Party Canceled

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. I would ask that you continue to pray for healing for my mom and family. My mom has been at Baylor Dallas with a bladder infection and is home today for Thanksgiving. Due to these complications we have decided to postpone her coming home party. My mom is so sad and came to this decision with much angst but I have assured her we would all want to wait until she is feeling better and can enjoy herself. Thank you all again for your support and understanding.

I hope each of you are truly blessed today with much to be thankful for. I know I personally am very thankful for a loving husband, our gorgeous angel boy - Cib, a host of incredible friends and family -specifically my mom and her miraculous presence here today, and Austin's job - when so many are without. Thank you Lord for so much that I am so undeserving of.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Mom Update

Sorry I have fallen down on the job of posting mom updates. I arrived out in Eustace yesterday in time for the funeral of my great uncle. (Not an ideal start to holiday fun, but great to see relatives I havent seen in 10 years)

Mom has been approved for a 90 day in patient rehab stint starting in Jan/Feb of next year. She doesnt reallly want to talk about it because it is so hard for her to imagine leaving her home again but knows it is what is necessary and good to get as strong as possible asap. Please pray for strength and bravery for my sweet mom.

Today was a bit of a exhausting one. We set out for a day of cooking with three generations (My grandmother, my mom, me, and Cib -- wait that is four generations!) It is my turn to learn the family recipe for making Thanksgiving Dressing. (aka Stuffing for you Northerners) We were also preparing dressing to donate to meals on wheels for 100 people...all in all a day of bonding and cooking.....Oh but it didnt quite turn out that way. My mom had a 'quick' doctors appt this morning that turned into a little adventure. She ended up having a very severe bladder infection and being dehydrated. So we set out for the ER in Athens TX for IV fluids and antibiotics. Once I got my mom's chair put together and got her into the ER we were shown to a space no larger than a closet...literally. My mom couldn't get into the 'room' into her chair. To boot, the person in the 'curtain area' next to ours was throwing her guts up and the one next to her was a woman screaming, "I don't want any f****** shots!"....oh my! I then had it out with the meanest nurse ever and took my mom back to the car and we headed for Baylor Dallas. On top of all of that Cib has his first cold :( All sniffles and coughs.

All in all everything worked out. My mom got the antibiotics and fluids she needed and is home feeling much better, my grandmother taught me to make dressing and Cib is asleep.

Wheww......HAPPY THANKSGIVING! :) I pray that my family can have a truly joyful Thanksgiving of celebration and memories. We are very blessed!

She has done it again!!

Merry Christmas Ya'll
www.meenajeanesphotography.com/cibs1stchristmas

Cutey-pa-toots

Finally a captured smile!

Playtime!

Cib at 4 months

Yesterday was the dreaded 4 month check up with Dr. Fernandez that includes shots :( My sweet boy had his little heart broken when he got all five of his shots! And Austin didnt seem thrilled to be getting a flu shot either.

Cib is actually a little lighter than I thought. He weighs 19 pounds and 3 ounces in the 98% for his age and measures 27 inches long also in the 98%. When we asked the doctor about Cib's weight he said, "well, I like to see my patients weigh 20 pounds.....at their 1 year check up!" I guess Cib is doing fine. :)

We are having to once again up his food intake, including starting solids. Rice cereal, apple sauce and some light veggies will be introduced to Cib's diet over the next couple weeks - fun!

Here are some of the fun moments we have captured over the last week or so: Austin's birthday, good times with Granny Nanny, putting up the Christmas tree (yes I know, it is early, but I can't help myself) and keeping warm on cold Dallas mornings.

Mommy & Cabral

Mommy out and about

Mommy & Cib go to nutcracker market in Houston

Back to normal?

Well I think we can all say we are ready for a little normalcy in our lives. However the last few days with my family have shown us that we will all need to find a new normal. I look forward, anxiously, to that.

My parents are almost finished installing hardwood floors in their home so mom can get around the house with more ease. Thank you Faith Construction for your generous gift of time! My mom and I had a fun day Friday. We went to Wal-Mart in Gun Barrel City-- Major Outing! Then to a local tea room for lunch. I managed to get both Cib and my mom in their respective chairs and into the restaurant, just in time for Cib to poop all in his seat, clothes...even his shoes. We all had a good laugh. Even my mom was a good sport...I put her wheel chair together wrong (first time) and the wheels wobbled every where we went. I am just thankful they didnt fall off!

