December update - exiting month

 

The year has come and gone so quick. December seems to have had a lot of good news. On the 3. December I removed the Nasal gastric feeding tube and Celina is eating and drinking again all by herself. Amazing. The doctor is very impressed and happy with the developments of this year and has said goodbye to us because he is going into retirement. Thank you to Dr Lund for 10 1/2 years of amazing and absolutely dedicated service. I guess with the amount of times he was involved in Celina's life especially over the last 4 years he is almost like family. So we are saying good bye to him with sadness in our hearts. May he have a abundantly blessed retirement. We will miss him.

 

Then on the 15. December the day of days. Celina's new wheelchair arrived. Oh so beautiful. Would I have every thought in my life that I would get so exited over a wheelchair? No definetely not. I almost cried when we unpacked the huge box in the middle of our lounge with Celina watching us. I almost felt like fainting. Then the lifting of the box and here it was sooooo beautiful. What a colour what spoke guards. Just one of a kind.



 

check out my new pimped wheels

 

showing off my new ride  in the shopping mall

 

After long waiting and some delivery trouble from Jo burg to Cape Town our wonderful new wheelchair Ferrari arrived and is fantastic. Just love it. Especially the spoke guards. Thank you Bankmed for still paying for it and thank you Lord for all the background work.

 

And then their was Christmas which was quite relaxing this year. Still lots of cooking and baking but done with no stress and lovely results. Everybody enjoyed it.

 

On the 28. December still Celina's 13. birthday also much calmer then usually and just a small group of people and lots of lekker food and fun.

some lekker birthday cake

 

some friends and a school friend

 

cozy get together

 

uncle Bertie

 

cousin Tyler

 

and with mommy and auntie Mish I had a great time to start my teenage hood

 



 

Celina is getting so big and growing into a little woman. She has developed a cute little teenage figure, a beautiful smile and giggle and is gone tall and heavy to carry. She is the most loved girl in the world. We are looking forward to a 2015 with miracles and wonders, healing, prosperity, love and a great new job for Clint.

We would also like to thank everybody who has been there for us this year, in many different ways for all the prayer and love surrounding us. Because of you and our big great God we had a great year still with challenges but always being lifted up and staying strong in Jesus.

 

Thank you Lord for this year, for your love, for never leaving nor forsaking us and for keeping us strong. We love you Lord and looking forward to another year with you on our side, in us, around us and working through us changing the world and making history!

Hello Family, friends and all the other wonderful people who get to read this

 

After a hectic and very challenging year 2013 this years was much better. Celina has progressed nicely with all the therapies, school education, and love she has received.

Thanks to all the people helping us in many different ways we were able to keep up her diet and get her off almost all medication. She hasn’t been constipated the whole year and also had no lung infections. She has been only once in hospital over a weekend with 2 styes on her eye but otherwise has been very well. She had 2 pre molars  removed which were standing in second row and that also has brought relieve to her mouth and helped to improve her eating and drinking. We hope that in about 2 weeks time we will also say good bye to the NG tube again. So all in all a good year.

 

The only downside is that Clint has lost his job and with that we do not have a medical aid anymore. Yet the medical aid has still blessed us with the money for her new wonderful wheelchair.

At the moment Celina is going without any therapies besides what I can manage to do. Furthermore the work on her mouth is not finished yet. After having a palate plate for a couple of month her mouth is better already. Braces need to be done and without a medical aid this will cost us R 24 000. Then at a later stage she will still need surgery to lift her upper jaw to have her mouth close fully again.

 

Besides all that:

Our never ending costs for Celina will carry into the new year and she is getting heavy which means we will need to employ someone to help with certain things. Not forgetting the daily costs of supplements, special foods, nappies, wet wipes and more. It would be also nice to have at least some of the therapies, to get input on how to go on at home. And since Celina is turning 13 in December Red Cross Children Hospital is also not taking her on anymore. To have at least a hospital plan for her we need a monthly R 2000.

Our  funds have almost dried up and we need to keep her diet up to have another good year.

On this blog on the right top you will also find a list of goodies we need for her on a weekly base.  

If you are able to assist us in any way please feel free to contact us and if you would like to bless us financially the bank details are below.

Thank you to everybody who supported us this year in so many ways and we thank all the amazing people who continually keep us in their prayers.

 

We wish you all a peaceful and happy Christmas with your loved ones as we remember the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus.

Love and Blessings to all.

Clint, Manuela and Celina

Celina Aspeling

Absa Bank

Acc 9173922627

Bank code 632005

Swift no.: ZAJJ6320059173922627
or   ABSAZAJJ6320059173922627

Manuela’s contact details:

elpizokidz@ gmail.com or 0825468523

 

 

 

Time is just flying too fast

Hello, hello


and again another 4 month gone. Germany has come and gone. We had a fabulous time with Granny and the rest of the family. Nice summer weather and with that got around the Cape Town winter.
Celina had quality time with Oma.

