Monday, February 11, 2008

Some pictures from our fun weekend








Joe became a little fish this weekend...we all went swimming at Lynn and Matt's hotel. We also went to the zoo, which was amazing. The polar bear exhibit is really neat, and the kids enjoyed riding the tram (train) around at the end. Overall, Joseph was in a euphoric state all weekend and had a lot of fun with cousin Will. There were lots of smiles and running and playing and it was great to visit with family. Thanks for coming to brighten our weekend, Lynn and Matt and Will!
Joseph still has no appetite, but we were able to feed him his 1200 calories each day...so hopefully his weight will not have dropped and the doctors will be happy with his eating. They weigh him today so we will find out soon. We considered putting rocks in his pockets but decided against it. :) Please keep praying for him to get his appetite back soon. It is much nicer when he actually wants to eat. We might try another appetite stimulant since the current one is not working.
The first pictures are after a trip to the mall with Daddy, where Joseph discovered an appetite for "Mike 'n Ikes." It gave us an extra 190 cals for the day, so we were thrilled. I never thought I would be begging my child to eat ice cream and cookies!
**Added note: I just talked to Allen and Joe gained almost a kilo! Yay!! Thank you all for praying.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Gillian Allen & kids,

Great news. They all look so happy. Its great you were able to get out and play and just do kids stuff again. I wish I could send him a couple of kilos in the post. Congratulations about the kilo weight gain.
love to all love Ann Ben & the boys

Craig and Gwen said...

I would love any and all chances of fattening up Joe P. and can't wait till you guys get home so we can fill your house with high calorie foods!!!

Those pics are great Gill - thanks for posting.

We are praying!

Love - gWen

Anonymous said...

So thankful to hear happy news and see happy pictures! Continuing to pray, Mel

Christy said...

Yea for cookies and ice cream! My favorite picture was the one of Joseph jumping in the pool to Allen. Fab.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe Joseph jumped in like that!!!!!!!! Wow...Bella couldn't believe it. She asked "is that when he was well?''
so cute.
Bella-Claire really wants to go the zoo when we are there...so gear up.
love you guys and am so glad that Joseph is eating and swimming.
sj

Anonymous said...

Go mike and Ikes!!The photos are amazing.Maybe Joe p. will be a diver like his mommy.When Bella -Claire arrives you better find a pool with a high dive!!!!Lightening MacQueen you are the man!!Miracles are happening every day right before our eyes!Praise God !"This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it"Lots of love and hugs and kisses...Nana Grandad and Davey

Lynn T said...

Fabulous news about the weight gain!! Go Joseph. I know that is a HUGE relief to you. What an answer to prayer.

Before school today, Will told us a few different times how much he misses Joseph.
I loved seeing the pictures on the blog... sweet memories of Joseph being a wild man.

We had such a great time with you all and miss you all terribly.

Much love, Lynn

Mary Vagnoni said...

Love the wonderful photos, Joseph looks so happy and like he is having a great time. Lynn you look great you girls just never seem to age!

Anonymous said...

thanks for all of the updates. been looking a lot lately. continuing to lay you all down at his feet. know that!

Q's NEWS said...

Hi Gillian and Allen,

I so love the pictures you have been posting - Joseph looks wonderful in each and every one of them and Holly is beautiful.

Please let us know if the salary and benefits are going to stop for Allen and when/if there will be a nonprofit organization set up so us bloggers can send in to help you out. I would love to help you in any way that I could.

Love from WV,
Susan

Brea said...

When you get back and the weather warms up we should all plan some icecream playdates at Brewster's!

Continuing to pray!

Our family said...

Oh, yay for the added weight!!! We have been praying for Joseph to eat a LOT! We loved the pictures and continue to pray for you all daily.
Nathaniel, Rebekah, Anna Walton and Olivia

Anonymous said...

Aaaa ice cream and cookies...if only I could. It is so good to hear that Joe didn't just maintain, he actually gained - even as little as it is - is such good news!
Looks like you had a great weekend.
We continue to pray for healing, strength, wisdom, appealing foods and grace for each moment.
love you all,
Scott & Linda

Anna Tester said...

Thanks for the updates. Wonderful to see the smiles and the strength. Know that the Gov Perdue said that the pools in hotlanta will still be filled this summer despite the water restrictions-- so Joseph can practice his dives! xxxooo

Anonymous said...

