Leo Clement

What do you call something that can't be defined, labeled, predicted, researched, or categorized? Perhaps you would call that something a riddle. But this riddle has no right answer. There is no cheat sheet on the back that can tell you what to expect. There is no teacher who has the right answer in her book, waiting until the right moment to divulge the eagerly awaited answer.  Neither is there a doctor, rich in knowledge and experience, who can make a sure diagnoses and heal a broken heart. Thus, perhaps you would change the word "riddle" to "mystery," as in one of those great "unsolved mysteries." Leo is surely on the top of that list. Yesterday we had a visit with one of the prominent neurologists at the hospital to look at Leo man's new MRI slides. I suppose that both Justin and I thought that somehow, he would be able to provide us with some clear answers as to our little guy's new diagnosis and prognosis. I think we should have known ...

So in yoga there is a pose called the Tree. It's a balancing pose, so you stand on one leg, the other bent up with your foot resting above your knee. There are all kinds of variations of this pose, but the essential part, the foundation of the tree, never changes. Just like a real life tree, it is rooted into the earth, and although there are gales and windstorms, the tree stays firm in the midst of the tempest. I realize that the only way to survive the hardships of these sudden and completely uncontrollable forces of life is this ability to root down in your foundation, while the rest of you remains fluid and able to shift in the wind. Your foundation has to be solid though, no building it on sand! Our foundation we have come to know, is built on the most powerful of all forces. It is built on the solidity of faith, love and most of all, prayer. Even though, today we are reeling from the recent news, our foundation is steadfast and pure. And it has proven to us, once again, that ...

A quick update: Leo had his MRI this morning, and it all went well. We got to hold his hands and be there when they put him under with the anesthesia. Although it did take them four tries with the IV because of all his lovely baby chub. He enjoyed the long hour and half nap in the MRI machine (finally a nap without interruptions from screaming 4yr olds, slamming doors and dropped pans etc) and came out of it slightly groggy but still with his usual sweet smile. What a tough dude! He has had several seizures tonight, but they did mention that sometimes the drugs can lower the seizure threshold in kiddos for a little while. Hopefully tomorrow he will be back to 100% and no seizures. Although the helmet wearing gets more serious, (took a break from it today) with the hours getting longer. In five days we need to work up to the full 23 hrs. I know everyone is very interested in the results of the scans, and I am assuming that we will get a phone call from his docs in the next couple of da...

Wow an eventful day in the continuing Leo saga! Finally after three months of paper work and nagging insurance companies, Leo was outfitted with his own personal football helmet...Umm not quite but that is kinda what it looks like! I used to joke with Justin that Leo is our Forest Gump. Simple but with a big heart in the right place. Run Leo, run, we like to say! Well now he really fits the role....Anyway see below for some pics of Leo's rockin new head gear! On the downside, he has to wear this thing 23 hrs a day. Right now it seems a little daunting and stressful, but I'm sure that pretty soon it's just going to be part of the routine. At least I hope so. Another big thing: we got a phone call today from the hospital asking us to come in for the MRI tomorrow , instead of April because of a cancellation. So here I thought I would have more time to prepare my mind/emotions for this, but now we just get to jump in with both feet. Well that's nothing new right? So far th...

So the little Leo man has finally succumbed to his first more major virus, mostly because of his sister's good sharing skills. She managed to go under my radar and share some snotty kisses with her little brother. Needless to say, the odds were not in his favor. We are on day 5 of major chest congestion, fever, and all that jazz. We brought him in today to get looked at on the visiting nurses recommendation. He was wheezing pretty heavily yesterday and today so they put the mask on him to see if the inhaled medicine would help ease his breathing. Other then making his eyes water and make him sleepy, it didn't seem to change his breathing much! However, I think he is finally turning the bend and tonight his breathing is much quieter. I have to say, he is the most amazing baby ever! Even while obviously not feeling well, feverish, and struggling to breathe, he still tries to make us smile. This just seems unnatural to me! I am used to kids turning into miniature wolverines when ...

It is the beginning of Lent, a special time in the Church year.  This year you have given me a lot to think about in my spiritual life.  I won't bore you with the details.  Some of it is overblown in my head, my own mental demons.  Some of it is not scrutinized enough and slips by unnoticed (and I rely on other people to point things out).  The point is during Lent all those meaningful yet dramatic self reflections find new content and find a new orientation.  Like an archer that shoots an arrow towards its target Lent is the time when it feels like the arrow is loaded into the bow and drawn back.   There almost isn't enough time for self reflection because the whole world is moving now towards that target which is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit in the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  But the purpose of Lent is for something much simpler.   That is where you come in because so much of the last six months has been a desper...

I apologize for the lapse in blog posting, and thank you for being so patient. We are so thrilled that you are all still keeping up with our Leo-man, and even though things are at a relatively steady place right now, we survive day by day with your prayers. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Some updates on the medical side: Leo has had several appointments ranging from an EEG to Well-child checkup, to neurologist, to orthotics etc... Leo has also rekindled some debate with one of his neuros about his diagnosis. What a surprise! Who would have thought? (Insert mild sarcasm) Apparently he is thriving and hitting milestones which is a far cry from the grim and terminal prognosis with which we left the hospital half a year ago. Vegetable he ain't. Amazing, mysterious, and healthy are the adjectives that should be applied. Our guy has everybody baffled, and since no-one likes the suspense, he is getting a full in-depth MRI in the beginning of April. I'm sure folks will be lining up...