3 Cheers!

We got the best news EVER this past tuesday! We were in Boston for Malachi's one year follow up to his Pial Synangiosis procedure. This surgery was VITAL to Malachi and his future. Pre-surgery his risk of stroke was VERY high (I was told it was more likely that he would have another than not), if not corrected the blood flow to his brain would get worse and worse eventually causing him to die. We knew the importance of this surgery and that without God's grace and the hands of a skilled and world renowned surgeon, his fate would be dismal. Early tuesday morning my sweet lil man was put to sleep for a cerebral angiogram. The Interventional Radiology team at Boston Children's Hospital inserted a catheter in Malachi's groin and ran it through a major blood vessel to the base of his brain. They then injected dye and watched it flow through the blood vessels in his brain. And flow it did, all over that brain of his. The re-routed temporal arteries stitched directly to his brain grew and grew. Now healthy vessels encompass his brain providing a healthy amount of blood to all areas. His risk of stroke is at 5%...5% that's all! Dr. Scott said the results were more than we could ask for and quit possibly the best he's ever seen. Yet another miracle God has worked in our son. We have few words that express our gratitude and even less that seem fitting enough. We are overwhelmed with gratitude to those who cared for Malachi while he spent time recovering from his stroke and surgery in 4 different hospitals. All the nurses, doctors, and support staff who used their God given talents and knowledge to provide Malachi with the best possible care. To our family and friends who have held our heads up when we were to weak to, who encouraged, listened, prayed and loved on us unconditionally, we are forever indebted. The smile on Malachi's face, the strength of his hug and the joy in his laughter is all because of you! I can't imagine walking this path with anyone else.

Perfection!

We have Malachi's IEP on Friday and I am happy to report it went amazingly well! We thought all of the purposed goals were appropriate and that they were truly looking out for what is best for Malachi. He will be getting 30mins of OT, 30 min of PT and 90 mins of speech a week (in addition to what we decide to supplement outside of school), once a week he will have inclusion for gym and library time. They also mentioned a possible need for a assistive communication device, so they wrote that in as well. And the best news of all...there will only be 4 kids in his class!! That is it! We live in a VERY small district (The entire school only has 120 kids) , which I LOVE! So all in all, it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected it to be. I would even venture to say it was as close to perfection as we could have been! In a month we will go and register him and then a month after that he will be getting on that big bus and off he will go. I better stock up on Kleenex now! My baby is growing up!

Away we went

Destination: Wisconsin Dells, WI

Purpose: To spend 3 whole days enjoying all that the Wilderness Lodge had to offer. 

Activities: Swimming, swimming and more swimming.

 Please check out Elijah. He quickly learned how to escape!

It was so nice to celebrate the end of Joshes school year (yes they are out crazy early this year) and Memorial Day with our good friends (Thanks Maugers)! We can't wait to go back!

Now that our first mini vacation of the summer is over, it's time to get into gear as we prepare for Malachi's first ever IEP! Friday is the big day and to say that I am worried is an understatement! EEK, I still can't believe this is happening, in August I will be putting him on a big bus and sending him to school! It honestly seems like just yesterday I was rocking him to sleep while singing "you are my sunshine", who am I kidding I still do it on occasion but now he actually claps for my less than stellar singing! ha I know these fears are normal, but seriously, he can't be old enough for school! I got his evaluation reports in the mail last week. It was so difficult to read over them! Ugh. I cried and cried. I don't like reading that my son is "severely and profoundly delayed" in expressive and receptive speech. Don't these people know what he has been through? The fact that he can make any sound at all is remarkable let along that he can walk, jump in the pool, and sign over 30 signs. Why don't they see this? Why is it always the negative? I know this meeting is going to be difficult, these strangers don't know Malachi like I know him. They haven't been with us on his journey to see his progress, all they see is what he is not doing. But they will in time and just like all the other hearts Malachi has touched along the way, they too will, will carry with them a special place in their heart that only Malachi can inspire!

It's all about family

New family pictures! Which do you like the best? I am in love wit them all!

For your viewing pleasure!

That is all. :)

For your viewing pleasure!

That is all. :)

Malachi can do a somersault. Alone. With no help. The first time I saw him do this, I was in awe. We've done them a few times with help, but never did I specifically each him. And then it happened. He stood up, put his head on the ground and tucked into a perfect little ball and rolled right over. He erupted in laughter as he stood up an did it again. 13 times he did this, laughing uncontrollably. I sat on the floor no more than 3 feet away with tears running down my cheeks. I realized at that very moment that he is capable, so very capable, of doing it on his own without my help. It was like a picture of the future cause I KNOW the day will come where he can do it all on his own and I will be sitting 3 ft., 3 blocks or maybe even 3 miles away crying for the exact same reason. He can do it all on his own, he will do it on his own and I cry tears of joy because of it!