RILEY BOUND...

We are a family of four who loves Jesus.  Our Jesus is trustworthy and faithful and majestic, and it's a good thing because our challenges are big.  Jacob, our strong and bold and courageous seventeen year old, has been short of breath since October 2011.  On February 8 we learned that he needs his fifth heart surgery at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Someday I'll write more of the back story.  For today thank you for jumping into life with us.  I can't imagine tackling this season of our lives without a strong community around us. 

In 1996, when Jacob had his open heart surgery, we had two verses of the Bible that reflected our hearts.  They still do.

"On Christ we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:10-11

Fifteen years later, here we go again.  This time we also have a precious little girl with a vibrant joy who keeps us smiling and laughing. This March she will be "two and three quarters."  It's really fun to hear a little one say, "two and three quarters."  Come along for the ride with us.  I'm sure we'll share other funny things that Jocelyn says.

Jacob's surgery on March 1 will upgrade his pacemaker that was placed in October 2010.  He needs two more leads added to increase his heart's pumping power and rate.  Some people get pacemakers with relatively easy surgeries.  Because of the many ways that Jacob's heart is special, this surgery will require his sternum being opened up like in an open heart surgery.  Last week he was trying to explain this surgery to a friend.  He got out the measuring tape to measure his scar from his open heart surgery.  If Jacob's incision ends up like his surgery in 1996, it might be about nine inches long.  (Of course back then it was only about four inches long!)  If all goes as well as it did with his last surgery, we anticipate about four days in the hospital.

We will leave on February 28 and go to PawPaw & NaNa's house overnight.  We need to be at Riley at 11am on Wednesday, February 29 for pre-op.  That afternoon we will find out what time the surgery will be.

Stay tuned for details.  We anticipate seeing God's hand of gracious favor in answer to the prayers of many.  We would love for you to be counted in that "many."  As I said, Riley adventures require a strong community.  They are impossible to travel alone. 

Oh yea, when I was telling you about our family, I forgot to mention our dog Oreo.  We have wonderful friends who will be staying with our dog Oreo.  We figured that this time, it would be better to leave Oreo at home.  I told you it takes community!

Through the years, SO MANY have helped with very many and practical things of life.  This is another example...in 1996, a friend took some groceries to our house so we would have some things when we first got home.  We opened up the eggs to find that he had he written "Go Cubs!" on a few eggs with a blue Sharpie.  We got a good laugh... who in their right mind would be Cubs fans?!  I guess he thought that in our weakened state of exhaustion we might convert.  This video says it all....