I am so thankful my mom is home. But honestly my heart is incredibly heavy. There are many big challenges ahead of our family. A great sense personally of being torn. I want to be the best I can as a mother, wife and daughter...not to mention all the other roles I play. I dont want to let anyone down or miss one precious moment. Please pray for strength and clarity for me. I feel so selfish even asking, but some days the tasks are so enumerable that I can not even start. I just want to be a new mother. I want to soak up the son I have waited so long to meet. Thank you for your prayers for myself and my family.

I hope that very soon I can go back to the fun posts of a new mother.

Mom's home coming

Whew!! What an exhausting day. My mom has made it home. Today wasvery
emotional and exhausting for all. Please pray we all rest well tonight
(especially that my mom and cib will rest without interuption) because
tomorrow will be a long day with work men here early to install hard
wood floors at my parents house. More later- drained and exhausted.

Mom's Trip Home

My mom's trip home was good medicine for her soul! Here are some photos. She is looking very forward to Thursday when she will go home for good. My dad has poured a special side walk leading to my grandparents house next door. Welcome Home Mom!

Happy halloween!

Happy Halloween !!

Looking forward to coming home!

As we begin to prepare for mom's release from the hospital she is making some major accomplishments! She has transferred (moved) from her bed to her chair and from her chair to a car! This is a major victory! Praise the Lord! Yesterday she got in a contraption that stood her up, another victory! This coming weekend she will be able to go home for a few hours on a day pass. This is a crucial visit. She is to spend the time going around the house and identifying challenges so that she can spend her last week at rehab working on those specific things. She said she is also looking forward to taking a nap in the same bed with my daddy.

Last night the Lord blessed me with a sweet moment with my mom. We had a chance to read the word together and pray. My mom continues to ask for prayers of strength and for the Lord to make clear His plans for her. That she might smile in a time of trial and that others might see this and the Lord be glorified.

My mom will be able to go home on Nov. 4th or within a week of that date. She is very excited about celebrating life with everyone who has prayed for her! Please mark your calendars: Nov. 29th at 4 p.m. We will be having a Celebrate Life Party to welcome mom home. There will be a bonfire, winnie roast, chili and lots of laughing! I will be sending out an evite but if I do not have your email and you would like to join us please just send me an email at amber@fatheree.info so we will know how many people to plan on. Please know our family sincerely welcomes you to thank you for your prayers.

I had to capture this face!

Thank u Mary grace for the fun stickers to decorate mom's brace

Mom gets some fresh fall air.

My mom got to go to the grocery store yesterday and LOVED it! Friday,
tomorrow she is cooking a mexican meal for nine other patients with
their help. She got to pick the menu and everything. She is now
looking forward to cominng home and doing the things she enjoyed before.

A picture worth a thousand words

I am sitting here holding my beautiful boy with tears in my eyes. In a
time when life is busy and full of things that require wisdom beyond
my years, God gives me these moments.

Cib 3 months, 1 week

update

We have had a long couple days but tomorrow starts a new week and we are looking forward to that. My mom's medicine has again gone a rye. We spent the last few days getting her back to 'normal' and most of the drugs out of her system. Thank you for your prayers, my mom said she can feel them. She has been able to go out side some in her wheel chair and that breaths new life in her. I just got off the phone with her and she asked that pass along what a HUGE encouragement the cards are that she receives. I would ask that you send my mom a card. She draws such strength from each one. She prays for each recipient. Here is her address:

Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation (BIR)

c/o Renee Templeton Room 415

3505 Gaston Ave
Dallas, TX 75246

Please pray that as the new week starts that my mom will have renewed strength and purpose. That she will be a light to her therapists, nurses, doctors and other patients. That the Lord will use her to shine His light into this dark world.

She has asked for any women who might want to read the bible to her (due to all the meds her vision is a little blurry) to feel free and come to visit. She would love to have the bible read to her, discuss it and pray. Doesnt matter if you have met my mom before or not.

Thank you again for ALL the prayers. Please keep them coming...for my mom, my dad, myself, Austin and Cib and my brother Russell. What an overwhelming time...but I know that it is in these times that the Lord is at work and that is something to rejoice over.

