Bone marrow biopsy CANCELLED!

Praise the Lord for what God has done! Your prayers are working! Right as we were ready to leave this morning, the doctor called to inform us that Josiah's numbers went up DRAMATICALLY!!!
His biopsy is no longer needed! We are so thankful! I honestly think it is the prayer, the homeopathic things we've tried, and... BREAST MILK!

My milk recently came in and he has been nursing up a storm. I think all the
wonderful nutrients in good ole fashioned mamas milk has been the cure for
what ails him. ;-) I used to always feel God' leading to do extended nursing with
each of my children, that if they got sick it would be a great source of comfort
for them, lo and behold it is true. God gives us everything we need. I've always
figured, if it was good enough for JESUS, Moses, Samuel and Isaac, it's good
enough for my kiddos. Thank you faithful saints. To God be the glory.
We go back next week, hopefully we will continue to see improvement!

Another Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy tomorrow/Please pray

Today Huatzin took Josiah in for labs! Hooray, daddy toughened up to do it. ( He is typically pretty squeamish) I would have but I am still feeling pretty weak, which is so unlike my other deliveries. This ole gray mare, she ain't what she used to be! ;-) lol. The bummer is that two doctors told him information about Josiah and the procedure that will be done, and results of other tests, and you know men are not big on details. ;-( I have been trying to pry the specifics out of him.

Basically they told him more of the same, that they are hoping it's a virus but that the Bone biopsy and aspiration will tell us if he has improved or gotten worse. They also said they are sending his new results to a "special" Specialist! Apparently he or she specializes in Aplastic Anemia and other blood related disorders. They must be really expert in their field, because from what I understand, CHOC already has 7 doctors that are trained in both oncology and hematology and 4 that are strictly hematology specialists that are looking over his file. Praise God we are here in the US and so near to CHOC and not in the bush somewhere. We count our blessings) I am positive we won't get the results back right away. It took days to get the other results back so I expect the same. I will take Josiah as I really want to be there for him.

Lord PLEASE do not let it come back Aplastic anemia. Lord you came for the sick and we ask you to heal Josiah and that the results would come back as just recovering from a virus. Regardless of what you choose for us, We ask that you'd be glorified in everything we do and that your glorious light would be reflected in every situation. Anyway, that's the update for now. When we have more info, we'll post it. Thank you for all of your love and support. I am so sorry I haven't been quick to thank you individually, but we are so encouraged by your kindness and concern for our family. Huatzin, & Alida, Canaan, Elijah, Anaiah, Josiah, Hezekiah Rodriguez

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But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. Malachi 4:2

An Exhausted Mama/ A 9 pound baby!

Many people have asked how we are doing. We are fine. I will say this has been one of the hardest recoveries for me. The birth went fine, I labored peacefully. Pushing was very hard for me this time around. I don't know if it's all the stress or if I was emotionally tired from all that is going on, or not getting rest beforehand, but it was very hard.

This is a little embarrassing.. Afterward I tried to do too much too soon and passed out. I actually lost consciousness and couldn't stay awake. It was scary for me. I have never experienced that before. Recovery has been slow, I feel weak and light headed. Thankfully I can rest in my home in my bed without being disturbed they way I would be in a hospital. Huatzin has been amazing, of course. God blessed me with a WONDERFUL husband! I took Hezekiah to the doctor's yesterday and my midwife's scale if off. Hezekiah weigh 9lbs 3 oz. Babies don't gain right off the bat, so he was born 9'3! So that explains some of the difficulty! I couldn't believe I had such a hard time pushing out an 8 pounder! Come to find out he was a tad bigger. ;-) So, yet another similarity between the two boys. Both are born on the 17th, both were 9 lbs 3 oz. and both are good old testament kings. Both names have one of the meanings being " The Lord is my strength/Strength of the Lord. and hopefully, if needed they'll share the same cord blood. ;-) There you have it. Rodriguez Family trivia for you.