Oma and Lini

Lini taking a nap

holiday mood in my brothers garden

No this is not a toy it is real and quite amazing

And up into the plane

secured and off in a van to the next plane

                          standing all by herself

a visitor from business class and Lini taking a break from her seat on mommies lap

Now it is almost 2 month later and it feels like we have never been away. And so much has happened here already in this last 2 month. We got lots of therapies approved. Altogether 10 sessions a week and a wheelchair worth R 70 000 from Germany. Everything went well and Lini was going so good. We started Neurofeedback and could see already small changes after 3 weeks. 

And the came the explosion. Clint was exited unfairly from his office without warning from one minute to then next. He asked and was told we had still medical aid til the end of October which we found out a week later wasn't like it. His employer had resigned him from  medical aid already on the 30. September. I had to cancel all therapies and we weren't quite sure if the medical aid would still pay for the wheelchair. And the bills of the therapies we had done still after the 30. September would also come to us. 

We were so overwhelmed in the first couple of days we felt like paralyzed. But God is good. He faithfully stood by us. We still went through with the pulling of Celina's two pre molars in second row which seemed to make a real difference with the eating and drinking as if there was some pressure taken off in her mouth. And our amazement we had very understanding doctors and clinic. We were financially so blessed and left with almost nothing to pay. 

After sweating for about 3 weeks we got the good news that the money for the wheelchair came through and the chair is in production right now and will arrive just before Christmas. So, watch out on this blog in December for a pic of Lini's new drive.

Thank You Lord. God is good. We trust for a great job for Clint with the right working times and a great salary and a wonderful working climate, for fully paid study fees for myself  and mostly like always for Celina's complete healing. Thank You Lord for Your promises and Your love for us. Thank You that when we are weak You make us strong in Christ. Thank You that You gave Your beloved son for our salvation. Help us to keep our focus on You. 

AMEN

Time just flew wow 3 month later

I can't believe it is 3 month since I have written the last post. Time for an update. Celina has been at home, at school and not been really sick or at least not so sick that she needed to go to the hospital.

About a month ago she started again with slight spasms and we went to a gastroenterologist this time.
He thought it was reflux and put her on meds for this which helped speedily. The other thing was that I was fighting against open wounds in Celina's groins already since December and nothing really helped besides Daktarin which is an anti fungal ointment. This seemed to help to a certain point. It never healed completely. About 3 weeks ago I started doing some research on the net and stumbled over a testimony of a woman. She had the same symptoms like Celina. Starting with nasal problems going down to reflux then runny tummy/constipation and finally skin rashes. Celina has on top of it still the open wounds in the groins. This lady was put on Fluzol tablets which is an anti fungi. And all symptoms vanished.

2 weeks ago I went with Celina to the Pediatrician for our last check up before leaving for Germany. This appointment came in handy because Celina wasn't well at all. X-rays showed that her lungs and sinuses were completely clear and fine. So it was just a bad cold. Doctor put her on a nasal antibiotic and nebulizers. Thank the Lord we have a nebulizer. And then I spoke to him about the whole fungus story and he took a swab in the groin area and put her on Fluzol 1 capsule a week for 6 weeks. We are still waiting for the swab results. They can take up to 6 weeks.

Well, Celina slept 3 full days and nights and then came slowly through again. She is off the meds and nebulizer again and is laughing a lot and is in a very good mood. 4 days left to go. Germany is very close the suitcases are packed besides the last little bits.

Everything is set for us in Germany. My mother is living in a townhouse kind of house and she had my brothers put in a staircase lift so that I do not need to carry Celina up the stairs to the bedroom. And she said she needs it too because she is not so good on her feet anymore.
A special bed for Celina is also organized and my youngest brother has taken on to try and build a simple standing frame for her for weight bearing(he is a very talented carpenter). The flight is sorted with extra 23 kg for medical luggage. And also with help to and from the aircrafts.

Yesterday we still had our last after hip op check up and the orthopedic surgeon was impressed with Celina's mobility in her hips and legs although they are still dislocated. She is standing about an hour with no problem in the standing frame. And sitting and laying is no problem too. Still 2 1/2 years before the hip replacement can be done.

For now it is just Germany excitement. Getting the last bits done. Getting ready for take off. Two and a half month summer. Mmmmmmmh and then coming back for the start of spring. So no winter for us besides the little bit we are still having now.

Besides all that Celina has started making far more sounds and is focusing and following with her eyes amazingly. So I decided to get her a tablet to put some educational programs on to work with her on it. The Speech therapist is already sometimes doing some small things on her phone with Celina and it is amazing to watch her reaction.

I will still get the tablet on Friday and then load up some apps so that we have something to do on our 11 1/2 hour flight. And then there is another new friend she has which the speech therapist brings to get her to make more sounds because he makes a lot of sounds.

 

There are a whole lot of them out there a whole collection. Guess what our next mission is??? Getting some of them. She loves this one and she echoes the sounds he makes, slowly but getting better every time.

 

The next blog will come from Germany. Until then byeeeee.

 

Like always all praise and honor and glory to God our Father and Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.

