This is the first night that I haven't been at the hospital. Joanne's mom and dad and sister are all over there sot hat I can be here with the girls tonight before they start school at Denver Christian tomorrow. I have certainly been doing the husband thing more then the parent thing and I need to figure out how to create balance there.
Anyhow, this night at home means I can go to bed at a reasonable hour which I plan to do here very shortly. We are all exhausted from the hours but more so from the emotion. So, the short update:
Joanne is still in a coma. They want to get her out of the coma but some of her levels aren't where they want them to be before they bring her out. Hopefully things will look right in the morning and they will stop the medication that is keeping her under. From that point it could still be days before she is actually out of her coma. Takes the meds a little while to clear her system. Then we will see where she's at, and get the earliest glimpses of what recovery might look like. Everything up to this point is educated guess work.
Prayer requests: That the girls would have a GREAT day of school tomorrow.
Since this is such a short post I will blog again in the morning if I am able.
Toben
Praying that you get a much needed night of rest and that your girls have a really good day tomorrow at school.
Posted by: Andrea | January 18, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Continuing to pray for Joanne's levels and over-all health, praying each of you sleep well tonight and that Emma and Audrey have super days at school tomorrow (they will!)
Posted by: Billie | January 18, 2011 at 08:56 PM
Toben,
So many prayers are coming your way.
We eagerly await hearing how you and Joanne are doing.
Love from CA,
Rachel
Posted by: No.17 CherryTreeLane | January 18, 2011 at 08:57 PM
Toben....I feel so good about the days to come. God has put intense peace and hope over me today. I'm believing Him to awaken her and begin that process of wholeness. You are all loved. Those girls will all be over my heart tomorrow! Sleep well.
So much love,
Fran Thomas
Posted by: Fran | January 18, 2011 at 08:59 PM
thanks so much for the update. i've checked my Reader like 4 times. :) praying for you guys!
Posted by: katie | January 18, 2011 at 09:05 PM
Praying for sweet rest tonight for you all. And will be praying tomorrow for the girls and of course... continuing to pray for Joanne!
Sweet Blessings,
DeeDee
Posted by: DeeDee | January 18, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Toben,
I hope you rest well tonight and get to catch up a bit on much, much needed rest. Been praying for the girls and thier classmates and teachers all day today, will be tomorrow too. Hope they have a wonderful day reconnecting and making new friends.
Posted by: Wendy | January 18, 2011 at 09:08 PM
Praying fervently for you Toben.... you and Joanne and the girls are loved and are being lifted up in constant prayer in our family. We will especially pray for Emma and Audrey tomorrow. We believe that many in the world are about to witness and earthly miracle through Joanne!
Jen Bartlett
Posted by: Wife of Rob | January 18, 2011 at 09:08 PM
Toben,
This is my first time commenting but I first heard about your lovely wife and have been praying for her a little over a week or so ago from Jeanne Oliver at Bushel and a Peck. My heart aches for all of you. I'll continue to pray for you and those sweet babes of yours and your beautiful gal. I want you to know that you are a testimony to me. The love you have for your wife is so strong and the love for your Savior, stronger. You have such an understanding that is full of wisdom and grace - I know this could only come from one place.
God Bless you and may the sweet conversation that your gal is having with God be short and sweet... she's got work to do here for Him.
Sincerely, Sami Jo
Posted by: Sami Jo | January 18, 2011 at 09:11 PM
Praying for your precious girls to be blessed tomorrow, and for them to feel loved and encouraged by everyone at their new school.
Continue to pray for healing, peace of mind and rest for your entire family.
Blessings and prayers,
Kaye
Psalm 46:10
Isaiah 41:10
Matthew 21:22
Posted by: Kaye | January 18, 2011 at 09:11 PM
Toben: I am praying the girls have a fabulous day at school and that God brings each of them a kind and sensitive friend who will reach out to them and make them feel like they belong.
And I'm praying for God to astound you with how good things look in the morning so that Joanne can come off that medication and move toward waking up.
I'm also praying for deep and restful sleep for you and the girls. Thanks for being so faithful to update those of us who are praying.
Posted by: Shannon Primicerio | January 18, 2011 at 09:11 PM
Love you guys and will be thinking of the girls tomorrow morning as they start school again.
Posted by: Sarah | January 18, 2011 at 09:12 PM
Praying for deep restful sleep for you and the best possible day for the girls.
Posted by: Melana Cummings | January 18, 2011 at 09:18 PM
Still praying and believing. Will be praying extra hard for your sweet girls as they start school tomorrow. Praying for you to have wonderful sleep tonight. Praying for healing and recovery for Joanne. Praying for her parents and sister.
Julie Hoagland - Seattle, WA
Posted by: Julie Hoagland | January 18, 2011 at 09:26 PM
Praying for a blessed day for your girls tomorrow!