Cib's first rice cereal

Prayer Requests

Today after a meeting with the doctors my mom is not in a good place. The insurance company sets goals that my mom has to meet weekly or she can be sent home for 'not making progress'. My mother is trying her very hardest and very skips therapies and works on her own on Saturdays and Sundays. PLEASE pray that the doctors and insurance company will be gracious to my mom. That the Lord will bless my mom with peace, take her anxiety away and calm the muscle spasms in her back so that she can strive to meet each weekly goal.

Last night my friend Paige came and did mom's nails and brought us a delicious dinner. Thank you Paige! It was above and beyond! It really lifted mom's spirits.

Yesterday we took Cib to the doctor for an eczema (sp?) check up. He weighs 16 pounds and 11 ounces! The doctor is having me start rice cereal since we cant seem to get Cib's belly full on breast milk and formula alone. The doctor said, "Your boy is a haus!" :) We are so proud of our growing boy! Pictures to follow!

He Makes All Things New

My Great Uncle Dale carved this cross out of one of the branches from the tree that fell on my mom. It is a reminder to me and my family that the Lord makes all things new.

Hanging with mongo

Thank You!

Each card that is sent to my mom brightens her day in a way words can't express. Thank you for sending those words of encouragement. Keep it up! They told my mom she gets more fan mail than anyone else on the floor!

Mom's New Do!

Mom decided to trade her longer locks in something much shorter and trendier...and really more practical! Thank you Beverly North for coming from Rockwall to give of your time and gifts to brighten my mom's day! We pray the Lord blesses you!

Prayers of Thanks for blessings

My mom is continuing to make strides towards going home. She is enjoying the rib numbing and it is really helping her accomplish more in therapy. Cib and I have missed her terribly as we stay away until our sinus crud clears up.

My dad returned to work yesterday, as the doctors said it was best to keep life moving forward so that it is where my mom left it. Please pray for my dad. Pray for wisdom as he faces a mountain of decisions and preparation for bringing my mom home, energy to complete daily tasks that seem to be overwhelming in the face of this extraordinary time, and hope that the Lord will make my parents life more full now than ever.

I think for me I see the Lord working in new ways every day in our lives. The last few days I have seen what a deeply compassionate and caring man that my father is. I have always known this, yet I feel the Lord has shown me in new ways. I feel very blessed to have parents who are still so deeply in love and full of excitement about their marriage. I see these qualities in my own husband and know that between his poppa and his daddy that my sweet son will grow to be an amazing man who seeks to give the very best for the Lord's glory and his family's good. Today I thank the Lord for the servant hearted men in my life and for his perfect sovereignty to know what we need even we dont know ourselves.

Mr red bird is a tasty friend

Mr red bird is my friend

Success!

The procedure to numb my mom's ribs was successful! She slept through the night last night minus the nurses coming in to turn her. YEA! That is the first time in more than three weeks!

Thank you all for your continued prayers! They are felt strongly by my family and mom. She continues to be optimistic and faithful.

More later....Cibbers is up!

Update

Momma is enjoying her new found privacy! We have lined up someone to come and cut her hair this week and take care of mani/pedi needs next week - Thank you Paige!!

Today (hopefully or tomorrow) the doctors will giving mom some injections in her five broken ribs. These are long lasting numbing meds that help my mom find relief from the rib pain and accomplish more rehab goals over the next five weeks. Please pray that this procedure will be as pain free as possible and that the numbing will be effective and without complication.

I wanted to take a minute and say thank you to my Mother in law and BFF, Natasha. Austin made a similar post about my mom right after Cib was born. I could not have been more blessed over the last couple weeks by these two amazing servants of Christ! They have both served my family by helping care for Cib, cleaning, cooking, listening and praying. Thank you two -- more than you will know, you have been used in our lives.

Please pray for my dad and I as we both have come down with some rotten Sinus crud. Ugh! Not good timing but we are both staying clear of mom till we get a little antibiotics in our blood. My precious Aunt Cindy, my mom's sister, is sitting with mom in the mean time. Please pray the Lord will heal us quickly and restore our energy as we have much to do.

As always, thank you ALL for praying for my mom. Please feel free to email her scripture, words of encouragement, etc at templeton24@gmail.com

Who's funny?

Privacy!

