Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!

Here's the e-mail we received from Luka's Aunt Katie today:

"Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!

Three weeks ago, I wrote all of you with tears in my eyes (cheesy, I know, but it's true!) asking you to pray for Luka. Today I write you again with tears, tears of amazement and wonder and love and thanksgiving and awe. Our God does indeed listen to his people--our prayers have been answered. Luka was discharged from the hospital in Kenya today! He and Josh and Mandy leave Kenya tomorrow and arrive in GR Wednesday afternoon about 1:00. I didn't talk to my mom (my daily "up-dater") but I did read Josh and Mandy's blog, so I decided to include today's entry in my email too:

After almost three weeks here, we are finally discharged from the hospital. God is so good! What a feeling to come with a child in critical condition and to now leave with a healthy child. What a journey it has been. Josh is so excited. I find myself quite emotional. I even cried while thanking Luka's doctor and saying goodbye. He helped save our child's life. Yup, it is a strange mix of emotions. A lot to process over the next few weeks. So today we leave Gertrude's Childrens Hospital, have our last visit with Luka's kidney doctor this afternoon, then stay at a hotel until we fly out tomorrow night.

Yesterday we had a nice day away from the hospital. Our IT friends took us for lunch, to see rift valley, and the giraffe center. We were so blessed by the fun day they gave us.

Keep us in your prayers as we travel to Michigan Tuesday/Wednesday. Pray for Luka. He is still not sleeping well at night. He has a TERRIBLE cold and cough which continues to give him a fever and keep him down. Pray for Luka as he continues his medical care under the doctors in Michigan for several more weeks. Thank God his blood level is high enough to fly (high as it has ever been through this whole ordeal) and that both toxin levels are back to normal. Praise God!

Someone wrote recently made a comment about following our story actually God's story. They are exactly right. This is God's story. Our whole lives are. It is all from God and for His glory. No one ever wants to go through tragedy or have their child critically sick, but to see God at work through it and in His people is a rare privilege. To be able to testify of God's love and power is an honor. To give Him the glory is what life is meant to be.

We cannot begin to personally thank everyone for each word of encouragement, all the offers to help and care for us, and most of all for the faithful prayers lifted up on our behalf. We have been richly blessed by all of you. Please except our heartfelt THANK YOU! You have shown us the love of Christ.

Thank you to all of you for the emails and cards and calls and conversations that you've given to/had with Chad and me (and the rest of my family). The love and support we felt from you the last few weeks is indescribable. It is an incredible thing to be able to literally feel prayers being said on our behalf. God has used you to bless us.

To our God be the glory!

Katie"

We echo Katie's thanks for everyone's prayers for Luka and his family during these past few weeks. Thanks for your continued prayers as their journey continues!

Please keep praying!

In spite of the good news about Luka yesterday, we still have many things to bring to God in prayer. Mandy posted again this morning (Fever and Blood) and included the following prayer requests:

• Keep praying for Luka! He is doing well but not done with this all.
• Pray for his fever and whatever is causing it to be healed.
• Pray that his hemoglobin stays above 10 after this blood transfusion.
• Pray for all of us as we are getting quite bored around here - not complaining just ready to be with family and friends again. We need to rest in God's timing.
• Thank God our girls and everyone arrived safely in Grand Rapids yesterday!

Thanks again to everyone who is joining us in prayer for Luka and his family!

Airport Fun

Today we went to the airport to welcome Ryan & Rebeka, Lydia, Grace & Mary home from Africa. We were thankful to see them arrive home safe and sound!

Levi and Reuben have never been inside the airport (we've only gone to the viewing parking lot), so it was a new adventure for them!

Levi & Reuben watching for the plane to land

Lots of fun things to explore at the airport

Grace & Lydia

Levi, Grace & Lydia

Levi thought Grace's backpack was pretty cool!

Great Luka News!

Here is the wonderful update we got from Luka's Aunt Katie this morning:

"Good Morning! Great news on the Luka front and I wanted to share it!

Yesterday, Luka had surgery to remove ALL his tubes and cords and wires etc... He is IV and dialysis-tube free for the first time in about 3 weeks. He is eating more and even playing a bit! Josh and Mandy said it is so good to see him up and actually playing again like a 14-month-old should do. It is POSSIBLE that he will be discharged tomorrow (amazing!), have a follow up appointment on Monday and fly to Michigan Tuesday-Wednesday. However, his hemoglobin level in his blood is still at 8.5 and it has to be a 10 or higher in order to fly therefore it is possible he'll have another blood transfusion to elevate this level. Pray that this level goes up on its own. All of his other levels though (even the urea level that was still so high) are back into the "normal range"; the doctors said that they're still a little off for a kid Luka's siza/age, but we are all happy that they are back to "normal". Also, he slept through the night last night; Josh and Mandy said it was probably due to post-surgery pain medicine, but they didn't care as it was the first full night's sleep they'd gotten since the first of March when Luka initially got sick.

