Alrighty!
We saw the ophthalmologist yesterday and he said that Phoenix's right eye is almost entirely clear and her left is getting there! Woohoo!
We also saw the Neurologist on Monday and he did say that there is some possibly concerning things going on with the brain bleed and we will now be seeing a neuro surgeon as well. Please pray for Phoenix's brain healing and for wisdom for the neuro surgeon to know if they need to go in and stop things manually. I would rather they did not have to go inside and do anything so pray pray pray for healing!! We have seen to much happen that the power of prayer cannot be doubted!!
ALSO! She had her first physical therapy yesterday and the ladies said that her improvement is astounding! It was like seeing a completely different baby compared to her evaluation! She was in a tutu for the first time at this visit and there was a problem with getting her to pay attention to anything but trying to eat the tutu...it was much much more interesting than any other toys they had to offer, hahaha! Eventually they had to sit her in the Bumbo and stuff the tutu down in it so she would look around.
She is rolling from back to belly (and occasionally back again) but only to the left so we are working with her to get that other side going full tilt! The therapist also showed ways to warm up her muscles and after that was done Phoenix was standing all on her own except for help balancing for about 20 seconds! WOOHOO!!
They told us at the beginning that she may never be the same, she might never be a normal baby, she would probably be delayed developing and she might not ever be able to use her left side again.
Well God said NO WAY! She is healing and doing amazing and is mentally developed right on track (and grinning at strangers again...she is a ham these days) and only around two months physically behind other children her age and she is catching up quick!
Also. Phoenix has discovered the shriek. A tiny ear piercing shriek that makes everyone look at her and I guess she thinks it sounds pretty cool too because she is quiet pleased with herself when she makes it. We were also able to experience the fun feeling of "whoops...that was mine..." during church when the silence of prayer was rent by a babbling yell because the binky had fallen on the floor. Not just a simple little yell, no that would be far too insignificant. She has decided that if she is going to talk it is going to be as long as her breath will allow her. I never knew babies could take what feels around 30 seconds to let out one breath of air, then a mere 0.5 seconds to suck in another one and begin yelling again. I used to think it was super hilarious when I heard babies do this in church.
Then it was my baby.
And its just mortifying.
It is so good to be able to come to you all with good news about Phoenix's development! We are still struggling along on the legal side so your prayers are still greatly needed, but God has heard your requests and He is working! Woohoo!
Love you all!
Shell Allen and Phoenix
Wednesday
Thursday
Good news!
So!!!!
Sarah has moved into our house and will get Phoenix tomorrow morning!! WOOHOO!!
I am allowed 24 hour supervised access. Unfortunately Allen can only see Phoenix between 8:00 AM-6:30 PM. Please pray about this as well as a place for Allen to stay. He will be staying with a neighbor for right now. We also need a second car, so please be in prayer about that as well.
God is working!!! He is doing such super things and someday I will be able to tell you everything and you can give glory to God for all He has done. But give glory anyway and thank Him for everything that He has done!! Even if I can't tell you what has hehehee!!
This has been a great day and tomorrow Phoenix will be back in her house.
Love you so much!!
Allen, Shell and Phoenix
Sarah has moved into our house and will get Phoenix tomorrow morning!! WOOHOO!!
I am allowed 24 hour supervised access. Unfortunately Allen can only see Phoenix between 8:00 AM-6:30 PM. Please pray about this as well as a place for Allen to stay. He will be staying with a neighbor for right now. We also need a second car, so please be in prayer about that as well.
God is working!!! He is doing such super things and someday I will be able to tell you everything and you can give glory to God for all He has done. But give glory anyway and thank Him for everything that He has done!! Even if I can't tell you what has hehehee!!
This has been a great day and tomorrow Phoenix will be back in her house.
Love you so much!!
Allen, Shell and Phoenix
Sunday
April 18th Update
Hey everyone
Sorry it has been so long since I have stopped to update all of you are who are praying and supporting Phoenix. Your prayers have been amazing!! God is working and things are happening!
As I have been advised I will not talk about the legalities going on, but know that your prayers are being heard and God is working in mighty ways.
Phoenix is for the moment in a medical foster home. She was moved to that home on Friday and we were able to see her for a little bit that day before she was moved and she was doing well. Her foster mom called me on Saturday and asked me for tips on feeding her because Phoenix was refusing to eat anything. We talked for a while and she is a Christian woman and she loves children. We were able to meet her and her husband today and see Phoenix for an hour and she was doing very well. She had started to eat today and once we held her she was gulping her food like there was no tomorrow. She ate, babbled a bit, and fell asleep while we held her. It was easier to leave with her asleep and peaceful. The foster parents seem like wonderful, loving people and we were encouraged and felt like they will take excellent care of Phoenix while she is in their care. We are working on Phoenix being able to live with Allen's mother, Sarah, who has come to Pensacola simply to take care of our little girl.
