December 26, 2014 -- Merry Christmas from the Peacocks : )

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

December 16, 2014 -- Three Years Ago, This Journey Began. . .

It was three years ago from today that we sat in the Stollery Hospital in Edmonton in the PICU next to our sweet Hope, wondering if she was going to live. . .

December 4, 2014 -- A Couple Rougher Weeks

I have a quick post to request your prayers covering our girlie.  Her pain has started to worsen again.  Last week she was only able to attend school about half time, and this week has not been much better.

November 20, 2014 -- Two and a Half Months Down. . . This is a Marathon Recovery!!!

Hello dear ones!  I'm so sorry for my long silence on Hope's blog. . . it's been a busy last month for us and finding time to stop and write a post has been unattainable for me.  But we're kinda getting back on track here, and so I would love to give you an update on our sweet girl and family happenings. . .

October 15, 2014 -- We're at 6 Weeks Post Op!!!

Hope is at 6 weeks post op now.  Here is an update. . . 

October 7, 2014 -- 5 Weeks Post Op!!!

Hope is 5 weeks out from having her major back surgery!  Her slow progress continues. . .

September 30, 2014 -- Four Weeks Post Op!!!

Four weeks out now. . . here is an update on Hope's recovery. . . 

September 27, 2014 -- Hopeism

Even now as I begin to share this little story with you, I am starting to chuckle again. . . I don't know why I found this so funny, but it was the best belly laugh I've had in a really long time. . .

September 23, 2014 -- Three Weeks Post Op!!!

Hello dear ones!  I have another update for you on Hope's continued recovery from the major spinal and pelvic fusion surgery on Sept 2nd. . . we are 3 weeks out from surgery now, and here's how things are going. . . 

September 16, 2014 -- Two Weeks Post Op Today!!!

It's been a busy last couple days, and so I'm behind on getting an update out, but here goes. . . 

September 13, 2014 -- Post Op Day 11 -- All Cleaned Up!!!

An update for you on Hope's continued back surgery recovery. . . 

September 11, 2014 -- Post Op Day 9 -- Praising God's Grace!!!

Dear ones, you all must have been praying up a storm, and God's grace poured over our family mightily today!  I will just quickly share a few praises with you. . . 

September 10, 2014 -- Post Op Day 8 -- Brutal Spasms

Thank you so much for all your continued prayers for Hope and our family.  Here is a little update on her first two days at home. . .

September 8, 2014 -- Post Op Day 6 -- We're Home!!!

We are all so thankful to be at home!!!  We arrived home today at about 4:30 pm.  Here's an update on today and continued prayer requests as well as praises. . . 

September 7, 2014 -- Post Op Day 5 -- Improvement!!!

Praising God for overall, a much better day for Hope today! 

September 6, 2014 -- Post Op Day 4 -- Close to Home!

We had a couple great hours today, and the rest was so-so.  Here are some quick updates about post op day 4. . .

Sept 5, 2014 -- Post Op Day 3 -- Pain Continues

Hello dear praying friends and family!  I have another quick update for Hope's 3rd post op day.  Pain continues to be the biggest issue for Hope.  Here's a little recap of the day. . .

September 4, 2014 -- Post op Day 2 -- Patterns!

Hello dear praying friends and family!  It is very late, but I will give just a quick update on Hope's post op day 2, and her continued prayer needs. . . 

Sept 3, 2014 -- Post Op Day 1

An update on Hope's first post op day. . . 

Sept 2, 2014 -- As the Night Closes

Hello dear ones!  Let me try to give you an update on the last several hours since you last heard from me. . .

September 2, 2014 -- Surgery Continues

We just heard from the OR nurse again. . . 

Sept 2, 2014 -- Hope is in the OR Getting Set Up for Surgery

Well here begins the start of a lot of updates, which we will try to do as often as we can throughout this journey and especially as needs and prayer requests arise.

We arrived at hospital at 6:45 this morning and we all had a little time with Hope on the day surgery unit before Dad and Mom accompanied her into the OR holding room and then kissed her goodbye.

Here are some pictures. . . 

Sept 2, 2014 -- Hope Proclaims

A note from Hope:

September 1, 2014 -- Happy Birthday Hope . . . and Surgery Tomorrow!

On a day where there is usually a lot of excitement. . . the first day of school where we snap a picture of our dollie girls as they head off to another new year of adventure and learning together. . .

August 24, 2014 -- Prayer Update with Pictures from the Wedding!!!