Giving thanks for the healing power of God, Katie!"

Mandy also posted an update on their blog (No tubes!) that contains similar info and more. We continue to praise God for his amazing healing and we pray that all the details come together for Josh, Mandy and Luka to come to the States soon! Thanks for joining us in prayer!

Latest on Luka - From Katie

"Hi! It's been a few days, so I thought I'd send a quick Luka update.

Luka is still doing quite well and makes a little progress every day. He is off dialysis (miraculously!); they took his cathetar out; he eats a little bit more each day; he walks a bit and plays now. His critenan level is down to 90 and it needs to be 50 (it started out at like 430 or something, so praise God it's almost back to normal!). His urea level is still in the mid-20s and needs to be down to 4; the doctors are a bit confused as to why it's not going down, so they are watching that closely. His blood pressure is quite high as well, but the doctors said that that might be a lasting effect of HUS and it might have to be monitered for the next several years. Nights are hard; Luka has been waking up an crying a lot at night (last night was a good night, though, as he slept for 5.5 hours straight). All in all, though, he has made a lot of progress. The doctors are talking about releasing him next week. Josh and Mandy and Luka would then come to the US for Luka's continued care; however, there are only 2 airlines that they'd be able to take out of Nairobi and the stewardesses of one of them are on strike, so pray that they will be able to get a flight when they need one.

Mandy's mom, Mary, and Grace and Lydia arrived in Kenya yesterday. They, along with Ryan and Rebeka, will be leaving Kenya tomorrow night (afternoon, Michigan-time) and will arrive in GR about 4:40pm Thursday afternoon.

Thanks again for your support and prayer. It means so much to my family and me.

Katie"

Great Progress - Praise God!

It's hard to believe that it was just two weeks ago that Luka became seriously ill. Luka has a long road ahead of him, but we praise God for all of the healing that has taken place!

Mandy's update today (Doing Well) reports Luka's most recent progress, as well as prayer requests for the upcoming week. Please join us in praying for Luka's continued healing and wisdom for the doctors and Josh & Mandy as they decide on a plan for his recovery care.

Happy Friday - From Katie

"Happy Friday!

I wanted to give an update on Luka, but from now on, I will only send updates if there is major news to share. It's a positive thing, I think, not to have such major updates to send to people everyday!

Luka is pretty much the same today as yesterday. He was moved out of the ICU because 4 other kids came into the hospital that were in worse shape than Luka and the ICU is only 4 rooms big, so he and Josh and Mandy are now all in the same room at the hospital. His various levels/counts etc continue to go in the right direction. He gets tired very easily and is too weak to walk, which frustrates him, so please pray that he'll get his appetite back (for now, he's content with watermelon, apple slices, and Pediasure) and gain strength and be able to walk and play again soon.

In Christ,

Katie"

More Good News

The update today on Josh and Mandy's blog reports more positive news about Luka! We praise God and continue to lift up their requests (in the update) in prayer.

Encouraging Luka News

Today Mandy wrote two encouraging posts on her blog (you can click here to read them: Pictures and update & Praise God). Below is one of the pictures she posted. It's so great to see Luka in Josh's arms!! I can't imagine not being able to hold Reuben for as long as they couldn't hold Luka!

Thanks again to everyone who is praying for Josh, Mandy, Luka, Lydia & Grace - they are seeing positive answers! Please continue to lift them up in prayer!

Go Green!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Wednesday - From Katie

"Happy Wednesday! My parents spoke with Josh this morning and here is what he had to say:

Josh and Mandy are trying to decide if Lydia and Grace should come to Nairobi to see Luka before coming to the States (probably). They're leaning toward having them come to Kenya for about a day, but it's still up in the air.