We are so in love with this new gorgeous babe. Nothing smells sweeter than a little snuggly sweet baby. Ahhhh God is so good. OK, I'm off to rest. Alida

Monday at CHOC/ our very LONG day (from 6/15/09)

Monday we went in at 10:00 am to get Josiah's labs done. I KNEW he'd need a transfusion. About a month or two before this whole thing happened we started getting really concerned. Josiah began to display behavior that we were actually praying over and seeking help for that we thought was mental illness. He would get really unreasonable and freak out and have huge meltdowns that were so different than that of anything our other children had ever done. Looking back now I think it's just that his body was so ill he would go into overload not knowing how to deal with feeling sick. I think of what his poor little body must have felt.. did he feel dizzy light headed? Did he have heart palpitations? He didn't know how to verbalize the icky way he felt. At the time we struggled with whether or not it was a discipline issue or mental illness. Now we know it was neither. Now we know the signs.

We knew he was going to need a transfusion as he started the meltdowns and irrational behavior again, got more bruising and started sleeping alot more than normal. I was annoyed because his white count was only 25,000 on Friday and they didn't call us in for platelets so we were concerned all weekend about how he would do. We left the hospital around 11:30 am. We received a phone call around 12:30 saying he needed to come in, this time for blood AND platelets as both were low. His platelets were 19,000. They should be much higher.

I was disappointed. I had hoped he was getting better. He isn't. That was hard to hear. I kept hoping this whole thing would be wrapped up before I delivered. The thought of going back to the hospital weekly with a toddler and newborn makes me so weary. The Doctor that we spoke with pointed out that some of the things we've noticed are due to him being ill. Josiah has a very tan little body but his face is really pale. That is caused by anemia. He also has developed a heart murmur that comes from not enough hemoglobin that carries oxygen to his body.

I took him back at 3. It put the numbing cream on him earlier but his arm was bruised from the earlier drawing so they had to put the IV in an unmedicated area. He was very sad about it, but they had a sweet child specialist come in and blew bubbles while he got the line put in. CHOC is so wonderful in that way. I felt so grateful that Josiah does so well. Especially when a little boy the same age as him came in and screamed for 30 minutes while they put his line in, took his temps etc. poor little guy. He had a brain tumor removed. :-( I'd scream too. God is so merciful. I'm not sure if my other children would fair so well. The nurses spoke about how fearless and brave he was. I am thankful we named him Josiah Valor. He lives up to his name. I became very overwhelmed. We were there for what seemed like forever. I started picturing in my mind and endless cycle of doing this week after week. I started feeling contractions and wanting to go home.

I was REALLLY hoping this baby would NOT come anytime soon. Not now anyway, maybe next week or better yet, the week after. Putting on the happy face for my little man. It's so easy to smile when I look at him. We left around 7:30pm. I called ahead and asked Huatzin to make dinner because I knew we'd get home late. I got home and he made grilled cheese sandwiches for the 3rd day in a row. My countenance fell.
:-) Called up my friend Tina and asked to go to dinner with me at an Indian Restaurant. We head out for some really yummy Indian food. ( no one else in my family eats it) All is well with the world. :-)
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Sometimes God sends the brilliant light of a rainbow to remind us of His presence, lest we forget in our personal darkness His great and gracious promises to never leave us alone. -- Verdell Davis

What is it to serve God and to do His will? Nothing else than to show mercy to our neighbor. For it is our neighbor who needs our service; God in heaven needs it not. Martin Luther

God does not lead His children around hardship, but leads them straight through hardship. But He leads! And amidst the hardship, He is nearer to them than ever before.-- Otto Dibelius

Faith is not only a commitment to the promises of Christ; faith is also a commitment to the demands of Christ.-- William Barclay

We must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another. -- William Law

Salvation is free, ... but discipleship will cost you your life.-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Bartering with the Lord...

