Moving Forward Part 2: The Rest of the Story

Hearing a doctor tell you that there is no way you would have recognized the 3 months worth of signs that you didn’t know were masked seizures somehow doesn’t comfort you.  We know we couldn’t have done anything different, yet we have a heightened awareness now that Amy and I must try to control.  We have to make sure we aren’t neglecting two healthy kids trying to watch the one who is getting better.  It all amounts to time management and priorities.

That said, we have decided to make a few adjustments to help us re-prioritize.  Some are short term, some longer, and all are subject to re-evaluation, but for the sake of communications, here they are!

First, since Bethany’s best care is here in Dallas, TX, we have decided to stay in Sulphur Springs, TX for what will likely be the next 9-12 months. It just gives us the most peace.  We are close to Childrens Medical Center Dallas for followups, the kids have started making friends here now, and we have a great community here as well.

Second, since we will be staying in Sulphur Springs, we are going to let Dillon and Emily go to public school this year. Sulphur Springs has a great school system, and if we were going to try it anywhere, why not here in the middle of a highly conservative small-town environment where they still pray publicly at high school ball games?

Third, we will be limiting our travel over the course of the next year significantly. This does not mean that we WON’T be traveling, but for the immediate next few months, we’ll be focusing our efforts here on our family and getting the kids ready for school and adjusted to a new environment.  Once school starts, we will shift some of that focus to more fully implementing the Share5 model here in Sulphur Springs, a process which we have already begun.

Finally, we are trying to find a real house (without wheels). While the RV provided us with a great method of traveling and living in the same space, lets face it… its tight.  Especially with 5 people.  If we are not traveling regularly, there is no reason for us to live in the confines of 282 square feet.  Lord willing, we will be moving up to at least three times that space.  =)

WE WOULD STILL APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!  We could NOT have accomplished the amazing things that have been done in the name of Christ over the past two years without your prayers and financial backing.  As we shift to this next season, we need them all the more.   We still plan on sharing well with others.  Book one is now out and Chad is working on the next. We have already identified several opportunities to “Share Well” in this community.  In fact, we are in the middle of one such project as we speak.  We will be continuing to do the ministry works that God has laid before us – We are just making adjustments in how we do so.  We hope you will stick with us through this season.
Blessings, and thank you for all the stories and memories both behind and yet to come,

Chad, Amy, Emily, Dillon, and Bethany Houck

Moving Forward: Part 1- Bethany’s Status Update

So sorry for not getting more information out sooner, and please allow me to thank all of you, from churches to individuals, that have called, emailed, tweeted, placed Bethany on prayer lists, and overall prayed and supported both Bethany and our family over the past number of weeks.

On Father’s Day, June 20th, we witnessed Bethany experience two of what NOW appears to have been a number of seizures of varying degrees.  I say a number, as we have learned that many of the behaviors we had previously passed off as normal or simply random MAY have potentially been seizure activity.

For example, many of you may recall laughing with us or marveling when she would sneeze five to seven times in a row.  Since she began her medication, we have not noticed her sneezing ONCE.  At a total loss of understanding, we have come to call these previous attacks “sneeizures”.  They may have been seizure activity, and they may not.  We may never know.

I tell that story to give a slight insight into what our lives have been in the past two weeks.  Everything we’ve ever watched happen to our daughter now has us wondering, “Was it a seizure?  Did we miss something?”  It’s a hard position to be in as a parent.  It kinda sucks.

On a good note, the Phenobarbital medication that we give her twice a day (through a bottle nipple we attach to the end of a syringe) has apparently caused all seizure activity to cease.  We are watching for anything out of the ordinary, and when and if we see something, we video tape it and email it to her neurologists in Dallas.  We’ve not sent anything since the Friday we left the hospital on June 25th.

So… What Now?

For Bethany, we have a followup appointment with the Neuro team from Children’s Dallas at 3 months.  In the meantime, its simply our task to observe.  And to continue with her meds.  Pretty straight forward unless something unforeseeable were to happen.  All in all, she seems to be doing well and even giggles on occasion like you would expect a happy four month old to do…

For Share5, and for the rest of the family, the situation is a little more complex.  That’s why this is only part 1.

Because there is more to come… on Thursday. =)