Our Huggable Butterball

Mr. Suave

Happy boy

Can you see his teeth?

Purple carrots make a good beard...

Clean shaven!

Classic 'shirt on head-tummy hanging out' picture!

bright smiles!

Canada boy!

Eucharisteo

I (Renee) remember a day this past summer where the kids and I were sitting at the beach, throwing rocks in the water. We happened to be sitting next to a mother and her preschool daughter. This little girl was eating some pretzels and decided to share them with her new friends. As she offered them to Rachel, my heart sank. Rachel shook her head and said bluntly, "I can't have gluten," and sat down facing me and started building something with the rocks. The little friend then offered them to Josh and Madelynn who accepted the pretzels. I had nothing with me to give to Rachel and, as I watched her, I felt helpless. J, M, and Little Friend proceeded to play and as they did, Rachel looks up at me suddenly. I'll never forget what she said to me- "Why did Jesus make me not to have gluten?" I swallowed hard and whispered "I don't know, Rachel." She looked down and kept playing. But I knew that her heart hurt just like mine.

This day, this moment of remembrance was brought to me because recently a similar moment happened with Joshua just a few days ago. We were home from the hospital and I was sitting in the living room. I don't remember where the other three kids were but I remember the living room being quiet. Joshua walks by and stops. I look up and he's looking at me. My heart hurts as I see him standing there, so small, so skinny from having lost weight, so helpless. He asks me a question- "Mommy, why did God give me diabetes?" There's pain in his voice and in his face. So much pain that I look away and shake my head. "I don't know Josh," is all I can whisper. He walks away and my heart cries out to God.

I don't know the answer to the question 'why', or even 'how'. But when my heart turns to God I find peace. He comforts me, and He tells me to thank Him. Thank Him in everything. So that is what I am doing. And that is what I can tell Rachel and Joshua. I may not know the answers but I know what we can do.

Happy Thanksgiving to you dear reader.

11 Things Joshua liked about the hospital:

1. His "Travelling Buddy" (the IV pole). He liked to watch the computer screen.

2. The enormous meals.

3. All the attention from nurses and doctors and nursing students and social workers and volunteers and nurse practitioners and diabetes educators and Mommy and Daddy.

4. Playing with the nurses.

5. Sleeping in the hospital bed with Daddy.

6. He could make the bed move up and down.

7. Peeing in a bottle.

8. The insulin shots (because they tickle {praise the Lord!}) and that the finger pokes don't hurt.

9. Making snowflakes to put in the window and praying for the next kid who would be in the room.

10. Getting new stuffed animals and a drawing pad and stickers to share with his sisters.

11. Watching Thomas and Toy Story 3 from his bed.

Joshua had been excessively hungry and thirsty the last three weeks. He urinated a couple times an hour. Renee did some research last Tuesday evening; everything pointed to Type I Diabetes. She got an appointment at the clinic here for Wednesday morning. Urine and blood tests showed very high blood glucose levels. We were to be booked into St. Mary's Children's Hospital that same afternoon. Joshua and I drove down, leaving Renee and the others at home. Once at the hospital he was hooked up to saline to get re-hydrated. Another blood test confirmed diabetes. Doctors recommended Renee come down the next day to begin our education on keeping Joshua healthy. Graciously some friends took the girls and our pastor and wife drove Renee and Hudson down to the hospital. Thursday was filled with learning and trying to retain and praying that we would not get overwhelmed. Thank-you for others who prayed that as well. We could have returned home Thursday night, but didn't feel comfortable with the dosing and carb counting. But by Friday morning we had gone through a couple of different glucose level scenarios, had showers at the Sheraton, and had a better grasp on this new life. Understanding of how Joshua's body is working will grow in time. Truthfully, even before these last few days we've often felt just on the brink of what we can handle. But what better place to live than where we are constantly reminded to call on Jesus, because He brought us here and He means to do great things in us and through us here.

Joel.

Love Sketches

Drawn by: Joshua

Top Left Clockwise: Jesus, God, Hudson, Joshua (in middle), Daddy

Mommy and the girls are in the house.

Yes that's a rainbow with a sun and a cloud and they are all flying kites (except God)

Fifth week of School: Rachel writes her name by herself. (Ff was the letter of the week)

Proud younger sister beams!

Drawn by Rachel and Joshua.

Starting at the Top Left across: Mommy, Rachel, Joshua;

Bottom Left: Hudson, Madelynn, Daddy

Written by Rachel (assisted by Mommy): "Rachel Mommy do school and they love each other"

(Can you hear my heart melting??)

We go to our knees for your church tonight and tomorrow O Lamb who was slain.

(parental discretion advised)