On Sunday at around 3 in the morning I awoke to a terrible dream about a family member and felt the Lord wanting me to get up and pray. I thought about the word of knowledge that I received from a sweet praying woman about how the Lord was going to start answering Salvation prayers for those we’ve been praying for, for years and opening up opportunities to share the gospel than I had been able to before. I started to intercede for the many people dealing with sickness addictions, and bondage to sin, the many with financial and health troubles. There is such peace that comes when you take your focus off your circumstances and pray for the needs of others and look to Jesus. Suddenly the impossible seems possible.

I heard the verse of giving thanks in every circumstance. It occurred to me that I had thanked God when Huatzin lost his job. I even thanked God when we ended up not getting the home we were about to close on, all those things seemed easy enough to trust in God’s leading and provision for. I felt a nudge saying “but you didn’t thank God for Josiah’s medical issues.” (Here it gets more personal; we tend to cling tightly to all things regarding our children) I have been feeling the struggle regarding that area and just could never bring myself to do it. How can I thank God for my little boy being ill? I heard the songs “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, his love endures forever.” I thought of the song “rejoice in the Lord always.” I thought of all the uncertainties of what lies ahead. Finally and very tearfully I got to the place when I could PRAISE and THANK the Lord for Josiah’s illness with sincerity and gratefulness, Knowing that He sees the WHOLE picture. Knowing also that He'd be near to help and lead me through any circumstance, no matter the difficulty.

I thought about how we make deals with the Lord. “Lord use my children, but please don’t let them”(fill in the blank) Oddly enough we were recently discussing the mother of the disciples that asks Jesus if her sons could sit on his right and left side in heaven. Jesus told her "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" We all want incredible little beacons for Christ, but we don’t want the work, toil and pain that come with getting there.

A while back, I remember saying Lord please don’t let my children get sick and felt Him saying “but what if it’s for my good.” I said then Lord if it’s your will.” I said Lord please don’t let my children become orphaned or let me die before they are fully grown, and He said but what if it’s for my glory, and VERY reluctantly I said, Lord whatever it takes, but I don’t find that at all ideal! I said “Lord PLEASE keep my children from ever turning from you and living in sin,” once again He encouraged me just to trust that WHATEVER happens to my children , He’ll be there for them like he has been for me. He encouraged me to let this whole illusion of control that we think we have over our children’s lives go. He’ll do whatever it takes to form my children into His likeness and to use their precious lives the way He sees fit. That I shouldn’t try to make His will my will, that God is bigger than how I picture Him.

Isaiah 64:8 but now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.

Isaiah 45:9 Woe unto him that strived with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it, what makes thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands?

He knows how this will all end; He is the author and finisher of my son’s faith. I don’t need to barter and beg and manipulate the Lord. (He sees through it all anyway) It was wonderful that this whole striving/surrendering all happened to prepare me for the very long day we’d have on Monday. ;-) Alida
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The turning point in our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is. Patrick Morley

Give me a stout heart to bear my own burdens. Give me a willing heart to bear the burdens of others. Give me a believing heart to cast all burdens upon Thee, O Lord. John Baillie

When God turns away from us because of selfishness, it is not rejection. Rather, it is an invitation to follow Him to a place we would rather not go. Brennan Manning

If ye keep watch over your hearts, and listen for the Voice of God and learn of Him, in one short hour ye can learn more from Him than ye could learn from Man in a thousand years. Johannes Tauler

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot

Our newest addition!

Hi Family and Friends,
The Rodriguez Family just gave birth to their newest addition to our little tribe... At 3:39 pm 6/17/09 to a
A beautiful bouncing baby BOY.

That is 4 mighty Knights of Valor and 1 Princess for the count. After many hours of labor, Our newest little manchild/arrow of our Quiver, joined us via waterbirth peacefully in our very own home.

We had an amazing midwife (Geeta) (from the Living Well Clinic) and our very own wonderful Brenda that was the nurse assistant. ( Her sister came all the way down from Long Beach to be our own personal phelmbotomist. THANK you! They were incredible and very patient. A special thanks to Le Leche League Leader and Doula Sue Christy for watching our children during the birth.