Posted by: Amy | January 18, 2011 at 09:29 PM
Continuing to pray for each of you and that the girls have a SUPER day at school tomorrow.
Posted by: Betsy | January 18, 2011 at 09:34 PM
Praying God multiplies your sleep so that you feel more rested than you have all week.
And I've been praying so much for Audrey and Emma. Praying that they will feel God's perfect peace wrapped around them the entire day tomorrow. Love those girls so much.
And Joanne, I love you! I miss you, friend. Praying your rest has been sweet and that you'll be ready to wake up soon!!
Posted by: Marla Taviano | January 18, 2011 at 09:41 PM
Still praying for ALL of you! Expecting her Miracle to come very soon!! Keep the Faith and keep trusting God!!
Posted by: Colette | January 18, 2011 at 09:41 PM
Thank you for the update tonight.
We have been praying for you, Joanne, and your family since day 1 here in IL. We hope that you will have wonderful sleep tonight and that your girls will have a precious day at school tomorrow. May God bring many blessings their way.
Constantly lifting you and your family before the throne of our great and mighty God!
Posted by: Marlene Wilson | January 18, 2011 at 09:42 PM
Praying that your sweet Joanne will be able to come off the medicine and wake up, and also praying that your girls will have an awesome first day of school.
Posted by: Julie From Inmates | January 18, 2011 at 09:42 PM
Praying for a continued peace and for God to wrap you all in extra love tomorrow.
Posted by: Carrie | January 18, 2011 at 09:43 PM
Our continued prayers from here in Texas. May the girls have a super 1st day back in the school system, may God bless them with a special someone to relate to that can help them to make the transition. Relax in Jesus loving Arms. He Is SOOOOO in control!
Posted by: mzzterry | January 18, 2011 at 09:53 PM
Praying for a restful night for you and your girls. I'll be praying for them as they start their new school tomorrow.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 18, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Praying for a quiet and good night's sleep. Blessings tomorrow for the girls.
Kindest Regards to you and yours,
Erin in Eugene.
Posted by: Erin | January 18, 2011 at 10:12 PM
Praying for Audrey and Emma!
Posted by: Lisa in KS | January 18, 2011 at 10:36 PM
Praying that they will have a wonderful day at school, for God to give you the sleep you need and continually praying for Joanne to be fully restored!
Posted by: Lifetimeoftlc.blogspot.com | January 18, 2011 at 10:54 PM
Praying for you and your beautiful family. I pray that God totally makes school a welcome place for your girls to be.
Posted by: Cory | January 18, 2011 at 11:09 PM
Praying for your rest tonight and lifting the girls up for tomorrow. May our amazing God give them peace in their sweet hearts and friends who will walk beside them.
Posted by: Shannon | January 18, 2011 at 11:22 PM
May you get some much needed rest tonight. Praying peace over you, the girls. May God release His angels to minister at Joanne's bedside. Praying for her daily!
Posted by: Barbie | January 18, 2011 at 11:43 PM
I sent an email to Joanne and your family that she WILL read someday! Tonight, I want you to know that she IS close to Jesus right now,and what you described is exactly what happens when you are in her position as I was last year. God bless you and your family! May God continue to give you that 'peace that passes all understanding' so that one day, you can tell someone else that TRUE, DEEP DOWN IN YOUR SOUL, FAITH EXISTS!
Posted by: Jerri | January 19, 2011 at 12:19 AM
Praying that both ur girls will have a super wonderful day at school..that teachers & other classmates will love them & they will have lots of fun..
Praying for Joanne too..
Posted by: Graywolfie | January 19, 2011 at 12:55 AM
Rest is very important in order to regain our strength. I really do hope that you will get better. More power and get well. It's good to have the enough rest so that you can be back to the mainstream again.
Posted by: Curtis Johnson Realty | January 19, 2011 at 01:25 AM
Praying for your wife and you all. My Mom had a similar medical situation in the mid 80's. Reading your posts brought back so many experiences with Mom. My mother had a brain aneuresym at 63, similar brain swelling etc. Her nurses called her the miracle girl because she woke up and was somewhat her old self, she had physical limitations of course, but she was able to talk to us, go out to dinner, be part of family celebrations and more. Mom lived to be 80 years old. She was a trooper for sure. Your wife is in my prayers and may God help her to heal in His time and His way.
Posted by: Jan Richards | January 19, 2011 at 01:47 AM
Continuing to pray in Madison AL
Posted by: Hope | January 19, 2011 at 02:53 AM
Praying...
Posted by: bryan | January 19, 2011 at 03:37 AM
Praying for smiles all around during and after school today! Hugs from Georgia!
