a good day

Today was a good day. Testing continued and we don't have all the answers but the doctors believe that the decline in Derek's condition is over and that he will begin to heal. It will be a slow process and an uphill battle for him. We are praising God for this news and are so thankful for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray. Tomorrow will be a big day for Derek as the doctors will begin to adjust the settings on some of the machines that are helping him.

*posted on behalf of Dannette by Jen Martakis

Day 1 prayer request

Well, here we are at the end of our first full day here at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I am writing tonight because a lot of people are asking how it's going up here, which we fully understand. However, there is nothing new to report, we are in a holding pattern. I promise you this.... WHEN we have good news to share we will be shouting it from highest mountain (or high-rise) we can find as well as update this site! :) We are trusting first of all that our Our Lord has this whole situation under His control! Second, we are trusting in the doctors here at NWMH, they taking very good care of Derek. 

 Our family is so touched by the outpouring of concern and love by so many!! 
 Here is a list of things that we would like to you to join us in praying for: 

• For Derek, specifically that his body will be healed
• For all of his doctors, that they would have the wisdom and ability to do what's best for him
• For Dannette, she is 30 weeks pregnant. Pray for her health and peace of mind and the strength to get through these tough days.
• For all of us in his family, strength and comfort
• For Rowan and Rigby (D & D's children), while Dannette and Derek are away from them that it's not too hard on them.

Thanks everyone for caring and praying, ~Linda

Settling in...

We wanted to post an update for you all...I know you are all so concerned for Derek and looking for answers.  I think it's important that we let you know that in this situation the answers are not going to come quickly.  Derek's transfer went well...we made it here...he's alive...they're doing everything they can to keep him with us.

Here are the basics:
The doctors are performing very extensive testing to find the source of this illness...but it is still unknown and may be for weeks. They are also treating other life threatening infections and organ failures to keep him alive.  Derek has been intibated/heavily sedated and is also on a ventilator...this is very serious.  That is why we opted for this transfer up here.

There is more involved here than a flu or pneumonia or other illness that many of us have experienced or heard about.  And that is why we are here at Northwestern!  We have a team of genius' working to figure this out...whooo hoooo!  With that said, I want to please ask you all to not send us any more ideas on what you think this "might" be. I know you have the very best intentions...to save our precious Derek. But right now there are circumstances and things involved that are beyond the guidance of a google search. If I was at home caring for my sick hubby on the couch, I would need your help figuring it out!  This however, is very very different.

We have been getting literally hundreds...no joke..hundreds of suggestions thru text or email from people trying to help...and that is ALOT to navigate.  Our phones are blowing up...lol. I'd love to be able to read thru them all and find out what actually fits here, but it just isn't possible.

What we desperately need from you is your prayers! We LOVE you all and are SO thankful for your support. 

He made it!

We wanted to give you all a quick update on Derek's transfer.  He made it safely to Northwestern and has a team of doctors going gangbusters to get him stable. Thank you to all of you that prayed for him!

As a family we feel a sense of relief and have so much more hope than we did just a few short hours ago. We'll post more info on what's been going on with him on the My Story part of this site in a bit, but we wanted to get a quick update out to everyone so you know he made it there.

A dear friend sent me this verse today...and I told her I might need to read it EVERY hour to remind myself how awesome God is...how much bigger He is than this situation.

"Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!' The four living creatures said, 'Amen,' and the elders fell down and worshiped." Rev 5:11-14

THAT is my God...with angels and glory and crazy power...and yet walks us thru this day step by step to get Derek to a safe place.

prayers for northwestern transfer

Derek is in the process of being transferred via helicopter to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago...leaving Michigan City 7:45pm. Please pray for his safety during transit...he is in a very critical state and our prayer is for his very life. We know God is with him ... the God of angel armies is always by his side ... The God who holds the whole world in His hand.  Either myself or family will continue to post updates. 

(this is the first post from Derek's Caring Bridge site)

Preschool Pictures!

adorable.

enough said.

Mickey Mouse Parade 2013

The kids and I made it to the parade again this year.  Derek got called in to work that morning so we had to go it alone.  Our friends Peggy and Tony and their daughter Lucy were going too, so we were lucky to hitch a ride with them.

We took Sydney along...which was awesome!  The kids had so much fun with her being there.  We went to American Girl, the Lego store, ate at the Cheesecake Factory, Syd and Peggy went to the Disney Store, and we all froze our butts off.  

A good time was had by all I believe...but boy was it cold!

Something was going on with my camera...we all have demon eyes!
I'm too lazy to edit the photo...lol

yikes!

I love the pics of them waving

A gymnast in the making

Rowan taught herself how to do a cartwheel...and now she won't stop! 

spoiled

look what happens when the kids get a bath at their Mimi's...

NOT FAIR!

Boo!

We're stuck home today since my hubby took the truck keys...which gives me a chance to catch up on some blogging!  It's been awhile...where do I begin?

Let's start with the present...HALLOWEEN!!! We went trick or treating with our good friends Kyle and Katie and their two little ones (Haley and Chase).  Both Katie and I are pregnant so we stayed home while the guys took the kids out...this being their first times man-ning up and doing it! It was also a rainy night so this mama was more than glad to stay in.

We started off the night with a Halloween birthday party for baby Martynn (Michelle's youngest) who turned one.  That was lots of fun.  There were about 30 kids - mostly all cousins - running around all costumed up.  And Michelle had some yummy chili and soups and desserts...it was a really a great way to kick off trick or treating.  It's nights like this that make sweet memories. I'm so thankful for all the close friends and family we have around us.

This was the first year I took the kids to pick out their own costumes...in years past, I've always just bought something or looked online since they were so little.  I wish you could have seen their little eyes all aglow staring at the costume wall in party city...they were so excited.  And again, another fun memory.

Rowan picked out Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz (which was perfect since she already has those red fancy shoes she wears everywhere) and Rig picked a super hero of course...Batman.

Rowan as a princess for her preschool party
Let's not mention Mommy forgot her costume...
but I drove to Michelle's to borrow one.
[bad mommy]

Rigby sizing up his costume

i let the kids make fun halloween treats
to hand out to their friends...marshmallow pops
dipped in chocolate

and some scary chocolate suckers

ready to go

Batman waiting at the door for daddy to see

Dorothy getting ready

Rowan and her BFF Ainsley

anyone like their eggs sunny side up?
Mommy's attempt at a costume :)

the kids spent the morning organizing their loot

so fun!