Hezekiah Lysias Rodriguez weighs 8 lb 11 oz (tiny for our family)
Hezekiah (nicknamed Hezeki) means The Lord is my Might and Strength. Also means He is the might and Strength of the Lord. Lysias means- One who has the power to set free. We pray that this little one will be used mightily by the Lord and that he will be used by God to set people free from bondage and sin into new life in Christ Jesus! I didn't feel ready to have this little guy, but he is a welcome addition. He is born the same day as Josiah, different month... the 17th. I thought it was so neat that his cord blood may be used to heal Josiah and he is born on the same day. Bless you all, THANK you all. Now a very exhausted mama and daddy are off to bed.

Another Doctor visit.

We went back to CHOC on Monday and they told us Josiah was low on platelets and blood, but not enough to get a transfusion and to come back on Friday. Friday's appointment went much smoother because they gave me a topical numbing cream to put on Josiah an hour before that numbs the site and makes needle work ( blood being drawn) less painful! I was VERY grateful and he didn't cry at all while getting his labs. I feel for people in countries where such care and treatment isn't available. Here Josiah is showing the cream and the plastic covering that holds it in place.

We waited all day to hear back from them. (it is hard to plan activities for our family as we never know if we'll get called in or not) Finally it got late and I called and asked what the results were. The nurse said his platelets were low ( only 25,000 but that the doctors didn't tell him to come in. We thought that was strange as when he was only 15,000 they said he needed to come in and that anything below 50,000 was too low. This led to a somewhat stressful weekend for us. He has been lacking in energy a bit and taking more naps. They also mentioned because his white count is low, he is easily susecptible to infections and to try to keep him from sick people. This is hard as I am not the mom that is paranoid about my child being exposed to illnesses. Generally, so long as it isn't someone vomiting we typically don't mind and I consider it building immunity to be exposed, but it's a little different now. Something in his blood, (sorry can't recall what) was only 550 and that if it drops to to under 500 then he could be ill. I feel silly for not remembering the specifics. ( pregnancy brain you know) I am not sure if him sleeping more is because he needs a transfusion, is a growth spurt or his body is just recovering.

Quite a few people have called me asking if we've had the baby and NO, no baby yet. Truthfully the thought of having a baby with all this going on sort of overwhelms me and doesn't sound pleasant. I know I can't be pregnant forever, but just a little longer is fine with me. :-) It's not that I don't trust the Lord to help us in our time of need, it's just that it's so much easier to have baby in than out. ;-) The thought of schlepping two kiddos to get labs and transfusions doesn't sound appealing to me. I do promise to post when baby does arrive, now whether the baby will have a name or not, I cannot guarantee. :-) Thank you for asking and praying.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot from that
situation, create something that is surpassingly good. He did it
at the creation. He did it at the cross. He is doing it today.
-- Handley C. G. Moule

New Update/Healing Josiah through diet and natural Methods? Holistic doctor? Email address change

Our email address has changed to BeautyForAshes5@att.net please change in your address book, effective immediately.

Hello Friends,
Yesterday we went in to get labs for Josiah. He is such a great easy going kiddo. The nurses check his blood pressure and usually they get a bad reading on his arm so when he saw the monitor he immediately pulled up his little pant leg. He hands his arm over even though he knows they'll draw blood, he doesn't like it but he seems to sense that it is for his benefit, even though he sheds a few tears,
he obeys.. I pray he is as trusting in His walk with the LORD. We are often times asked by God to do things that we don't like and even that are painful but we know it's for our own good. He is SO sweet, friendly and the nurses and doctors are so smitten with his happy disposition and sweet personality.

He didn't need a transfusion, but he is low so we go back for testing again on Friday. Now every little fever or small bruise has me on alert and more prayerful and I have always been a very laid back mama. I did get to speak with a doctor. From what I understand, his cells/blood are aplastic but they hope it is just his body recovering from a virus. (so do we) They did mention something that gave me cause for concern. They will monitor him continuously until June 27th. if at that time his bone marrow doesn't heal and kick into gear, they'll give him another Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration and likely diagnose him as having Apalstic Anemia.;-( From there we would begin treatments which include drugs and possibly bone marrow transplant. ;-(

We are PRAYING to the Lord Jesus that this is not the case and he is just recovering from a virus. This is actually the illness that one of the doctors said is worse than leukemia. Silver lining... God's timing for this is incredible. If this ends up being AA, He planned it all perfectly that I would be due at this time, that Josiah would get sick right before birth to warn us to bank the cord blood, and that Huatzin would be home to help me with the children.

