To my faithful readers...

Okay, so I've been worse than horrible about keeping up with the writing thing. Life seems to have gotten away on us. The funny part is that I found time today while I'm watching and extra child. Somehow I managed to get Jake and Owen (the other little guy) down for naps at the same time.

So to catch everyone up to speed on our lives. The summer flew by. We made a few trips out to BC to see friends in Cawston (Keremoes) where we purchased the house that Kev grew up in. We're not totally sure what our plans for the house are but right now we've rented it to a family. They have done lots to start on the fixing up process, but there is plenty left to go.Also Jake and I spent lots of time with my family at the Tarchuk cabin on the Shushwap. Kev joined us for a few weekends in between...
It was so nice to be able to play outside all day long. Jake loves being outside. He got his first taste of lake swimming and gardening!

We made a weekend trip north of Fort Mac by plane to Fort Chip on lake Athabasca. It was a refreshing weekend of friends (Neil and Amanda Hilman, and Janelle Hilman), fishing, and NO CELL SERVICE.

We also were able to make it to Lloydminister for Kev's grandparents 60th anaversary party. It was so nice to spend time with them, and for Jake to get to be around that part of out family. You don't realize how fast the time goes.

We're working on building our new home on a acerage outside of Mac still. Things are coming along, but it's slow going. We're hoping to be in for Chirstmas... keep your fingers crossed.Thanksgiving was a fun time for us. We took my family and intruded on friends of Kev's. They were gracious and we are thankful for their hospitality. I got the chance to take my mom and dad to Headly to the Mascot Mines up on the mountain for a private tour by a friend of ours. It is so cool, everyone should stop there if they're going past.

I know I haven't given people anything to read, I'll try to this week, but hopefully this will tie you over..... haha he's getting so BIG!

Mel

A few more trials...

So i haven't written anything since May long about our journeys. Most of the reason lies in that we've been going through and a completely crazy busy 8 weeks or so. But Jakeys birthday is around the corner and I'm praying it's going to bring some good changes...

After a peaceful and fairly uneventful (well "medically" speaking) 8 months Jake needed his first shunt revision. Maybe I wrote that I can't remember.

Three trips to emergency rooms, one UTI (bladder infection), two medi-vac flights to Edmonton, two bottles of codeine syrup, eight trips to Edmonton, one course of antibiotics, a thousand phone calls to physicians, endless sleepless nights, and TWO more shunt revisions bring us up to date.

I'm laying in the parent bed in Jakes hospital room right now, listening to the famillar noise of the hospital. He just had that last shunt surgery tonight and already is doing great. No matter how much I can complain about the last couple of months Kev and I are so thankful for all our many blessings. Just walking the floor of our unit reinforces that.

So after hearing all the bad stuff be uplifted with some of the great God things happening in our lives....

Jake is perfectly deveopmentally on track. That spark in his eye looks innocent enough, but its backed with a quick brain and constantly inquisitive mind. Kev and I are blessed with eachother and a strong marriage centred on Christ. So many friend and family constantly keeping us in they're prayers. Owning our business and financially being able to take the time to have both Kev and I at Jakes bedside. I've been able to not have to return to work until the fall. So as you see we're really doing well.

A quick note to close.

I was so touched by the beautiful words of a friend that i need to share the jist of it with you all.

She met Jake for the first time a few weeks ago, after hearing everything and keeping up-to-date over the last year. It was late and Jakey in his beautiful and gentle nature reached out to her and just touched her face. I didn't pay much attention to the whole situation until a few days later when she brought up the experience in conversation.
She said something along these lines "never have I met some one that glows with the radience of Christ like Jake. It was like being touched by him I was being touch by God. Such a special and beautiful soul." As a parent and after all we've been though nothing is as touching as hearing that Christ continues to use our son. If someone so small and without word can portray Christ's love that way, how much better should I be able to with words and experience on my side? But maybe those two things are the very abilities that hinder. After all Jesus was the one that spoke for us to cometo him like children for such is the kingdom of heaven....

Just a few thoughts... Pls ignore the spelling errors.

Melody
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Happy Day

Jake is up and at it this morning, his spirited self. Everything went fine over night, Kev stayed with Jake and I headed to my aunts after a long day. We will be heading home already as Jake is the fasted healier around. Keep us in your prayers and we need to be on the watch for infection over the next month. I added a few pictures of Jakes weekend at the lake!

Mel

A good day.

