Happy Birthday, Marc!

Marc is ONE year old!.. I guess you would say he is "two" in Korean age (I don't fully understand how they count age) - but since we are Americans, I can confidently say he is one and (most) everyone knows what I'm talking about. But, I digress.
So, again... Marc is ONE!!! I can hardly believe it! It is so true how the moments (especially those middle of the night moments) were so slow, but the weeks passed quickly into months and now a full year. This past week I have been reminiscing on what life was like a year ago.. and boy am I glad we are not there right now. Instead, I spend my days with a smiling, giggling, always moving, in-to-everything boy that makes life so enjoyable and definitely keeps us on our toes.
And it is now official, we made it through one complete year that started with lots of prayer and a premature birth and led to 11 visitors post-Marc.. a trip to the United States and Mexico with a young baby... lots of sleepless nights and mosquito bites... even more prayer... rolling, sitting, crawling... baby-food making..., upclose and personal experiences with the Korean medical system... twice..., more prayer..., play-dates and pictures galore.

Speaking of pictures- I do have some to share:

He has changed a lot over the course of the year! Can you guess which month was repeated??

So, we live in Korea. And our family lives in the United States. Which means the easy, one big family/friend birthday party was definitely not an option... And after thinking, or agonizing really, for some time about how to formally recognize Marc's birthday... we decided to celebrate his little life as many times as our waistlines could handle.

To kick off Marc's birthday celebrations, we made cake #1 and brought it to our married couples small group on the Sunday before Marc's birthday. He got his bandages off is left hand two days prior, so we also celebrated the healing of his hand.

This is a special group of couples - most with kids around Marc's age - that we get together with several times a month after church (and yes, sit on the floor - we do live in Asia). As you can imagine, it can get crazy with all the little ones runny/crawling around!

This was Marc's first lick of icing and taste of cake... and he definitely wanted more! I guess he knows we've been holding out on him..

On Marc's actual birthday, Sunday the 27th, we had a Skype session with Jarrod's parents, grandmother, and sister's family before heading to church... it was so fun to see them and share in their joy of our sweet boy's birthday. (They also made a cake and ate it together in honor of Marc... do I get to count this in the total number of 1st birthday cakes??)
While we were skyping with them, we played a traditional Korean game where Marc chooses an object from a pile that represents his future... He could have chosen string to represent longevity, or rice for a life of plenty... a Bible (missionary/pastor), computer mouse (information technology), pencil (academic), fire truck (service), stethoscope (medical field), basketball (sports), wii remote (entertainment), and keys (?) were among the items to pick from...

Marc crawled to the pile and after some deliberation... he chose a basketball with his left hand and a stethoscope with his right. Atta boy. :) I'm not sure if you really get two choices, but we'll take it!

In Marc's Sunday School, called HopeZone, we brought baby birthday cupcakes to share with the kids and moms. Marc did a good job passing them out. :)Later that day, Marc opened presents and ate cake #2 with Mommy and Daddy.

It was a full day - we had so much fun playing with Marc.. he LOVES being the center of our attention!

He also loves him some cake!

And, finally- the next day - we had a birthday party with some Moms and kids in our neighborhood. It was a great excuse for a play date and so fun to have lots of little ones running around the house!

the girls were all about the cake (#3)...but the boys just wanted to play! :)

We are so thankful to have such supportive community around us here in Korea. After all of the thinking, planning, and rethinking what to do for Marc's birthday, we ended up having many fantastic celebrations - each one unique.
And I mean, really, it was a great excuse to have THREE cakes. and cupcakes.
Marc didn't complain.

Until next year then, Son... May this 2nd year of life be full of growth, discovery, love, and laughter... and a few less trips to the hospital, please.

With Thankful Hearts

We've got good news to share for the latest update on Marc's hand. This past Friday Marc got to see the burn specialist, once again- but this time it wasn't for a bandage change- it was for a bandage removal!

Here are some before and after photos:

Trying to make the most of life with one hand and one punching glove can have its difficulties...

But after 12 days of practicing patience... MARC GETS HIS BANDAGE OFF!