We have been praying about Josiah's situation and really wanting to take a more proactive role in seeing our son healed. I have been looking into Hallelujah Acres , juicing, supplements, and other raw based nutritional type of things to try to heal my little boy. The doctors don't seem to know what is causing his platelets and blood cells to decrease or what is making it so that his body isn't producing all that it needs to, and I have until the 27th to try and kick start his marrow before more invasive and serious treatments. These are treatments we desperately want to avoid.

As I was praying about this, God recently provided funds for us via a GENEROUS gift by Vineyard Christian Community Church of La Habra that has allowed me to purchase items that will help me try to heal his body naturally. ( more on God's AMAZING provision next post! )

Can you please email me if you have information on healing through nutrition for toddler age children? I'd love to hear from families that have done this successfully. Please contact us if you have cured yourself or a family member with Aplastic Anemia or similar blood disorder naturally.

Also I was checking into holistic type doctors in or near Orange County. I am not quite sure what to look for. I am guessing I need someone that has experience with blood type /platelet disorders. If anyone has experience with dealing with or choosing Nautropathic/Holistic type doctors, can you please assist me? What is at
I should look for? What type of questions should I ask? I know quite a few that I have seen online seem to be rooted in New Age, evolution, and eastern medicine. I am trying to avoid new age type of treatments. Thank you so much for your prayer, support, advice, and encouragement. Love, Alida and the Rodriguez Family.

A way to help...

From a sweet friend/sister in the Lord Stacy. She asked me to post this.

As the news of Josiah began to spread to all of our friends, many emails and calls started happening. Everyone wanted to know how they could help. As I prayed and ask the Lord how we could help, this is what He continually put on my heart...go here to check it out :) http://mycupoverfloweth.blogspot.com/ The first and foremost way to help is pray and spread the word but if the Lord is leading you to help in another way...here's one option :)
Blessings, stacy

Another Transfusion/ no results. ;-(

Yesterday was a day that didn't go as planned. we got the family up really early, dropped off the kids at a friends house,(Thanks Sue) went to the hospital to get what we thought were the results of Josiah's medical issues. I didn't sleep much that night as I kept tossing and turning anticipating the following day and being uncomfortable being so huge in pregnancy. I figured the Lord wanted me up and praying/ reading His word, so I did. I was really blessed over and over by
Psalm 94:17 Unless the LORD [had been] my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul."

When we got to the hospital, they wanted new blood work for Josiah and told us that no doctor was scheduled to see us or even there. We explained to them how we were told that we'd get the results for his illness. They mentioned they'd have someone call us. You should have seen Josiah's face when they took his blood. He didn't flinch at all but then turned and pointed to the needle looking confused as if to say "WHAT! i thought we were DONE with this!" It was pretty cute. After we left from picking up the kids they called us to go back as his platelets were low and he needed a transfusion.

Josiah was sleeping as we checked in so I BEGGED them to let me keep him sleeping in my sling while they put in the line for the transfusion. He stayed asleep for several minutes while they dug all around his veins but the couldn't get it in properly, (it was nauseating to watch) before he woke up pretty peeved with all of us! CHOC is very neat at all that they do to keep the children comfortable and happy. They had two volenteer dogs come in to say hi, which thrilled Josiah. They mentioned he has platelets of 16,000 not the original 15,000 and that normal is 100,000-150,000 so I'm thinking the original nurse must have been speaking of adults not children when she mentioned normal being 200,000.

