August 26, 2006

From Jeannie:

Dear Friends,

Get ready for an update on my family. I’m so sorry it has been so long since I’ve communicated with you folks. Much has been happening in my life and the lives of the Bruce Family. I seem to be suffering from some kind of depression that has knocked me down pretty well. I suppose it could be just stress that has brought it on, but I have felt debilitated for the last couple months. It also may have something to do with that big birthday that I see looming in my near future. :-) Fortunately I can see a light at the end of my long tunnel.

The Kyne Family moved out of our home just in time for Shahala to have her baby and for us to throw a celebration for the Salle’s, Caleb’s in-laws. It was their thirtieth wedding anniversary, and well worth celebrating. Linda Salle (Lisa’s mother) is having surgery on October eighth to prepare her body to go on dialysis because her kidneys are failing. Her cancer is still in remission. Larry’s back is healing from his last surgery. Please join with us in praying for our dear friend and her family as they face yet another trial.

Caleb is recovering from his motorcycle accident. Only one injury remains to be healed. It is more serious than the doctors first believed. His accident insurance ended up paying only $250.00 out of hundreds of dollars worth of bills so their financial burdens are heavy. The good news is he is back at work—wearing a cast and having someone hang the drywall while he tapes and finishes. He seems to have lots of work lined up and for that we are grateful.

Caleb and Lisa’s darling little baby, Luke, born on June eighth, is a whopping 17 pounds already, topping the charts for size and weight gain. He also tops the charts for his huge smile and sunny disposition. Joshua is a helpful big brother who loves to play outside. The highlight of Joshua’s life right now is the horsemanship lessons his Auntie Kate is giving him. Jasmine continues to have issues because she has to share her mommy, but Lisa is amazing with her children, and with her energy level. She drops into bed exhausted each night after having folks over for supper, taking her parent’s meals, or having gatherings of girls in her well-managed home. She is such a blessing to the Bruce Family and she grows more exceptionally dear each day.

Trevor and Kate are struggling to make improvements in their new (old) house. They have totally finished the bathroom and a bedroom but are waiting on finances to do more. Trevor and Kate are Junior High Pastors at their church (Living Waters) and their “kids” have had the privilege of painting messages all over the unfinished floors in the house. We see them with Trevor and Kate up on the ranch fishing occasionally, and Kate told me about serving them a spaghetti dinner and making them eat without utensils. Trevor loves working with the Southmayd’s (baby Judah’s family) installing granite countertops.

(If you think of praying for Judah’s family since his passing—Judah died on the ECMO machine—please pray that their sleep would be peaceful.)

Shahala and Peter are hopelessly, helplessly in love with their little Zion. She is keeping them busy doing new parent things and their house is filled with baby furniture and toys. They had us for supper with Caleb’s family and their little house was rocking with children, laughter and babies. Peter is now a worship leader at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Medford. The Pastors have taken the Kroll’s under their wings. They love their new church. Peter finished remodeling his latest house and he now has renters. He did a beautiful job.

Silas has had his ups and downs. He had a developmental evaluation more than a month ago and it was thought that he could have cerebral palsy because of how jerky his upper body is and because he didn’t have control over his hands and arms. Tanaya and I took him up to Portland to see a heart doctor and, even though his heart ultrasound still shows signs of damage and he still has a bit of a murmur (both caused by the ECMO machine), the doctor gave his heart a clean bill of health because there have been no new problems. (This doctor is amazing because he has hundreds of photos of children around his office and examining rooms. Lots of the little ones are in his arms. He also assured us that even though Silas’ lovely, long black hair has almost all fallen out, it will grow back, unlike the poor doctor’s own lockless head.)

It was fun being at the Ronald McDonald House again, even though it was traumatic to be thrown back into life and death struggles. We didn’t think we’d know anyone this time around but there was Shanda meeting us at the door, anxious to whisk Tanaya over to the NICU to meet her little Ryan. Shanda and her husband talked to Tanaya when Silas was on ECMO. They were visiting the NICU while still pregnant to see where their baby was going to be taken after being delivered by C-section. He has CDH. They were leaving for home in Alaska the next morning. Shanda witnessed the Southmayd’s when little Judah passed and knew Becky. She told us about a young mother whose baby was failing on the ECMO machine as were speaking and said the doctors would probably pull the plugs the next day. Unfortunately this girl had no support that anyone knew about, just a fairly disinterested boyfriend who occasionally dropped by. We tried to befriend her but she was too upset to meet anybody new.

Silas really didn’t travel well to Portland and back. Tanaya had him in the car for hours driving out to visit with Becky and with Aunna’s parents while we were there. The long drive home almost did him in. It took him several days to recover his good nature and get rid of that worried look on his little face. When he gets upset he refuses to nurse, even though he is desperately hungry. Is there anything more upsetting? We think it must have something to do with his oral aversions because of having tubes down his throat for so long. He also suffers from nightmares. For starting out such a big fellow he is just a tiny little guy now, light as a feather. We still marvel that we have him in our arms after all that he’s been through, and he is about the cutest little guy we’ve ever seen with his big black eyes and especially with his comical hairdo. He reminds me of my dad with thirty long hairs on the top of his head that the wind blows every which way. You can’t help but smile and he always comes back with a delightful grin.

Silas continues to struggle with weight gain. He does breathe faster than normal babies and that must burn more calories. Please pray for a steadier weight gain. In the meantime his pediatrician is happy with his progress. He has had his second developmental evaluation and the specialist could actually see improvements in his condition. He is actually trying to get anything that goes into his hands into his mouth. She said that if he had cerebral palsy there wouldn’t be any improvements. I can’t tell you how relieved I was to hear that!

Now I’ll give you the latest news about Chuck and me. We have learned that an offer has been made on the ranch and the owner has accepted it. The new people have 90 days to make up their mind to buy it. We haven’t met with the new people yet, so we don’t know if they’d like us to stay on. It has been unsettling to say the least. The good thing is that we know our lives are in the Lord’s hands and He will take care of us no matter what. We would appreciate your prayers in this area too.

What wonderful friends you are. God bless you all for your kind consideration of our growing family and thank you especially for praying for us.

Love,
Jeannie