK YOU TREEMENDOUS BBQ FOR YOUR AWESOME GENEROSITY TODAY IN WANTING TO HELP SUPPORT ALEX AND HIS JOURNEY TO COME! I am forever grateful and indebted to you.... the words Thank You seem inadequate! God is working all around me and I am in awe of how great his works are!
Those of you travelling to eat BBQ tonight... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.... you are in for a treat with some FANTASTIC food, great company and Alex and I really appreciate your love and support that you continue to pour on us!! God Bless Ya!
Alex is in the room with the physical therapist and a cute little occupational therapist right now...HIS OWN PERSONAL TRAINERS if you will.... and he is getting his workout for today so he can stay buff and hot for the girlies, lol!
Stay tuned later... I'm sure Alex will perform some great circus tricks for us later and I can't wait to tell you all about it!
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!! It's all about you God... all about YOU!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~ THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
You will all be as happy as I am to announce that he SLEPT thru the night, lol! Randi and I stayed up until about 3am and that little turkey was just a snoozing away! Maybe he is just tired and his body needed a little more rest... that's the way we are looking at it, lol!
So far today has been a great day! Nurse Alisa has had him doing some math problems and he is doing fabulous! She asked him what 1 + 1 is and he put up 2 fingers... and then what is 2 + 1 and he put up 3 fingers!! YAY! He is also blowing kisses... well somewhat... he puts his hand to his mouth and then opens his hand to throw the kisses to momma and when momma blows kisses to him he catches them in his hands.
MEDIA:
KUDOS to Channel 4 today.... THANK YOU for your positive input on Treemendous BBQ fundraiser today and your support! There are many more fundraisers if you would like to cover those too, lol!
THANK YOU TREEMENDOUS BBQ FOR YOUR AWESOME GENEROSITY TODAY IN WANTING TO HELP SUPPORT ALEX AND HIS JOURNEY TO COME! I am forever grateful and indebted to you.... the words Thank You seem inadequate! God is working all around me and I am in awe of how great his works are!
Those of you travelling to eat BBQ tonight... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.... you are in for a treat with some FANTASTIC food, great company and Alex and I really appreciate your love and support that you continue to pour on us!! God Bless Ya!
Alex is in the room with the physical therapist and a cute little occupational therapist right now...HIS OWN PERSONAL TRAINERS if you will.... and he is getting his workout for today so he can stay buff and hot for the girlies, lol!
Stay tuned later... I'm sure Alex will perform some great circus tricks for us later and I can't wait to tell you all about it!
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!! It's all about you God... all about YOU!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~ THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Monday, January 25, 2010
January 25th (10:15pm)
Ok soooooo, Alex has been resting ALLLL day... he really has his days and nights mixed up... LUCKY ME! Nothing new has developed, the new antibiotic has been started and I really feel like that is going to kick whatever is going on at this point.
I love how the news has NOW mentioned Alex on day 19 and picked out only what they think makes a great story! Why hasn't the media talked about how great he IS doing since that horrific day? They wait until the 3rd week and do a spot about him fighting an infection???
ATTENTION MEDIA: Why don't you do a story on the MIRACLES God is performing on Alex each and every day that he is breathing? The fact that he is still alive 19 days later and performing tasks that are UNBELIEVABLE with a gunshot wound to the head, only explainable by GOD!!! Or how about doing a feature on the awesome nursing staff here at Shands and how amazing the Doctors are at their care and surgeries they have performed on Alex... Noooo you insist on covering the NEGATIVES.... twisting, torting the information! I spoke of a POSSIBLE infection starting... I NEVER SAID THERE WAS INFECTION.... we don't speak the negatives around here. WE SPEAK POSITIVES!!! Try doing a story on that for once!
My handsome boy will beat this...God has his arms wrapped so tight around us we can't see anything but moving forward with this progress. Yes, we have hit a bump in the road and I have asked you all to pray.... PRAYER NEVER HURT ANYONE! We pray and it will never be anything more than a rash on his skin... HOW BOUT THAT!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who sent messages of prayer and continue to pray even when I don't ask you to. God is good, I have faith and once again... ME, ALEX and J.C.... WE GOT THIS!
You have all prayed hard today so I ask you one more thing to pray for...
Since Alex has been sleeping all day...pray for Alex to continue sleeping thru the night so we can get some sleep too, lol! :0)~
Tomorrow is going to be a great day.... Watch and see!
PEACE~LOVE~N~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
I love how the news has NOW mentioned Alex on day 19 and picked out only what they think makes a great story! Why hasn't the media talked about how great he IS doing since that horrific day? They wait until the 3rd week and do a spot about him fighting an infection???
ATTENTION MEDIA: Why don't you do a story on the MIRACLES God is performing on Alex each and every day that he is breathing? The fact that he is still alive 19 days later and performing tasks that are UNBELIEVABLE with a gunshot wound to the head, only explainable by GOD!!! Or how about doing a feature on the awesome nursing staff here at Shands and how amazing the Doctors are at their care and surgeries they have performed on Alex... Noooo you insist on covering the NEGATIVES.... twisting, torting the information! I spoke of a POSSIBLE infection starting... I NEVER SAID THERE WAS INFECTION.... we don't speak the negatives around here. WE SPEAK POSITIVES!!! Try doing a story on that for once!
My handsome boy will beat this...God has his arms wrapped so tight around us we can't see anything but moving forward with this progress. Yes, we have hit a bump in the road and I have asked you all to pray.... PRAYER NEVER HURT ANYONE! We pray and it will never be anything more than a rash on his skin... HOW BOUT THAT!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who sent messages of prayer and continue to pray even when I don't ask you to. God is good, I have faith and once again... ME, ALEX and J.C.... WE GOT THIS!
You have all prayed hard today so I ask you one more thing to pray for...
Since Alex has been sleeping all day...pray for Alex to continue sleeping thru the night so we can get some sleep too, lol! :0)~
Tomorrow is going to be a great day.... Watch and see!
PEACE~LOVE~N~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
January 25th (3:10pm)
PRAYER WARRIORS GET BUSY....
Peaks and Valleys... WE ARE HEADED INTO ANOTHER VALLEY...
The doctor came by to look at incision and there are a couple of areas that are reddening and warm to touch which tells them there may be infection setting in. I have seen the areas and I agree they are of interest so I need all you little prayer warriors to knock any infection, if that, out with those prayers!!!
He seems to be the same, I don't see any change in him, only sleepy today but I really think he has his days and nights mixed up. Alex wants to keep me on my toes and not get complacent... I have a peace about this... I'm not really freaking out so I think God has this under control but it doesn't hurt to ask for prayers! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!
I'll keep you posted. He still looks great!!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Peaks and Valleys... WE ARE HEADED INTO ANOTHER VALLEY...
The doctor came by to look at incision and there are a couple of areas that are reddening and warm to touch which tells them there may be infection setting in. I have seen the areas and I agree they are of interest so I need all you little prayer warriors to knock any infection, if that, out with those prayers!!!
He seems to be the same, I don't see any change in him, only sleepy today but I really think he has his days and nights mixed up. Alex wants to keep me on my toes and not get complacent... I have a peace about this... I'm not really freaking out so I think God has this under control but it doesn't hurt to ask for prayers! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!
I'll keep you posted. He still looks great!!!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
January 25th (9:30am)
After our fantastic night of antics and charades with Mr. Alex... he went out like a light! He slept for couple of hours then stayed up with Chad watching Goonies for awhile while mom slept. Physical Therapy came in this morning and he wasn't having any of that! He basically slept thru the whole thing and wasn't showing off any of his new tricks for them this morning.
Today we are going to chill and probably watch the Goonies a million times over, lol! We have other movies and even had a visitor bring him a similar movie that he wanted to share with Alex. Alex is Alex and wants what he wants.... those who know him... know this is HIM, lol!
He looks fantastic, just like alex only with a head bandage wrapped around his head. I wish I could share his progress photo's with you all, however; there are people out there that would use them to their advantage and make a show of it so I rather save my handsome boy for myself or those that can visit in the hospital. I intend to write a book about my journey and will put the photo's in it so one day you can see exactly what progress Alex has made in such a short while. Of course the title of the book will be: PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP! I really think my book with the help of the nurses medical knowledge can bring encouragement and peace of mind to other mothers who end up in my position... a mother's worst nightmare! God is my rock and if I can get others to see HIS greatness and believe that with him we can do all things possible... WOW.. what an accomplishment in my life!
Stay tuned later tonight for hopefully some new developments and tricks with Mr. Alex... he usually doesn't start showing off till around 8ish.
Have a GREAT DAY! Thank you God for one more day with my handsome boy!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!
Lisa
Today we are going to chill and probably watch the Goonies a million times over, lol! We have other movies and even had a visitor bring him a similar movie that he wanted to share with Alex. Alex is Alex and wants what he wants.... those who know him... know this is HIM, lol!
