Wow is is slippery out! I drove the girls to School this morning and on the way home did a 180 into on-coming traffic in Joanne's Expedition. I missed hitting a utility van by about a foot. So scary! I was in the "school zone" so we were all going about 20 mph which definitely saved me. If cars had been coming full speed from the other direction I would have gotten plastered. Thank you Jesus for getting me home safe. Haven't seen roads this bad in Denver in years.
Ryan let me off the hook today so I wouldn't have to drive to the Springs. On top of that Gran has taken ill and isn't here to help Joanne out with the few things that only Gran and I can do for Joanne. God has truly blessed me with an understanding employer. I need to write more about this at some point. Ryan, Grounded Radio and Family Talk has been with me ever step of the way on this journey. Not sure what I would do without them!
The snow continues to fall and it looks like the roads are only going to get worse. Should be an interesting trip back to school this afternoon.
Erika the OT is here today but Speech had to cancel. So Papa and Joanne worked out in the garage/gym for about and hour and then came in to work on Joanne's one handed typing. Now Joanne is getting her shoulder worked on. Erika says that you have to start at the top and work your way down. First the shoulder, then the elbow then the wrist and fingers. Besides that, Joanne is wearing her wrist DynaSplint for a number of hours a day. All of this is supposed to work together to decrease tone and make her arm flexible/usable again. Would love prayer for some progress int his area.
I am thinking about how weird and difficult things get normalized over time. We have slept int he living roon for almost three weeks now--Joanne on the couch and me on the love seat. Emma has joined us and is now sleeping in the big chair. If you take th eback cushion off and put the giant ottoman at the end of it it fits Emma just right. So the three of us spend the night in here and it is feeling pretty normal. The first few nights felt anything but.
Joanne is sleeping well. What an answer to prayer. The first nights after surgery she didn't sleep much at all and was miserable. But now she is at least getting a decent night's sleep in. That makes all the difference.
Oh, Joanne got her stitches out a couple of days ago. They removed that cast and everything looked good. Papa took a picture of the scar and it is WAY bigger than I anticipated. It's a honker! But they said it looks fine and taped it up before re-casting it. This time her cast is red and someone sent "cast-toos" that are like stick on tattoos for a cast. They are of Christmas lights so her cast looks very festive now for the season.
Prayer Requests:
1. Praise that Joanne is getting some sleep! Everything goes better with good night sleep. We are still awaiting the day when Joanne gets her walking cast and we can get upstairs to our room, but for now we are making it work.
2. Praise for the friends and family that have so faithfully stood with us through this process. It has taken a team to make life work and we are lucky to have an amazing team around us. I won't name names but you know who you are.
3. The girls are heavy on my heart these days. They, like the rest of us, are trying to make the best of it, but I know their little hearts are hurting. Please pray that they would be able to express their concerns and let those of us who love them help them through a very emotionally difficult time.
Toben
Tell that girl of yours I want to see pictures of that red decorated cast! So glad Joanne's sleeping well, and I'm glad you are safe - be careful out there! I will be praying for your intentions. Blessings to you all
Posted by: Susan | December 01, 2011 at 11:03 AM
The cast is beautiful. Thank you God for cheerful things when we aren't feeling too cheerful.
Posted by: Rose | December 01, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Thank the good Lord, he saved your tookus in the ice today!! so glad you articulated prayer requests specifically - that helps. praising the Lord for sleep - yes, it makes a difference for sure. continuing to pray...mama maniatis
Posted by: Jan Maniatis | December 01, 2011 at 03:52 PM
Thanks for the good news update! Praise Him for answered prayers. We will start to offer up special prayers for the girls AND you during the Christmas season. And we will not cease praying for a complete and total recovery.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
Posted by: Kim Feth | December 01, 2011 at 03:55 PM
Praising and praying with you...
Posted by: Kathleen T. Jaeger | December 01, 2011 at 09:12 PM
It's pretty lucky to find your webblog!Just one suggestion: It will be better and easier to follow if your blog can offer rrs subscription service.
Posted by: heat pump prices | December 01, 2011 at 10:53 PM
Praise God for being in the car with you this morning, and keeping you safe. I am so glad that Joanne is able to sleep now, every since I had my stroke, I have also had problems sleeping. My prayers remain with your precious daughters, this is so much for them to have to handle, may God bless them both. I ask God to watch over you, and give you extra strength to carry on. I am thankful for those family, and friends, that have been such a help to you, may they continue to be there.
Posted by: Denise | December 02, 2011 at 09:17 AM
Praising God for your safety this morning! In Seattle there would be no question, SCHOOLS CLOSED. Even though I don't know you, I feel like I do, I listen to Grounded every day. I listened back when you had the on-line chat, I liked that. Praise God for Ryan & Family Talk's understanding and support! Typing with one hand can be done, it just takes practice :)
Praying for the Heim Family,
Linda with one-hand
Posted by: Linda Hughes | December 02, 2011 at 10:26 AM
We're not hitting your blog in the numbers we were in January, but we're still out here reading and praying for you and your family! Do not think we've deserted you guys!
Glad to hear things are 'normalizing' what the heck that might mean in your situation. Sleep for Joanne is such good news to hear!
God keeping his hand on your lives is my prayer!
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | December 02, 2011 at 01:35 PM
Praise God for the safe place you have in the LORD! His amazing grace and watchcare over you on snowy roads is praise worthy...So thankful to hear the good report of Joanne being able to sleep, and for all the efforts into Joanne's recovery from stroke. With a family like you have (and your extended family of faith) we know the LORD is showing up and showing off, inch by inch! I'm hoping I can jump over to Kristen's blog and see a pic of Joanne's cast. I know it's got to be a real eye-catcher! Please let the girls know that so many are praying for them and are proud of them for all they do for you and their Mama.