Thank you, thank you to everyone for all the amazing prayers covering Hope throughout this last weekend as she participated in her uncle and new auntie's wedding!  It was a beautiful day, beautiful wedding, and Hope was able to enjoy the fun with much less pain than we've seen her in for the last month!  Praising God hugely for His amazing grace in this!!!  We have some pictures to share with you. . .

August 15, 2014 -- Musical Chairs Surgery Date!!!

Just a quick note to let you know that Hope's surgery date has been changed again. . .

August 6. 2014 -- New Surgery Date

Hello dear praying friends and family!  There has been talk of when Hope's surgery would happen for the last couple weeks, and just last week we finalized that.  I am finally getting a chance to let you all know the plan, as we definitely covet your prayers for the days and weeks ahead. . . 

July 19, 2014 -- Blessings Amidst the Hardships!

We are home and very thankful to God for safety in our travels and for the blessed visit that we had with our family in Oregon!  Hope and Gabi enjoyed playing lots of games (our family loves playing games!). . .  Hope killed us at Clue over and over.  Her memory of details is amazing!  And Gabs did an enormous number of huge puzzles that Auntie has collected from our childhood!  I love puzzles and we had a ton of fun doing these together!  We'd love to share a couple of our highlights from this wonderful visit with Grandma, Auntie Christy and Uncle Cody. . .

July 4, 2014 -- Happy Independence Day from the USA!!!

Hello dear ones!  I am writing this from Dallas, Oregon. . . let me fill you in on the last couple of days. . . 

June 30, 2014 -- Surgery for Another Day

The surgery for the 13 yr old girl ended a couple hours ago, and we were very thankful to hear that it went well for her!  Thank you for all your prayers for her and her family!

We were paged back to talk with our surgeon who was still eager to do Hope's surgery.  However, the surgery will not be happening today as there were not enough support staff to assist the surgeon with Hope's surgery as he reiterated that Hope's surgery is very complicated.  It would be unsafe to do it without adequate support staff. 

Click on Read More to continue to read this post. . .

June 30, 2014 -- Surgery is Still on Hold

Hello all!  Here is a limited update. We have had no internet access so it's been a challenge to get an update on here. Hopefully this will work and the connection will improve!

We arrived as planned at 6:30 am this morning even after the surgeon's heads up phone call last night. After a long wait and getting Hope all ready for surgery, we found out that the 13 year old girl who broke her back yesterday, was taken into surgery here this morning at around 8 am. So Hope is NOT in surgery right now!

Click on Read more below to continue to read this post. . .

June 29, 2014 -- Last Minute Curveball

Well, we are set for surgery in just a few hours. . . 

June 29, 2014 -- Hope Proclaims

A message from Hope:

Hello friends!  You can be praying for me definitely this week, as I have a major surgery going on tomorrow.  It's called back surgery.  I think you all know that by now.  

I'm feeling pretty disappointed that God isn't doing it my way (to not have the back surgery), but I know that God has a different plan for me.  Maybe He has a different plan for me, like healing me before the doctor's eyes. . . that would be neat!  I can trust God even though I'm going through a huge trial right this moment, like in James 1:2-4 where it talks about. . .

June 24, 2014 -- Six Days to Go

Back surgery in less than a week . . . I will share some specifics of the surgery and recovery so that you can be praying for Hope.  Dear ones, let me start by saying we are still praying for healing for Hope. . . humbly and boldly beseeching our Heavenly Father as 3 year olds who don't know what we're asking for, but trusting that God will hear our heart's cry, and provide the grace for however He will answer according to HIS good and perfect will and according to the good of those called according to HIS purpose. . .and we will continue until the minute that Hope is wheeled into surgery, and even then!

June 19, 2014 -- Unexpected Answers to Prayer

It is with a very heavy and broken heart that I write this post . . . and yet I can say this of our family, by God's grace. . .

June 12, 2014 -- Please Pray for our Hospital Extravaganza Tomorrow!

Calling all prayer warriors to please be in prayer for us tomorrow morning. . . we will be spending four hours or more at the children's hospital having all the preparatory tests, consults, and appointments for the major back surgery scheduled currently for June 30th.  We will start with a new x-ray of Hope's spine and then meet with the back surgeon before proceeding with the rest. . .

May 28, 2014 -- His Truth Endures Forever!!!

Our Beautiful Hope!

This is a picture of Hope from the summer of 2009, when we stopped at Mount Rushmore en route to our next adventure in Chicago as Trev began his year at the Harvest Bible Fellowship Training Centre.  I love this photo as I remember taking it still. . .