He looks fantastic, just like alex only with a head bandage wrapped around his head. I wish I could share his progress photo's with you all, however; there are people out there that would use them to their advantage and make a show of it so I rather save my handsome boy for myself or those that can visit in the hospital. I intend to write a book about my journey and will put the photo's in it so one day you can see exactly what progress Alex has made in such a short while. Of course the title of the book will be: PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP! I really think my book with the help of the nurses medical knowledge can bring encouragement and peace of mind to other mothers who end up in my position... a mother's worst nightmare! God is my rock and if I can get others to see HIS greatness and believe that with him we can do all things possible... WOW.. what an accomplishment in my life!
Stay tuned later tonight for hopefully some new developments and tricks with Mr. Alex... he usually doesn't start showing off till around 8ish.
Have a GREAT DAY! Thank you God for one more day with my handsome boy!
PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!
Lisa
Sunday, January 24, 2010
January 24th (9:15pm)
WOWEEEWOW WOW! TEAM ALEX IS IN DA HOUSE!
Doctor Vitarbo came by this morning and removed the shunt (drain) and showed me his incision and it looks FANTASTIC compared to his original emergency incision. She did an amazing job and it looks so clean and precise... THANK YOU GOD for placing my baby in her hands. Kudos to a wonderful surgeon!
Today was actually boring lol, Alex slept off and on most of today resting.... until around 7:30ish... GOD was present in our room and miracles were being performed left and right! UNBELIEVABLE!
Alex woke up, looked agitated so Chad called me from the breakroom because Alex wanted me. You know me.. all up in his face lol... asking 1 million questions trying to figure out what he wants, what is wrong, what can I do to make him happy... He held up his fingers like he wanted to write.. like he had an invisible pen in his hand moving back and forth like motioning for a pen. Don't think I wasn't johnny on the spot with an ink pen and paper because you know I was! Gave him the pen and well he just wanted to click it, hahahaha. Click, click, click, click... no big deal. I put the paper up to the pen... no go. I break out the dry erase board... no go. Robert had bought Alex these magnetic letters so that when he got ready to communicate... he could spell out on this dry erase board. Well... that wasn't panning out either. Chad had drawn a picture of Alex on the dry erase board and he stared and stared at it.... at the top of the board we had the words "yes" and "no". I asked Alex to tell me if the word said yes or no by holding up his fingers. Yes is one finger, no is two fingers. At first he got it wrong... then i kept saying N O spells NO, Y E S spells YES.... I kept going back and forth and now he knows that Y E S spells yes and N O spells NO. I spelled MOM and he pointed to me, YAY!! From this point he raised an eyebrow just a touch and I started wiggling mine and asked if he could do that too. HE STARTED DOING IT! So you know me... I ain't stopping there... Alex, can you flare your nostrils like Boo does when he cracks you up?.. HE STARTED DOING IT! Ok, now I'm greedy... Alex, can you wink at mom like this... HE WINKED AT ME! Noooow, there's no holding back... Alex, can you show me your teeth? HE SHOWED ME HIS TEETH WITH LIKE A SCOWL LOOK, hahahahaha! I then went in for the big one... Alex, can you stick your tongue out at mom like this? That way when the Nurses make you mad you can stick your tongue out at them, lol. He tried and tried... and we saw the very tip of his tongue trying to come out of his mouth but he just couldn't get it to come thru! I'm talking he was sweating and working hard at all of these commands!! I had his attention 150% and he would not break eye contact with me thru all this. WHAT AN AMAZING FEAT for my little guy to conquer!! He has no idea what he has given us today! The best part is... he had an audience and was really zoned in on me as if it were just me and him in the room! GOD WAS MOVING MOUNTAINS IN THIS HOSPITAL ROOM TONIGHT! It's the little things that mean the most ya know! Something as simple as wiggling his eyebrows or a wink.... MAJOR STEPS! DAY 18.... WOW! Alex Michael... you and J.C. never cease to amaze me! I am happier today than yesterday and can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!!
I know I am just rambling like crazy tonight... but the Saints are playing, Alex is waking up and I need to go spend some time with my Hubby who is graciously spending another night in the hospital with me!
Hope you enjoyed my update as much as I have enjoyed my day with Mr. Alex! What an amazing little guy! You think Tim Tebow is Superman... You should see Alex Michael in action!!
Keep the prayers coming... we still pray for no infections to arise, no complications to come about and the swelling to continue to decrease! THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AND AGAIN... love the emails, cards, dinners, lunches, treats, thoughts, love, support and prayers... WE ARE LOVED and you are all showing us just what our community is capable of!
Till tomorrow...
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~THUMBS UP! (and a wink) !!
xoxoxoxo
Doctor Vitarbo came by this morning and removed the shunt (drain) and showed me his incision and it looks FANTASTIC compared to his original emergency incision. She did an amazing job and it looks so clean and precise... THANK YOU GOD for placing my baby in her hands. Kudos to a wonderful surgeon!
Today was actually boring lol, Alex slept off and on most of today resting.... until around 7:30ish... GOD was present in our room and miracles were being performed left and right! UNBELIEVABLE!
Alex woke up, looked agitated so Chad called me from the breakroom because Alex wanted me. You know me.. all up in his face lol... asking 1 million questions trying to figure out what he wants, what is wrong, what can I do to make him happy... He held up his fingers like he wanted to write.. like he had an invisible pen in his hand moving back and forth like motioning for a pen. Don't think I wasn't johnny on the spot with an ink pen and paper because you know I was! Gave him the pen and well he just wanted to click it, hahahaha. Click, click, click, click... no big deal. I put the paper up to the pen... no go. I break out the dry erase board... no go. Robert had bought Alex these magnetic letters so that when he got ready to communicate... he could spell out on this dry erase board. Well... that wasn't panning out either. Chad had drawn a picture of Alex on the dry erase board and he stared and stared at it.... at the top of the board we had the words "yes" and "no". I asked Alex to tell me if the word said yes or no by holding up his fingers. Yes is one finger, no is two fingers. At first he got it wrong... then i kept saying N O spells NO, Y E S spells YES.... I kept going back and forth and now he knows that Y E S spells yes and N O spells NO. I spelled MOM and he pointed to me, YAY!! From this point he raised an eyebrow just a touch and I started wiggling mine and asked if he could do that too. HE STARTED DOING IT! So you know me... I ain't stopping there... Alex, can you flare your nostrils like Boo does when he cracks you up?.. HE STARTED DOING IT! Ok, now I'm greedy... Alex, can you wink at mom like this... HE WINKED AT ME! Noooow, there's no holding back... Alex, can you show me your teeth? HE SHOWED ME HIS TEETH WITH LIKE A SCOWL LOOK, hahahahaha! I then went in for the big one... Alex, can you stick your tongue out at mom like this? That way when the Nurses make you mad you can stick your tongue out at them, lol. He tried and tried... and we saw the very tip of his tongue trying to come out of his mouth but he just couldn't get it to come thru! I'm talking he was sweating and working hard at all of these commands!! I had his attention 150% and he would not break eye contact with me thru all this. WHAT AN AMAZING FEAT for my little guy to conquer!! He has no idea what he has given us today! The best part is... he had an audience and was really zoned in on me as if it were just me and him in the room! GOD WAS MOVING MOUNTAINS IN THIS HOSPITAL ROOM TONIGHT! It's the little things that mean the most ya know! Something as simple as wiggling his eyebrows or a wink.... MAJOR STEPS! DAY 18.... WOW! Alex Michael... you and J.C. never cease to amaze me! I am happier today than yesterday and can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!!
I know I am just rambling like crazy tonight... but the Saints are playing, Alex is waking up and I need to go spend some time with my Hubby who is graciously spending another night in the hospital with me!
Hope you enjoyed my update as much as I have enjoyed my day with Mr. Alex! What an amazing little guy! You think Tim Tebow is Superman... You should see Alex Michael in action!!
Keep the prayers coming... we still pray for no infections to arise, no complications to come about and the swelling to continue to decrease! THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AND AGAIN... love the emails, cards, dinners, lunches, treats, thoughts, love, support and prayers... WE ARE LOVED and you are all showing us just what our community is capable of!
Till tomorrow...
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~THUMBS UP! (and a wink) !!
xoxoxoxo
January 24th (10:30am)
Alex had a great night of rest and is currently sleeping like a baby! I think he wore himself out last night with all his grandstands he was performing!
Nurse Michelle you were awesome last night and we didn't even hear you creeping in and doing your thang last night... Chad and I got good sleep last night... THANK YOU! Thank you for taking care of my precious boy as if he were your very own! Nurse Jeannie took over this morning and changed his trach collar, cleaned him up, situated him in his bed and he is out like a light. I am sooooo blessed by the staff of nurses here who treat Alex and I like a King and a Queen. You will never know how much it means to me during this journey we have been facing. I can't say it enough.... THANK YOU...nor can I wait till you meet the REAL Alex! You all love him now... but you will really fall in love with him once you see who he really is!!