I asked the doctor what they thought he had and they said he could just still be recovering. I asked if they ruled out Aplastic Anemia and they said no. They also mentioned maybe having to do another Bone Marrow Aspiration and biopsy. ;-( I honestly don't think they have a clue, or at least they aren't telling us until they know for certain, maybe for liability reasons? I'm guessing we'll be going back to CHOC for labs and transfusions every 5 days or so, until they figure out what's wrong... A sweet mama in one of my groups offered for me to have her father ( a doctor at UCI) give a second opinion. We are praying about it. I am starting to think we may be in this for a long haul. I got sort of down about it today as I started thinking about how this all is coming at our family at once. When will God help Huatzin get a job? Should we try to move to a smaller home in the meantime or stay put? Will I have to bring Josiah every week to the hospital for constant transfusions and testing all while holding him and a newborn? Will I have to constantly ask friends to watch my other 3 children while he gets treatment? Or bring them with? I reason that I need to not worry about tomorrow and take each moment by moment as it comes, sort of cross the bridge when we get to it...

I am feeling weary and need to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and not the circumstances because I get so overwhelmed when I look at the situation or try to figure out solutions on my own. God needs only to speak the Word and my baby would be healed and because He hasn't then the purpose he has for this has not yet been fulfilled. My happy little guy ( we call him Joyful Josiah) has been crying lately and I'm sure it's because he doesn't understand all that's going on and this is scary for him. It breaks my mama heart. It must break God's too. I don't even pray for the when of when everything should happen, Huatzin getting a job, giving birth, and answers for this health issue because I trust that His timing and plan is going to be better than mine and He sees the whole picture. Now it's just Help us to be in your will. Show us your will for us Lord. May His purposes prevail. Alida w4

I am always content with what happens; for I know that what God chooses is better than what I choose. -- Epictetus

I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess. -- Martin Luther

I may no longer depend on pleasant impulses to bring me before the Lord. I must rather respond to principles I know to be right, whether I feel them to be enjoyable or not. -- Jim Elliot

The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.-- Author Unknown

We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts. -- A. W. Tozer

URGENT! Please read- RE: Josiah Rodriguez

From my friend Erin at Erin Jones Photography! God has been so gracious to surround us with such caring compassionate friends! We are so blessed.
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Please feel free to forward this to as many people as possible...
Hi Friends!
Many of you have been in a prayer loop/update for one of my best friends & her family, especially her 2 year old Josiah "JoJo".

Last week, Josiah was hospitalized with a sudden onset of an unexplained case of bruising all over his body, nose bleeds, vomiting & fever. He was immediately admitted into the care of the CHOC Oncology ward, who performed extensive tests for numerous known diseases, including Leukemia.
Although he has been in the care of the outstanding staff at CHOC, we sometimes learn that despite the amazing advances of medical technology these days, some things are still left undiagnosed or excused as a mysterious "virus."
They discharged Jojo on Monday, saying he appears healthy enough to go home, but still with no clear explanation or diagnosis of the symptoms.
A few options have been floating around as far as diseases go, "Aplastic Anemia" being one of them (for more information go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aplastic_anemia,) but they remain unclear, at least until Thursday, when they will have more test results.

In the meantime, Alida, (amazing mother of 4, including twins) is pregnant with their fifth baby, due this Friday.
To add fuel to flame, Huatzin (incredibly devoted husband/father to this quiver) has been laid off of a union job as a plumber.
As you can imagine, this has (and continues to be) a scary time in their lives.
This incredible family has had to face a hard decision to bank their unborn child's cord blood as a "life insurance" policy for their family. If the diagnosis for Jojo is in fact Aplastic Anemia, it is treatable with a cord blood transfusion! (For more information go here http://www.viacord.com/mia.htm)

Therefor, they has prayerfully decided this is the smartest decision for their family, but is in need of financial assistance...
The full cost of the Cord Blood program is $2195. Alida signed up during a special month and received a discount of $500 already! They need to raise only $1695 to offset the total remaining cost, but any amount they raise will help ease the financial burden.
If you are at all inclined, please read this message from Alida below (in RED) & feel free to donate ANY amount, even small donations will help immensely when added up! There is a link to make a minimum donation of $25 directly with Viacord Gift Registry on line with a credit card, however if you prefer to mail cash/check/money order or give an anonymous donation of any smaller incriments, make checks payable to Alida Rodriguez with "cord blood donation" in the memo section and mail to me:
Erin Hagemeister
caneywaney@yahoo.com

I will collect all the donations & present them to her on Monday June 8, 2009...Thats only 5 days away!
Thank you & God Bless!
~Erin

Cord Blood for Josiah!