Blessings,
Pam H.
Posted by: Pam Houston | December 03, 2011 at 06:45 AM
So glad you arrived safely!
I will definitely be praying for your girls.
Posted by: Erin | December 06, 2011 at 05:56 PM
Continuing to pray for you, Joanne, and the girlies. May He continue to be all that you need every moment!
Posted by: Anuja | December 07, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Continuing to pray for you Joanne. Hoping you are doing well. :)
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Posted by: Child of God | December 07, 2011 at 04:05 PM
I've read every post faithfully, Toben and Joanne, and my prayers have never ceased. I know THESE are the difficult days, when everybody else returns to "normal" and you're still left with the huge bomb that went off, trying to navigate your new lives. I can only imagine how frustrating and difficult this has been for you, and Joanne's comment of "adventure-less lives" really resonated with me. I am going to start praying that an adventure-FILLED life is right around the corner -- I know how that can infuse everybody with new hope. In the meantime, though, I'm praying Joanne's foot/leg heals more quickly than anybody imagined it could and that she's out and about in NO time.
Posted by: Karen Booker Schelhaas | December 08, 2011 at 08:26 AM
Hope your second trip to school was uneventful. God is indeed good in the way that He provides our needs.
Posted by: Seaweedandraine | December 09, 2011 at 02:36 AM
Miss your story hope all is well. Love from Snowy Maine and Rena
Posted by: Rena | December 25, 2011 at 01:18 AM
Thinking of you as you approach the New Year and 1st anniversary of Joanne's stroke.
I hope you find a way to get to the beach soon. I think a change of venue would help--even if your area of the world is pretty.
Posted by: Kim | December 27, 2011 at 04:58 AM
Hello, Hello, Hello???????? :)
Miss your stories.....
thinking of you....
remembering almost an year ago....
finding your blog and being inspired...
by Joanne, Toben and all...
and still following your blog...
you are a true inspiration...
hope you had a blessed Christmas....
and looking forward to more updates.:)
Heidi C.
Posted by: Heidi Carrico | December 27, 2011 at 03:15 PM
Still thinking of ya'll and praying for continued recovery and for the girls and your strength. Down in Louisiana it's more Brees...y (Saint's reference) than snowy Be careful!
Posted by: Fran Shea | December 27, 2011 at 08:58 PM
Happy anniversary! What an amazing marriage you have. Looking forward to updates when you can blog again.
Blessings.......!
Posted by: Michal | December 28, 2011 at 02:54 PM
Wishing Joanne continued recovery and many blessings for your family in the new year. Still praying in Vegas!
Posted by: Carol | December 30, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Thinking about your family and praying for a NEW year with peace, health, and additional progress and recovery.
God Bless You in the journey ahead.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | December 30, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Toben and Joanne~
Blessings to you both and to your entire precious family in this new year. You've been through the unimaginable and have seen God's grace to you all. I continue to think of you and pray for you all!!
Margie
Posted by: Margie Smallman | December 31, 2011 at 05:52 PM
I just typed a really long post and it went to internet land somewhere. If it shows up, I hope the messages remain similiar......
I want you to know I continue to pray for you and your family. I only corresponded once prior to your stroke. I had connected to something you had posted on LProof blog. It wasn't but a few days later when you experienced your stroke.
I have followed your blog and when I check back and there are no updates for a period of time, I continue to pray anyway! I am asking God to give each of your family members exactly what they need - in abundance.
For your precious girls, I ask God to fill them with peace and patience and understanding. I ask for their hearts not to be sad or in any way feel neglected. I ask God to help them know how very much they are loved and to find joy in the midst of this season of life.
For your husband, Toben, I ask God to give him a sense of humor and perseverance and stability to continue the course. I thank God for his prayers for his family. I thank God for his steadfastness and ask God to protect his mind and emotions. I ask God to protect him from falling to any unhealthy ways of dealing with this stress. Oh, how the enemy would love to use this time to torment. I ask God to station angels around Toben and protect him from attack and give him courage and strength for the battle.
For you, my precious sister in Christ, I ask God to help you see glimpses of the many ways HE is using you at this time. You gave your life to ministry to others, I pray you continue to see your usefulness and impact for The Kingdom, even while you focus energy on the day to day, seemingly uneventful tasks. Your dedication to continue working out, enduring painful treatments, and continuing to work hard - all impact me personally. I know you touch the lives of others, but if it's only for me, I want you to know it does not go without purpose. I am encouraged by you. I ask God to encourage YOU in your every day life.
I am asking God to restore your abilities. Praising Him for your ability to read and asking Him to continue to restore what has been taken from you.
Your family - they way they have come together and help - oh, how I hope my family will be able to do the same if ever called on to face similiar circumstances. Your father - blesses me with his love and time commitment to you. Your sister - your mom - your family - what a demonstration of God's love in action.
All this said to say, I may never meet you face to face this side of heaven, but you remain, my sister in Jesus Christ. I am cheering for you from Crosby, Texas and praying for God to give you exactly everything you need!
With Christ's love,
lee ann
Posted by: LeeAnn Lee | January 04, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Thinking of you today as the calendar nears Jan 11, 2012. Came back to your blog to see how you are doing? I think LeeAnn posted many of our similar prayers and hope for you and your family, so I agree with her in prayer today. God Bless You.
Posted by: Patt | January 07, 2012 at 09:23 AM