Today is going to be a great day.... With God by our side and his arms wrapped so tightly around us... we know that with him we can do all things possible!!
Stay tuned later for some more great stories from our adventures today! Please continue to pray.... God is awesome and will answer our prayers for healing from the inside out and from the top of his head to the bottom of his toes!
I am still getting to prayers from this site and emails sent from a week ago if not longer.... I DO READ THEM ALL.... and I try to respond to as many as I can. Nothing goes unnoticed and you are all my little prayer warriors that I can't go without! THANK YOU!
Have a Blessed Day... Hug your kids... Kiss your kids today... go to a movie... go to the park... DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO TODAY! I wish I could and you have the opportunity so don't waste it! Make them your priority TODAY! Tomorrow is a gift and we are not promised that.... if I have given you anything at all, I hope it's a wake up call! Our children are precious gifts from God, not to be taken lightly or ignored.....TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR TIME WITH THEM! Forget the laundry today... forget cleaning the house... Make your Sundays time with God and your family! Do it for Alex!!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Nurse Michelle you were awesome last night and we didn't even hear you creeping in and doing your thang last night... Chad and I got good sleep last night... THANK YOU! Thank you for taking care of my precious boy as if he were your very own! Nurse Jeannie took over this morning and changed his trach collar, cleaned him up, situated him in his bed and he is out like a light. I am sooooo blessed by the staff of nurses here who treat Alex and I like a King and a Queen. You will never know how much it means to me during this journey we have been facing. I can't say it enough.... THANK YOU...nor can I wait till you meet the REAL Alex! You all love him now... but you will really fall in love with him once you see who he really is!!
Today is going to be a great day.... With God by our side and his arms wrapped so tightly around us... we know that with him we can do all things possible!!
Stay tuned later for some more great stories from our adventures today! Please continue to pray.... God is awesome and will answer our prayers for healing from the inside out and from the top of his head to the bottom of his toes!
I am still getting to prayers from this site and emails sent from a week ago if not longer.... I DO READ THEM ALL.... and I try to respond to as many as I can. Nothing goes unnoticed and you are all my little prayer warriors that I can't go without! THANK YOU!
Have a Blessed Day... Hug your kids... Kiss your kids today... go to a movie... go to the park... DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO TODAY! I wish I could and you have the opportunity so don't waste it! Make them your priority TODAY! Tomorrow is a gift and we are not promised that.... if I have given you anything at all, I hope it's a wake up call! Our children are precious gifts from God, not to be taken lightly or ignored.....TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR TIME WITH THEM! Forget the laundry today... forget cleaning the house... Make your Sundays time with God and your family! Do it for Alex!!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Saturday, January 23, 2010
January 23 (11:00 pm)
WHAT A GREAT DAY TODAY WITH ALEX.... AND WHAT FUN WITH HIM TONIGHT!
Alex has slept most of the morning off and on and his heart rate at a great steady relaxed rate all of today! Dax, his best bud that has been coming every day, open till close... came and gave him a Baloo and Mowgli stuffed animal set ... I LOVE IT! For those of you new to our world... Alex's nick name is MOWGLI from the Jungle Book because he looks just like him lol! Alex loved it too!
He has really been alert today and we moved from the Goonies..to Cat in the Hat (3 times) and now he fell asleep to Austin Powers, lol! He had several visitors tonight and gave his sissy Heather a thumbs up when asked if he loved her and it made her night! He has a special name for her husband Jon and when asked if he thought he was still the special name... He gave a thumbs up again! Dax, Terry and Big Mac came in again later tonight to see him and he was giving them all kinds of mess! For those of you who live in Jacksonville... he threw up the WESTSIDE sign... and I am not kidding! CRAZY! And then right after that... he shot them the middle finger (sorry) but he did, lol! That tells me right there that Alex is BACK! His sense of humor is still in there he just can't talk right now... but he WILL!
MY ALEX IS COMING BACK and you better believe... IT'S ANOTHER MIRACLE of GOD... because I was told he probably would not be the same person he was as he was before this happened! His gestures and attitude tell me different.... HE IS VERY MUCH the same witty lil firecracker that he was before this happened to him!
God is healing him from the tip of his head to the bottom of his feet... don't be surprised if he comes out of this REMEMBERING and SPEAKING of what happened and sharing his testimony with everyone he comes in contact with! GOD YOU ARE AWESOME... you are showing me things that are only explainable by you! Thank you God for giving me one more day with my handsome boy! He is looking better by the hour and his healing is just incredible and at an incredible rate. God... we are on your time table and I'm loving every minute of our progress together.
I will be telling Alex's story on the radio, Friday morning the 29th with Childrens Miracle Network here at Shands... 99.9 Gator Country (how ironic.. Gator Country) station... not sure the time yet... but stay tuned so you can hear his story on the radio! I FINALLY MADE IT TO THE RADIO....thanks Alex, lol! Would have preferred it because of another reason.. maybe American Idol Finalist or Swimsuit Model... but I'll take it! I tell my friends... I always knew Alex would be my poster child... I was just hoping it would be for Abercrombie... not Childrens Miracle Network, lol! :0)
I finally feel like I can breath again... it was up and down for so many days there... WOW.. 17 days later... he still breaths! INCREDIBLE... THANK YOU GOD! We still have so much to conquer... please continue to pray for healing, swelling to go down with no infections and no more complications, also trach to come out sooner than later and that he continues to improve so we can get over to Brooks Rehab and back on the road to recovery!
The community with their love and support... my friends... my many many new friends (thanks to Alex)... you are all amazing! People that know people that know me or know Alex... the out reach, it's just... just soooo incredible at the love that you guys have for us. Thank You seems so inadequate... I cant seem to find a word gracious enough to explain what I feel inside or explain how deeply I am moved and touched by your words and actions. YOU ALL AMAZE ME and I am truly blessed as well as Alex to have touched so many lives! I am absolutely thrilled at the thought of having a BIG HUGE ALL OF JACKSONVILLE WELCOME HOME PARTY for Alex like at the stadium or landing.... it's gotta be a big place because there are sooooo many out there that want to meet him!
I could rattle on all night... as you can tell I am estatic tonight by Alex's progress and I am just in awe at how at ease he was with his friends tonight and it was like he was just hanging out shooting the bull only he couldn't talk.
Chad is spending the night with me and I am anxious to spend some time with him as we don't get much these days and I am missing him and Brooks as well.... I am signing off for now, stay tuned for GREAT RESULTS.... they are coming sooner than you think! Me, Alex and J.C. - WE GOT THIS!
PEACE~~LOVE~N~ THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Alex has slept most of the morning off and on and his heart rate at a great steady relaxed rate all of today! Dax, his best bud that has been coming every day, open till close... came and gave him a Baloo and Mowgli stuffed animal set ... I LOVE IT! For those of you new to our world... Alex's nick name is MOWGLI from the Jungle Book because he looks just like him lol! Alex loved it too!
He has really been alert today and we moved from the Goonies..to Cat in the Hat (3 times) and now he fell asleep to Austin Powers, lol! He had several visitors tonight and gave his sissy Heather a thumbs up when asked if he loved her and it made her night! He has a special name for her husband Jon and when asked if he thought he was still the special name... He gave a thumbs up again! Dax, Terry and Big Mac came in again later tonight to see him and he was giving them all kinds of mess! For those of you who live in Jacksonville... he threw up the WESTSIDE sign... and I am not kidding! CRAZY! And then right after that... he shot them the middle finger (sorry) but he did, lol! That tells me right there that Alex is BACK! His sense of humor is still in there he just can't talk right now... but he WILL!
MY ALEX IS COMING BACK and you better believe... IT'S ANOTHER MIRACLE of GOD... because I was told he probably would not be the same person he was as he was before this happened! His gestures and attitude tell me different.... HE IS VERY MUCH the same witty lil firecracker that he was before this happened to him!
God is healing him from the tip of his head to the bottom of his feet... don't be surprised if he comes out of this REMEMBERING and SPEAKING of what happened and sharing his testimony with everyone he comes in contact with! GOD YOU ARE AWESOME... you are showing me things that are only explainable by you! Thank you God for giving me one more day with my handsome boy! He is looking better by the hour and his healing is just incredible and at an incredible rate. God... we are on your time table and I'm loving every minute of our progress together.
I will be telling Alex's story on the radio, Friday morning the 29th with Childrens Miracle Network here at Shands... 99.9 Gator Country (how ironic.. Gator Country) station... not sure the time yet... but stay tuned so you can hear his story on the radio! I FINALLY MADE IT TO THE RADIO....thanks Alex, lol! Would have preferred it because of another reason.. maybe American Idol Finalist or Swimsuit Model... but I'll take it! I tell my friends... I always knew Alex would be my poster child... I was just hoping it would be for Abercrombie... not Childrens Miracle Network, lol! :0)
I finally feel like I can breath again... it was up and down for so many days there... WOW.. 17 days later... he still breaths! INCREDIBLE... THANK YOU GOD! We still have so much to conquer... please continue to pray for healing, swelling to go down with no infections and no more complications, also trach to come out sooner than later and that he continues to improve so we can get over to Brooks Rehab and back on the road to recovery!
