Yes, we are still here - Praise God!!!!  Hope you are, too.  Joshua has been home for a couple of weeks and it has been absolutely insane.  I'm having trouble finding a routine (that's not a new problem, though) and I have been more physically active that at any time in the past 10 years.  There is a constant stream of traffic at the house - therapists, sometimes two or three visits a day.  I have tried to rest when Joshua is supposed to but he doesn't rest.  He is excited to be home and we are spending a lot of time talking.  I finally told him the other day that I was initiating "Quiet Time".  It lasted about 15 minutes.

Larrie and I are taking a few days off and heading for the Bible College at Murrieta.  Crystal and Scott will be staying here with Joshua and the rest of the kids will be on hand as well.  It will be strange but we'll try to relax.  Visiting Angels will be coming in on a daily basis to take care of some of his needs which will help with some of the load while Crystal is here.  They have hired me to be Joshua's personal care assistant (which is what I thought I'd been doing) and I actually have a time card to fill out and turn in!

We also have our first visit with a new primary care physician tomorrow and will be planning for outpatient rehab services after we get back from our vacation. 

We are praying that the time away will be refreshing and that we will not be anxious.  I am especially praying that I will come back ready for the challenge of full-time caregiving and a greater ability to balance my day - I think I've been flying by the seat of my pants for the last couple of weeks.

You know, I've been telling the women for a long time that their personal time with the Lord is the most important thing they can do.  I have been reminded how the demands of our daily lives can draw us away, deceiving us into thinking we will get around to it later in the day.  You and I both know we won't.  Over the last couple of weeks, it has been a struggle to find quiet time with the Lord and going before Him with an undivided heart.  All kinds of things fly through my head when I try to pray and the Scriptures make me think of items I need from the grocery store (especially when I read the lists of genealogies) or what I'm going to fix for dinner (I just recently read, "My peace I leave with you," which reminded me of pizza which made me hungry so I headed to the refrigerator instead of staying on my knees!).  It takes a tremendous effort to grab Him first thing in the morning (Okay, I confess, I've slept in a few days!)  - But IT CAN BE DONE!!! 

So - no more excuses...let's do it.  Let's make our First Love our first priority, the One we can't wait to seek and the Reason we arise in the morning.

Larrie and Rhonda 

It is a joy to have Joshua home - but also a lot of work.  We are all adjusting to a new schedule and new daily activities.  We have home health nurses coming in and I am learning to give injections.  Thankfully, Joshua doesn't have much feeling in his legs so he won't know whether or not I do a good job :) 

He has been without any sleep aids going on his second night and we are praying he will rest soundly as he readjusts to sleeping in a semi-quiet place.  His spirits are good as is his appetite.  He is thoroughly enjoying home cooking.  Being able to tuck him in at home is a special treat.

While we are rejoicing at Joshua's homecoming, we are saddened by the home-going of Pastor Mike Baumgart.  He went to be with Jesus this morning around 3:00 a.m.  We have mixed feelings - sorrow for Jennifer and the boys, joy that Pastor Mike is with the Savior he so loves.  He is pain-free but please pray for Jennifer and the rest of Pastor Mike's family, his congregation and the people he dearly loved - the homeless of Las Vegas.  Without a doubt, they are facing some tough, heartbreaking times.

Jennifer, I am grateful for your humble example of the strength God gives His children.  For you, we are asking for God's continuing peace.

Larrie and Rhonda

After several days of on-again/off-again discharge plans, Joshua finally came home this morning.  He was so excited he didn't know whether to laugh and cry so he did both!  He wouldn't lay down to rest at all and all the kids were here at the house to celebrate both his homecoming and Father's day.  Some very special family friends also joined us and we had a wonderful, wonderful time.

He has had no problem with his blood pressure or dizziness today.  He has eaten well and is even getting his legs and feet to move by using other muscles in his upper body.  Larrie's mom and I had quite a workout today - we actually did transfers from the car to the wheelchair, etc., etc. and tonight we are plumb tuckered out.  So is Joshua.  It is finally a good kind of tired.  He is home.

Larrie and Rhonda

Right before I left tonight, the nurses came in wondering where Joshua's new IV line was.  For what?  Antibiotics.  I have not been told of any infection but it is possible that he may have one.  Guess I'll find out more tomorrow.  In the meantime (and I'm sure the nurses think I'm a whacko) they have been instructed by me not to insert any line until I have had a chance to talk to the doctor.  He has been having his recurrent problem with low blood pressure and has not been feeling real great the last couple of days.  I don't know what this may do to the planned discharge - they don't give 24 or 48 hours of IV antibiotics and then stop; a regular course is 10 days.

More news - the home therapy program doesn't have any therapists available so we are heading for a day program for outpatients in Henderson (less of a drive, which is a blessing).  We can continue to travel in order for Joshua to have speech therapy but we've pretty much decided we will not travel and I will work with Joshua on his speech myself.

Coming home seemed so close yesterday but if Joshua needs to have a full course of antibiotics we're all for it and we will deal with a little longer stay if we have to.  We just don't want to. 

We have what should be our final team meeting tomorrow.  Please pray for whatever "infection" has caused this concern on the part of the physicians and that there will be a simple solution and that Joshua will, in fact, be able to come home as planned.

