Doctor visit joys
I am so sorry I have not been able to write more blogs recently. There has been so many things I have wanted to write about but the time that is required to actually do the writing has not been there for me lately. I am hoping that this new season will lend itself more time for me to do more writing. I really want to be writing more and will try to be more diligent and purposeful in making more regular posts as I had been previously doing.
Well, there is so much to update you on with Mr. Eli. He is changing so quickly now. I really love the age that he is at. He is so much fun and becoming more fun everyday! He is starting to talk so much. He really just likes to imitate what we are saying but it is so cute. His best and favorite words are ducky, diaper, bear, book, da da, bottle and Grover. Some of the words are more recognizable than the others. He has got the cutest little voice. He still loves to make lots of other sounds. He loves to sing along to music with various high pitched squeals. He makes great monkey and bird sounds. He can also roll his tongue which is a feat I have never been able to accomplish.
When Eli gets really excited he does the funniest thing right now. He kicks his feet like crazy and makes fists with his hands, he locks his elbows and raises his arms up and down- really fast, and he squeals and smiles with delight. It is so cutes. It is like he is expressing joy with every ounce of energy he has and with all his muscles. It is clear he is so excited that he can't contain it.
Why is it that as adults we don't get that excited about things anymore? Imagine how much healthier we'd be and more full of life if we allowed ourselves to experience that kind of joy. It is a shame that as innocence fades so does the level of sheer joy and delight we can experience. I believe God still wants us to live with the same delight. This is the joy He wants us to have as we come into His presence. I think over and over when we are told in scripture to 'shout for joy' this is the kind of joy that it is talking about. Being so overjoyed that you can't possibly contain it and you try with everything you've got to express it but it still isn't enough. That is the joy God wants to give us. He holds that out before us. That is the joy that comes from abiding in Him.
I have heard of another definition of joy which I really like. It is called a pervasive sense of well-being. It more a matter of being content and thankful and satisfied. So, I guess that means that joy falls into that category of words that have multiple meanings and depths of truth to it. It is used in the bible so many times and in different ways. It is a subject I would like to research more- to go deeper into the history of why it was used in a given passage and what the original words that were used literally meant when translated. How it was used through time and in different situations. How the context clues could be used to further define and give meaning to the word joy as it is used in the bible. It is an amazing subject.
Joy is something we all desire but few ever really truly experience. Apart from Christ I believe it is impossible to truly know joy. You might think you are happy and satisfied for a season- but true everlasting joy can only come from a life abiding in Him. He is only true giver of joy- the way to access that source of joy is by going to the source itself. By having a personal intimate relationship with the Lord. He is the well-spring of life. I'd be interested to see if another translation for the word joy is abundant life. I need to research it more but they seem to go hand in hand. There seems to be a lot of correlation with joy and abundant life.
This season which is now getting close to a year of grief has been so hard. But it is amazing how God has sent so many blessings in the midst of it all. It is amazing how God has truly still given me joy- He is my joy and my reason to smile. After all scripture admonishes us to reflect His radiance and glory. I think a smile definitely accomplishes that more than a frown- a real genuine smile that flows out from the heart. As Christians our countenance and faces should be different. We are reflecting the glory of God! As we abide in Him and spend time with Him in His presence it is impossible for our faces not to be changed.
A huge source of encouragement in this season has ironically been through doctor visits with Eli. While it is hard to have to go to so many different doctor visits so often, they are almost always reasons for rejoicing. We often leave them praising God all the more for the miracle He has done in Eli. Every time we go Eli is improving and growing. The evidence of his healing is clear to his doctors and to us and we recognize it in new depths with the time we spend with the doctors.
Last Thursday Eli was evaluated for therapy. He had a physical therapy evaluation and an occupational therapy evaluation. The therapists spent over an hour playing with him. I have never seen Eli play so hard in my life. He had so much fun and was so busy. When we got in the car to drive home he was like a wet noodle- he was so exhausted.
The therapists really studied Eli and how he played. They were doing a test and scoring him the whole time. Saturday we got the results from his evaluation. Overall they said he was at an 11 month age of development. Amazingly they said that his gross motors skills- things like walking and throwing a ball were at a 14 month age of development. Keep in mind this is the same boy of whom doctors said might not ever walk or use the left side of his body! What a reason to praise God- as if we ever even need a reason.
The therapist recommended that Eli have therapy once a week to help him get all of his other skills up to his age level- or even beyond it. I am so thankful for the means to be able to do this. I am glad that Eli will be able to get the help he needs. They fully expect him to learn well and respond to the therapy. His rehabilitation prognosis was the best that it could have been.
I am also excited to be going to the therapy with Eli because I am learning so many new ways to play with Eli- to challenge his mind and help facilitate growth and cognitive skills. I am excited about our play times through out the week. I feel like I have fresh things to be doing with him which will help break up the monotony in our routine.
Through the help of the therapist I realized Eli can color- and really enjoys doing it. We color just about everyday now. He has made all sorts up abstract pieces of art. I think they are so beautiful- haven't brought myself to throw any of them away yet. I keep them out and show them to people when they come over to visit. I guess I am a little proud of my wonderful boy.
I can see that Eli's confidence is growing as well. He is doing new things all the time and getting less frustrated with himself or his toys. He definitely expresses a sense of accomplishment when he masters a new skill. I can see it affects is overall countenance and mood. He rightfully feels proud of himself which gives him the confidence to continue to try new things. Just yesterday he put his basketball through the hoop 10 times in a row with out my help- he knew he was so cool for doing it.
I am so thankful for the growth in Eli. The opportunity for him to get the help he needs is such a blessing too. At first the idea of realizing your son isn't completely normal and needs therapy is always a little disappointing and hard- but now I see it as just another blessing in our lives. We are both learning so much and we will be better because of it.
posted by Kellie # 10:33 AM