The community with their love and support... my friends... my many many new friends (thanks to Alex)... you are all amazing! People that know people that know me or know Alex... the out reach, it's just... just soooo incredible at the love that you guys have for us. Thank You seems so inadequate... I cant seem to find a word gracious enough to explain what I feel inside or explain how deeply I am moved and touched by your words and actions. YOU ALL AMAZE ME and I am truly blessed as well as Alex to have touched so many lives! I am absolutely thrilled at the thought of having a BIG HUGE ALL OF JACKSONVILLE WELCOME HOME PARTY for Alex like at the stadium or landing.... it's gotta be a big place because there are sooooo many out there that want to meet him!
I could rattle on all night... as you can tell I am estatic tonight by Alex's progress and I am just in awe at how at ease he was with his friends tonight and it was like he was just hanging out shooting the bull only he couldn't talk.
Chad is spending the night with me and I am anxious to spend some time with him as we don't get much these days and I am missing him and Brooks as well.... I am signing off for now, stay tuned for GREAT RESULTS.... they are coming sooner than you think! Me, Alex and J.C. - WE GOT THIS!
PEACE~~LOVE~N~ THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
January 23rd (11:30 am)
Alex is doing great today and is still responding to commands and doing what is asked of him. He had a great night of rest and seems to be right on track with progress. Kinlin stayed the night with us last night so that I could get some sleep with a couple hours in a row and sleep I did!!! I slept until 8:30 am and that was much needed!
Alex has been watching "The Goonies" non stop... aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! We have even offered to play other movies and he insists on watching Goonies!! I think when he sleeps and it is on... I often wonder if in his dreams he imagines himself on their adventure of finding the treasure ship! HE WOULD SO LOVE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT!
Thanks to everyone who has been coming to visit and bringing my family lunches and dinners... YOU ARE AWESOME and I thank you so very much for taking the time out of your busy day for us! The love and support is constant around us and you will never know how much it means to me! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.... A MILLION TIMES OVER for putting together fundraisers and wanting to do anything possible to help the family out! The words "Thank You" seem inadequate but are truly heart felt!
Please continue to pray for Alex with his healing from the tip of his head to the bottom of his toes. God's arms are wrapped around us and I can feel his presence within and all around this whole unit. He works thru the doctors... he works thru the nurses and he has given Alex a peace and comfort that allows him to rest and recover.
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY! I give you all the honor, glory and praise.... with you we can do ALL things possible. This too shall pass!
Stay tuned later for more updates and progress for today!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~ THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Alex has been watching "The Goonies" non stop... aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! We have even offered to play other movies and he insists on watching Goonies!! I think when he sleeps and it is on... I often wonder if in his dreams he imagines himself on their adventure of finding the treasure ship! HE WOULD SO LOVE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT!
Thanks to everyone who has been coming to visit and bringing my family lunches and dinners... YOU ARE AWESOME and I thank you so very much for taking the time out of your busy day for us! The love and support is constant around us and you will never know how much it means to me! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.... A MILLION TIMES OVER for putting together fundraisers and wanting to do anything possible to help the family out! The words "Thank You" seem inadequate but are truly heart felt!
Please continue to pray for Alex with his healing from the tip of his head to the bottom of his toes. God's arms are wrapped around us and I can feel his presence within and all around this whole unit. He works thru the doctors... he works thru the nurses and he has given Alex a peace and comfort that allows him to rest and recover.
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY! I give you all the honor, glory and praise.... with you we can do ALL things possible. This too shall pass!
Stay tuned later for more updates and progress for today!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~ THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Friday, January 22, 2010
January 22nd (9:45pm)
Today was a good RESTFUL day for Alex. Doctor came by to see him after the cat scan today and we got a good report. He did all his good little tricks for her, peace sign, I love you sign, thumbs up, 1 finger, 2 fingers, 3 fingers. Of course when I came in to see him after that, he didn't want to show me ANY of that.... however I asked for the middle finger and did manage to get that, lol.. little turkey! I gave him a free pass... I was just glad to get something! He slept most of today, in and out and for him... it was a good day!
Please continue to pray for the swelling and healing from the operation. We want healing from the top of his head to the bottom of his toes.... infection free with no more complications. God you are awesome and I thank you for continuing to bless me with the many miracles that Alex has conquered and faced. With you we can do all things possible and I don't doubt that one bit!
We will keep taking it one day at a time and once again I THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
Till tomorrow....
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~THUMBS UP!
Lisa
Please continue to pray for the swelling and healing from the operation. We want healing from the top of his head to the bottom of his toes.... infection free with no more complications. God you are awesome and I thank you for continuing to bless me with the many miracles that Alex has conquered and faced. With you we can do all things possible and I don't doubt that one bit!
We will keep taking it one day at a time and once again I THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
Till tomorrow....
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~THUMBS UP!
Lisa
January 22nd (10:30 am)
GOOD MORNING SUNSHINES!
Today is a great day and I thank you God for one more day with my handsome boy! He is resting beautifully this morning and will be most of today. They are getting ready to take him for a post op cat scan and we pray all looks good with that!
Please continue to pray as we are in for the long haul and we don't want any infections or complications to arise from the surgery. I have peace and comfort and truly feel that God has him on the upside of the hill, however... we may still encounter some valleys but God will hold my hand every step of the way and see me thru it.
I will post another update tonight in regards to the cat scan and his progress throughout today.
PEACE ~~LOVE~~ N~~ THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Today is a great day and I thank you God for one more day with my handsome boy! He is resting beautifully this morning and will be most of today. They are getting ready to take him for a post op cat scan and we pray all looks good with that!
Please continue to pray as we are in for the long haul and we don't want any infections or complications to arise from the surgery. I have peace and comfort and truly feel that God has him on the upside of the hill, however... we may still encounter some valleys but God will hold my hand every step of the way and see me thru it.
I will post another update tonight in regards to the cat scan and his progress throughout today.
PEACE ~~LOVE~~ N~~ THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Thursday, January 21, 2010
January 21st (8:05pm)
TEAM ALEX IS IN DA HOUSE!
GOD JUST PERFORMED ANOTHER MIRACLE!! I can finally breath and my precious boy is going to recover and bounce back in no time.....Watch and see! Doctor Vitarbo gave us an awesome report.... much better than I ever imagined! She went in and cleaned things up and did not have to remove as much brain tissue on the right side as she anticipated!!
God you are awesome and so is Dr. Vitarbo, Dr. Tepas and Dr. Garcia.....the whole neurosurgeon team....WOW! I cannot thank you enough! Alex is a fighter but without God and the awesome staff here at Shands... he couldn't do it alone!
Thank you to all my devoted prayer warriors out there.... fans, friends and family... you played a big part in this too! We still have a long road ahead but I truly believe this is one of our biggest steps to getting our little firecracker back! Keep the prayers and emails coming... you lighten my heart and keep me going strong. It may take me awhile to get to all of them but I READ EVERY THING! Nothing goes unnoticed and no email goes unread! Please continue to PRAY for him and to provide strength in me as we go thru the whole rehab process. He is a fiesty lil thang and I'm sure I'll be the brunt of his aggravation and recovery ....MOMMA LOVES YOU ALEX MICHAEL!!
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY! Thank you for wrapping your arms around Alex and bringing him back to me so that he can do great things for you! If you are reading this and are not a believer of God.... BELIEVE THIS.... God is real, he performs miracles... Alex is not supposed to be here according to the "clinical world"... HE LIVES AND BREATHS TODAY.... 15 days later!
To my nursing staff at Shands..... I LOVE YOU ALL! You are all part of our family now and I can't wait for you to meet the REAL Alex! You think you love him now..... you ain't seen nothing yet! Thank you for treating us like a King and Queen in your unit... I have felt right at home since I walked thru the doors! You are truly amazing and I don't know how you do what you do, but I am glad you have been a part of our recovery. THANK YOU...from the bottom of my heart!
Alex Michael... YOU ARE MY BRAVE LITTLE SOLDIER... MY HERO...TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
GOD JUST PERFORMED ANOTHER MIRACLE!! I can finally breath and my precious boy is going to recover and bounce back in no time.....Watch and see! Doctor Vitarbo gave us an awesome report.... much better than I ever imagined! She went in and cleaned things up and did not have to remove as much brain tissue on the right side as she anticipated!!