May 26, 2014 -- Doctor Appointment in the Morning. . . Please Pray!!!

We would love to have your prayer for us as we meet with Hope's orthopedic surgeon for her severe back scoliosis tomorrow morning!  This will be our last time of meeting with him to ask questions and seek the Lord for whether we will agree to Hope having back surgery. . . they currently have her surgery booked for June 30th.  We are desperately seeking the Lord's leading and peace for this very difficult decision.  We also desire to share very openly our faith and a quick testimony of what God has done in Hope's life thus far, just to explain why this is not an easy quick decision for us, but also to have the opportunity to share where our hope lies for Hope's continued recovery.  I'll give an update on the upcoming back surgery in the next few days.  Thank you so much dear ones!!!  So, very thankful for the amazing comfort and grace through the many prayers lifted up on our behalf for our little girlie!  You are so very loved, dear ones!!!

May 23, 2014 -- Another Goodbye!!!

Hope had an ultrasound done on Tuesday this week, and then we followed up with the neuro-surgeon just yesterday afternoon, so here is an update on Miss Hematoma and how our sweet girlie is doing in her recovery from the baclofen pump surgery and the hematoma/infection complications. . .

May 11th, 2014 -- Happy Mother's Day even with Miss Hematoma Hanging Around

Happy Mother's Day to all you precious mommies out there who everyday love on your kiddies!!!  Truly children are a blessing from the Lord!!! 

Click on "Read More" to continue reading this post. . .

May 3, 2014 -- Thank You for Your Prayers!!!

Just wanted to give you a quick update and huge thank you for everyone who continues to keep our girlie in prayer. . .

May 2, 2014 -- Scary Seizure and Slurred Speech

Hello dear ones!  We are home. . . arrived yesterday evening.  Hope was doing well and got to go straight to youth and catch the last part of her youth night where a testimony was shared.  Testimony nights are her favorite and she did not want to miss it. . . so thankful for how much she loves it!  She was having a fair bit of myoclonic jerks that night, but that can happen when she's tired and her body has been through a lot, which this past week would definitely describe. . .

May 1, 2014 -- Going Home Soon, Prayerfully!!!

Hope is doing good today and it looks like we are going to get to go home.  Here's what's going on. . .

April 30, 2014 -- God Performs Surgery!!!

After a really long hard day yesterday, we are filled with hope that our Hope is on the mend!!! . . .

April 28, 2014 -- Tests Begin and Possible Infection Source???

Well, it's Monday and with all the regular doctors back, both neuro-surgery and infectious disease, more things are happening. . .

April 27, 2014 -- Where, oh where are you, infection?

Hello dear praying friends and family!  Just a quick update tonight as not much hugely new to tell you. . .

April 26, 2014 -- Furious Fevers and Vicious Vertigo

Hello dear praying friends and family!  Here is another update on the past several hours. . .

April 26, 2014 -- Decisions and Waiting. . .

Hello dear prayer warriors!  An update from this morning. . .

April 25, 2014 -- Room #15

Hello dear praying friends and family!  Hope is settled onto the unit now in hospital.  She is in the 15th room that she has stayed in at this children's hospital.  We kept lots of different number tallies for fun to help lighten the mood of the many room moves and trips to/from ICU 2 years ago.

Click on "Read More" below to read the rest of this post. . .

April 25, 2014 -- Please Pray!!! In the ER!!!

Hello all!  Just have an urgent request for prayer as Hope developed a sudden serious infection today.  These are the text updates sent to family so far. . .

April 18, 2014 -- We're Home!!!

We are home from the hospital!!!  So thankful to be home!

Please click on "Read More" to continue reading this post. . . 

We Slept! Post op Day 2

Hello all!  Finally getting chance to send another update.  We've had a busy morning, but a much better one than yesterday's for sure!

Click on "Read More" below to continue reading this update. .  .

Crisis Morning but Better Now

Hello dear prayer warriors!  It has been an eventful day and I'm finally getting a quick few minutes to send you updates for prayer needs. . .

Middle of the Night Issues

Hello dear praying friends and family!  Hope asked me to please post this on her blog and ask people to pray.  I cannot say how it blesses this tired mama's heart to hear my daughter ask me to do that. . . she knows where her hope lies. . . in the God who is hearing every single word uttered on her behalf and always at work, and her knowledge that so many people love her so much to be praying for her throughout this journey.  Thank you just doesn't quite cut it for the thanks I have in my heart to the Lord for each and every one of you, dear ones!!!