Luka's leg had been swollen and they discovered it was because of his IV, so they took that out for a while and his leg is doing much better. His dialysis machine malfunctioned during the night (he's back to having dialysis via machine), so they disconnected him from that for a while. Because he wasn't hooked up to dialysis and he didn't have his IV in, Josh was able to hold him this morning and even take a little walk around the hospital. They've sinced fixed the dialysis machine and have reinserted an IV. Dialysis seems to be working as his urine output is almost normal. He's at 277 units/day, and the doctor said normal is considered at least 300. They've also taken his feeding tube out of his nose, and he can have as much pediasure-stuff as he wants. The doctor said his lungs are looking better than yesterday and his oxygen levels are up a bit. The down side of things is that Luka's heart is beating too fast (something to do with his left ventricle) due to anemia, they think. So, another blood transfusion is likely sometime soon.

New news on the transfer-front: insurance will not pay for a medical evacuation to the US. So, it appears that this is off the table, unless the insurance company changes their mind or God works a miracle (which we know He can do!). However, a transfer to South Africa is still not out of the question (it appears this would be covered by insurance). The doctor said Luka will probably be in the hospital for 8 more weeks, whether it's still in Kenya or South Africa.

Another fairly encouraging update; praise the Lord!

Love, Katie"

Aunt Katie's Update

Today's update from Luka's Aunt Katie:

"Today is a "take the good with the bad" day. The good is that Luka continues to produce more urine; he is up to producing about 1/2 of what he should be, but each days he seems to be producing more, so we are thankful for that! Also, the doctors are measuring 2 specific counts in his urine and while both of these counts are much higher than what they should be, they are going down, so we are thankful for that too. Both specialists from Nairobi who are working with Luka said today that they see slight improvements. Praise God!

The bad is that they also found out that HUS has affected Luka's lungs. This explains the low oxygen levels. His lungs are "cloudy" and do have some fluid on them. They have actually taken him off oxygen, unless his level dips below 75, because they want his lungs to keep working and not be dependent on the oxygen machine to reduce the risk of pneumonia setting in. Pray that his lungs clear up quickly and his oxygen level goes back up.

A transfer to another hospital is still not out of the question. Two doctors from the GR-area are trying to set up a medical evacuation for them from Nairobi to GR; if this happens, it would probably be some time next week, at the earliest. However, Josh said that South Africa is still not out of the question either. Please pray for wisdom for Josh and Mandy as they make decisions about Luka's care and as they deal with insurance, paperwork, etc...

Mandy's mom (Mary) and Tim and Angie [Mandy's sister and brother-in-law (also missionaries)] arrived in Soroti. Evidently, Lydia and especially Grace were starting to "lose it", having gone a whole week without their parents and little brother, and a missionary friend from Soroti told Josh and Mandy it was good, for the girls' sakes, that Grandma Beute was there. It is LIKELY that Lydia and Grace will be coming back to Michigan with Mandy's mom next week to stay here for the time-being. Ryan and Rebeka made it to Kenya safely and are with Josh and Mandy, giving them tangible support and encouragement. Pray that Mary and Ryan and Rebeka can be God's hands and feet to Josh and Mandy and the girls over the next several days.

Thank you all again for your prayers and concern and words of support. My dad made the comment "That is why we have people praying for us, because sometimes when we're so 'in the situation' we just simply can't pray, we just don't have the words." That is so true. Thank you for interceding for us. Love, Katie"

Good Monday Morning!

We received this update from Katie this morning:

"Good Monday Morning! And I do mean good because we have been getting positive (as in, no more bad news) updates on Luka!

The doctors are still confused about his oxygen levels--his body indicates they are fine, but the machine says they are very low. He is still on oxygen and they've done an ECG and EKG on his heart and a chest x-ray to make sure his heart and lungs are OK. But, they've been able to increase again the amount of fluid used in manual dialysis--they're up to about 20 liters of fluid/day. He is also producing more urine--enough now to see in his catheter bag. We are so thankful for that, as he hasn't had a wet diaper since last Monday. He still has a feeding tube in, but he has eaten a few bites of watermelon and has had a few sips of Pediasure-type milkshake. He is only taking in about 700 calories each day and should be at about 1000, but the doctor said for now, they'll take what they can get! His brain waves are still good (he can still point to a ball in his book when they tell him to, for example), so they're encouraged by that too. It seems, on the whole, that the rest of his systems haven't really been effected by HUS."

We praise the Lord for encouraging news!!

You can also read the latest update from Mandy here.

And They're Off!

Ryan & Rebeka left on a flight to Kenya (via Minneapolis & Amsterdam) at 1:00 PM today. They are scheduled to arrive in Nairobi tomorrow around 8:30 PM Kenya time (1:30 PM EST). Please remember them in your prayers as they travel and during their time with Josh, Mandy & Luka.

