Yum Yum Gimme Some

This Sunday, we got a special treat with Jamie.  We were able to throw her a little mini birthday celebration.  We still need to be keeping things small and quiet so that Jamie doesn't get over stimulated, but her mom and dad, me and Ryan, and two of her best friends Sarah and Tracy were abel to make it down to the hospital and have some cheesecake to celebrate.  We had some issues lighting the candles in the blowing wind, but Jamie enjoyed being outside, and REALLY enjoyed seeing us in our cool party hats.  We were all gathered out on the balcony of the day room at the hospital, and Kathy wheeled Jamie out to her party.  As soon as she saw all of us gathered with our silly hats, she gave us a huge, bright smile.  We could clearly hear her saying "friends, friends friends" as she approached us.  She totally got that we were having a birthday party for her, and she was so delighted.  She did a great job of visiting and laughing with us.  At one point, somebody pointed out that Kathy wasn't wearing her party hat, and we asked Jamie if Kathy had to wear it.  She smiled, nodded her head and said "yep, she has to wear it." How could Kathy argue with that?

We had some cheesecake, then moved on to presents! Jamie had received several during the week, but we had a few left for the party.  Jamie was actually working on opening the presents and cards herself, without very much prompting.  All her presents were in bags with tissue paper, so someone would kind of pull the tissue paper out a little, and then she would help and pull it out more.  She also figured out opening the cards, and I don't think anyone really had to explain it to her.  Some things she picks up immediately, and other things take more work.  The things that seem to come back more quickly are those that are kind of automatic (brushing hair, washing/wiping face, etc.) The card from her parents had two penguins on the front, and her dad helped her open it.  He asked her what was on the front, and she said "you and me".  It was really cute, because there was one big emperor penguin, and then the smaller female one.  It's really a mom and dad, but it could very easily look like a daddy and baby.

She also did a good job of reading "Happy Birthday" and reading the inside of some of her card.  When she attempts reading, she doesn't always get it right the first time, and sometimes she will mix up her sounds.  For example, she could be reading the following sentence: "Jamie is the coolest" out loud, and it can come out "Jamie is the shulest" (this did happen on Saturday during ST). Then its our job to correct her and get her to mimic the correct way of reading or saying something, so that she can learn it.  We are learning how complicated the brain is.  Jamie may be totally understanding something, but the challenge comes in getting all the parts of her brain to cooperate to then communicate and respond appropriately.  The other piece is that her brain is trying to process a lot of information, but is still working on rebuilding the passages that allow her to do that processing. 

All in all, the birthday party was a success. When she opened one of her presents, we asked her what it was.  She immediately said "7 inch". She was right! Steph got her a digital photo frame (because the massive wall of photos is getting a little out of control), and on the top of the box, it reads "7 inch Digital Photo Frame". Smart girl. 

We have some specific prayer requests this week.  First, please be praying that Jamie regain her appetite and start eating bigger portions of her meals.  Real food is new for her, and so she has only been kind of picking at her meals.  We aren't worried about it, because this is evidently a normal thing.  (Think about it - when you eat less, you have a smaller appetite.  Jamie has been on liquid nutrition for almost 2 months!) Please pray that she take the next step and regain her appetite and start regularly eating good amounts of her food.  She did a little better tonight, however, there was an INCIDENT.  (I will now follow this rabbit trail and relay the story of the INCIDENT to you.)

THE INCIDENT
I was helping Jamie eat her dinner (delicious hospital food, to be sure), and had spooned up some mashed potatoes and a piece of carrot.  I had been spooning up food and handing it to her, and it was kind of hit or miss - either she would eat what was on the spoon, or just set down the spoon on her tray.  Not this time.  I hand her the spoon, and she was "chatting" a bit, and I was talking with her, too.  Then, all of a sudden...it happened.  She raised up the spoon and pointed it at me, then flicked the spoon - sending mashed potatoes and carrot flying!!! What a stinker.  I think that was her way of telling me to a) shut up and b) stop giving her gross hospital food. 

Okay, back to the prayer requests.  The second big prayer request is for the progression of Jamie's cognitive level.  As I have said before, Jamie advances little steps consistently.  She has never regressed, and was are so immensely thankful for that.  Right now, she has entered a phase where it is easy to get confused because her brain is trying to take in so much information, but doesn't have the capability yet.  Please pray that she will pass through this phase quickly.  It is easier for her to get frustrated, because she has progressed enough to know that she has limitations, if that makes sense.  Also, her three languages are all coming out together and intertwined.  She will often shift between Russian, French and English, all within one sentence or phrase.  This may also add to her frustration, because it makes it harder for us to understand her.  Please pray that communication will get a bit easier, as that will help her be at ease and comfortable with what's going on around her. 

We are all learning patience.  Patience to wait for God to do the work, and patience for Jamie to heal at her own speed.  Please pray that we all have patience for God to do His work at His speed.  Please pray that Jamie will have patience and not have to get frustrated if she can't quite get something the first time.  Please pray that we will accept God's timing as the best timing. 

Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths shal faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.  

All in all, Jamie is still getting better each day.  If this is a marathon, then i think we are around mile 3 or 4? We're setting the pace, and getting an idea of how the race is going to go.  We are warming up, trying to figure out our strategy. (I'm not a runner, so...this analogy may have issues.)  So, as we are still in the first few miles of this marathon, please pray that Jamie (and we) can run it well.  Thanks for keeping up with Jamie, we tell her everyday how many people love her and are praying for her.  On more than one occasion, she has responded to these comments with "I'm trying" or "I'm working".  We know you are girl! Keep going!! 


Love, us.