It has been a really busy weekend with any even busier week already starting. Matt with help from friends has been busy trying to get all of the wheat drilled before we get more scheduled rain on Wednesday. Also trying to get sorghum and a couple of soybean patches cut. They have all been working so late at night and getting up early in the morning. We have really been blessed with some great weather here the past couple of days though!
Addi has had a cold the past couple of days so she has been sleeping quite a bit. In her wake hours she did manage to get a couple of laughs out. It took me surprise!!! It was pretty cute. I was running to tell Matt all about it over the radio's we have in the tractors.
I have been trying to teach Addi baby sign language, which Matt usually gets a good giggle out of. But, I think I am finally getting through! She gave me the sign for mommy on Saturday. I had showed her the sign saying 'mommy' at the same time. She did it back!! At first I thought okay, I am just a proud mom seeing things until she did it twice more throughout the night. She is catching on!
Today she finally decided to start rolling over on her own, front to back.


I would ask for your prayers for a few other families.

Karson Schierling (18 months) has been undergoing chemo for a couple of weeks now. They found a brain tumor on the right side of the brain which has been removed and the doctors do think that they got it all. Karson is doing well and still has chemo treatments left.

A family in AZ. Jody (mom)and Jacy (daughter,3) helped me tremendously throughout our time of need. Jacy also has spina bifida and Jody went through the fetal surgery in CA, three years ago. (She answered every ridiculous question that I could ever think of!! THANKS JODY) Children with spina bifida can get what is called 'tethered cord' where the spinal cord attaches to the scar tissue that was left from where they closed the opening in the back. They should be finding out results from a MRI today.

Another family in AZ. A little girl named Addison whom is 7 months old. She suffers from a rare heart condition called Shone's Syndrome. A syndrome that includeds four different problems with the development of the heart, so it requires a series of surgeries. She is still in the hospital and has her up and down days.
http://aztamsfam.blogspot.com/

Our other friends here in KS, that are pregnant with a child that has no lungs and only one kidney. The doctors tell her that their little boy won't make it after he is born.

Addi in her tutu and K-State outfit.

We had a visit today from our physical therapist that comes out every other week. She is very pleased with the progress of Addi!! She said that Addi is above schedule on the strength of neck, holding her head up on her own without it 'bobbling' around. Addi isn't quite fond of rolling over yet. She is just pretty comfortable lying on her tummy. The physical therapist not to worry about it just yet. Addi's strength is there, she just needs to make up her mind too roll over. She said that Addi is very laid back, that we might need to 'light a fire' under her. :)
Praise God, Addi is right where she should be developmentally!!
ALL GLORY TO GOD!!!

This weekend was full of activity and fun at the Brack household. Friday night Grammy Julie and Aunt Catherine came to visit. We all got up early Sat. morning and took Julie to the airport so that she could visit her family in Las Vegas for her grandma's 90th birthday. Catherine got to stay the whole weekend and play with Addi. They had a great time together. It is a good thing that Addi is little enough not to pick up on any of Aunt Cat's awrnyness. :) The weather was great, little windy, so we got to play outside a little bit and pretend to help Matt. Probably we were more in the way than we were help, but I am positive that Matt loved every minute of us. This weekend Matt decided to take a break from farming on Sunday so that we could all enjoy some time together at a local pumpkin patch with some friends. Although Addi is still a little young, we decided to go ahead and start our family traditions. We had so much fun together. Despite the wind, the pumpkin patch had so much to offer for everyone of any age! Matt and Jason had fun shooting the corn cob cannon. Jen and I decided we would try our talent on the two person bicycle, as well as Matt and Jason. Emmie, their daughter, tried a little bit of everything! We finished up the afternoon with snacks and picking out the perfect fall pumpkins and gourds. We plan to visit again next year!!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

">

It has been awhile since our last update. But, I guess no news is good news, right? Addi has an appointment with Dr. Greene her neurosurgeon in KC at Children's Mercy last week. Matt was unable to attend as he was on a trip with Mid Kansas Coop. They went to Nebraska for Husker Harvest Days. It is like a State Fair for farmers. Anyway, my mom joyfully went along with Addi and I, and Addi got to see papa Bruce for awhile too. The whole appointment actually only took 10 minutes at the most. Dr. Greene said that she is doing well and would like to see her back in February, despite his six week recommendations that he gave us last appointment. YEAH!! So, up we went and back we came. (With a quick trip to surprise grandma Kim at school.)

It is hard to believe that Addi was 12 weeks yesterday. People always told me that time flys when you have children. I never really believed them until now. Addi is weighing 10 lbs. 5 oz., learning to roll over from her back to her stomach, and giving the biggest smiles she can muster. Smiles for mom come far and few between, but I really enjoy them when I get them. Smiles for daddy however, are always very readable. She definitely enjoys her daddy!!!! I think we have a Daddy's girl on our hands. :)

Matt has been busy preparing for fall harvest. The Lord has blessed us with bountiful rain for the crops, (with good fall crops, I can stay home for a year) now we just need some sunshine. Matt has also agreed to cut fall crops for a gentleman in Lyons. Addi has been getting in her combine rides with daddy. She loves being outside!