God you are awesome and so is Dr. Vitarbo, Dr. Tepas and Dr. Garcia.....the whole neurosurgeon team....WOW! I cannot thank you enough! Alex is a fighter but without God and the awesome staff here at Shands... he couldn't do it alone!
Thank you to all my devoted prayer warriors out there.... fans, friends and family... you played a big part in this too! We still have a long road ahead but I truly believe this is one of our biggest steps to getting our little firecracker back! Keep the prayers and emails coming... you lighten my heart and keep me going strong. It may take me awhile to get to all of them but I READ EVERY THING! Nothing goes unnoticed and no email goes unread! Please continue to PRAY for him and to provide strength in me as we go thru the whole rehab process. He is a fiesty lil thang and I'm sure I'll be the brunt of his aggravation and recovery ....MOMMA LOVES YOU ALEX MICHAEL!!
THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY! Thank you for wrapping your arms around Alex and bringing him back to me so that he can do great things for you! If you are reading this and are not a believer of God.... BELIEVE THIS.... God is real, he performs miracles... Alex is not supposed to be here according to the "clinical world"... HE LIVES AND BREATHS TODAY.... 15 days later!
To my nursing staff at Shands..... I LOVE YOU ALL! You are all part of our family now and I can't wait for you to meet the REAL Alex! You think you love him now..... you ain't seen nothing yet! Thank you for treating us like a King and Queen in your unit... I have felt right at home since I walked thru the doors! You are truly amazing and I don't know how you do what you do, but I am glad you have been a part of our recovery. THANK YOU...from the bottom of my heart!
Alex Michael... YOU ARE MY BRAVE LITTLE SOLDIER... MY HERO...TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
January 21st (5:48 pm)
Just wanted to let you all know... we are still waiting! Please continue to pray and hopefully he will come out soon!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~ THUMBS UP!!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~ THUMBS UP!!
January 21st (3:15 pm)
Just left Alex in the pre-op area and I told him that they were going to take good care of him and fix his headache. Those beautiful brown eyes staring at me.... THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
Surgery should take about 2-3 hours.... can't wait till he comes back to me! I LOVE YOU ALEX MICHAEL...... YOU ARE MY HERO...TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~THUMBS UP!
Lisa
Surgery should take about 2-3 hours.... can't wait till he comes back to me! I LOVE YOU ALEX MICHAEL...... YOU ARE MY HERO...TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~THUMBS UP!
Lisa
January 21st (8:00 am)
DAY 15
WOW... Day 15... THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
This morning just sitting here watching him sleep it's all so surreal. I just remember the first night when I was told he wouldn't make it thru the night....Thank you God for giving me the strength to get thru that night! You know, sooo many of you give me credit for being so strong, saying you don't know how I do it day to day.... God doesn't give us more than we can handle... obviously he thinks I'm pretty strong too, lol! It's amazing to me in itself.... you never know what you would do or how you would handle yourself but I realize I have to be strong for Alex as he is being strong for me.
Today is going to be a great day! God has given me a peace about the surgery and I really know in my heart of hearts that this is exactly what Alex needs. Once we can get the fluid off the brain, and some of that swelling to go down.... our little firecracker Alex will be back in no time. The surgery is scheduled for 12:30 and will last 3-4 hours. PLEASE LIFT ALEX UP IN PRAYER TODAY as he goes into surgery and ask God to be with all the doctors and nurses surrounding him as they touch our precious miracle boy. Guide the surgeons hands so that the procedure goes better than planned with no major complications. Pray for peace and comfort to be with Alex before, during and after the surgery. I know that Alex is in the BEST HANDS possible.... not only with the staff here at Shands, but with God's loving arms wrapped around him.
I will update you throughout today when something new comes up or when he is taken to surgery. He is a brave and strong little guy! Alex Michael... YOU ARE MY HERO, TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
WOW... Day 15... THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
This morning just sitting here watching him sleep it's all so surreal. I just remember the first night when I was told he wouldn't make it thru the night....Thank you God for giving me the strength to get thru that night! You know, sooo many of you give me credit for being so strong, saying you don't know how I do it day to day.... God doesn't give us more than we can handle... obviously he thinks I'm pretty strong too, lol! It's amazing to me in itself.... you never know what you would do or how you would handle yourself but I realize I have to be strong for Alex as he is being strong for me.
Today is going to be a great day! God has given me a peace about the surgery and I really know in my heart of hearts that this is exactly what Alex needs. Once we can get the fluid off the brain, and some of that swelling to go down.... our little firecracker Alex will be back in no time. The surgery is scheduled for 12:30 and will last 3-4 hours. PLEASE LIFT ALEX UP IN PRAYER TODAY as he goes into surgery and ask God to be with all the doctors and nurses surrounding him as they touch our precious miracle boy. Guide the surgeons hands so that the procedure goes better than planned with no major complications. Pray for peace and comfort to be with Alex before, during and after the surgery. I know that Alex is in the BEST HANDS possible.... not only with the staff here at Shands, but with God's loving arms wrapped around him.
I will update you throughout today when something new comes up or when he is taken to surgery. He is a brave and strong little guy! Alex Michael... YOU ARE MY HERO, TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS!
PEACE~~LOVE~~N~~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
January 20th ( 10:30pm)
Alex had a very relaxing day today and has been doing fantastic on the oxygen without the assistance of the ventilator. A big THANK YOU to Brandi as she brought Alex his favorite DVD, "The Goonies" today and his eyes have been glued to the TV ever since I put it in! I have actually put it on repeat play as it seems to calm him and he has seemed really relaxed and chill today and tonight! He even told me and the nurses to pretty much leave him alone and get out of his way as he pointed to the TV... in other words... don't bother me, I'm watching my movie, lol. He did play some basketball today and I got a "yes", (one finger for yes, two fingers for no) when I asked him if he loved mom! MEDICINE FOR MY SOUL!
Surgery is scheduled for 12:30pm tomorrow and hopefully nothing crazy goes on in the hospital so that his surgery doesn't get bumped. I am very positive about this and know that God is guiding the hands that touch our miracle boy every second of every step! He continues to amaze me daily, both Alex and GOD! Tomorrow is one step closer to a speedy recovery and I truly believe that once we get some of the fluid off of the brain we will start to see more of Alex coming back around. Hard to believe 14 days ago I had NO CHANCE OF HOPE and was told he wouldn't make it thru the night. THANK YOU GOD for one more day with my handsome boy.
I will update the page tomorrow once he goes in for surgery and then again when he gets out. Thank you again and again a million times over for bringing us lunch and dinners...emails, cards, posters, banners, thoughtful gifts (for both Alex and myself), ribbons.. HUGS and love and support! PLEASE KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU!
This is a mothers worst nightmare and the worst rollercoaster ride I have ever encountered. I hope and pray that none of you ever have to go thru this. Alex is touching lives and making believers out of those who were lost.... what more could I ask for? Alex Michael.... YOU ARE MY HERO...TODAY, TOMORROW ALWAYS! Me, you and J.C.... We Got This!
Please pray for surgery to go successfully without complications and for Alex to recover smoothly from the procedure. I have total faith in God that he will once again perform a miracle and we will all see major improvements over the next week. The Shands PEDS ICU Nursing Staff is AMAZING and I can't thank you all enough for taking such awesome care of me and Alex. Tomorrow is a new beginning and I know God has great things in store for us!
PEACE ~ LOVE~ N ~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
Surgery is scheduled for 12:30pm tomorrow and hopefully nothing crazy goes on in the hospital so that his surgery doesn't get bumped. I am very positive about this and know that God is guiding the hands that touch our miracle boy every second of every step! He continues to amaze me daily, both Alex and GOD! Tomorrow is one step closer to a speedy recovery and I truly believe that once we get some of the fluid off of the brain we will start to see more of Alex coming back around. Hard to believe 14 days ago I had NO CHANCE OF HOPE and was told he wouldn't make it thru the night. THANK YOU GOD for one more day with my handsome boy.
I will update the page tomorrow once he goes in for surgery and then again when he gets out. Thank you again and again a million times over for bringing us lunch and dinners...emails, cards, posters, banners, thoughtful gifts (for both Alex and myself), ribbons.. HUGS and love and support! PLEASE KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU!
This is a mothers worst nightmare and the worst rollercoaster ride I have ever encountered. I hope and pray that none of you ever have to go thru this. Alex is touching lives and making believers out of those who were lost.... what more could I ask for? Alex Michael.... YOU ARE MY HERO...TODAY, TOMORROW ALWAYS! Me, you and J.C.... We Got This!
Please pray for surgery to go successfully without complications and for Alex to recover smoothly from the procedure. I have total faith in God that he will once again perform a miracle and we will all see major improvements over the next week. The Shands PEDS ICU Nursing Staff is AMAZING and I can't thank you all enough for taking such awesome care of me and Alex. Tomorrow is a new beginning and I know God has great things in store for us!