Loved the pictures! The smiles are priceless. Thank you God! Rejoicing with you over the news of the weight gain. So thankful. Praise God! Love, Mimi

Jiggs said...

Great photos ... thanks for posting them!

Thanks be to God for what sounds like a much-needed, wonderful weekend!

Continued prayers to Him as well for many, many more to come!

... with continued love and prayers from Kansas City ...

Anonymous said...

YAY, Joe!
You are doing so well gaining weight even when you don't feel like it! We are praying for you every day, sweet boy. And Holly, you look so precious with that puppy and the red balloon. It's obvious how much you love your brother...and how much he loves you.
Praying....
keely, josh, & salem

Anonymous said...

Yeah for the weight gain!!!!! We are praying for more!
love, vann and norma

CobblestoneCottage said...

It's so fun to see all these pictures and such happy faces! We continue to pray for Joe and each of you every day!

Chloƫ said...

wow, such a bunch of strong soldiers! great to see you all having such a laugh. wish i could see you. great about the ice cream and cookies, it's a bit like that rash. good things hidden in the little things we can't imagine! love you all. X chloe

Anonymous said...

It is so great to see the pictures of the family having fun together! Have I told you what a beautiful little girl Holly is? We cannot wait for you guys to come back to Atlanta... please don't be shy about letting us know exactly how we can meet your needs! We're praying for you guys!

-Sara

Anonymous said...

So wonderful to see the pics! Thanks for posting them, it brings a huge smile to our faces to see those beautiful smiles!! Thankful for the weight gain and will continue to pray for a return of appetite and enjoyment of good food (I too wish I could share a kilo or two with Joe) :-)
Praying! Love, Jeanne, Chuck & Cate

Anonymous said...

I am so thankful that you all had such a grand time with family and friends here in Nashville and that Josephs weight is up. May the Lord continue to be your strength and peace, and fill you for each day ahead. May His healing touch permeate every part of Joseph. His Name "Emmanuel" has been such an encouragement and comfort to me during extremely difficult times. God is with us! No matter where we go, no matter what we are suffering, no matter what we are feeling, whether we feel it or not, God is with us! God bless you all in every way. Love you. Chrissie

courtney said...

AMEN!!

Laurie in Ca. said...

Great news for weight gain. I am so glad for him and he looks so happy and healthy in the pictures. Fun, what a good thing to have right now, he looks so carefree. Praying for you and your family as treatment comes to an end, and praying for Joseph to be healed. Have fun whenever you can, it looks good on all of you:)

Love, Laurie in Ca.

Anonymous said...

HEY GUYS,these words are not mine but God's"Iwaitfor the Lord more thanwatchmen for the morning more than watchmen for the morning"The psalmist wasn't watching for the morning.He was watching for the one who owned the morning.His eyes were fastened to the horizon for a glimpse of Gods presence.The Hebrew words translated "wait (qawah)and 'hope'(yahal)in psalm130 both include the indivisible element of expectation.Likewise ,the Greek term translated "hope (elpis)loses all meaning without anxious expectation.Nothing is more critical than expectation to understand biblical hope and this psalm.The psalmist placed his hope inGods word and then he fully expected God to show up in his circumstances.These words are not mine but from the Beth Moore bible study on the psalms .This is what I was trying to explain to you earlier today gill!!So I pray with all the bloggers with expectant hope for Joseph to be healed fully!!!We love y'all soo much Sleep sound in Jesus..love from Nana

Ashley Burns said...

I have never met you, but I remember when Joe was born. I worked with his aunt Jen and it was shortly after I met her. I remember being so happy for her and for you. My husband and I frequently pray for Joe and I try to wonder in here as much as I remember to make time for. I want to thank you for for the hope you give to me. I cannot imagine what you are going through, but the words of hope and scripture you are leaning on constantly remind me of where the source of my hope and strength lie. Your words are such an encouragement. God is using you to give hope and show his love to so many people you may never meet. Thank you for posts.

Anonymous said...