Praise the Lord, my Mom just got moved to a private room. 415. Sorry I
haven't sent many updates this week, there has hardly been a spare
moment. Mom is doing well, but we are STILL working out the pain meds.
We now have an anticipated release date: nov 4th. Please pray that my
mom will make great strides in the next five weeks. Please pray that
liver levels, which are elevated from the trauma and meds, will return
to normal quickly. And also for a full nights sleep for mom. We are
now at 22 days with no more than 4 hours of sleep at a time.

Please continue to lift up my daddy. He is still struggling with
mounds of emotions.

Pray that as we ready things for mom's return home that the lord will
bless our efforts and multiply our energy and time.

Good morning nana

Always a Nana

Big blessings,, small packages

Mom says, "sweet baby, you make me want to get up and walk.".
This is our prayer momma.

Cibbers and bits

Ocupational therapy

Mom sits up, leans forward

Prayer Request from Mom

Last night I sat with my mom and we had a sampling of left over cakes from the Houston Sip n See. I laid in bed with her and we looked at recipes for hours. It was a wonderful gift of time with her. As I was leaving I asked her how we can pray for her. Here are her requests:
Prayers for peace and no anxiety. The doctors are still trying to get her meds worked out and as of now we all feel she is being over medicated. We are going to have patient conference, this is where we sit down with mom's team of treating docs, nurses and therapists, on Wednesday to hopefully work this out.
Prayers for sleep. Mom has had no more than 2 hours sleep at a time since 17 days ago. The doctor said this alone would drive any one mad but coupled with her injuries it is causing high anxiety.
Prayers for prayers. Mom said due to the medication she feels she cant keep her prayers up. I have assured her that the Lord knows her heart and the words in it. Please pray that the Lord will give her waking times to talk to Him.

My prayers are for my daddy. Please continue to pray for him. He is such an amazing servant to all my family. Please pray that the Lord will renew his spirit and strength, help him to ask for help when he needs it and find unspeakable peace. I have set up grief counseling for my dad, please pray he finds comfort and favor with this therapist.

Please pray for my younger brother, Russell. He is a freshman at SFA and it is hard on him being away from home for the first time, starting his college career and dealing with all that is going on with mom from afar. Please pray that the Lord will bless his efforts to earn his degree, to giver perseverance, persistence and peace while he is at school.

Cib Update: I am afraid Cib has his first little cold along with Austin and I. Please pray for quick healing for us so we can get back to the tasks at hand.

BAYLOR INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION
3505 GASTON AVENUE
DALLAS, TX 75246

Salve for the heart

This weekend's trip to Houston was good salve for my heart. We saw lots of good friends who remain like family to us. Saturday I got my first 'mommy haircut' taking 6 inches off and saying, "Who the heck has time for long fashionable hair?!" Three of my favorite girl friends took me for drinks and sushi that night. I cant tell you what a world of good it did me.
Sunday was Cib's Sip n See with all our Houston folks. Here are some pictures of Cib with all of Austin's family and with his Aunt Celeste and Uncle Luke. Another pic of Cibbers with Great Grandpa Sparks. Cib did amazingly well yesterday - such a good boy. He slept and just chilled. Thank you to every single person we saw this weekend. Each hug, prayer offered, smile shared....words cant explain how it lifted our spirits.

My mom had a good weekend. She has started more extensive physical therapy now, which is leaving her pretty tired. She is basically non-stop busy about 8 hours a day. She is very excited to see any and everyone that might want to visit (I think visitors are a great distraction and welcome salve) I just ask that you give me or my mom a call on our cells before heading to the hospital. She is so tired that sometimes although she wants to be social, she really needs to sleep....so just give us a call before heading up.

This weekend my mom got a new roommate. We are still waiting and praying for a private room. Please pray that as rehab gets in full swing that my mom will have an extraordinary strength and determination. Please pray for a private room and full nights sleep for my mom. This week my dad and I will meet with mom's 'team' at Baylor and this will be a crucial time of info and learning for us. Please pray that my dad and I can balance everything this week and retain all the info we get. Please specifically pray for my sweet daddy. I have never known SUCH a servant hearted man. (Well I was actually very blessed to marry one) My dad is heart broken and exhausted. As he begins his grieving and healing process please pray for peace, rest, and strength for him. That the Lord would hush unfounded guilts and replace them with songs of worship and praise.

All of this has greatly reminded me and my whole family that we should daily tell each other of our love and that tomorrow is not promised to us here. That this world is not our home. To this end, my mom is planning to have a huge party when she gets home from the hospital. She said we will post it on the blog and ALL of you who have prayed for her should come and rejoice at what the Lord has done in her life.

