Glory be to God!!

"But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me." Psalm 3:3-5

Noe is progressing beautifully! She wants to thank everyone for all the amazing acts of kindness. She realizes all the nice things people did while she was in the hospital; loving on her children, decorating her house, offering words of encouragement on the blog comments, and getting on their knees in prayer. She said she had know idea now many people cared for her until now. She's continually learning and remembering more about what she's been through, it's quite overwhelming.

She has outgrown the in-house therapy. She will be going to Back to Golf Performance for physical therapy 2 times a week. The therapist there said she's ready to ditch the walker and move onto a cane. Yahoo! She'll be doing physical therapy in the pool, strength exercises, and core work. She is gaining strength, but has a ways to go. She still fatigues quickly. Noe won't be driving for months. For now, T, Noe's mom, is the chauffeur and chef. It is a huge blessing that she can stay and help for so long.

Thank you again for all the prayers. Noe feels so blessed to have you all in her life.

Homecoming!

"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:13

From Alex: "You guys are the best 'sisters and brothers' anyone could ask or dream of! Without your spiritual and emotional support this journey with Noe would be much more difficult! I thank God that you guys are willingly being the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus!!Love you all!"

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
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Noe went home yesterday after 7 weeks in the hospital. The morning started with the removal of the staples from her last brain surgery. Then, the ride home was quite an adventure as she watched the world whirl by from the backseat of her van. Once home, she took a nap on the sofa with her favorite blanket. She then happily raided the kitchen for sweet treats and a crisp apple. The kids were very excited to see her when they got home from school. Noe helped them with their homework and then they enjoyed a family dinner together.

Noe's sister Joan arrives tomorrow for a long awaited visit. Noe would like to have a few visits with you starting next Tuesday, January 20th. Short visits are welcome and encouraged! Please be sure to wash up as you enter the house and only visit if you are healthy and haven't been in close contact with a person who has a cold or the flu because Noe's immune system has taken a beating. Please call home and ask for mom, 'T', and she will let you know if Noe is up for it. Physical therapy will be visiting the house as well.

We thank God for the precious gift of Noe's return home. We praise Him for family and for good friends. Please pray for Noe's continued restoration, increased stamina and for pain management. Pray for Alex as he leads his family in the months to come.

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews4:14-16

Much Needed Rest

Noe had a difficult afternoon, but the plan is that she will be going home tomorrow. We are so excited and thankful she's going home to her family. The plan for Noe's first day home, is a quiet reunion with Alex and the boys. She is still recovering and fatigues easily. The family appreciates everyones desire to help and we will provide visitation and assistance possibilities at a later date. To say hello to Noe and family, please leave a comment below.

Please pray for Noe's transition home and for her much needed rest.

"Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing'...I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure" Psalm 16:1,2,7-9

Test Results Normal!

Noe had her diagnostic cerebral arteriogram today and the test showed no abnormalities! Noe was very pleased with the results and was glad when the test was over. She had a strong headache before the test and the nurse gave her morphine. Please pray her headaches subside. The family appreciates your faithful prayers and encouragement. Please praise God with us for all He has done!

"I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:2-8

House is ready for Noe!

The Christmas lights are still up, the house is clean and organized and the shower and stairs are accessible and safe! Thanks to all our family and friends Noe will be pleasantly surprised when she comes home this week! On Monday she will have her final diagnostic cerebral arteriogram to confirm there are no arterial cerebral abnormalities. On Tuesday she will meet with her new primary care physician and hopefully on Wednesday or Thursday she will be home! Thanks again for your faithful prayers and support.

"...Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." Mark 5:19

Solid Foods

From Alex: Last night Noe had her first hospital meal without a trach tube with her fellow Rehab patients! Noe had a three course meal beginning with a fruit cup, cream of "something", and a mystery pudding dessert! She said that the meal is still better than the "brown stuff" she was given through her feeding tube. While Noe's body is using energy to heal her body from the last surgery, she remains quite tired. The family is still requesting no visitors.

Please pray for Noe's continued healing. Please pray for Noe's peace in the midst of recognizing that not all her abilities will return as quickly as she would like. It's going to take time to recover completely and get back to her normal routines. Considering the criticality of all she's been through, her continued recovery is nothing short of miraculous. Through Jesus, all things are possible!

"You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and shall swear by His name. He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen." Deuteronomy 10:20,21

"Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." Psalm 150

Humpty Dumpty Put Back Together

From Alex: Noe is almost completely re-assembled. She has her bone flap in place and her trach tube removed. All that is left, is a feeding tube in her abdomen and a PIC line in her arm. Dr. Neal hopes to discharge her later next week. Thank God for His grace and mercy!

Noe was able to find her own voice today for the first time in weeks! She also had some pudding and water and will try more solid food tomorrow! She was given some Vicodin for the pain from surgery. Noe will start back with 3 hours of rehab tomorrow.