PEACE ~ LOVE~ N ~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
January 20th ( 12:15pm)
Cat Scan came back and Alex will have to go back to surgery. Doctors say this is definitely a STEP FORWARD and they will be able to relieve the swelling and place a drain to get rid of some of the fluid. Doctor Tepas seems very positive and seems to think this will absolutely be in his best interest.
Pray for God to guide the doctors hands while they operate and for peace and comfort to be with all of us and know that this is God's plan.
I will continue to keep you all updated as you are all my prayer warriors and I need you just as much as you need to know what is going on!
God is awesome and I truly have a peace about this surgery and know that Alex is in the best of care with his nurses, doctors and GOD!
Me, Alex and J.C. --- WE GOT THIS!
PEACE~~ LOVE~~ N~~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
Pray for God to guide the doctors hands while they operate and for peace and comfort to be with all of us and know that this is God's plan.
I will continue to keep you all updated as you are all my prayer warriors and I need you just as much as you need to know what is going on!
God is awesome and I truly have a peace about this surgery and know that Alex is in the best of care with his nurses, doctors and GOD!
Me, Alex and J.C. --- WE GOT THIS!
PEACE~~ LOVE~~ N~~ THUMBS UP!
Lisa
January 20th (10:30am)
Alex woke up this morning with a discharge coming from his head. They just took him to get a cat scan to see what is going on in the inside.
God is testing me again today...but God you know what? I am standing strong steadfast! You can test me, move me, shake me... but it doesn't matter because like you.... I am very much still here standing strong on my faith! Like you.... I am always going to be with YOU! It really doesn't matter what that cat scan comes back and says because Alex and I know that YOU are in TOTAL CONTROL! Actions speak louder than words or pictures... PEOPLE ARE WATCHING and they NOW TOO BELIEVE! We are not done with your work Lord... Alex is touching lives and he isn't even out of the bed yet.... He will be your vessel and your light will continue to shine through him as well as me! Lord, I ask you to wrap your arms around my precious boy and bring comfort and peace to him as you have me.
OUR STEP FORWARD for today is that they took him off of the ventilator and he is breathing with just oxygen all on his own! DAY 14... ANOTHER MIRACLE OF GOD!!! Soon he will be off all assistance and breathing on his own and trach will come out! I say within the next two weeks.... this too shall pass!
Prayers for today:
God is testing me again today...but God you know what? I am standing strong steadfast! You can test me, move me, shake me... but it doesn't matter because like you.... I am very much still here standing strong on my faith! Like you.... I am always going to be with YOU! It really doesn't matter what that cat scan comes back and says because Alex and I know that YOU are in TOTAL CONTROL! Actions speak louder than words or pictures... PEOPLE ARE WATCHING and they NOW TOO BELIEVE! We are not done with your work Lord... Alex is touching lives and he isn't even out of the bed yet.... He will be your vessel and your light will continue to shine through him as well as me! Lord, I ask you to wrap your arms around my precious boy and bring comfort and peace to him as you have me.
OUR STEP FORWARD for today is that they took him off of the ventilator and he is breathing with just oxygen all on his own! DAY 14... ANOTHER MIRACLE OF GOD!!! Soon he will be off all assistance and breathing on his own and trach will come out! I say within the next two weeks.... this too shall pass!
Prayers for today:
- Pray for the swelling to once again begin decreasing and stay on track with that
- Pray for Alex to be able to continue breathing on pure oxygen without that ventilator
- Pray for nothing but positives to show in the cat scan result
Thank you all for the continued love, support and prayers.... THEY WORK! In case you all didn't know.... ME, ALEX and J.C. --- WE GOT THIS! TEAM ALEX IS IN THE HOUSE and we won't stay down!!
PEACE ~~ LOVE~~ N ~~ THUMBS UP!
LISA
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
January 19th ( 6:20 pm)
Today is day 13 and I honestly cannot believe the progress that Alex has made! THANK YOU GOD for your miracle today! Alex is sitting in a more upright position today with the assistance of the bed and loving it. Chad bought him a little nerf basketball hoop and yes my friends.... He is SHOOTING HOOPS! Ok, ok so maybe not from the bed to the wall, but he is holding the ball in his hand and when you hold the hoop to the side of the bed.... he places the ball into the hole! We call it DUNKING, lol!!! Does anyone know Michael Jordan? Can we get him here? He might want to check Alex out, lol!
Alex also got his helmet today that he will have to where 24-7 until he has rehabilitated enough to come back to Shands for a skull repair surgery. It is Gator blue and we have already put Gator stickers on it for when he is ready to ride out of the bed and into a chair, lol! Now all we need is Tim Tebow to come and sign the helmet.... where are you Timmy?
Today has been a great day with Alex and I couldn't be more proud of my little firecracker!
Prayers for today:
Alex also got his helmet today that he will have to where 24-7 until he has rehabilitated enough to come back to Shands for a skull repair surgery. It is Gator blue and we have already put Gator stickers on it for when he is ready to ride out of the bed and into a chair, lol! Now all we need is Tim Tebow to come and sign the helmet.... where are you Timmy?
Today has been a great day with Alex and I couldn't be more proud of my little firecracker!
Prayers for today:
- swelling of the brain to continue decreasing
- vocal chords and throat to heal quickly
- for Alex to be able to breath without ventilator
I do have one special request on behalf of my family and I. Please focus on Alex's health and not so much on the incident or RUMORS surrounding the incident. I believe God will see us thru this horrific tragedy and the TRUTH will be known... WHEN IT IS TIME. We are NOT focusing on the case... we are focusing on ALEX getting better and we ask that you do the same.
I can't thank you all enough for the continued love, support and prayers! Words again... cannot express how amazed I am at the outpour of love and lives that this has touched. Alex is truly an example of God's amazing grace and once again... I THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!
PEACE~~LOVE~~ N~ THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Monday, January 18, 2010
January 18th ( 11:00 pm)
Alex is resting peacefully and sleeping like a baby! He was so tired he couldn't make it to stay awake for our date with CSI/HORATIO.
The trach is a big success and he seems to be breathing beautifully on it and even got the hiccups tonight, lol! I asked him if his mouth felt better without all those tubes in there and I did get the official THUMBS UP! He is still frustrated and even pretended to be asleep when some of the family was in his room talking.... however, what he doesn't realize is that mom is now a nurse in training and I can read his heart rate on the monitor so there is no faking mom out, ha! Turkey was awake the whole time! Glad to know Alex is still in there.... being the Alex we all know and love!
Please continue to pray for him as our next goal is to get him off of the ventilator all together and him to be able to breath thru the trach all by himself. He has already come leaps and bounds so I have no doubt he is on the upside of this recovery process. Very very hard to believe that I have been in the hospital 12 days with him and that he is very much alive, breathing and communicating with emotions! God is amazing and continues to perform miracles in our lives daily... Believe me... GOD IS VERY REAL and Alex is living proof of that! The "clinical world" says... Alex shouldn't be here... GOD says... I have work for him to do here on earth... and he will!
Thank you all so very much for continuing to pray, sending your love, food, thoughts, cards, emails etc. I honestly don't think I could have come this far without you! So much of the jacksonville community is blessing me everyday by starting fundraisers for Alex and words can't express my gratitude for doing so on his behalf! THANK YOU! Someone should be posting all fundraisers on this page soon so that you know they are ligit and will have all details available at your fingertips.
I must give Shands and Alex's nurses major kudos as they take very good care of BOTH of us. Melissa, Michelle, Jeannie, Carol, Kim, Lori, Amber, Diane, Alisa...Doctor Tepas and Doctor Garcia.... YOU ARE ALL TRULY AMAZING!!! You are all a part of my little survivor and I can never repay you for the love, support and care you have given him. So glad he is on your "miracle wall" and we will all be getting together once he is out of Brooks Rehab so that YOU too can meet the Alex we all know him to be!
Please stay tuned to Alex's progress so that you can all see exactly what our God is capable of because he has only just begun and the rest will be an amazing story to tell!
PEACE~~ LOVE~~ N~~ THUMBS UP!
The trach is a big success and he seems to be breathing beautifully on it and even got the hiccups tonight, lol! I asked him if his mouth felt better without all those tubes in there and I did get the official THUMBS UP! He is still frustrated and even pretended to be asleep when some of the family was in his room talking.... however, what he doesn't realize is that mom is now a nurse in training and I can read his heart rate on the monitor so there is no faking mom out, ha! Turkey was awake the whole time! Glad to know Alex is still in there.... being the Alex we all know and love!
Please continue to pray for him as our next goal is to get him off of the ventilator all together and him to be able to breath thru the trach all by himself. He has already come leaps and bounds so I have no doubt he is on the upside of this recovery process. Very very hard to believe that I have been in the hospital 12 days with him and that he is very much alive, breathing and communicating with emotions! God is amazing and continues to perform miracles in our lives daily... Believe me... GOD IS VERY REAL and Alex is living proof of that! The "clinical world" says... Alex shouldn't be here... GOD says... I have work for him to do here on earth... and he will!