Posted by: Theresa Roach | January 19, 2011 at 03:54 AM
Continuing to fast and pray for your family.
Posted by: sue | January 19, 2011 at 04:55 AM
Already have been praying for the girls about school. Still covering you all in prayer.Hope you rested well.
Posted by: rhonda | January 19, 2011 at 05:00 AM
I heard about Joanne from a friend here in Virginia. God really pressed upon me to keep in prayer for you. I have been praying for her for you, and your family from the moment I heard; for strength, energy and peace and a miraculous healing.
Posted by: Janette | January 19, 2011 at 05:09 AM
keeping you all in our prayers
Posted by: tammy | January 19, 2011 at 05:15 AM
Praying for you all. May the girls have a blessed day at school. May you feel rested. May Joanne continue to heal, rest and gain strength. God bless you and your family!
Posted by: Amelia in NC | January 19, 2011 at 05:22 AM
We have so many people down here in Texas praying for her. Today prayers go up for your little girls. From what I read on Joanne's blog, they are strong and courageous and I have not doubt that they will do great!!
Posted by: Laura Hill | January 19, 2011 at 05:33 AM
Toben,
Thank you for keeping us updated - I know your plate is so full right now. Still Praying for Joanne recovery, your strength, and a great day at school for the girls. Hoping today is a good day for all!
Posted by: aTXtumbleweed | January 19, 2011 at 05:39 AM
Toben,
Hoping that you got some much needed rest and that the girls are rested as well and excited about this day at Denver Christian. They have been covered in prayer by so many regarding this start back to school.
I feel so hopeful and full of anticipation to see how God will work and be glorified over the coming days.
Blessing to you all...
Posted by: Tiffany | January 19, 2011 at 05:40 AM
Hope y'all got a deep, restful sleep. Audrey and Emma - you sweet girls have the most excellent day. I know God has gone before you into the school and has some special friends and teachers just waiting to love on you.
Posted by: Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife | January 19, 2011 at 05:55 AM
Lord, go before these two precious girls today as they begin a new normal. Let their first day be one of great surprises and encouragement. Friends....Lord, I pray you would give them each a good friend today. One that will come along side them and show them around and sit with them at lunch. That as they get used to new curriculum, new structure, new teachers...that they will just both ease right into these things. And Lord, most of all let them be aware of your presence in a very real way. Thank you for the time they had with their Dad and let it go a long way. Amen.
Posted by: Melody | January 19, 2011 at 06:31 AM
Around 4:30am Christmas morning, my 3 year old daughter woke up screaming, crying and grabbing at the back of her neck. When she stopped screaming, she when limp and then started having trouble breathing. I called an ambulance.
Apparently she died then, of course the paramedics kept her breathing until she got to the emergency room where she was intubated and put on a respirator. She was transferred to a hospital specializing in treating children, but she never regained consciousness. She had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, her brain had suffered a terrible trauma. We were told that she would never wake up, that she could never respond to us, that she would never be the little girl she had been.
I wish you could have known her, to know how much light has gone out of the world. She was talkative, vivacious, always into things...she was more than just a typical 3 year old. She had so much personality and so much life....the type of child I looked forward to going home to after working all day.
What on earth is God thinking? Surely he doesn't willfully murder 3 year old little girls? Why didn't he stop this from happening? Of all the people who prayed for her, why wasn't she healed? What happened here? I know that I won't be able to serve a "god" who kills children.
You are blessed that your wife is "still here"...that you still have a chance for her to be alright. God must love your family. Clearly he hates mine.
ka
Posted by: Kim | January 19, 2011 at 06:41 AM
Continuing to pray for your family.
Posted by: Wendy | January 19, 2011 at 06:43 AM
I asked our gracious Father to bring "best friends" quickly to your girls today! I drove my girls to school today and as I watched them get out of the car I was reminded by the Holy Spirit to pray for Joanne...I know her girls miss her.
Praying in Georgia,
Allison
Posted by: Allison | January 19, 2011 at 07:02 AM
Praying
Posted by: yanna westmoreland | January 19, 2011 at 07:04 AM
The post immediately above mine from a young mother named Kim who lost her beautiful 3 year old darling girl, and is blaming God, stating "you are blessed that your wife is "still here"...that you still have a chance for her to be alright. God must love your family. Clearly he hates mine"...Here is the reason for the fight of faith. My heart is breaking for Kim who wrote that post to you and I am crying hot tears for her terrible loss, her emptiness and not knowing God is the only One who can bring comfort and love and soothing and even hope for tomorrow in the dark night of her soul, and the unspeakable suffering she is enduring. No death stings more than the death of a precious child...on Christms Day no less. Here is the reason that we must get ahold of truth and love and life that is greater than the life we live down here. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus...just one look of His dear face, all sorrows will erase. I am adding Kim and her family to my fervant prayers for healing of a broken heart and for her to be given an understanding of the God of All Comfort, the One who truly loves, the One who has a plan for good and not for evil. My prayers are with your darling girls as they enter Denver Christian school today. I pray too, that you all had a night of much needed rest, in spite of all that you are going through..."He gives his beloved rest." Praying fervantly from Southern California for all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Posted by: Pam Houston | January 19, 2011 at 07:07 AM
Praying for Joanne's condition - that the timing will be right to bring her out of the coma.