Jake's surgery went off with out a hitch. They put a new tubing from the valve at the back of his head into his ventricle. This tubing is much longer, to accomidate his growth for the last year. The great part is that its the same size as an adults, so it shouldn't need changing due to size again. Also they put a different valve in that is for "adults". It flows more consistantly when lying and standing now that his head is fully formed (no soft spot).

There was a small amount of bleeding when the old tube was being removed, so keep that in your prayers, its bad only because that little bit of blood can clog the new valve, which they would again have to replace. We're mostly in the clear after tonight.

Kev's asked to stay the night with him at the hospital, so im off to my aunts for the night.

In one month is the peak risk of developing an infection so keep us in your prayers.

Ill try to write tomorrow!

Love,
Mel & Kev
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Surgery

Jake will be having a shunt revision today at noon. It's not a huge surgery, but every one is big to a parent. After all the trouble he's been having with the shunt this month they feel its best to lengthen the tubing from his valve into his head to allow for more growth. It will be done by scope with just a small incision. One night in hospital if all goes as planned.

I'll update our blog after surgery to let everyone know that things went well. Wish i would have realized i can post from my cell-phone last July!

Melody

PS. We were able to see Jan this weekend. His is so amazing, and Gods hand in his life and on his heart was so évident. He even called the cabin the next day to say thanks, his trach was capped and he is now able to fully talk. God is so good.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Mothers Day Fun

We enjoyed a relaxing day in the sun north of Fort Mac. Jake enjoyed playing in the dirt while mom dirt biked around. And what outing would be complete with out hotdogs?

Mel

Spring Days

A few photos of event over the last weeks... M

News about Jake

So we met with the neurosurgeon this afternoon and he feels that Jake will need a shunt revision. The question is just when. Right now theres no swelling in the ventricles, but it's leaking small amounts of fluid around the site in his head. So we are to be back in 2dmonton Thurs next week, unless he seems more affected earlier in the week.

Keep him in your prayers this week, as he is having periods of unrest.

All in all it's'good news, nothings happening thats damaging anything or causing immediate concern.

Melody
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

A Jake Update

We've had a long couple of weeks with Jakes shunt. It developed mild fluid collection around the pump, and we've been concerned about increased pressure in his head. Yesterday we saw our pediatrician in Ft Mac. Jakes blood pressure was slightly high which falls inline with a problem with his shunt. So at 8pm last night we packed up and drove to Edmonton. We're meeting with a different pediatric neurosurgeon, since ours is away till Monday. I'll keep posting.
M

The long road to recovery...

There's a blog for Jan step on at the following address, this will allow notes of encouragement for the family. Please see it for more information.

http://ashleykascak.blogspot.com

M

Sad news

A quick update on Jan:

A few clarifications from yesterday to get everyone on the same page. Jan was hit head on while returning home on his mountain bike in the morning. It was a hit and run, however the police have located the van and have possible leads to the suspect. He was talking when the ambulance arrived at the hospital, however with the high risk of a head injury (brain swelling) and pain management the medical team choose to induce a coma, which requires the person be intubated (a breathing tube) and on “life support”. He was transferred from Pentiction (spl?) to Kelowna ICU yesterday night, and was “declared” stable in the evening. Ashley and Kim are at the bedside as well as Jan’s mother Ann. Amanda with her fiancé Neil Hilman flew out there yesterday afternoon. My mom called this morning (her and my dad went out to be with Kim and the girls). Jan is stable, and so far clear of brain damage, however that takes a few days to totally be in the clear. He has a collapsed lung that last night seemed to resolve with a chest tube. A broken femur and wrist, multiple fractured ribs, and his face is very damaged. There is a chance that a vertebra is displaced so he remains in a neck brace and their not moving him until the specialists have taken more x-rays today. His face is going to require much care and attention, a plastic surgeon will be visiting the family today. Both cheeks, his jaw and nose are the majority of the fractures. I imagine (knowing a little of the medical field) this will require multiple surgeries, a few plates and possibly wiring his jaw shut. He remains intubated (a breathing tube), also called ventilated, because of the severity of the facial damages. He will have a tracheotomy (aka trach) today, which is a small hole through the lower throat to insert a breathing tube. That will allow them to operate on his face without the tube in his mouth. While his face is healing the trach will allow Jan to talk with out needing to breath through his nose and all the swelling. This will be a long road to recovery. This list of injuries seems endless, however a quick glance at the positives…. God has already answered prayers. While bones take time to heal, brain damage has life long impact on a person and family. Praise to god that he has already had his hand on Jan’s head. To all those bikers (both motorized and unmotorized) Jan would not be alive today if he hadn’t been wearing his helmet. His lung seems to be re inflated and working better, and they think it might not have been punctured. All the family was able to be here loving and supporting him. Had this been weeks earlier Ashley would be alone on the other side of the world. I gave Amanda a quick pep talk yesterday before she flew out, and feel that it applies to everyone. We believe in an all powerful God, one that listens to the cries of our heart and never leaves our side. Don’t stop praying or believing that he will do miracles. Our son is a powerful testimony that God does miracles, answers prayers, and uses tragedy to touch the lives of people around us. Don’t loose faith, our God is an awesome God. All we can do is continue to pray. Alright it wasn’t quite that eloquent, but she got the point…. J