Time to work on those fine motor skills with BOTH hands again :)

We are rejoicing that Marc has experienced such quick healing- God has heard our prayers!
And as we get back to our normal routine again, we move forward with renewed trust in the Lord and renewed encouragement through your prayers (and a new hot water safety value).
Even though we don't know exactly what our days will bring, there is hope in knowing that we have God's very presence to see us through each and every situation.

"What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to Him?" Deuteronomy 4:7

I came home from my women's Bible study to find out that my grandmother, Me-me, has gone to be with Jesus.
 I had very little time to process before Marc needed my attention to put him down for a much over-due nap.  I started our usual routine, which is to sing him a couple of songs - including Jesus Loves me. And as I got to the second verse, the words hit me anew. I couldn't help but to cry as I sang... and at the same time be in wonder of where Me-me is now and how she could be looking down on us.  I realized that I cry because it is my loss, and I will miss having her in this life... but for her - it is such gain, for she has traded a weak and sinful body that was struggling for breath for the awesomeness of God's holy presence.  Praise God that this isn't the end of our story - but that we will be together again.

Here are the lyrics of the children's song; it the hope that we profess in faith that God is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do:

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;

Little ones to Him belong,

They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! He who died,

Heaven's gate to open wide;

He will wash away my sin,

Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me! loves me still,

When I'm very weak and ill;

From His shining throne on high,

Comes to watch me where I lie.

Jesus loves me! He will stay,

Close beside me all the way;

He's prepared a home for me,

And some day His face I'll see.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

We love you, Me-me!

"...Give Thanks on our behalf..."

Praise report!

1. Going to the burn specialist was the best decision we could have made - for many reasons. While getting Marc's dressings changed today, the doctor said that there was a big improvement from the last visit. Praise God!

2. We got to see a beautiful fresh, new layer of smooth skin coming through where the burned tissue had been!

3. Marc isn't requiring around-the-clock pain medications, and is still a happy, active little boy!

4. Marc is sleeping much better at night (and his mom is, too!)

Prayer: There is still an area around the knuckle and between his index and middle fingers that is burned deeply and has the potential for scarring. Continue to pray for complete healing and pain management in the meantime, especially during the dressing changes.

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for your prayers that have helped us. We give thanks for God's gracious favor as He's answered our prayers! Praise Him, for He makes all things new!

A Good Report!

We had a great visit with the burn specialist today.  He did a great job caring for Marc's wound which looks like it is finally on the mend - meaning no more blisters (though still awfully painful for him).  The specialist said that while there are some deeply burned spots on the back of his hand, he thought Marc's hand would heal in two weeks time with minimal scarring and that he would not need any skin grafts.  Praise the Lord!

Please continue to pray for that healing to occur and that even where there is more deeply burned tissue, no scars would form.  Pray for continued pain management and a good night's sleep, we all need it!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!... Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:4,6-7

prayer for Marc

On Sunday, Marc managed to push the hot water tab on our water dispenser and burnt the back on his left hand and his fingers.  We have been to the hospital 3 times now for dressing changes on this "very deep 2nd degree burn".  Each time we go, his hand looks worse (which is SO HARD on Mommy) and evidences of a deeper burn have been discovered.  During this last visit the doctor at our local hospital mentioned the possibility of skin grafting, but couldn't make a decision about it until he was able to tell the full extent of the burn, perhaps on our next visit.  We have decided to take Marc to a burn specialist at a hospital further away (that has the only burn center in Seoul) for a second opinion.

We appreciate your prayers for our family in this time.  Pray for Marc's healing - that his wound stay free from infection and would be less painful, and that he would heal completely with minimal scarring to his hand.   Also pray that he would sleep well at night and that he wouldn't be too frustrated by the large bandage over his hand.  Please pray for Marc's weary parents, as we try to make good decisions for him while we attempt to cope with the accident, an extra needy baby, and a foreign medical system.
Pray for wisdom for the doctors to do what they know to do to best treat this wound, and then that God would do what only He can do as Rapha Healer.

We praise God for our sweet son's generally good attitude as he learns to play one-handed, for Baby Einstein videos!, and that Marc leaves his bandages alone.

"...but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God... On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many"  

2 Corinthians 1:3-11