Bionic Man!

Today was such a special day for us as a family!

Eight weeks ago Trip looked like this:

But as of TODAY he now looks like this:

He still has a way to go in his recovery. But at his post-op
appointment this afternoon, the surgeon cleared Trip to
take off his neck brace and resume "normal" activity!

A few weeks ago during a BSF lecture, my teaching leader said:
"Hope is an adrenaline rush...not a sedative."

As Trip and I reflect upon the last eight weeks, that "rush" is exactly
what we experienced. Sure, there were moments, or days, that were
harder than others. But because of God's great faithfulness,
and the hope that we have in Him, we did not grow weary.

~ Psalm 33.18 ~
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love...

Jackson is particularly excited that Dad is no longer in the brace.

Thank you for coming alongside us & praying us through this journey.
We are forever grateful.

Mother's Day

My precious firstborn decided to give me his Mother's Day present a few days early this year... a nice yucky chest cold. {Apparently, he lost the receipt, so I can't even return this wretched gift.} :) So, this weekend has been atypical for me. I have been in the bed most of the weekend and doing everything to not cough out his brother.

While I have been sitting, I have had a chance to reflect upon Mother's day and truly give thanks to the Lord for the many women who have helped me to grow up spiritually and become the woman God is asking me to be.

Among those women is my mother-in-law. 

She is such a treasure to me.

Last week I had a bit of a meltdown. {No, not Kristin Radtke...} Yeah. In the midst of my humor about due dates and neck braces, I completely panicked that Baby Radtke would come early. My MIL saw right through me. And rather than scold me, she sent me an incredible note. I had to share it because I'm sure someone else needs to be reminded of God's power and plan. 

 

~~~~~

"...Right now I would remind you that the Lord has been in your womb fashioning every detail of this precious child. His attention is intensely focused upon this baby and on his welfare. He is also moving on your behalf, the welfare of a family devoted to His kingdom purposes. He will not release this baby until his design, until His plans have been completed.

Take your timing concerns, place them at the foot of the cross, and turn and walk away. 

Surrender to the perfection of his timing for this baby, for you, Trip and Jack.

That is the way of shalom.

I definitely understand your apprehension. You have been in a place of non-stop service for many months, and a rest would be nice. If this baby comes early, it will not be by accident, but by divine purpose. And with him will come an invitation to find all you need in the all sufficiency of your loving Father.

This may all sound too simplistic, and lacking in understanding of your concerns. 

It’s not. I have every confidence in His presence in and with you, and His 

good intentions and powerful love working on your behalf.

Truly He is faithful and trustworthy. 

For this moment, find your rest there.."

~~~~~

 

I am so grateful that she is a woman in my life who points me back to the cross every time I need guidance. She does not rely on her own wisdom, she knows that in Him I can find everything I need.

 

Happy Mother's Day to each of you.

{36 Weeks!}

~It's hard to believe I'm four weeks {4!} from my due date. I could barely pull my shirt over my belly for this picture. Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze it on one more time for a 40 week picture. And yes, I did say 40 week picture. Because I am confident that you are all praying alongside the Radtkes that this baby will be on time or even...LATE. {And if you're not...shame on you. Shaaaame...ahem.} :)

~I mentioned in my 32 week post that I had noticed that this baby boy had put on some weight. Ha! That was nothing compared to the last four weeks. His jabs and kicks have literally taken my breath away. And he seems to think that he needs even more room. One night last week I woke in the middle of the night to serious pain in my ribs. I got up and checked things out in the bathroom mirror... Y'all I am not kidding. That boy had looped each of his feet on a lower rib. It took me several minutes to coax his "little" feet back down. {Apparently, he's part bat...mercy.}

~We are one week away from Trip's neck brace release "party". Following that we are hoping that he can move out of the nursery and start sleeping in a bed again. Once that happens I will put the finishing touches on the nursery and share those pictures.

~This picture is so precious to me...holding my two boys. The emotions of preparing for the arrival of our second son have overwhelmed me at times these last few weeks. Because I have been so distracted with the physical needs of Trip and Jackson during this pregnancy, I really hadn't taken the time to emotionally process what my heart is about to experience. As I play or read with Jackson, I have had to fight back tears knowing that these are the last days that it will be just the two of us together. To have wondered at one time whether I would ever have a child, it is surreal to acknowledge that I will soon be the mother to two children. But as God has faithfully given me everything I have ever needed, I am confident that He will help me to raise both of my boys as the precious individuals that they were created to be and to love them both passionately.