Praying for Toben to find the right balance and to make time to pour his heart out to our Lord.
Praying for Audrey and Emma to be received with love and compassion at Denver Christian School.
Praying for Joanne's sister and parents to have the wisdom and strength to help in this time of need.
Praying for the entire family to be comforted by our loving Father, the Creator and Sustainer of of all life.
Praying for Kim as she works through this time of grief; specifically that God will pursue her with His comforting love and enduring presence.
Praying for all of us to realize that we are not created with the ability to understand everything that happens, but we do have the ability to trust in God to work all things together for good.
Praying Philippians 4:7 - that the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.
Praying in Kansas.
Posted by: Paige Szajnuk | January 19, 2011 at 07:42 AM
Praying for your beautiful girls and that they have the best day they can. Praying for you and everyone in Joanne's family, that God continues to bring you through this together. Thank you so much for taking the time to update us in the middle of everything you are going through. We are grateful to any word you send, don't worry if you don't think it is long enough:)
Praying and hoping...
Barb from CNY
Posted by: Barb Motyka | January 19, 2011 at 07:44 AM
"God is our (your) refuge and strength, an ever present help in (your) trouble. The LORD almighty is with us (you), the God of Jacob is our (your) fortress. Psalm 46:1 & 11. Praying from Kentucky for you all and for the grieving woman whose three year old daughter died.
Posted by: Dana Goodwin | January 19, 2011 at 08:04 AM
You're all in my prayers, especially the girls at school today.
Posted by: Elaine | January 19, 2011 at 08:10 AM
I've been following Joanne's blog for about a year now. Joanne's writing drew me in almost immediately. I come here to get a little bit of perspective and to see what's happening in your world because I can't help but be interested. I can't make it here everyday, so I just read the news. It's unbelievable. I'm saddened to know your family is facing this. I'm praying for Joanne's full recovery. May Joanne live many years to tell the story of how God healed her.
Praying in Osaka, Japan
Posted by: Lora | January 19, 2011 at 08:39 AM
Praying Psalm 5:3.
" In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation! "
Posted by: Colette | January 19, 2011 at 08:40 AM
Write when you can., and please know that we are with you, praying. I have put Joanne's picture widget up on my blog's sidebar asking people from around the world to pray for her, for you and for the girls and the family.
God is with you all. His love is perfect. Hold onto it.
Blessings!!!
Posted by: Maribeth | January 19, 2011 at 09:21 AM
Praying for your beautiful wife and for your beautiful girls. Thank you for taking time to post updates for all of us.
In Isaiah it says..."He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Our God is the awesome God. Not one of the stars falls without His knowledge. He knows each of them by name! There is NO ONE like Him and he cares for each of us as lambs. Praying He covers you and your family with His never-ending love and His healing power.
Posted by: Mgirlfoodieblog | January 19, 2011 at 09:25 AM
You are in our prayers
Blessings
Kelli in Colorado
Posted by: Kelli | January 19, 2011 at 09:28 AM
Toben, wanted to let you know I am praying for your girls today as they go back to school, asking God to hold them close to Himself, to hold their hands and walk with them through the halls and sit by them at their desks, to immediately bring them friends who will give them comfort and strength. Blessings to you all today.
Posted by: valerie (in TX) | January 19, 2011 at 09:36 AM
Praying for your family Toben. Have faith. Cling to that faith. It will give you strength when you feel you can't go any further. May His grace wash over you and your family.
Posted by: Peter Mayhew | January 19, 2011 at 09:42 AM
I drive on 470 several times a day and with each view of the hospital, I pray. This morning, though, I prayed for your girls as I passed by DCS. I was reading Isaiah 35 last night, and thought only of Joanne and all of you. Perhaps it will wash over you as it did over me.
Posted by: Karen Booker Schelhaas | January 19, 2011 at 09:45 AM
HI!THIS IS A REALLY FABULOUS TOPIC! I WAS LUCK TO APPROACH YOUR WEBSITE.THANKS VERY MUCH!!!I WILL COME AGAIN.
Posted by: Nike Shox Qualify | April 15, 2011 at 09:03 PM
Always good to come across a really thoughtful site,LIKE YOUR BLOG. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
Posted by: beijing opera night show | December 28, 2011 at 07:34 AM