Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Jake yesterday:



Jake today:

What are you reading?

I haven't done one of these in ages and since I read non-stop, I thought I'd share some of my recent favorites.  Please let me know what you've recently read and enjoyed so I can add it to my Paperback Swap wish list!

Right now I'm reading A Clearing in the Wild by Jane Kirkpatrick.  Amanda leant it to me and I am loving it!  I can't wait to read the rest (which Amanda also leant me!) It's the story of a headstrong woman in 1850 who clashes with the constraints of her small religious community. 



I recently finished Brisingr by Christopher Paolini.  I thought this was the final book of the Inheritance Trilogy, but I was so glad to be wrong when I finished the book that is to be continued in a fourth!  You may have heard of the first book, Eragon, which was made into a movie.  If you like dragons and Lord of the Rings type fantasy, this series is incredible.



Another recent read was Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult.  She is one of my favorite authors and she never fails to amaze me with her crazy twists. This is the story of a death row inmate who wants to donate his heart to the sister of the girl he murdered. 



The last book I read is the best one I've read in a long time.  It is Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster. Ths is the true memoir of how a "haughty former sorority gal went from having a household income of almost a quarter-million dollars to being evicted from a ghetto apartment in less than two years." I can't wait to read her other books.



So, what are you reading?  Or better yet, what should I read next?

Orthopedic fun

I took Jake to the orthopedic surgeon today to have his out-turned feet assessed (tibial torsion). His left foot is in the normal range of facing outward, his right foot is not. Basically we have to decide if we want to do surgery. We don't have to decide now, as it won't get any better, but it also will not get any worse. He could have the surgery now or he could have it when he's 30- it doesn't matter. Either way, with or without surgery, he's not at risk for any problems in his knees and hips like arthritis. The surgery would consist of cutting through the tibia, rotating the foot into the correct position and reattatching the bone with screws and plates. He'd be in a cast for 8 weeks and then a year later, they would go back in and remove the plates and screws. After talking, Dave and I have decided to let him make the decision. Dave thinks we should just wait until he's old enough to pay for it himself. (joke!) But then again, if we do it now, Jake will finally be able to do the hokey pokey and shake it all about. Lately I've realized that is what I love most about my husband- his ability to make a joke about everything. It makes us laugh and certainly takes the edge off. Hey, if anyone can make a hormonal, pre-teen boy smile and smirk, that's a good thing. In all seriousness, if Jake is that uncomfortable with how he looks (he has a strange gait because of the foot), then we are all for the surgery. If he doesn't care so much and isn't being made fun of, we're all for not doing the surgery. I'll keep you posted on whatever Jake decides to do.

Marcus update

Marcus is doing well- this is a picture of him with his sisters last night.  What a beautiful smile!  He had surgery to correct a problem with his broken leg and has now been moved to the therapy floor- he has a long road ahead of him.  Please pray for strength.  Like the bracelets we all wear say: "Marcus is Strong!"  He is starting to feed himself and speak a little, but it doesn't always make sense.  Keep up your prayers!

Marcus is healing!

The latest update on Marcus is that he is breathing on his own- Praise the Lord!  His body is healing, although one lung still has a drain.  He is awake now, but is confused and doesn't seem to understand speech.  The injury was to the frontal lobe of his brain, which is the speech center- pray for healing!  He gave his family a huge smile yesterday, so that is promising!  They do not know what  his cognitive ability will be like.  It may stay the same or his brain may keep healing.  We know he will start to come back to us-will you pray with us?  He knows what to do with crayons and how to put on a watch, so that is amazing in itself.

Marcus

 

The lastest update on Marcus is that he does not have pneumonia- praise God!  They are moving towards extubating him and having less and less sedation, while keeping his pain low.  The results of the latest CT show damage to the temporal lobe, which controls speech.  This news is scary for his parents, but at the same time Marcus is a fighter!  Please pray for his family and his two sisters at home.  They need peace!

Please visit Marcus's caringbridge site and tell them that you're praying for him.  We're trying to get as many people from around the world praying!  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marcusnickell