Yesterday we completed our first semester of school. Woo-hoo! It’s always encouraging to make progress.
And, more interestingly, Caleb actually completed his math book yesterday. We started him in math last spring (before he “officially” started kindergarten – ah, the benefits of homeschooling)…so now he’s done with Saxon Math 1! Next week we’ll start on Saxon Math 2 (what we use for first grade math, actually a remedial second grade math). Good job, Caleb!
We got the biopsy results (ALREADY! way earlier than expected!), and….
The test was negative!
Grace has NOT been diagnosed with Celiac Disease!
To temper our excitement a little bit, we do have follow-up bloodwork in six months and another appointment with the gastroenterologist to discuss how to proceed. From our discussion yesterday, I understand that if her antibodies are still present, we’ll do another scope.
So, at the very least, God has given us another six months of freedom in our diet. Thank you, Lord!
More than that, we are going to be praying that He completely eliminates the antibodies from her little body in the next six months. We have a BIG, POWERFUL God who is the Great Physician, and He can do it if it pleases Him. Will you join us in asking Him for that?
First of all, I just have to say THANK GOD for the awesome medical facilities and expert doctors we have in our city. What a blessing!
We were up early for Grace’s endoscopy/biopsy today. We even arrived at the hospital about 15 minutes early, which (if you know us) is a small miracle in itself! 
There were five people in Grace’s room besides the three of us: a sedation guy, a nurse tech, two nurses, and the gastroenterologist (specialist performing the scope/biopsy). We were able to stay with her until she was asleep, which was a very quick process thanks to some drugs in her IV.
The procedure itself was very fast. Maybe 10 minutes. The doctor came to get us from the waiting room and told us that her insides looked good. There was nothing that was readily identified as celiac disease, but he did take multiple tissue samples to biopsy. We will have results in about a week (or a little more).
It’s interesting to talk with the doctor. He said that if we don’t have a positive result, we will continue testing every six months (because of her high antibodies). At this point, it sounds like the point is not to see IF she has celiac disease but to scientifically CONFIRM that she has celiac disease. We’ll keep you posted on results.
Here’s a last shot of our girl, with her special balloon. (Ah, we do love Tangled!)
A special thanks to our friend Sheri (and her family), who watched the other three kiddos for us and gave Grace the snuggly orange blanket you see in the pictures from today. Also, thanks to our friends the Perrys for stopping by to pray with us, encourage us, and bring Grace some gifts! Thanks to the rest of you, too, who prayed for Grace today! God hears your prayers! We are so blessed!
Gracie’s endoscopy/biopsy is Wednesday morning (8am arrival, 9am procedure). Please pray with us for her safety, and for the truth to be revealed.
I was looking at this cookbook this afternoon, and the foreword was written by a gastroenterologist from the Cleveland Clinic. This quote about celiac disease caught my attention:
“Those who were characterized as potential (pre-celiac) had never had an abnormal biopsy but tested positive when specific antibody testing was done. At least one publication has reported that seven of seven patients who would qualify as potential celiacs developed an abnormal biopsy within one to three years.”
God only knows, and He certainly has a plan! But if that study is correct, it looks like the times are changin’ again!
Scripture memorization is so vital to living a godly life, and yet, when I attempted to memorize 24 Scripture verses/passages this past year along with Beth Moore and the Siestas, I totally failed. There are a few reasons…It’s hard for me to narrow down the Bible to 24 verses I want to memorize. I felt paralyzed by all the choices. Then, when I did choose, I chose passages that were too lengthy for a beginner like me. And last, I was simply too lazy and undisciplined. (How’s that for honesty?)
But this year, my friend Kay (Hi, Kay!) sent me a link to a different Scripture memory challenge, hosted by a woman right here in GR! Instead of the participants choosing their own verses, we’ll all be memorizing the same Scriptures together, in an A to Z format. So, every other week Cindy (the author of the “She Sparkles” blog) will give us another verse to memorize together.
The first verse is Joshua 24:15b: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Want to join? If you need more incentive than hiding God’s Word in your heart, Cindy will also have giveaways with each new verse.
Check it out here! I’m joining, and I hope you all will help keep me accountable!
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