Also, please continue to pray for Pastor Mike and Jennifer as they wait on the antibiotics to overcome the pneumonia.

Larrie and Rhonda

This Saturday is the big day - Joshua is coming home!  We are thrilled that he is no longer wearing the neck braces and that we will no longer be driving 100 miles a day (that's for both cars!).  Joshua will be doing further rehab'ing at home.  The neurosurgeon who did his surgeries (what seems like forever ago) is very pleased with the results.  Joshua is so sick of hospital food - thanks, Chris, for the "sink drainage" analogy! 

There have been times I have doubted that this day would actually come and now it is just a few days away.  There have been so many times through this that I have sang with gusto over and over that wonderful hymn, "Amazing Grace" (I highly recommend Chris Tomlin's version on "See The Morning").  Here are just a couple of lines:

"Thru many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; ’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home."

"The Lord has promised good to me; His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures."

Yes, we are nearing the end of this season of our journey but it is far from over.  That thought reminds me of Pastor Mike Baumgart from Calvary Chapel Downtown Las Vegas - he is in the hospital with double pneumonia and has been placed on a respirator.  The beauty is that those simple lines above apply even more so to Pastor Mike and Jennifer as well as their sons.  Please pray for them.

Larrie and Rhonda

I'm going to try to fill you in on the last several days and be brlief - don't try to hold your breath!

Last Friday, Amputees Across America arrived at HealthSouth along with soldiers from the 257th.  Joshua was so jazzed to see Army personnel - I have discovered if you are Army, you are Family.  They were so wonderful to my son and he sat in his wheelchair in awe.  While Joshua is not a soldier in their unit, they drew him in with open arms.  One of the gals tracked me down the next day and said they would like to build the ramps for our home so Joshua has access.  She also asked about other needs we have - but I was too busy weeping to think! 

Sunday, of course, Joshua got a "get out of the hospital free" card.  He was overwhelmed at church and could pretty much only sit and grin as he was greeted by our church family.  He was thrilled with worship and hearing his dad teach.  He ate like a pig at lunch (his sister cooked!) and chowed down again at dinner.  We discovered he is quite comfortable in a recliner and loved being in familiar surroundings.  I, however, was exhausted after transferring him into the car and out six times!  I was certainly grateful for all the help I received.

Larrie has been out of town which makes for long days but the kids have been wonderful to step in and give me some respite.

Joshua also had the PEG (feeding) tube removed - after the ventilator, PICC lines, arterial lines, IVs, catheters and feeding tubes (he pulled out the first two) we are finally tube-free.  He is eating like a horse (5 chicken soft tacos and a milkshake!) and is in terrific spirits.  We are looking at a week and a half to two weeks before he is home.

I have to tell you, I am overcome by the love that has been poured out on our family.  We have had so many weep with us when we weep and rejoice with us when things go well.  Each and every one of you have been the hand of God as you have reached out to us, prayed for us, sent words of encouragement and just been willing to listen as we share our heart. 

Being so tired at the end of the day has given me time to sit still and think about the goodness of God to His children.  As I think about what God has done, I rejoice.  And just knowing you are reading this refreshes and strengthens me for tomorrow.  Thank you.

Larrie and Rhonda

Here's a quick clip of Joshua while on his day out from the hospital.

It is late Saturday night and we are looking forward (with some trepidation) to tomorrow.  Joshua will visit church for the second service and then we will go to his sister's house for lunch.  It is a day that promises many challenges and, we trust, a healthy diversion and inspiration for Joshua. 

Please pray for us if you read this early Sunday morn.  We will write tonight and tell you how it turned out.  Also, as you pray, please remember the Baumgart family.  Pastor Mike is undergoing both radiation and chemotherapy. Pray for his throat that it would be clear of sores and for strength in his legs. 

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Rhonda and Larrie

Joshua will be joining us for church on Sunday.  They are giving him a pass and he is really looking forward to worshipping.  The next couple of weeks look to be pretty crazy - we have x-rays on Monday, the feeding tube out on Tuesday and the follow-up with the neurosurgeon in just over a week.  At the team meeting today, they said they are shooting for discharge within three weeks (probably sooner) so the press is on to get ready for him to come home.  It hardly seems possible.  We have grown so accustomed to the daily regimen of driving and sitting at hospitals the reality that we are getting ready to enter a new chapter is hard to grasp. But we are beginning to see some light.

He is getting stronger and stronger everyday and making great strides in therapy.  The therapists and physicians are quite pleased.  The road of recovery is still long but God remains in control.  Deep down, I know this but my vision is just a little blurry because of the fatigue.  We will still have a lot of hard work ahead and I caught myself thinking that, in just two more weeks, I'll finally be able to breathe, we might finally be able to rest. 

Today, however, God has been reminding me that I can enter His rest right now, this very moment.  Why don't I?  Because I'm listening to the events whirling around me instead of to His still, small voice calling me to cease from my labors and hide myself in Him.  Because I see the swirl of activity and know I'm unprepared instead of keeping my eyes on Him as He goes before me one step at a time.  Because my heart is breaking for the cripple who is my son instead of rejoicing that God is knitting together a man after His own heart.  He will complete the work He has started both in Joshua and in me.  And in you, too.

Larrie and Rhonda