Moving forward...

I know its been months since I last posted. Things are going well. Jake is growing like a weed. Here is a clip of his newest accomplishment... I'll try to write soon.

Melody

Busy month!!!

I can't believe that it's been over a month since I last wrote. These last weeks have gone so fast, I would believe they happen if I didn't have some photos to prove it did.

Jake is growing so fast. He's almost crawling, but only going backwards right now. Talks all the time, and found a new habit at Grandma "T's" house how to blow raspberries while eating. He's loving his new jolley jumper from Grandma Hilman, get's so excite jumping!

He had his Spina Bifida Clinic the end of January. Everything went mostly good. The only thing is he has to have a small surgery in March (the 14th) by the urologist. And the other development is a small amount of urine reflux into the kidney's. This isn't a problem unless the child is having urine infections that move bacteria up into the kidneys. Jake's been infection free, quite an amazing thing considering we are catherizating daily to make sure there isn't any urine sitting in the bladder. Prayer for this last thing would be helpful, kidney failure is the greatest long term complication for spina bifida. We have such a great team of physicians in Edmonton!

We took two weeks and went to Hawaii with Jake and my family. It was fun even though the weather wasn't that great. My parents took him home the second week and Kev and I were able to spend some quality time together. Very nice.

Fort Mac is continually on the go, the guys have moved into the new shop and it really helped to organize everyone. Lots of work on the horizon, hard to imagine it ending.....

I'd love to hear from everyone,

God Bless!

Looking back....and forward.

We were luck to be able to spend the holidays with family (both Kev's and mine). What a great time of fellowship. We were all spoiled.

The Sunday before New Years we attended church in Banff, a great service of sharing God's hand over the last year in peoples lives. I didn't stand and talk, even though there was so much on my mind. Problem is where do you start when so much has happened... I still feel lead to share some (not all- for lack of time :) of those thoughts....

Kev and I have been, stretched, twisted, molded, pushed, picked up, held and lead by our Heavenly Father. Never did I realize how much growth I needed. We stepped out of our comfort zone, into Gods "caution spirit moving" zone, to learn the power of prayer and what "stepping out in faith" feels like. I say feels because I always thought I knew what it was like, but after searching Gods will and trying to walk towards it we've realized that it is scary and overwhelming but God rewards with that action with peace.

Peace, God's Peace.... sooooooo worth it.

It bring me to tears to see God working out of what I at one time didn't want (please read March 07 to understand that statement if you haven't) .... our son. We are humbled when we reflect that in Jake's short life (6mths now) he has shown God to as many, if not more, lives than we have in the last 10 years... pretty humbling, but what a challenge. He is our little miracle boy, and everyone knows it, believer and unbeliever.

Healing.... this is something that is so touchy in the church today. Some believe without a doubt that God still uses this, in its physical meaning, today. Others believe that He works through people and doctors. And even more feel it was used only in the early Christian church. So where are we? James challenges us to have an active faith, something that Kev and I felt included stepping out of our comfort zone and praying with our elders for healing. Don't think this was second nature, or easy. It was hard, so hard. Was there lighting and miracles? Not literally, but when you hold my son don't for a moment think God didn't listen. Doctors told us he might walk. He'll walk no problem, the question is how fast will he run?
We talked with a friend recently the decision focusing on healing. After Kev and I reflected on where we stand on the topic. We concluded this. God wants active faith. Faith that if you've asked, He's heard. Steps of action, showing belief. So we prayed, knowing God heard. And we live every day thankful for what we have been given.

If Jake wasn't different that everyone else I'd never have the chance to discuss God with so many people. Today we are thankful for his difference. What a long way we've come.

I've rambled on a lot, so on to lighter things. We're heading to Hawaii for a short vacation this Feb. Very excited as the cold is starting to get to me..... Enjoy the pics, I'll right later in Feb.

Gods Peace,
Melody