Fall is in Full Swing!

September is in full swing! Students are returning from summer travels and new visitors are appearing at our church, Trinity Cambridge, every Sunday. We are quickly approaching Kaleb's one year birthday (October 3) and we have been enjoying a very sweet season marveling at the rapid growth of all three of our children.

Zion is four years old and learning anything and everything he can. We’ve begun doing school time together and he's been learning the letters and their sounds. He surprised us last night by figuring out how to spell "River" all on his own initiative.

River is growing like a weed. She’s 2 1/2 and has discovered her imagination. She spends most mornings tending to her baby dolls and to Kaleb. Both kids love going to the park whenever they can. They’ve also been doing better at sleeping through the night! And both kids LOVE playing with Kaleb.

Kaleb is on the move! He has figured out how to roll and he spends most of his awake time rolling around on the floor, getting tangled in his tubes, playing with toys, babbling, popping teeth, playing peekaboo, and interacting with his older siblings. He is an absolute delight. So much personality and love for fun (carrying on those qualities that Todd has passed onto all of our children). He has also been loving trying out eating food puree by mouth! We give him a little bit each day and he’s been doing such a good job with it.

It was quite unexpected, then, when we recently had to bring Kaleb into the ER due to a high fever and heart rate that came on pretty suddenly. The doctors have talked to us a lot about Kaleb's lack of physical reserve when he gets sick, and this seemed to fit into that more concerning category. Kaleb was quickly seen and treated with IV antibiotics. After a long night, Kaleb ended up getting admitted to the CICU. They determined he simply had a UTI that responded well to the antibiotics, so, thankfully he only stayed in the hospital a few days.

Things coming up in Kaleb’s world:

• Spinal MRI Monday, September 8 - to find out if the curvature in his spine is due to a tethered spinal cord

• CT Scan (date TBD) - to evaluate the present condition of his lungs and the possibility of interstitial lung disease

• VCUG - a test done to look at Kaleb’s kidneys and urinary tract for any issues

• Swallow Study Tuesday, September 15 - to determine what (if any) Kaleb aspirates when he swallows (this is a big one!)

• Beginning Physical Therapy twice a week through early intervention and Boston Children’s Hospital

Missions & Evangelism

Things have been so encouraging at Trinity Cambridge Church. Todd had a busy week with his work leading our first global missions meeting for anyone interested in global missions in our church, helping run the logistics for our new church’s meeting location (a much more prominent location in East Cambridge), and co-leading an evangelism workshop after church this Sunday. It was so encouraging seeing him work so hard to serve our church. There was a great turn-out at all of these meetings and we’re excited to see what God has in store in these areas for Trinity Cambridge!

Please pray:

• For Kaleb’s MRI, CT, and VCUG to go well (any time he goes under sedation there is a risk involved)

• For Kaleb to continue to progress in swallowing and for him to cooperate during the swallow study on the 16th

• For Kaleb to grow in strength and mobility and for his core muscle tone to increase

• There’s so much for me to keep track of these days between Zion’s school, River’s training, Kaleb’s meds and various therapies, and the normal homekeeping things like cleaning and cooking, not to mention pursuing friendships, discipling, and evangelism - I’m feeling the need for wisdom and diligence to use my time and attention well!

• For God to bless the work of our hands and minds as Todd and I seek to be diligent in the vocations he’s called us to (me at home and Todd at Trinity Cambridge Church and GCC)

• For Trinity Cambridge to thrive in the area of evangelism as the new school year begins; that God would bring many unbelievers to the church through members

• For continued fruitfulness as I seek to finish the songs for my new album and for clarity on how best to move forward with producing it.

Thank you for praying for us!!! We are so overwhelmed by God’s kindness in this current season and are freshly grateful for how many of you have walked with us through so much this past year. Thank you!