We continue to ask for no visitors. Please know that Noe receives your comments and appreciates all of them! Please pray for Noe's strength during rehab and for pain management. Please pray for Noah as he is sick at home. Pray for Alex as he cares for Noe and the boys. And Praise God for His faithfulness and answered prayer over the last several weeks.

"You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head....You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." Psalm 139:4,5,13,14

All is Well!

10:40am from Alex: Noe's out of surgery and the physician successfully located her bone flap in the freezer and pieced it back in her head ! She will be back in the ICU tonight and will have a CT tomorrow to confirm that there is no inflammation.

Noe is in recovery and the family is waiting to see her. We thank you for prayers and praise God for His faithfulness! Please pray that Noe's brain does not swell and that she wakes up quickly from her anesthesia.

"I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints." Psalm 52:9

Replacing the Bone Flap

Noe's surgery to replace the bone flap on her head is scheduled for 7:30 Wednesday morning. The surgery should take approximately 2-3 hours. She will be given the sedative Propofol again, so she will be very sleepy following surgery. The plan is for her to remain in the ICU for 2-3 days, then move back down to the rehab center. She was feeling anxious about the surgery but knew it was necessary. This is the last big hurdle for her.

We ask for prayer that she has a restful night and that God will calm her anxieties and give her peace. Please pray that God will guide the surgeons hands and that there are no complications with the surgery. Pray there are also no difficulties with Noe coming out of anesthesia.

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him..." Psalm 37:4-7

Matching Haircuts!

From Alex: Luke and I decided to have the same haircut as Noe! Noe was feeling much better on Saturday and used her walker outside the hospital for the first time in several weeks! She continues to do well with all her therapies. Sunday was a day of rest. Noe continues to have headaches and is waiting for some more solid food.

"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:20-22

Please continue to pray for Noe's upcoming surgery to replace the bone flap. Also pray for Noe as she tries to piece together the last six weeks. Please pray for Alex and the boys strength and perseverance. Pray for mom and Rodlyn as they are caring for the house and family.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2,3

Wait in Expectation

Today Noe had another busy day of therapy sessions. She continues to get stronger but she is not sleeping very well at night. And she is pretty worn out. Noe is able to eat some solid food only when the speech therapist is with her. She continues to have a headache and a sore throat. They are giving her Tylenol but she is still uncomfortable. Please continue to pray for Noe's healing and complete restoration. Next week Noe has another surgery ahead of her which means another stay in the ICU. Please pray that nothing will interfere with her scheduled surgery.

Noe thanks you for your wonderful comments and faithful prayers. We are all waiting expectantly on the Lord for Noe's complete healing. The family asks for no visitors while she remains at Santa Rosa Memorial.

"Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:2,3

Ready for Real Food!

From Alex: Noe begins the New Year with excellent progress with her physical therapy. Her left hand is getting stronger and she is beginning to regain her balance. She also passed the third round of her swallow test! This means she will be able to have a mini Spam Musubi for breakfast tomorrow! Please continue to pray for Noe's healing. We still request no visitors.

God has his loving arms around Noe every step of the way. "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." Isaiah 44:2

".. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37,38

Case Management Meeting

From Alex: Today we met with Dr. Neal, the Rehab Unit Medical Director, and Linda, the Case Manager. They both were thrilled at Noe's rapid recovery and progress. Based on the Rehab team assessments (physical, occupational and speech therapy), Dr. Neal expects Noe to be discharged sometime around January 14th! This, of course, depends on the surgery scheduled for January 7th to replace the bone flap. After a long tiring day of therapy, Noe ended the day smiling and encouraged by reading through many of the comments on the blog herself! Thank you!

Please continue to pray for Noe's stamina through rehab and the headaches she has continued to experience. Noe still cannot receive visitors at this time. Thank you for the encouraging comments and especially the prayers. God hears them all!

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

Top Ten List

From Alex: You know Noe is feeling better when she is...

10) Trying to climb out of bed and wanting to go home
9) Smiling and giggling at cousin Rodlyn's stories
8) Doing extra laps around the Rehab Unit on her walker
7) Commenting on my mismatched and wrinkled clothes
6) Sitting up in bed on her own
5) Moving her left arm and starting to squeeze her left hand
4) Requesting to take a shower and wash her hair everyday
3) Asking about how Noah, Luke and all her friends and family are doing
2) Getting me in trouble with the nurses for allowing her to get out of bed on her own
1) Thanking all her friends and family for their continual prayers and support through this journey!!!

Noe was scheduled for a full 3 hours of rehab today. A family meeting with the rehabilitation physician is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss her rehab goals and progress. We are still requesting no visiting at this time. Noe's rehab schedule is quite tyring for her.

Thank you for the continued prayers. We know that God is completely in control of all of this. If we didn't have Christ, trials as these would seem insurmountable.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12,13