How Can I Ask For More - Cindy Morgan

">
************
There's nothing like the warmth of a summer afternoon
Waking to the sunlight, and being cradled by the moon
Catching fireflies at night
Building castles in the sand
Kissing Mama's face goodnight
Holding Daddy's hand
Thank you Lord, how could I ask for more

Running barefoot through the grass
A little hide and go seek
Being so in love, that you can hardly eat
Dancing in the dark, when there's no one else around
Being bundled 'neath the covers, watching snow
Fall to the ground
Thank you Lord, how could I ask for more

So many things I thought would bring me happiness
Some dreams that are realities today
Such an irony the things that mean the most to me
Are the memories that I've made along the way

So if there's anything I've learned
From this journey I am on
Simple truths will keep you going
Simple love will keep you strong
Cause there are questions without answers
Flames that never die
Heartaches we go through are often blessings in disguise
So thank you Lord, oh thank you Lord
How could I ask for more
**********
I am brought to tears!! THANK YOU LORD - how could I ask for more.

Every time I look at our little girl, I can't thank everyone enough for their prayers! She is just so precious to us. She trying to hold her head up on her own and putting pressure on her feet and legs to attempt to support her up if you hold her. What a miracle! What did I do to deserve such a blessing?!?!?!?

Matt and I have some friends that are 18 months along in their pregnancy, and found out two days ago that their baby boy has no kidneys or bladder. My heart and prayers truly go out to them!!! I praise God that he gave us the experience that he did to be able to be there for them as they go through this difficult time. I pray that their family is as supportive and comforting as mine is and was. What we do without friends,family, and strangers that are willing to pray and comfort you-that you have never met?
The saying 'God brings friends/people into and out of lives for a reason', has never rang more true than these past few months.

With God's love-

Just wanted to give everyone an update on our appt. in Kansas City yesterday. We had a very good day. Our appt. was at 8:30 at Children's Mercy, in KC. It was amazing how many lives are touch by spina bifida. The waiting room was quite full of children with all different levels of spina bifida. Doctors were right about the fact that spina bifida affects each child differently.
The nurses were absolutely wonderful!!! Before we were called back, just seeing them interact with the children (some that had been going for up to 14 years) was awesome!! They remember the children's names, family members names, just warm and kind!
What happens at a 'special care clinic', is that all of the doctors that your child needs to see, come and visit you on this day. It saves you from having to call each doctor and try to make appts. This particular clinic has 11 rooms for patients. The nurses call you back and you actually stay in the room the whole time. The different doctors come to you to do your check ups. It is actually quite nice. Each room has lots of toys and books for the children to play with while they are waiting. One of the nurses brought us a snack and a pop while we were waiting. Once you get your room, it is a fairly quick process. Each child sees a different amount of doctors just depending on their needs. For Addi, we saw a neurologist, physical therapist, nutritionist, neonatologist(who was great and rather funny), pediatric urologist(who actually trained at Vanderbilt in Nashville and knows all about the moms study), and rehab (who we didn't really need).
The neurologist just check out Addi's shunt and said that it was working fine. We will have to have a check up with Dr. Greene in six weeks to do follow up. He said that babies that have shunts, for the first year they like to check the shunt every six weeks to make sure that it is working properly. After the first year, every six months. Her head and everything is in proportion where it should be.
Physical therapist said that Addi has great flexability and is doing well. With the low lesion spina bifida, it affects the nerves lower on the back. For example the muscles that control flexing the ankle down and pulling it up, also the muscles that control your hips. Being able to pull your knees to your chest and straighten your legs. The muscles that pull your ankles to your shin run along your shin at a diagonal and the muscles that help pull your foot down are in your calf muscle. Anyway, Addi is doing a great job of keeping her toes pulled up to her shin but is having a hard time flexing her foot down. They possibly think that those nerves could have been affected. This would affect running and jumping because we push off with our toes. But, I say we keep praying and doing our physical therapy and we will see what the Lord has planned for us. Still pretty early to give us the outcome yet. :) Addi has surprised us once before, I bet she can do it again! They did say that she will be able to walk! A nurse also told us that having your toes pulled up toward your shin is a better prognosis than having them pulled down.
The nutritionist was very happy with Addi's weight gain. Babies her age should gain an ounce a day and Addi is gaining an ounce and a half.
Urologist was happy that Addi is voiding on her own and is on no medication to help her with that task. We will have to go back in 4 months to have a renal scan done on her kidneys to make sure that her bladder is emptying all the way out and not backing up in her kidneys. The scan at Vanderbilt showed us that everything was working fine. Doctors tell us that everything can change for better or worse over time. Once again, relying on the Lord and having faith that he has taken care of it!!!!!! Addi is doing great now and will continue to do so.
The neonatologist was great! Talked a lot about function. 'The fact is not how children with spina bifida do it, it is that they do it.' I really enjoyed visiting with her. She was happy with Addi's progress and impressed that Addi did so well in Nashville.

