Prayer Request

*Update #2: Good news! (excerpts from Diane's email)
Charly has gone 24 hours without a fever, for the 1st time in over 10 days! No more infection has been found since last night; but he has been left with skin only on the back of his calf on the leg where the infection started. Bottom line: He is still in danger of losing his leg. He is still in danger of losing his life! But his chances of surviving this with his leg are much better than they were yesterday!

We are praising God fervently!!

Please continue to pray for Charly's health: physical and emotional. He has a very long road to recovery ahead of him with some tough decisions to make (or accept: possible medical discharge). The tentative timeline: 1-2 weeks of continually cleaning out all new tissue that grows. Begin skin grafts. Five days of complete bed rest to heal. One to two months of rehab and home for at least month.

Diane's mom is still hoping to be able to fly to see him. Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment for her. We love this family so much, and know that God is and continuing to bless them even through this difficult time. Thank you for your sweet prayers!

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*Update: Charly is now in stable condition! His family is currently trying to make the difficult decision whether or not to travel to be with him.

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My best friend (since 2nd grade) Diane emailed us a few days ago with a urgent prayer request. Her step brother Charly, who is stationed in Korea with the Army, was rushed to a hospital in Seoul with an extreme infection in his leg. What started as a minor injury, rapidly progressed into what the doctors originally called cellulitis. Only days later, he was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, what those of us not in the medical field know as "flesh-eating bacteria." And only days later, he has had no less than 10 surgeries to remove leg skin and tissue infected with this bacteria. What started on the lower portion of his leg, has spread down to his foot and up to his upper thigh. The doctors are consulting with specialists in Hawaii but believe it best to have him remain in Seoul and receive his care there, where they are desperately trying to save his leg.

Diane's mother and her husband are frantically trying to decide whether to travel to Korea or not. The contacted the Red Cross, who originally seemed to be willing to help them; only to find out today that the Red Cross doesn't give assistance unless the ill individual is dying. While the doctors have deemed it life-threatening, he is not dying! (which is a blessing in and of itself!) Jobs have to be considered. Financial aspects have to be considered. But most importantly, what's best for this young man has to be considered!

So, please pray for Charly, who is only 20 years old and half way around the world with a life-threatening illness. Please pray for the doctors, for their wisdom and discernment. Please pray for Charly's family, for peace, clarity of mind, deciding whether or not to travel to Korea, and safe travel if they decide to go be with him.

Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Army Crawl Baby

She did it.

After weeks of rolling and sit-scooting and face planting, we have a crawler.

Our lives will never be the same.

Wednesday night she decided that she wanted a computer cable that was on the floor and army crawled right to it!

In a straight line.

Without rolling from tummy to back and back to tummy.

With minimal face planting.

With a bottom periodically in the air.

With legs bending.

She did it.

I'll never be able to vacuum frequently enough to get all of the little pieces of randomness off the floor (that she already tries to eat).

Everything will never always be put away.

My floor will never be clean enough.

Forget keeping her on the blanket.

I spent most of today repositioning her on the floor out from underneath the sofa or chair, out from on top of the AC vent, and away from the cord plugged into the wall.

I'm just trying to keep her near the blanket!

Don't worry, you say?

I know.

But I am entitled to a 1st-time-mom-freak-out-moment every once in a while, right?

Wordless Wednesday

Fall Leaves

I love fall. I love the temperature. I love the sunshine. And I especially love watching the leaves change. Unfortunately, Montgomery isn't noted for its variety in the tree category. This is what you mostly see in Montgomery:

pine trees...

While pine trees serve their purpose: fast growing, preventing erosion, providing much needed oxygen; they have much to be desired when it comes to beauty! Although they are few and farther between than what you find up the east coast (e.i. more northern cities!), I have noticed recently that Montgomery has its fair share of beautiful trees!

Addie has a rotten cold, and it's rather challenging for her to nap (or sleep in general). It seemed to be a lot easier for her to nap in her car seat today, so we rode around a little longer (you know, since we can fill up our gas tank for half of what we could fill it up for 2 weeks ago!) after she fell asleep. When she woke up, we went and took some pictures. It was a new challenge to carry a baby and take pictures at the same time. But...here are a "few of my favorite things:"

...and my most favorite thing of all:

Montgomery Advertiser Video

This video was created by the Montgomery Advertiser in conclusion to one of their writers running 5 Komen Runs this fall. My mom and 4 other women were featured in it. The writer and runner, Kym, lost her mother at 17. Kym's mother was only 40. Her blog tells of her journey.

Click here to see the video.

"Not Me!" Monday

My dog Mollie (who is still on prednisone for an autoimmune disease) has not peed on the floor in our guest bedroom every night for the past week. I certainly DID clean it up each morning; but I certainly did not find that it had seeped under the travel crate stored under the bed, pooled on our hardwood floors, and started to warp them. And I definitely did not spend almost an hour cleaning it up and "swiffering" with a wet cloth! Nope...we'd never let something like that happen! Not us!

I did not have to raid my mom's closet for shirts because all of my long sleeve shirts are too short for me now! Is this what having a baby does to you? I can wear my jeans but not my shirts? Or is it the nursing? Who knows...but I'm going to have to ask for some gift cards for Christmas because of it! Oh, and yeah, I'd never raid my mom's closet! Nope...not me!

Fuzz the cat did not throw up behind the sofa. It didn't land on an envelope that had found its way back there. And it certainly didn't contain the remnants from the bird she had consumed earlier in the day! Yuck!

I did not let Abbey (the dog) chew up and shred 7 diapers and one paci over the past week. Nope...not me!

And 75% of my "not me" Mondays are not about our pets! But considering they have us out numbered almost 2 to 1 it might just make sense!

Do make sure to check out MckMama's blog. Sweet baby Stellan was born last week...healthy as he can be! Praise God!

What have you not done this past week (or two!)? Happy Monday!