Thank you all so very much for continuing to pray, sending your love, food, thoughts, cards, emails etc. I honestly don't think I could have come this far without you! So much of the jacksonville community is blessing me everyday by starting fundraisers for Alex and words can't express my gratitude for doing so on his behalf! THANK YOU! Someone should be posting all fundraisers on this page soon so that you know they are ligit and will have all details available at your fingertips.
I must give Shands and Alex's nurses major kudos as they take very good care of BOTH of us. Melissa, Michelle, Jeannie, Carol, Kim, Lori, Amber, Diane, Alisa...Doctor Tepas and Doctor Garcia.... YOU ARE ALL TRULY AMAZING!!! You are all a part of my little survivor and I can never repay you for the love, support and care you have given him. So glad he is on your "miracle wall" and we will all be getting together once he is out of Brooks Rehab so that YOU too can meet the Alex we all know him to be!
Please stay tuned to Alex's progress so that you can all see exactly what our God is capable of because he has only just begun and the rest will be an amazing story to tell!
PEACE~~ LOVE~~ N~~ THUMBS UP!
January 18th (12:30)
PROCEDURE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL!! THANK YOU GOD ONCE AGAIN!
We just went back to see Alex and the surgery was successful. He has the trach and is coughing, DOC SAYS THAT'S GREAT, also has the feeding tube so he gets lots more nutrients! He looks AMAZING without all those tubes coming out of his mouth and taped to his face.... MY BOY IS BACK!
He will be knocked out for a good bit..... thank you for all the prayers... They are working!! I can't believe we are on day 12 since that horrific ordeal. I hope that Alex is touching lives as they see miracles being performed in his life as well as mine. GOD IS VERY REAL.... look at Alex and BELIEVE! It is one thing to hear someone say... I know so and so and God performed a miracle by saving their life.... IT'S ANOTHER THING TO LIVE IT, SEE IT AND WATCH IT HAPPEN. Hear me when I say this... get on your knees, get with God... Tomorrow is a gift...not a promise! Live for today... tomorrow may never come, don't sweat the small stuff... the dishes and clothes can be washed later...I certainly will be living my life a little differently and I hope you all follow the same. Sooo, when you come to visit... my house may be a little messy and my beds not made.... but there will be lots of love, hugs and kisses and that my friends.... that is what is important!
I will keep you updated, next post might not come till tomorrow.... today is exciting for me and I do have a date with Alex tonight. Well he, I and Horatio/CSI - lol! Keep the faith, keep praying for comfort and peace of mind for Alex... we still have a long road ahead with rehabilitation.
PEACE~~ LOVE~~N ~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
We just went back to see Alex and the surgery was successful. He has the trach and is coughing, DOC SAYS THAT'S GREAT, also has the feeding tube so he gets lots more nutrients! He looks AMAZING without all those tubes coming out of his mouth and taped to his face.... MY BOY IS BACK!
He will be knocked out for a good bit..... thank you for all the prayers... They are working!! I can't believe we are on day 12 since that horrific ordeal. I hope that Alex is touching lives as they see miracles being performed in his life as well as mine. GOD IS VERY REAL.... look at Alex and BELIEVE! It is one thing to hear someone say... I know so and so and God performed a miracle by saving their life.... IT'S ANOTHER THING TO LIVE IT, SEE IT AND WATCH IT HAPPEN. Hear me when I say this... get on your knees, get with God... Tomorrow is a gift...not a promise! Live for today... tomorrow may never come, don't sweat the small stuff... the dishes and clothes can be washed later...I certainly will be living my life a little differently and I hope you all follow the same. Sooo, when you come to visit... my house may be a little messy and my beds not made.... but there will be lots of love, hugs and kisses and that my friends.... that is what is important!
I will keep you updated, next post might not come till tomorrow.... today is exciting for me and I do have a date with Alex tonight. Well he, I and Horatio/CSI - lol! Keep the faith, keep praying for comfort and peace of mind for Alex... we still have a long road ahead with rehabilitation.
PEACE~~ LOVE~~N ~THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
January 18th (11:15am)
TEAM ALEX IS IN THE HOUSE!
They are preparing for the trach now and procedure will be done bedside. Like a good mom, I prepared him by putting his favorite Jordans and black Nike socks on! He just gave me a THUMBS UP and is very ready for tube to be out! We are just waiting on doctors to come down and make it all happen.Please pray for God to guide the Doctors hands and be with little man as the procedure is performed. Let this go smoothly without complications and bring peace and comfort to Alex as he takes this step forward to recovery.
THANK YOU GOD... YOU ARE AWESOME... I HAVE TOTAL FAITH AND TRUST IN YOU THAT YOU WILL ALLOW THIS TO BE A POSITIVE STEP FORWARD FOR ALEX AS YOU CONTINUE TO PERFORM MIRACLES IN HIS LIFE DAILY.
Stay tuned... Today is the first day of the rest of his life! AMEN!
PEACE ~~ LOVE~~ N ~~THUMBS UP!
January 18th (morning)
I just wanted to get online and give you all quick updates as to what is going on at this moment. Alex is resting, we are waiting on doctor to come back from making his rounds with other patients and Nurses are getting everything ready for procedure. Today is a holiday so it is a little short staffed and the doctor is speaking with counterparts to make sure they can assist with the trach. As of right now it looks like it's a go and I will keep you updated throughout today. Please pray for smooth and successful procedure and that this brings peace and comfort to my handsome boy! I will give another update as soon as I know something! PEACE LOVE N THUMBS UP!!
Lisa
Lisa
Sunday, January 17, 2010
January 17th
Alex had a rough morning today.... aggravated, frustrated....wanting the tube out of his mouth. He has been irritable most of the day but is now sleeping like a baby. Today all in all was much needed for him. This morning he was very ornery when the doctor came in and did not want to do his little tricks today. Alex was holding my hand when he came in and he asked him to give his usual "thumbs up" and Alex pretty much ignored him. So I said, "Alex give him a thumbs up"... being the spunky little firecracker that we all know and love he gently let go of my hand and put his hand under his leg, lol! He was not participating in playing patient/doctor today! His swelling continues to go down however he still has a significant amount of it in the brain and his esophogus.
Prayers for today:
Prayers for today:
- Swelling
- Comfort and peace for Alex's frustration
- Trach to be scheduled for tomorrow (it's a holiday and staff is limited)
- Procedure to go smoothly and be successful
Thanks to all of you who continue to bless me daily with emails, fb posts, cards, food, baskets...etc... YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME and words can't express the gratitude and emotion I am feeling for the outpour of love shown to me and my family!
In case you haven't caught on to my new slogan:
Peace~~~ Love~~~ n ~~~ THUMBS UP! :0)~
Lisa
Saturday, January 16, 2010
January 16th
Alex has been resting most of the day and the doctors have decreased his meds so that he can come around and be more alert to respond to certain stimulus. He is opening both eyes today, a little sluggish at times but by the end of today most of meds should have worn off. He is still scheduled for trach either Monday or Tuesday... Doctor will decide on Monday. Nurse noticed today that he had rapid eye movement when lids are closed which tells them he is dreaming :0)~
Please continue to pray to reduce swelling of brain and esophogus and to heal the inside to match whats going on the outside. He is still fighting strong and maybe that one step back was so that we could take two steps forward!
Again, we thank you for all of the love and support you continue to pour over our family.... I can't wait for Alex to get to the point where he can read all of your emails, fb posts, cards, journal entries and letters. I tell him every night how popular we are now and how awesome it is to see his face EVERYWHERE! He is my miracle boy and God is still making miracles happen every second he is breathing!
God Bless ya'll!
LISA
Please continue to pray to reduce swelling of brain and esophogus and to heal the inside to match whats going on the outside. He is still fighting strong and maybe that one step back was so that we could take two steps forward!
Again, we thank you for all of the love and support you continue to pour over our family.... I can't wait for Alex to get to the point where he can read all of your emails, fb posts, cards, journal entries and letters. I tell him every night how popular we are now and how awesome it is to see his face EVERYWHERE! He is my miracle boy and God is still making miracles happen every second he is breathing!
God Bless ya'll!
LISA
January 15th
Thank you again so much for all of your prayers and support.
You know that we were all asking for everyone to pray for Alex to cough, and we want to thank everyone for praying. Last night was rough because Alex was very restless and unable to cough enough since he is so weak. At 11:30 last night Alex was very tired and his airways were extremely swollen. He was not getting enough oxygen as a result of this, so the doctors had to replace his vent with a smaller one. As it stands now, the doctors are scheduling a tracheotomy and g-tube (feeding tube to stomach) for Tuesday. While this in some ways may be viewed as a step back, we need to make sure we remain focused on the positive steps forward that we have made.