Addi now weighs 7lbs. 9oz and is 19 inches long. We will continue with the path we are on...prayer, feeding, diaper changing, and physical therapy until next time. :)

Oh I forgot to add that Addi is trying to hold her up already!! Her little fingers are also finding their purpose in life to grab on to anything she can find. My hair, jewelry, having the death grip on your finger, or anyone's shirt usually works as well too!

When we got home last night, Matt and I worked in the yard. Matt mowed and I planted a couple of flowers and weeded the flower beds. Addi went with us outside and loved it!!!!!!!! We have gone outside quite a few times before, but she usually just went to sleep. Last night, she was looking around and cooing to me as we planted away. The fresh cool breeze felt good. (we are hoping for some rain today) I think we have an outside girl on our hands!

Addi has a doctors appt. in Kansas City, Wednesday at Children's Mercy Hospital for follow-up and evaluation. She is being quite the little eater! (notice the double chin)

Boy, does time fly!?!?! It is hard to believe that Addi is almost six weeks old. We are definatly enjoying being parents. Two in the morning is a little sketchy, but still enjoyable. Every time I look at Addi I think how amazing she is and what can happen when we storm the gates of heaven with prayer. Many of you have been very busy and are still busy praying for us. THANK YOU!! How blessed I am to get to be the mom of this wonderful little girl!
Through all of our trials, we have learned of other children and families that are going through trials of their own. It has really opened my eyes to be more compasionate for others in situations that I may not understand at the time. God is always watching over us even when it seems he has forgotten us.

Mom and those bows!! :)

Loving play time with daddy.

We had Addi's second doctor's appt. on Friday and Addi is doing awesome! She now weighs 6lbs. 1oz. She is gaining weigh quickly now eating 80 cc each feeding.
She is getting a little more alert every day and we have had fun playing a little bit.
Addi loves to be sung to sleep and loves taking a bath. Getting her hair washed is her favorite part. :)
I will try to get some pictures posted tomorrow for everyone to see.
Thank you again for your prayers and support.

The house remodeling is also finally finished. YEAH!!!!! I will also try to take some pictures and get those posted. I am loving every minute. The house looks great and I don't think I could have done better myself. :) I can't thank everyone enough that put the house back together for us!

Hello everyone-
We have had a very busy and wonderful past couple of weeks. I would have updated a little bit sooner, but Matt just got the internet hooked back up late last night for me.

We did get home late last Monday afternoon. After a very eventful trip home, we finally made it. Addi did very well on the airplane ride home, sleeping the whole way. I will have to post details of our very humorous trip home a little bit later when I get a few more minutes. Pretty funny!!!!

I am enjoying every minute of newly remodeled home and getting to spend time just looking at Addi. Something I would have been able to do without the help of our friends and neighbors!!!

Addi is doing wonderful as ever. She is gaining weight and is now above her birth weight. In fact, she has quite the little double chin going on right now. :)
She is letting us get a little bit of rest at night but letting us know that she is now part of the family. Addi loves getting a bath and loves having Matt wash her hair.

Matt has been busy farming, trying to play catch-up. I will get some pictures posted soon!!!
Thanks again for everyone's prayers and support!

We love you!!

Matt, Valerie, Addi

Hello everyone!!! Sorry for the delayed update. Addi is doing fantastic, continuing to impress all of the doctors and nurses with her progress. She is continuing to eat very well, now consuming 60cc of milk every three hours. She always wakes up about 15 minutes before it is time to eat to let us know that she is expecting to be fed. :) She seems to be awake for a little bit longer every day. She has Matt's beautiful blue eyes! She has also found her left thumb when her pacifier is not readily available. Addi is a pretty calm baby unless she is ready to eat or needs to burp.
We have been truly, truly blessed!!!
I do think that Matt is getting a little restless being away from Hutchinson, America but is doing well. Hard to believe that Addi has gotten Matt to change a diaper and read something besides a farm magazine. (Matt has been reading literature that the hospital has given us as well as the car seat directions, pretty cute!! He wants to make sure that Addi is properly cared for.)
The doctors are talking that they may let us go home on Monday. YEAH!!! Addi is continuing to gain weight and maintain her temperature.
That is about all for now. We are really enjoying our addition to our family and continue to Praise God for his miracle. A huge thanks to everyone for their prayers and continued support!
Love to all-Matt, Valerie, Addi