 

And all thanks go to our wonderful Lord and Saviour for all He has done and for never leaving our sides. We love you Lord.

Blessed, blessed, and more blessed

Another 6 weeks gone so fast since my last post. So much happened. We have given in to the medical aid quite some motivations and got everything approved. Twice a week Physio, twice a week OT for 3 month. Speech also twice a week till the end of the year and on top of it once a week aqua physio.

that is fun and I just love it.

 

And then the biggest blessing........Celina and myself are leaving on the 22. June for Germany to see the family for 2 month. Clint is coming a little later. We will all be back on the 21. August.

And then we might also soon start with the hippo therapy(horse riding) again. I might push this until we are back from Germany.

Celina had a good year so far. No sickness and we are going slowly forward with the oral feeds and also have started with oral drinking again. What we found out during the whole feeding thing is that Celina's digestion slows down considerately with the introduction of animal proteins in form of fish. Eggs are fine. They are also much easier to digest. When we started with the fish she just had a stool every 5 days. We then started giving her some ground linseeds with it. It seems to slowly get a little better. All in all it is a very slow process and it will probably still take a while before we are rid of the NG tube. We haven't even yet started her on chicken or meat.

 

Another good news is that I will learn how to insert the NG(nasal gastric) tube myself. Exiting!!! Celina has also put on quite a bit of weight and looks really good. Due to the heat we experienced over the last couple of weeks she has picked up a quite nice tan too.

 

The other new thing is that Celina makes more sounds and they are more and more appropriate. Her eye communication is also continuously progressing. I started speaking German with her again so she is not going to have a language shock when we go to Germany in 3 month.

School is going well and there are a lot of craft works of Celina on the classroom walls which hasn't been the case last year because of all her hospital stays.

So, like you can see we are very busy.

 

And oh yes another thing. We found a new orthodontist after finding out that our one had left the country. And now Celina is getting another palate plate to sort out her mouth, teeth,tongue, lips to get her mouth to close again. That is also very exiting. This could make a huge difference to her eating and drinking and also help her develop speech.

Mommy helps me brush my hair.

And check out how long my hair is.

 

 

Keep on following the blog to see what is happening in this excitement promising year.

It started blessed and I believe it will end even more blessed ...... abundantly blessed.

 

Thank you Lord for this is the year that the Lord has made and we will be glad in it.

 

THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS, HEALING, PROSPERITY AND MUCH MORE WE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE BECAUSE YOU GAVE YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON JESUS CHRIST. MOSTLY THANK YOU FOR OUR SALVATION WHICH CHANGED OUR LIVES SO AMAZINGLY.

 

 

 



A new year and new adventures and back to school too

There we go half of January gone again. Celina had put on 3kg in 6 weeks and we had an appointment with our dietician and did some little changes to her eating plan. She still goes well and strong. We also started with little amounts of water (20-30 ml) after  each oral meal just to clean her mouth and get her slowly used to drinking liquids again and it goes wonderful.
Still I want to go small steps with her so that her body can get used to everything again.
On the 15. January school started again and Celina loved it. The last two weeks she is also quite verbal(sounds) with one of the occupational therapist and doing fantastic eye communication. She is busy learning colours and putting them together with same colour objects. And all with the eyes. It is really amazing to watch this.

I am soooo cool doing my exercises with Candice. It"s nooooo problem

and check this, standing is my favourite

and always in a good mood and laughing even if there is nothing to laugh about. Hey it could be worse.

 

Thank you Lord that we are alive and healthy looking forward to a great year because you are with us always.

Exciting

Wow the new year starts with some excitement. I decided to ask the nurses at the hospital to train me in putting in the NG tube (nasal gastric feeding tube). So, last week I was watching everything more closely and got all the explanations what one must look out for and must do.
Today I did Celina's tube insertion the first time myself. Went all fabulous, no problem. No crying just straight in. OK, one or two little coughs but otherwise quick and easy. Three more times to the hospital and then I am on my own. A couple of years ago I would have never even dreamt of doing things like that. Amazing.
Well learned something new. But I must admit I was sweating quite a bit. And then when it was in place and checked and confirmed to be in the right place namely in the stomach I had an adrenaline rush. I was so excited that it went so easy and right the first time.
Thank You Lord for giving me a steady hand and understanding and peace for doing this.

Oh and I almost forgot....more excitement.....we weight Celina today aaaaaaand she put on 2.4 kg in just over a month. I thought something wasn't quite like it used to be. Like I felt like carrying a rock.
It is great that she put on weight and she looks really good but 2,4 kg in just over a month is a bit much for my biceps' and can definitely not go on in that speed. Well we are anyway on for our next appointment with the diatician in the next two weeks.

And then this year we are also going to sort out her teeth. Which most probably means another palette plate and maybe braces. Anyway you will hear all about it.

Physio and OT are also approved for the next 3 month each 2x per week.

Thank you Lord for such a good start of the year and we believe that it will just go on like this. Positive, successful and victorious. And all to the glory of our Lord.