Here is a list of things going on and how you can be praying. . .

Out of Surgery/Recovery and Settled into her Room on the Unit!!!

Hope took a while to wake up in recovery, but she is currently settled into her room on the unit now!  Surgery went well and the "hockey puck" is gone, along with all the catheter tubing that went with it!  : )  Yeah!!!

Click on Read More below for the rest of the update. . .

Pre-op Wait and Into Surgery

Hello dear praying friends and family!  Here is an update on Hope's pre-op wait and time up until going into surgery. . .

April 15th, 2014 -- Baclofen Pump Removal Surgery Today!!!

Hello dear prayer warriors!  We would love to have your prayers covering Hope today as she has the surgery to remove her Baclofen pump!  Her surgery is slated for about 12:30 pm today.  We'll arrive at the hospital and get admitted around 10:45 am.  Then Hope will need to have some pre-op blood work drawn. . .

April 13, 2014 -- Update on Hope in School

. . . and now for an update on how Hope is doing in school!!!  It has been amazing watching how far God has brought Hope since school started!  We literally had no idea that she was going to take off like she did!  She has continued to surprise and delight us throughout this first semester.  We just received her first progress report and honestly, it is nothing short of a miracle that she is being able to complete work at par with the other Grade 6 students.  I'll maybe break this update into subjects to start with and then share some general information. . .

March 25, 2014 . .. . Update Part Two -- Hope's Back Surgery for Severe Scoliosis

And now for an update on Hope's scoliosis and the back surgery that is recommended to correct it.  Hope's condition is very severe and complex.  I'll do my best to try to explain the details around it so you can know best how to be in prayer for her and for us as we make decisions. . .

March 20th, 2014. . . Update Part One -- Hope's Baclofen Pump!

Hello dear praying friends and family!  We had four doctor appointments last week, a series of x-rays, and a WHOLE lot of information.  We have been praying and sorting through it, doing some of our own research, and seeking the Lord's direction, and we are eager to share with you where things are at.  As there is A LOT of information, I am going to break it up.  I will start with the internal Baclofen pump and our visit to the neuro-surgeon, and then touch on the other three doctor appointments related to Hope's severe back/hip scoliosis in my next post.  For you to understand the full impact of this update on Hope's Baclofen pump, I will first need to go back. . .

Request for your Prayer . . . March 12, 2014

Hello dear friends and family!  I just have a quick minute to ask for your prayers for our family, once again. . .

Hope has had one doctor appointment already this week, and we are about to head off to another one in a few minutes.  Then we have another tomorrow, and another on Friday.

Each of these appointments are part of making some very big decisions regarding Hope's health and future, including two possible surgeries.

We would be so blessed to have your prayer lifting us up to our gracious Heavenly Father, as we seek Him for wisdom and His leading in the decisions that will be made, wisdom for the doctors, and peace for our hearts throughout this. 

I look forward to sharing more with you as soon as we know more and how you can then be praying specifically.  In the mean time, please know how very much we love and appreciate each and every one of you!!!

You are so loved, dear ones!!!

Hope's Terrific Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipe

Several of you asked for Hope's Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe, and. . . here it is!!!  I videotaped her telling the recipe as I thought you'd enjoy that most!  : )  So without further adieu. . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDU6iQ8mPAs

Daddio is Home!!! : )

Hello dear praying friends and family!  Thank you so VERY much for the outpouring of your precious prayers and notes of encouragement, as well as the practical ways that many of you served our family over this past couple weeks while Trev was away!  God used each and every one of you to bless and care for our family, while Trevor had the privilege and joy of travelling to Nepal and training dear pastors and leaders there.  Their time in Nepal was very fruitful, and Trev said it was so encouraging and humbling to see the growth in the pastors/leaders there, and the ways that God is at work in mighty ways through His church!

Click on Read More to continue reading this post. . .

February 25, 2014 . . . Prayer Requests While Trevor is in Nepal

Hello dear praying friends and family!  It has been much too long since I have been able to post, and this will not be long, but I do have several updates in the works and coming. . .

January 11, 2014 -- Hope Proclaims

It has been too long since my last entry for Hope Proclaims. . . I'm sorry for that!  I want to get better at sharing these with you more often.  Thankful that God continues to pour grace over me, a definite "work in progress!"

Click on Read More to continue reading this post. . .