Lisa had some finger communication when she asked Alex if he loved his momma, and I too got a typical Alex "signal" (if you know his humor) when I asked if he could blink. I guess he got a little bit tired of the questions...
Overall, today was a better day. Alex slept all day and was allowed NO VISITORS, only IMMEDIATE FAMILY. This will be the case until Tuesday is over. We know that everyone would love to come see Alex, but right now we need him to get all the rest he can so he remains free of infection before going in for the tracheotomy. He has had a rough couple of days and today's rest was much needed.
"I hate that he can't have visitors, however, put yourself in his shoes and think about people coming in all day talking and touching and you just want to rest but can't. You are all VERY WELCOME to come hang out in the waiting room because you all give me strength and I love seeing the people that Alex has touched their hearts..." - Lisa
Prayer for today and tonight... rest, brain swelling to go down, esophagus swelling to go down and produce good cough.... if these things happen THEN we might not need the trach!!! Soooo let's pray for that!
"Thank you all again for constant love, support, cards, texts, emails, prayers, donations, food and LOVE! The family and I could never get through this without all of you and I am reminded daily of how lucky I am to be the mom of such an awesome young man. TEAM ALEX is in the house!"
-Lisa
Please keep Alex and us in your prayers, we need it. As always, thank you!
P.S. Sorry it was so late tonight.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Thursday 14th of January
Good morning everyone, and we do mean good morning.
First, thank you everyone for your prayers last night. Alex had a great night and is much more relaxed.
OK, so last night the doctors were planning around 12 a.m. to stop feeding Alex so they could remove the tube from his airway this morning. Well, they stopped the feeding last night and... removed the tube from Alex's airway this morning. He is breathing on his own.
God is amazing!
Right now Alex is resting. He still needs to cough and clear some of the junk from his airway, so pray that he can do that.
We can not say thank you enough to everyone for your support and prayers, please keep them coming as this journey is not over. We still need all the prayer and help we can get.
Psalm 46:10 has so much to say and is a verse that we are standing on. We have been doing our best to trust and know that He is God and that everything is in His hands.
I hope to update again today, but know that you are not just praying for us, we are praying that God is moving in everyone's life that has been pushing through this with us.
Thank you again.
First, thank you everyone for your prayers last night. Alex had a great night and is much more relaxed.
OK, so last night the doctors were planning around 12 a.m. to stop feeding Alex so they could remove the tube from his airway this morning. Well, they stopped the feeding last night and... removed the tube from Alex's airway this morning. He is breathing on his own.
God is amazing!
Right now Alex is resting. He still needs to cough and clear some of the junk from his airway, so pray that he can do that.
We can not say thank you enough to everyone for your support and prayers, please keep them coming as this journey is not over. We still need all the prayer and help we can get.
Psalm 46:10 has so much to say and is a verse that we are standing on. We have been doing our best to trust and know that He is God and that everything is in His hands.
I hope to update again today, but know that you are not just praying for us, we are praying that God is moving in everyone's life that has been pushing through this with us.
Thank you again.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
January 13th
Today has been a very good and trying day.
Thank you for everyone that prayed for Alex to cough on his own, because he did! It was very important that he do this, because it shows that his brain knows that he needs to clear his airway.
The other big thing about today was that Alex opened his eyes a few times when we were talking to him. The best part about it was that he was following our voices, and he would blink at times when we were asking him questions!!!
We also got a thumbs up! At one point when we were talking to Alex, we asked him to give us a thumbs up, and he did it!
Today was a great day, but it was a hard day. With all of these signs that Alex is waking up, it is also creating a lot of stress and confusion for Alex. So, we need everyone to pray for peace.
Tonight and tomorrow morning are going to be very important, so please keep Alex in your prayers.
We are not out of the woods yet, but we know that God is in control. So, thank you for all of your prayers and support during this time.
Please keep praying.
Thank you.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Best Shirts Ever
A couple of Alex's close friends decided that they were going to make sure that EVERYONE knew how much of a survivor Alex is, so they took it upon themselves to make the most amazing shirts that have ever been made today!
Prayer Emails
We just wanted to thank everyone that has sent a prayer via email, to alexrosstrust@gmail.com.
We read some of them to Alex today, and they are very encouraging to the family so please keep the prayers coming.
January 12th
As you all know, Alex has been on a ventilator since he was brought to the hospital. The doctors of the past few days have been slowly weening him off. Today they turned it completely off for a minute and Alex was breathing on his OWN! Now the doctors are planning to have him completely off the ventilator some time tomorrow. The one thing that they need Alex to do is cough on his own.
Alex also opened his left eye a few times last night, a few times today when they rotated him on his bed, and when they were clearing his lungs! It was not on his own or on command, but it is still encouraging none the less, so we will take it!
Today is in some ways "classic" Alex, he is lounging around in his "loin cloth," Jordans, and some Nike socks. In some way he looks right at home, just not on the couch.
We are asking everyone to join with us for two specific things today:
- That Alex will cough by himself. This is what the doctors need to see in order to remove the ventilator tube.
-Swelling! We need everyone to continue to pray for the swelling to go down, as this is vital for Alex to continue to get better.
Thank You all so much for you prayers and support.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Thank You
We know that a lot of people have been wanting to give blood and a lot of you already have. Thank you so much for those of you that have given and that have plans to give. At this point, the blood donations are not only going to be helping Alex, but many others who need blood as well.
Right now we are really asking everyone that is able to give to the Alex Ross Fund. We know that things are tight for everyone, but any contribution you could make would be a huge help and relief for the family. Lisa is going to be staying with Alex until he is up and out of that bed. However, this also means that she is not going to be working, so every gift will help. It doesn’t matter if you can only give five dollars, EVERY single gift, no matter what the amount, will count and help the family get through this difficult time.
In order to make a contribution, please contact Wachovia and inform them that you would like to make a donation to the Alex Ross Fund, Account Number 1010265597790.
Thank you very much for your prayers and support. You are making a difference in all that you do.
January 11th
Alex had another CAT Scan today, and the swelling has gone down! Beyond that, although not much has changed from yesterday's scan, the way Alex is responding and progessing is being viewed in a positive light by doctors. This is encouraging news to us at this point. After looking over the results of today’s scan, the neurosurgeon is just going to treat the patient, not the CAT Scan. This decision is based on Alex’s ability and current condition/outward signs.
Right now Alex needs lots of rest. We know that everyone would love to come see him, but right now there is limited visitation for Alex. The doctors are asking that if you are feeling sick or around someone that is sick and/or have small children, please send your love with a friend. One of the Doctors' concerns is that Alex is currently very susceptible to infection, and it is important that we do all we can to prevent any complications. Love and prayers sent through a friend or email are just as appreciated, we promise. Know that regardless of the limited visitation for Alex, it is still very encouraging to the family to have everyone come visit them. So, feel free to join us.
Thank you again for your prayers and support.
Yesterday, January 10th
Hello Everyone,
Thank you again for all the prayers.
Yesterday morning, part of the reason we were asking everyone to join with us in prayer was because we had just received the results back from Alex's CAT Scan. The results were a bit alarming. We were informed that the left side of Alex’s brain, the healthy side, has at some point experienced a stroke. In some ways, this could effect Alex's recovery. There was also a large amount of swelling that was very concerning to the doctors because of the potential pressure it could place on the brain stem. At that point, it was not “clinically” looking good. However, based on the way Alex looks, in addition to the signs that he was exhibiting- you could not tell that was what was happening on the inside. Everything that we could observe from the outside was going well; his responses and vitals were nothing but pleasing.
In contrast to how the day started, last night was awesome for Lisa and Chad. Their night was full of prayer, reading scripture, and reading from the journal that everyone has been writing letters to Alex in daily at the hospital. Alex began to respond by squeezing their hand, and even got aggravated when Lisa went to take a shower.
“At one point we just laughed because we tried to replace my hand with his towel and he threw it across the bed. We were so happy and amazed to see this response!” -Lisa & Chad
“I know that no matter what happens at this point, no matter what the “clinical” reports or CAT Scans say, that it is in the Hands of a Higher Power, that is taking care of him.” - Lisa
Thank you again for you prayers and support.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Storm Has Started
Good morning everyone,
Once again, we would like to thank everyone for your prayers and support. Right now we need everyone to get back on your knees and pray. Yesterday, we mentioned that all the progress Alex has made could just be the "calm before the storm," and that was the case. We are entering into another trying portion of Alex's recovery.
Once again, we would like to thank everyone for your prayers and support. Right now we need everyone to get back on your knees and pray. Yesterday, we mentioned that all the progress Alex has made could just be the "calm before the storm," and that was the case. We are entering into another trying portion of Alex's recovery.
So please PRAY! Alex needs everyone's help.
"By His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). There is one way out of this. And that for God to continue to perform miracles in Alex's body.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.
If you would like, you can email your prayers for Alex to: alexrosstrust@gmail.com
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