{32 Weeks!}

T Minus...8 weeks. 

{A WHOLE 8 weeks little boy, yes m'am?}

~The last four weeks of my pregnancy I have been focused on taking care of my guys. I have praised God numerous times for my health and strength during this pregnancy. I continue to trust Him for the timing of this child's delivery. On May 18 Trip should have his neck brace removed. That puts us 17 days from my due date...

~I mentioned in the 27 week post that this kid is a kicker. But in the last few weeks, this "little" boy has put on some weight. So his cute little exercise regimen has apparently moved into self defense classes. I guess he is well aware of the brawn height and strength of his big brother and wants to be prepared from Day 1.

~I would like to go on record to say that I get first dibs on Dr. John Braxton Hicks in heaven {after I finish "talking" to Eve, Ahem.}. Mild discomfort?! Oh I'll show you some mild discomfort, dear doctor. I didn't notice them with Jackson, but I have had a few "trial" contractions with this pregnancy and a couple of them have literally taken my breath away. Wooo!

Finally, I'd like to close with these sweet pictures of Jackson from Easter. His jonjon is a hand-me-down from his cousin Scott. When his Aunt Kylene gave me this outfit we had no idea Jackson would be enamored with bi-planes. When I pulled it out for him Easter morning he about passed out from the joy.

 

The most special thing about each of these photos is that 

they are the first photos that Trip has taken post-surgery.

Eggs ~ A First Experience

On Saturday, while Jackson was napping I took a few minutes and hid eggs in our backyard. He had seen the eggs in the stores and wondered what all the fuss was about. It was a surprise for him and he was so proud of himself as he found each one.

Silly boy was pretending not to listen to us as we tried to tell him there were a few more left to find.

After our little egg hunt, we dyed a few eggs. This was also a first for Jackson. I have previously confessed that I have a tendency to be a...cough, cough...perfectionist when it comes to projects of this nature. But, I let it all go Saturday so that my sweet boy could dye his first Easter eggs.

 

This is his squeal of delight after he dropped the egg into the cup and it splashed...everywhere.

Jackson had so much fun, even if the word "gentle" is completely lost in his vocabulary. Trip and I noted that we have to work on that word A LOT before baby brother arrives. Luckily, only one egg bit the dust.

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

I guess if it's semi-wordless, it's not actually wordless. 

{But you get the point...}

I couldn't post a photo of this kid without saying

HOW MUCH 

I love him.

One Week Later

Let me begin this post by saying, "Thank You!" to you for your sweet words of encouragement and prayers. My phone and email were lit up the entire week as so many of you took the time to send us scripture and remind us of God's faithfulness following the surgery. Each of you blessed us beyond measure...and we are forever grateful.

For you parents out there you can relate to the first day your sent home with your baby from the hospital. You get home and just stare at that sweet bundle wondering, "They trusted me to leave the hospital with you?! Were they nuts?!" That pretty much sums up my mental state as we drove away from the hospital Wednesday afternoon. Glancing over at my best friend in the passenger seat, with his new bionic spine, those thoughts came rushing back. The fragility of his neck made me want to turn the car around and entrust him to people with fancy titles like, R.N. and M.D.

But Trip reminded me that Northside Hospital wasn't the Marriott and we didn't have money trees growing in our backyard. {Rats.}

This first week has tested each of us in unique ways.

For Trip, he is having to find the patience to take each hour as it comes. He has had to fight back the fear that his pain will not last forever and that with each new day he will heal and get stronger.

For Jack, he has struggled to find peace in the midst of so much change. For the first few days, he wouldn't even look at Trip since the neck brace distorted the image of strength in his father.

As for me, I have had to learn to trust the Lord entirely for my strength to fulfill the needs of both Trip and Jack.

The Lord reminded me of these verses in Isaiah and I wanted to share them with you. I am confident that regardless of your circumstances, you will find great comfort in knowing that our God will never grow tired or weary. And even more... He will never leave you alone.

Isaiah 40.28-31

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary...

but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.