MIKE PASSED HIS BOARDS!!!!!

We have very exciting news!!!! On Friday, we found out that Mike passed all the sections on part 1 of his medical boards!!! This is such an answer to prayer! Thank you to everyone who joined in praying for him! Now only 3 more sets of boards to go and then he'll finally be "Dr. Vennell"! He also just finished up tri 5 in school, so starting in the middle of May he'll finally get to start clinic hours and begin actually adjusting people. (This is the part he's been really looking forward to. He's such a 'hands on' type.) Also, beginning in September, if you're in the area you can come and sign up to be his patient at the clinic. The last full year of school he'll have patients through the school's clinic to care for. We need at least 10 new people, so if you're interested, let us know!

Other news: I've been such a bad blogger lately!

We decided on a name for our baby girl! We're going to name her Karis Brionne. (You say it like Paris, but with a 'k'.) It has a biblical meaning of graceful & mighty. We've actually had this name in mind for quite some time (before we started trying to get pregnant) but only decided on it for sure a few weeks ago. She's been very active lately. This last week we've been able to see her move, which at first was little freaky, but is just so neat!! We were watching tv one night and I could feel her moving all over the place, I looked down and my stomach was moving like crazy! You should have seen Mike's face! I wish I had a camera in my hand at the time! We've also been able to hear her heartbeat with Mike's stethoscope.

Everything else lately has been pretty normal. Mike's been studying hard, and I've been working. I've been doing a lot of reading lately. I'm trying to get all the reading and research done before Karis gets here. I know. I know. I sound like a big nerd, but I do like to prepare as much as possible!

ANSWERED PRAYER!

After 55 days in the hospital, Ryland is finally HOME!!!! Shane said that they are doing well, but are a bit exhausted! Ryland is doing just fine, although he's still a little bit weak. (He does laugh, though, when his legs start to shake. :) ) He still doesn't quite understand that he can't get up and run around like he was used to.

Keep the Reese's in your prayers as they continue to re cooperate! Praise God for His miracle- working power in Ryland's body!

We'll let you know how Ryland is doing every so often!

IT'S A. . . .

GIRL!!!!!!

We are so excited!!! Finally we know for sure! I can't wait to buy dresses & bows! (Mike's already talking shot guns on her first date.:) )Granny, you were right all along! Those of you who voted "girl" on the poll, great guessing!!

More importantly, the doctor said everything looks wonderful!! The baby is forming perfectly & everything looks normal!! She has two hands and feet, a healthy heart, & other organs look great! I told the sonographer that it always helps to have both hands & feet. She looked at me weird. I don't think she thought that was too funny! Anyways, We have a healthy girl!!!

If you look closely, she's waving "hello".

We'll See. . . .

Tomorrow is the big day! We'll finally get to see if we're having a boy or a girl!!! From the poll, most of you think that I'm having a girl, but it's only by a small margin! It has been a lot of fun hearing everyone's guesses and why they think they're right. It's kind of wierd too, though. When everyone stares to guess, it makes me feel like they're sizing me up or something. Mike & I are both really, really excited, and we don't care either way what it is. We just want a healthy, happy baby. We'll let you know!!!

Also, here's my first belly pic! My mom took it a few days ago. I think it just looks like I had one too many Twinkies. I still haven't worn any maternity clothes. Although, I don't think it will be too much longer. I don't have too many clothes that still fit comfortably. :) I do have this really great button extender that I'll probably start trying out. I hear it's better than the rubber band trick. (Thanks Brooke!)

Doing Great!!!!

It's day 52 at BSA, and Ryland is doing so well!! He is now in a normal room, doing speech & physical therapy, and they just removed his feeding tube! The doctors are really surprised at how fast he has been recovering. Tomorrow night they will be conducting a sleep apnea study on him to see if he still struggles with it. So far, he's gone 3 nights without any trouble. They're guessing that he might be able to go home sometime next week!!!

Keep praying that he'll continue to progress as fast as he has been, and that he'll be allowed to go home next week. Pray for Shane & Shana as they start to prepare things at home. Pray that they have all the help that they need, as well as some down time to relax. Also, pray that they will be able to minister to people at the hospital and bring others hope that are in the same situation. May God receive all the glory for this miracle!!

Prayer Request!

Please pray for my husband, Mike, today & tomorrow! This afternoon at 1:00 p.m. he takes is first round of medical board exams! Tomorrow he'll finish it up. We've been preparing for a while now, but can still use all the prayer we can get!!! Pray that he would have confidence knowing that he's done all he can do to prepare, and remember that if he's done his part, God will do the rest! We should find out how he did towards the end of April/beginning of May!!! He's one step further to becoming "Dr. Vennell" :)!!! I'm so proud of him!!!!

We Prayed. . . He Breathed! (on his own!!!!)

Ryland is officially ventilator free!!! This morning, just before eleven, the ventilator was take out of his mouth and rolled out of the room! He has had a little bit of trouble with some congestion still, but he is finally breathing completely on his own. Thank you all for joining with us to pray for him. He still isn't completely out of the "woods" yet, so keep praying that his body continues to heal and get stronger. Also, keep Shane and Shana in your prayers. They still have a long road of recovery ahead. Pray that they will continue to feel the love & peace of God all around them and that they would be able to be rested for the days ahead.



James 5:16 - "Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."