Last night, Rebeka sent the following update:

"In "Kenya" news, the package from Soroti that Josh and Mandy were awaiting arrived today, only 1.5 hours late--another miracle and huge item for praise! My parents called them around 2 our time, and it was the first "positive" phone call all week. The dialysis was working, Luka was eating a little bit and even wanted to be eating. It is still a very long road, and he is still in critical condition, but praise the Lord for these good signs and pray that they continue."

Today's Luka Update

Luka's mom, Mandy, wrote an update on their blog: Shaarda News

Please also pray for Josh's sister and brother-in-law, Rebeka and Ryan, as they are making final preparations to leave for Kenya tomorrow. Rebeka wrote the following:

"As I see a few pictures of Josh and Luka, my heart breaks--they look so tired and worn and in need of support. I am really struggling with trusting God in all of this. I am trying hard, and He is being faithful and speaking to me through so many Scripture promises, but please pray for my faith and trust in Him to be strengthened so that I and Ryan may indeed be a source of that for Josh and Mandy. Seeing the pictures makes me so incredibly eager to get there!

And also, in the midst of all these requests, God IS being so faithful and ever-present. He continues to work in many ways to show that He IS indeed present and active. He has provided another missionary in Nairobi from African Inland Mission who has visited them and offered a place to sleep, etc. So thank God for His universal body who is helping! He is to be praised and worshipped!"

Thanks again for all of your prayers for Luka and his family!

Luka - Friday Morning

Here is the update we received this morning from Josh's sister, Katie (Olivia's cousin):

They've stopped the dialysis machine because it wasn't working as well as the doctor hoped it would. So, for now, they are doing dialysis manually, which works better in situations like this. They are hoping to be able to use the machine again soon. The following information was very discouraging to Josh and Mandy as parents, but the doctor was not discouraged and said it is all just a part of HUS:

--Luka has developed a low-grade fever which the doctor said is very common in kids with 8 tubes coming out of them, so he is on a high-dose antibiotic to combat that

--his oxygen levels are dropping so he is on oxygen some of the time, but the doctors do not want him to become dependent on it, so he's on it until his levels reach about 95 or so, then they take it off until the level drops to around 85 and then they put it back on etc...

--his kidneys are now swollen and have completely shut down; they had been working at about 7%, after 12 hours of dialysis had gone to 8%, but now are at 0% (again the doctor said this is just all a part of HUS)

--he is on morphine, but they are trying to wean him off this so he doesn't become addicted to this either (this along with a huge lack of sleep and everything else he's been through in the last week has made him very tired, so he sleeps a lot, but at least then he's not fighting the tubes etc...)

--the doctor did say that although it doesn't seem like it, it does appear that Luka has stabilized, even though it seems to be at a low point!

Josh and Mandy are able to rent a hospital room just down the hall from Luka, so that is where they are staying. The doctors and nurses, they said, are VERY tender, patient, willing to answer questions, never in a hurry etc...so they are very pleased with the care Luka is getting. Josh and Mandy have also been in contact with International Teams and their insurance company about how to file paperwork, what paperwork to file, what will be covered etc...Also, Mandy's mom is flying to Uganda on Saturday to spend some time with Lydia and Grace and Rebeka and Ryan (my sister and brother-in-law), through some major divine intervention, were able to get passports within 24 hours and are flying to Kenya on Sunday for 10 days to give Josh and Mandy (and Luka too) some much needed support, hugs, and distraction (Josh said as crazy as it sounds, the days are actually quite boring because they don't ever leave Luka's room).

That is all we know for now. Again, thank you all so much for your prayers. The prayers of righteous people are powerful and effective, this we know!

Love, Katie

Luka Update

We received the following update from Josh's sister today:

Luka has hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is severe complete kidney failure in children. He (and Josh and Mandy) were evacuated to Nairobi, Kenya, where Luka is in the ICU of a children's hospital there. He had surgery last night to have various tubes and wires put in, including the stint that will be used for dialysis. He now has 8 tubes/wires coming out of his little body and doesn't like any of them! They did do a blood transfusion and now they've started dialysis and will continue it for 48 hours, which is all the longer the machine can do it. At the end of the 48 hours, they will either reset the machine and do it for 48 hours again, or they will begin the next phase of dialysis, which will be everyday for at least 2 weeks (but they do not yet know how many hours of dialysis he will need each day). Luka does not seem to like the dialysis machine either and is very fussy! There is still a lot of talk of transferring them to a hospital in South Africa, but first they need to get Luka stabilized; so for now they're in Kenya.

