Cool Pictures of Taylor Getting a PICC Line

Mom consoling Taylor before his PICC

Kennedy looking in from the window at her brother

PICC Nurses preparing for the stick

Ultra Sound looking for a nice juicy vein

Pumped and ready for the stick.

Successful PICC LINE

Great Staff at Riley Hospital. This is Doctor Gaebler and one of Taylor's many nurses, Ashley who has a cool Australian accent. We are so grateful for all their work.

Taylor's Eye is Displaced

Look at a picture of Taylor's eye. The Doctor examined his eye this morning (Monday, June 8th). He wants to keep him here another night. He is concerned about the placement of his eye. I took this picture to show you why the Doctor is concerned. If you look at his right eye you will see that it is down and to the left (your left). His eye is not in the normal position it should be in. The Doc wants to take another CAT scan to see how everything looks behind the eye.

Please pray that Taylor's eye will go back to normal.

New Pictures and Update on Taylor

A pic of Taylor getting a new IV.

I wanted to give a "Shout Out" to Riley's Hospital for the exceptional service they have given to Taylor during his fiasco. What a great hospital. From the team of Doctors and nurses to the Ronald McDonald house and library and to the activities they provide for couped up children.

In the pictures above Taylor is participating in the "air show" activity, getting blood drawn from one of the many nurses, taking a wheel chair ride from Kennedy, playing on the Wii at the library. And Kennedy is enjoying a ride in the wheel chair as well.

Taylor is on the upswing. He still has a swelling in his eye and the mobility in his eye is improving. The Doctors are keeping him here to monitor the swelling, inflammation, vision and mobility. They said he would be able to leave sometime between Sunday to Tuesday.

Your calls, cards, visits and gifts have meant so much to us. Sorry if I haven't responded to you calls or emails.

Heidi and I love you very much!

PS: The nurse just came in and told Taylor his IV was going bad and was going to have to redo a new IV. He is so scared.

Update and Pictures of Taylor's Eye

Hello Friends and Family,
I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on Taylor. On Saturday, Taylor was complaining of a headache above and below his right eye. On Sunday, his eye had started to swell slightly. Monday morning his right eye was swollen shut. I took him to the Pediatrician and she thought it was an allergic reaction to Ibuprofen. Tuesday the eye was still extremely swollen and purplish in color. He went back to the Pediatrician and she took a CAT scan and determined that he should be taken immediately to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.
We got here about 5:3o p.m. and they diagnosed him as having Orbital Cellulitis with an Abscess. They decided on doing surgery and took him back by 9:15 p.m. By midnight, they were done. They informed us that if we would have waited the infection could have gone back to the brain or he could have lost the vision in that eye. Praise the Lord no one waited!
They admitted us to a room and the Infectious Disease doctor told us that we would be here around 5-7 days. Taylor is doing really well right now. He woke up the day after surgery saying his eye felt 100% better! The swelling is slowly going down and the redness is wearing off. As of now, he still cannot open his eye completely and cannot move it up and down, but the Dr.'s are hopeful that will return as the swelling continues to decrease.
I want to thank you for your calls and your prayers and ask you to continue to pray for him. His appetite is good and he is in really good spirits. If you've called and I haven't called you back, I'm so sorry. It's taken me forever just to get this email composed! If you've spent time in a hospital, you understand!! I sincerely appreciate and love each of you.
Lovingly,

Heidi

Give it Up for the Gals

Have you ever got beaten by a girl? I was considered the third fastest in my class during my elementary years. Carter Hall would always come in first place and I would finish third. There was Sheila Johnston who would always beat me. She was so fast that she was a part of our 400 meter relay during the track season, which we would always win. I have the ribbons to prove it.

Rachel Alexandra was the first filly since 1924 to win the Preakness Stakes and to hold off a late charge of Kentucky Derby winner Mine that Bird. This victory sent off a frenzy of excitement for the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. She not only ran with the boys but she beat everyone of them. We have to give it up to the ladies!

Although this is no Preakness Stakes, Heidi and Ra-jeana became the Horseshoe Champions at our annual Memorial Day Cookout. Mark Trietsch and myself had the bragging rights this past year and we held the belts (literally: we have these cheap plastic belts that are a mock to a WWF belt). I have to give it up to all the ladies that competed in the tournament. They not only competed against the boys but they beat everyone of them.

They took out the men teams like Rambo taking out his enemies one at a time. Nancy and Tammy upset Mark and I. Judy and Edna defeated Gary and Randall. And of course Heidi and Ra-jeana put the smack down on Dale and Jerry and defeated Des and Randy in the championship game. Congratulations to all the ladies, especially to Heidi and Ra-jeana for winning the Preakness.

I am putting a few more pictures of the horseshoe tournament for you to enjoy.

Have you ever got beaten by a girl?

What do you think of all these girls winning?

Are guys better atheletes than girls or did God have favor on girls that week :)?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

A Picture of Dr. George O. Wood and Me

What makes a great leader?

Dr. George O. Wood the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God spoke at our District Council this past week. I had the privilege of getting a picture taken with him and getting an autographed book he wrote called a Psalm in Your Heart. He was elected to the position in August of 2007 at Indianapolis. I was there when he was voted in. (By the way I didn't originally vote for him.) Since Dr. Wood has been in this position, I have been thoroughly impressed by his leadership, integrity, humility, knowledge and speaking ability. I believe our fellowship is in great hands.

In one of John Maxwell's recent email letters he says one of the things that make a great leader is the ability to lead through adversity. He gives the example of the pilot Chesly B. Sullenberger who safely landed the engine less plane in the Hudson River.

Sullenberger's influence soared as a result of his leadership in the midst of harrowing circumstances. Before January 15th, Sullenberger was an accomplished, but anonymous pilot. Afterward, he was recognized as an American hero, drew a captive audience whenever he spoke, and was highly sought after by federal aviation officials for his safety recommendations.
Going through adversity, though not pleasant at the moment, opens the door to new levels of influence. By staying poised and keeping a positive attitude under pressure, leaders can pass through adversity having grown in stature more than they ever could have in comfortable times.

John Maxwell talks about four potential benefits that can be gained when triumphing over adverse circumstances. This article meant so much to me I thought I would share the benefits on my blog. Click here to view his article.

1. Creates resilience - because you have already coped with adversity, you become better equipped to handle adverse circumstances. The more experience I have, the better I can become.

2. Develops maturity - As an African proverb says, "Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." Adversity has the potential to make you a better leader.

3. Creates greater opportunity - Oftentimes a bright future waits on the other side of hardship. The mental strength acquired in dealing with misfortune can be an invaluable asset in pushing forward into new ventures. Ask Job.

4. Wins respect - When others see your character and persistence during the rough stretches in leadership, they walk away with an enhanced opinion of you.

What makes a great leader? One of those is the ability to lead in adverse times. When going through adverse times one can feel the pressure. While no one wants to face adverse times, it can actually serve to benefit a leader.

How do you face adverse times as a leader?

What do you think makes a great leader?

Do think Dr George Wood is a great leader?

I just set up on my phone the ability to send a post to my blog via text. I will rarely use it because it's not that easy to type with your thumbs.