Dear ones, you are in my prayers. I pray that God will give you rest tonight. I pray for tomorrow as you go to all the appointments, that you will know that God is before you and behind you, He is with you, He is ever present.
My class prays for Joseph twice a day, they pray in the morning and also at lunch time. They are such prayer warriors!
"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." Phil.4:8
Love, Mimi

Anonymous said...

praying for you in LA.

Holly said...

Hi Gillian and Allen,

It's so good to see the kids having a good time, smiling, laughing, etc. I'm so glad you have the opportunity to do some fun activities with your family while you are away. We miss you and will be glad to have you back in our neck of the woods though...

love you guys,
holly, Trent and Connor

Anonymous said...

Laughter is the best medicine and I am glad to see all of you getting big doses!
Thanks for the pictures- they speak louder than words and if possible, strengthen our resolve even more to pray diligently for healing.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the updates. You guys are still in our prayers. Great pictures too of the cuties!
Katy, Mark, Jake, Landon and Lilla

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you and praying that things went well today. I had a snow day today! Wish you all had been here so we could have had hot chocolate together while watching the snow fall. Have a great Valentine's Day tomorrow. You all are loved more than you can imagine by our heavenly Father!
Hugs and kisses to all my Valentines, Mimi

Lisa Allen said...

We are so glad to hear Joseph is having fun. We will pray for his appetite to increase.

Love, Lisa Allen

Courtney said...

I'm so glad to read that you all had such a fun weekend and that Joe gained a kilo! I know good news is such a welcome thing for you...especially during this strange trial in your lives.

Please let me know I can bring dinner since we had to postpone the last one.

-Courtney S.

Anonymous said...

I love seeing all the smiles in the pictures. We continue to pray throughout each day for healing and for physical and emotional comfort and strength for Joe as well as the rest of the family.
love, Maija,Jeremy, Jane, and baby Bea Gayed

Anonymous said...

Goodnight Sheriff Sally Mac and the fastest car Lightening MacQueen!!Ihope you sleep well tonight Joe ,you were a busy guy today.Iamsoo proud of you putting on weight and being such a nice big brother to Holly bear.You are really good at playing hide and seek too!Sleep sound in Jesus.Happy Valentines Day tomorrow!!Tell Mommy and Daddy to give you extra treats today.Ilove y'all dearly.love from Nana.read Isaiah61;1

The Robbins & Co said...

Hey y'all! We are still praying for little Joe. Praise the Lord for the progress as well as the work He is doing in all of you through this trial. May it all be for His glory.
-Bethany & Dan Robbins

Anonymous said...

Happy Valentines Day to all of you! Holly, it's the perfect day for a red shirt--I can see you have plenty of your favorite color! Joseph, eat lots of chocolate and candy today--Allen and Gillian, I pray that today, of all days, God will overwhelm you with his great love for you and your sweet little ones. Have a wonderful day. We are still praying for you whenever the Lord brings you to mind (which is often).

Alison Fontenot

Anonymous said...

I LOVE THE PICTURES and seeing you all enjoying life and each other. Congrats on the weight gain. I am huge fan of Mike & Ikes...I can provide tons to Joe when home. We look forward to your updates and pictures so much. Happy Valentine's Day. Enjoy this time with your loved ones. Love, Jody

Unknown said...

Gill and Al,
I love the pictures... I wish I had been there to enjoy that time in the pool! I continue to pray that Joseph will chow down this week.

sam

p.s. Gill, it's high time for a visit to oxford!

Mary Vagnoni said...

Hi sweet Valentines, hope Joseph eats lots of candy and gains lots of weight, wish I could give him some of my extra pounds, check out photos of Hollys bday on my facebook
love and prayers
aunty mary

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing with the blog - We continue to keep up with you all, celebrate, and thank God for all the good news! He is faithful and I'm sure just chuckles at our human questioning and doubting of His goodness when we humans just don't understand!
Happy Valentine's to you ALL! May your family fully enjoy loving on each other and bask in His love!
We continue to pray for Joseph's healing and for rest, stamina, and peace for all of you! God bless!
The Williams - neighbors from Glade Dr.

Anonymous said...

Dear Valentines, Sending our love to you across the miles. We are thinking of you and praying for rest for Joseph and Holly and a sweet date for the two of you tonight. May God bless you and strengthen you. May the joy of the Lord be your strength.
Big hugs and kisses, Mimi and Big Daddy