Please pray for:

• Luka, of course
• Josh and Mandy: they are completely exhausted and still have a long road ahead of them and lots of decisions to make
• Their box of "goods": Bobby and Rachel (the people in Soroti whom Lydia & Grace are staying with) are sending a box of their clothes and other goods to Josh and Mandy in Kenya. Pray that this box of goods does not get lost in the mail, get stashed in customs and that it will arrive soon!
• Lydia and Grace (Luka's sisters), who know Luka is sick, but do not know the seriousness of the situation

Thank God for:

• Mandy's blood type matched Luka's, so she was able to donate her blood for the transfusion
• Luka does not have a fever, which means the toxins haven't attacked his system as a whole
• Kids who started with diarrhea have a higher rate of recovery (Luka is in this category)
• the HUGE number of people worldwide who are praying

Please keep praying!

Prayers for Luka

Please join us in praying for our cousin, Luka -- 14 month old son of Josh & Mandy (missionaries in Uganda). Josh, Mandy and Luka drove 6 hours to a hospital in Kampala on Monday of this week for medical treatment, but the doctor there says he needs more care than the hospital can give. So today they are en route to Nairobi, Kenya, so that Luka can receive kidney dialysis and a blood transfusion.

For more details and recent pictures, click here to read their blog.

Matt, Reuben and Luka at Christmas

Sweet Spot

Levi and his cousin, Meleah, have always had a special connection. Levi always makes sure to say "Hi" to Meleah and see how she's doing. Sometimes Levi will even ditch Henry for a little while to play with Meleah. This, of course, leaves Henry and Reuben paired up - they are a bit of an "odd couple" but that's another post!

Yesterday, Levi & Meleah got to spend some time together while Henry went to the dentist and Reuben napped. They had a great time playing trains and tools, etc. Then in the afternoon, we had both Henry and Meleah over to play. For part of the time, we watched the CARS movie. There are two prime viewing spots (the lay-z-boys), which Henry and Levi quickly claimed. As I was settling Meleah on the nearby couch, Levi scootches over in his chair and says "Here Meleah, I've got a special spot for you right here next to me!" He then proceeded to put his arm around her and there they sat watching the movie. They sat together for maybe five minutes, but it was sweet while it lasted!

A New Nephew!

We got the call this morning!

Our new nephew was born at 3:51 AM today. He weighed in at an even 8 pounds and he's 20-1/2" long.

Tonight we got to meet Graham Evan and we're so happy to welcome him to the family!

Ten little toes - so cute!

Reuben isn't the baby anymore!

Matt and all the grandsons on his side of the family

"Isn't he so cute?!"

Proud cousin Levi - he thought it was so cool to hold his new cousin!

Names

Every time the phone rings at our house, we hope that it's news of a new nephew. Matt's brother and sister-in-law were due this past Friday, so it could be any time now!

At lunch on Monday, I asked Levi what he thought they should name the baby. Here's how the conversation went:

L: I think it should be Cherry.
O: For a boy? Uncle Marc and Aunt Lori are having a boy baby.
L: Henry?
O: That is a nice name, but I don't think that will be it.
L: Levi?
O: We already have a Levi in our family.
L: But Uncle Marc & Aunt Lori don't, they just have a Lydia!
(Levi thinks for a bit)
L: I'm trying to think of an "M" name...oh, I've got it - Emma!
O: Probably not for a boy.
L: How 'bout Lightning - is that a boys name?
O: Yes, that could be a boy's name.
L: I think that would be a GREAT option!

I shared this with Marc and Lori and they are taking the suggestions into consideration. Lori didn't really think "Lightning" applied since he's apparently not in a hurry to make his entrance!

Whatever his name turns out to be, I'm sure we'll love it and we can't wait to meet him!

"Names, names - don't leave home without one!"
~Tony the Frog (The Pond)

Thing 1 & Thing 2

Here are some updated pictures of the boys (I know that's what you really want to see)...

Levi - wearing his dashing combo of camo shirt, U of M fan shorts and Christmas socks!

Reuben - always smiley and seldom wearing socks!

Ketchup

Yes, I'm WELL aware it has been a LONG time since I last blogged.

I've had lots of great blog posts in my head...

I've been writing a recap of our 2009 in my head...

I've been contemplating a whole revamp of our blog in my head...

It isn't that I haven't wanted to blog, but the longer I waited the harder it got. Tonight, I decided that if I don't start somewhere, I will keep putting it off. So, the "ketchup" will have to get mixed in with the daily adventures.

To anyone still checking our blog - we're back. I'm not making any promises as to frequency, but it should be more that once every seven months!