We have been worried that perhaps she is having mini-seizures because we have caught her staring off sometimes so that is something to continue praying about and to ask for wisdom for the neurologist to be able to conclude if that is indeed what is happening. Otherwise she is holding her head up very, very well and is starting to try and roll from side to side. She is gaining weight by the second it seems! Her eyes are focusing on people's faces and she thinks things are funny to look at so her vision is definately improving.
Please pray that Phoenix will continue to do well with her foster parents (Ruby and Frank) and to eat and drink the food that she needs to stay well. Also pray for Ruby and Frank to have the wisdom and patience that is needed for a small baby and that God would bless their lives - they are very sweet and gentle people.
Thank you so much for your prayers, I wish I could tell you all the things that God had been and is doing right now.
I will ask you to pray for us on May 10th, at 9:00 am. There are decisions that will be made that day legal-wise.
God bless you all so much. When this is all over I will be able to share with you every blessing and every amazing work that God has done on the legal and physical side of all this.
Love
Shell, Allen and Phoenix
Sorry it has been so long since I have stopped to update all of you are who are praying and supporting Phoenix. Your prayers have been amazing!! God is working and things are happening!
As I have been advised I will not talk about the legalities going on, but know that your prayers are being heard and God is working in mighty ways.
Phoenix is for the moment in a medical foster home. She was moved to that home on Friday and we were able to see her for a little bit that day before she was moved and she was doing well. Her foster mom called me on Saturday and asked me for tips on feeding her because Phoenix was refusing to eat anything. We talked for a while and she is a Christian woman and she loves children. We were able to meet her and her husband today and see Phoenix for an hour and she was doing very well. She had started to eat today and once we held her she was gulping her food like there was no tomorrow. She ate, babbled a bit, and fell asleep while we held her. It was easier to leave with her asleep and peaceful. The foster parents seem like wonderful, loving people and we were encouraged and felt like they will take excellent care of Phoenix while she is in their care. We are working on Phoenix being able to live with Allen's mother, Sarah, who has come to Pensacola simply to take care of our little girl.
We have been worried that perhaps she is having mini-seizures because we have caught her staring off sometimes so that is something to continue praying about and to ask for wisdom for the neurologist to be able to conclude if that is indeed what is happening. Otherwise she is holding her head up very, very well and is starting to try and roll from side to side. She is gaining weight by the second it seems! Her eyes are focusing on people's faces and she thinks things are funny to look at so her vision is definately improving.
Please pray that Phoenix will continue to do well with her foster parents (Ruby and Frank) and to eat and drink the food that she needs to stay well. Also pray for Ruby and Frank to have the wisdom and patience that is needed for a small baby and that God would bless their lives - they are very sweet and gentle people.
Thank you so much for your prayers, I wish I could tell you all the things that God had been and is doing right now.
I will ask you to pray for us on May 10th, at 9:00 am. There are decisions that will be made that day legal-wise.
God bless you all so much. When this is all over I will be able to share with you every blessing and every amazing work that God has done on the legal and physical side of all this.
Love
Shell, Allen and Phoenix
Wednesday
April 7th
Hello.
Sorry it has been so long.
Tomorrow we go to court.
Today has not been an easy day. Much has happened that is not medical related so I will not speak about it here. The battle rages on and as I'm sure my dad would say, they have moved on from orcs to trolls. The sounds of the Grog are nearing the field and the torches from the riders of the Oliphants are flickering in the distance. But we have the sword of truth on our side, and while our army may be smaller, our leader is much wiser, older, and more powerful than theirs.
Allen's mom told us to read Psalm 55 and 56 this evening and it was great encouragment. I have struggled this week over how to pray in such a difficult time, but King David cries out to God in such a way that it takes about two verses into a psalm for me to start going "YES! THATS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!"
Phoenix returned to her opthalmologist this week and he said she is getting much, much better. She goes tomorrow for her physical therapy evaluation. I am sure she will do fantastic but we are praying that they know how to get more mobility and purpose from her left side.
Love you
Shell, Allen and Phoenix
P.S. This is also for you, Dad, Mom and kids:
"How goes the world?"
"The world goes not well, but the Kingdom comes!"
Sorry it has been so long.
Tomorrow we go to court.
Today has not been an easy day. Much has happened that is not medical related so I will not speak about it here. The battle rages on and as I'm sure my dad would say, they have moved on from orcs to trolls. The sounds of the Grog are nearing the field and the torches from the riders of the Oliphants are flickering in the distance. But we have the sword of truth on our side, and while our army may be smaller, our leader is much wiser, older, and more powerful than theirs.
Allen's mom told us to read Psalm 55 and 56 this evening and it was great encouragment. I have struggled this week over how to pray in such a difficult time, but King David cries out to God in such a way that it takes about two verses into a psalm for me to start going "YES! THATS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!"
Phoenix returned to her opthalmologist this week and he said she is getting much, much better. She goes tomorrow for her physical therapy evaluation. I am sure she will do fantastic but we are praying that they know how to get more mobility and purpose from her left side.
Love you
Shell, Allen and Phoenix
P.S. This is also for you, Dad, Mom and kids:
"How goes the world?"
"The world goes not well, but the Kingdom comes!"
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