The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.
We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,
on him, on him.
Isaiah 53:2-6 The Message
In August, Michael was diagnosed by our pediatrician with a cholesteatoma. This is basically a growth in the middle ear that if not surgically removed will continue to grow and can cause a lot of problems including hearing loss. He had a CT scan done to determine how deep the growth went into his head and the Dr. was unable to determine if what he saw was additional growth or just fluid. We prayed and had many prayer warriors lifting our boy up to the One who truly heals! We were so blessed to have my sister, Sara, and my parents come for the week to support us. We were also humbled by the many people who prayed for Michael and came up to the hospital to pray for him there, sit with us during surgery and come by and visit afterwards. He went in for surgery September 16th. He did great and afterwards our doctor came out and was marveled at what he had seen. On Friday when Michael had the CT scan, the growth had been attached securely to his eardrum. When he went in to operate, the growth had completely detached itself and was just sitting there in his inner ear. All the doctor had to do was take it out instead of the "drilling" he had warned us he was probably going to have to do to get it all out. We asked him if he had ever seen that happen before and he said that no he had not seen it in his entire career! He also said he had no explanation. We know we do!! Our great God protected our precious boy and did a miracle. We feel strongly that God has amazing things planned for both of our boys. This is the second miraculous healing God has done in our Michael. When I was pregnant with him, a very irregular heartbeat was detected and after Jay laid his hands on my very pregnant belly and we asked God for His healing touch, the irregular heart beat went away completely! In fact, we went and saw a pediatric cardiologist who did an echo cardiogram on Michael's heart around 34 weeks and she said he had a "perfect heart!" So please join with us in praising God for being our healer. He is so good and so powerful and loves us so deeply. It is just amazing! Here are some pictures from surgery week :)
Aunt Sara came to visit us Sunday night after work and we had so much fun together before surgery! We took her to some of our favorite places like World's Fair Park and Market Square for lunch.
Fun with Michael in the fountains
The night before surgery we got us a HUGE pizza from Snappy Tomato! Yum Yum!
My beautiful family :)
On the way to the hospital. Michael did not let go of his new suitcase from Ama and Papa and his "Maisy goes to the Hospital" library book
With Mommy and Daddy waiting before surgery
Snuggling with his "Bear." I will always treasure these pictures with his bear. It is his favorite comfort item.
After taking his Versed (sedative) he was starting to get sleepy. This was about when Pastor Jaime came to pray for him and he kept saying "Amen, Amen" in agreement all throughout the prayer. It was hilarious and so cute to see him so loopy. Our dear friend Paul Eakle also came to pray for him during this time and got to see this very rare loopy side of Michael Caleb.
And he is out :)
Right after surgery. I will never forget how he looked when they wheeled him back to us. He was sitting up in the bed with his eyes half open so out of it. It broke my heart!! He slept for a while before waking up very upset to discover his IV ("Take it out!!" He screamed about his "special juice tube") and his "headband."
Sips of juice from Daddy
Jay was getting tired of all the pictures here I think :)
Our little family (My sweet Dad stayed home all day to take care of Joshua. He is such an awesome grandpa and got to really bond with our little guy.)
Asleep with the Popsicle in his hand :)
Sleeping on the pull out couch for parents after he had thrown up all over his bed. Poor guy had a lot of trouble holding food and drinks down. After some IV Zofran and a couple of hours, we were able to go home at 10:00 PM.
Papa and his boys :)
Megan sharing with her mom the extremely exciting news that we all had just found out- she is pregnant!!! We are thrilled for her and my boys and I are loving praying for baby Dillon :)
Relaxing in our massage chairs during our manicure! It was heavenly! We missed you this day, Lauren!
Megan, Cynthia, myself, Lauren and my beautiful mother in law, Debbie! 
Cynthia loving a huge piece of Mom's famous ice cream cake that she was served! Don't worry, I definitely finished off several pieces this size and bigger... yum yum!
Enjoying a fun picnic on the lake! Mom made this picnic gourmet with pannini sandwiches :)
Hot tub time!! 
One of our delicious meals!!
All the sister in laws after church
