So much Progress!!!

Oh my...it's been so long. I'm so sorry! Things have been busy lately so this one will be a long one. I've got so much to share! I hope everyone hasn't stopped checking for updates though! Thank you to those who have still been eager to hear about Caleb's progress and for continuing to pray so faithfully!

Okay...
So we took Caleb to school (twice already) The first day was only for two hours for physical therapy. The second time we took him for a little longer...he got more therapy, did some artwork...and best of all...he rode a car! They've got a car that is operated by a switch so he uses the switch and makes the car go! He had lots of fun with that! (I did take pictures) The "switch" is what is used for speech therapy. They find a switch to match the child depending on what type of movememts they make and which one suits them best. With that switch they also hooked it up to toys that had markers tied to them and the toy would walk all over the paper "drawing" while Caleb activated the switch. It was a great time at school. As good as school sounds, I don't think we will be sending Caleb there on a regular basis. As of right now, we've got some trust issues. We don't feel comfortable leaving him there alone. I don't think it's so much the teachers and therapists there. It's more just us not being able to really know what's going on since Caleb can't talk YET. But I would like to continue going with him to school once a week...or maybe twice a week. The hardest part with that is having to have someone watch Micaiah while we go.
Another great milestone....We took Caleb to the beach last week Thursday! From the morning time when we talked to him about going to the beach he cried. He cried during the car ride to the beach too and as we all sat in the sand. But after taking him in the water he was fine. He stopped crying and I think he enjoyed it. We assured him that he was safe...that we had him and nothing was going to happen. After he got used to sitting on the shore, our nurse took him in the water and he was fine the whole time. It was a great milestone for Caleb as well as us. The next one will be to take him into the pool. It was so nice to just spend time together. All his cousins came to the beach with us too. (I took pictures of course)
Brandon and I have been talking about reducing Caleb's medications. My mom has been doing some research and has been worried about him getting addicted too. So we have already decreased one of his meds a little and will slowly decrease it as he tolerates it. We would also like to eventually decrease his other meds. We've stopped one completely...but that one is just a stool softener...but Praise God that he doesn't need it! That's one down. We are putting all our trust and faith in God that he will cover Caleb as we decrease his meds and work towards getting him off of all of them. We are praying that Caleb will do very well and that he will be able to come off of all of them soon and be totally fine. Please, please, pray with us as we step towards a new goal!
Speaking of working towards goals and the power of prayer...Caleb is now using his passy-muir valve 24hours a day! Even while he sleeps and eats. We just started leaving it on while he sleeps since Saturday but he's been doing great with it! We decided to do it because he wasn't doing so well with the "artificial nose" on while he slept. He showed to do so much better with the valve on. So...PRAISE GOD! There has been so much improvements! Caleb's tone is much better too. He's much more limber now days. He is also continuing to make different vocalization sounds too with his valve on. I am so very proud of him and all that he's done thus far. He is so brave. The whole beach day just amazed me. I kept telling him how proud I was of him. I've got so much to learn from Caleb...more than I ever thought.
As for Brandon and I...we are doing much better. Of course we've still got so much to overcome but we know where we are headed and are working towards that goal together. We are so blessed to have so much support from so many other Christians. Thank you all for your prayers...

I'll close this blog with my prayer...
Thank you Lord for bringing Caleb so far in his healing already. Please continue to heal him everyday and reassure your healing process in him every step of the way. Thank you God for bringing us through this rough season of our lives and continuing to show us the light! You are the light Lord! You are the light in our dark times...You are perfect in every way! Please watch over Caleb and heal him more and more as we start to wean him off his medications. We know that he will do fine because you are with him, watching over him every second. You have shown us your amazing power in so many ways already. Please continue to show us your awesome healing power. Let every decision we make, especially concerning Caleb, be what you desire Lord. Help us to clearly hear your voice as you continue to lead us through every step of Caleb's healing. Thank you Father! Amen.