It is my party!

Cibbers and friends

Some how this one didn't make it on to the blog. This is my Houston
bff's baby girl Saige and my Dallas bff's friend Nicholas. Cibbers is
already quite the entertainer.

A beautiful woman

I found these pictures today and I am reminded that my mother is a beautiful woman, inside and out. She is truly full of life.

Wheeewwww!

Well I think we have all exhaled just a little bit. Mom has made it safe and sound to Baylor Rehab and is doing well. Yesterday was just lots of paper work and meet-n-greets. Last night my mom was very brave and sent us all packing around 7:30 p.m. (two hours before visiting hours were over) Thank you for your prayers! The Lord was faithful in anwsering.

Although she was brave and open to staying alone she did not have a good night. Her room mate, Claire, a quadraplegic from West Nile Virus, arrived two days before mom and is having a pretty rough go of it. Her room mate, bless her heart, is having regular middle of the night accidents and needing two showers a night. With the shower on my mom's side of the room, she didnt go to sleep until 3 a.m. :( Please pray that the Lord will deafen my mom's ears to extra noise at night and that a private room will open up soon. Please also pray for Claire. She didnt have any family or visitors yesterday. Please pray that my family can some how bring her comfort and share the good news with her through our actions. And PLEASE, wear OFF! I had NO idea you could become paralized from West Nile.

Today Austin and I are headed to Houston for Cib's Houston Sip n See. I am struggling with leaving but my parents said that they insist we go. Please pray the Lord will use this time for me to gain rest - both waking and sleeping and to spend good quailty time with those friend I hold so close to my heart. And that while I am away my dad would sleep well at night and my mom would have a good over all weekend.

I am taking Cibbers to the hospital before we head out of town and hopefully by Labor and Delivery to show off his favorite nurse Jaclyn her handy work. :) Pray that the visit with my mom and Cib will a time of sweet bonding and that Cib will be quietly awake. :)

Mom's first weigh in!

Room 413 Baylor rehab center. Not the same as the hospital.

Moving Day

The ambulance just arrived to carry my mom from ETMC Tyler to Baylor Dallas. She will be on the 4th floor (The Spinal Rehab Floor) at Balyor. I will send room info later. Today is 'Orientation Day' which means facility tours, staff meetings, initial move in day unpacking, etc.

Please pray for my mom. They have asked that no one stay over night with my mom. PLEASE make this prayer top priority: That when it is time for us to leave her for the night that my mom will feel strong and ready to stay alone. That the Lord will calm her fears and silent any insecurities of being alone.

Please also pray for my dad and I as it will be hard to leave her, especially if she is asking us not to. (put hopefully the above prayer works and this doesnt happen :))

Another prayer is for my dad as well. I know all of our family loves my mom dearly, but I think some are having a harder time than others respecting or understanding his decisions. Please pray that the Lord will help my dad to feel confident in his decision to put her in rehab and to be unaffected by others questionings or disagreements.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. I will post more info later after she is settled at Baylor.

Are you my future husband?

Mom got her moon boots today

Update

My mom is doing very well and is excited (and a little nervou) about
starting rehab at Baylor. She will be moved to Baylor tomorrow or
Thursday. Her blood count is still low, please pray that this will go
up.

My mom has asked for some specific prayers: that the phantom feet and
leg pains stop. She said she feels like her feet are in cement boots.
She is having similar phantom fellings around her wasteline where live
nerves meet dying ones.

We found out today that Baylor has a kitchen outfitted for her
disability where she can start cooking again. She was really excited
about that!

She also continues to ask us to join her in prayer asking the lord to
use this for his glory and make clear how she can serve him now and
inthe future.

I would ask for prayers for her roommate at Baylor. That this person
will be an uplifting presence and companion for my mom. That each
doctor, nurse, and therapist will me up beat and full of kind
compassion.

Baylor has told us they believe my mom will be in rehab for 8 to 12
weeks. My mom said her goal is to be home by thanksgiving and to have
a huge party because she has a lot to me thankful for.

Today is my brother russells birthday; please pray that despite a
heavy heart that my brother feels loved and joyful today.

A message from mom

Momma says, " the healing has begun"

A legacy of BBQ

Good morning daddy