We are thrilled about the upcoming birth of our baby.

As you know, we had quite a health scare with Josiah recently. After much prayer and deliberation, though we pray it isn't ever needed, we thought it wise to do cord blood preservation with Viacord. We believe this potentially life saving option is the right thing to do for our family.

Many of you have asked if you could bring us a meal or groceries, or help out in some way to support our family, and what our new baby needs. We already have everything needed for this new precious little one. We ask instead of a meal or baby items that if you feel led, (please do not feel obligated in any way)
we invite you to contribute to our Viacord account as a truly unique baby gift – one that could last a lifetime.

To view our announcement online or to make a contribution, click here.

Going back to the Hospital

We took Josiah to CHOC this morning for a blood test and were hopeful for the results from last weeks tests, but no results were given. I was relieved to have them draw more blood for Josiah as he has a couple of new tiny bruises. Not at all as big as the others, much more faint... We also got to drop off food for my old "roommate." Since starting treatment little Jasmine looks MUCH better, please continue to pray for her.

Well shortly after we left we were called and told that Josiah needs to come back ASAP to the hospital as he is once again low on platelets. I ASKED HOW MANY AND SHE MENTIONED 15, (I'm assuming she meant 15,000) I asked what is considered normal. She mentioned 150,000-200,000, but in his case, 50,000 is good.
We are going back at 1pm. So, once again we ask for prayer. We are standing in faith that he is going to be healed. He tested too low this morning, so something is going on, they just don't know exactly what. I am just thankful that it is outpatient. I am due tomorrow so I PRAY we don't have to be admitted. Thanks for reading this and praying.

We are HOME! Josiah's been released!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! We are so blessed! They FINALLY let us leave!!! We are HOME SWEET HOME!!!!!! They said they won't know for SURE until Thursday specifically what was or is wrong with him, but since he seems very energetic and healthy, that we might as well wait at home, especially with me being pregnant and due any day. They did confirm that it is not leukemia! PTL! Most of the kids we saw on oncology were very tired, seemed to be in pain, but Josiah has been very energetic from the get go. They gave us back all of the paperwork regarding leukemia that we signed. My son won't lose his beautiful curls!

Now here is the peculiar part... they think he may have the Epstein-Barr Virus ! One of the doctors seems certain, one of the doctors said maybe. I have no idea how EBV could make Josiah as ill as he was. My only concern is that it could be undiagnosed Aplastic anemia. Huatzin was a bit discouraged that we didn't get a clean bill of health for our son or know the cause. I am standing in faith that our boy is healed! We are still praying guidance regarding the cord blood. Apparently viacord will bank blood for free if a disease of some sort is diagnosed, but we don't yet have a diagnoses and Huatzin has been out of work for some time now. Please pray for work for IMMEDIATE work for him and all his co workers with families to support. I saw a prayer list and laughed. It had 3 different requests for our family. 1) for Huatzin’s job, one for our baby, and one for Josiah. I chuckled. When it rains it pours doesn't it! ;-)

Thank you so much for all the prayer and support. We hope to give more details Thursday. We are home so meals are no longer needed. THANK you to all who signed up and brought us meals or were going to! May the Lord himself repay for your kindness. I got to pray for our roommate and her daughter before we left. I left her Above Rubies Magazines, a book that had all three Stormie Omartian books, "Power of a praying parent, Power of a praying wife, and Power of a praying woman. I also gave her the "Prison to praise" which is about thanking God is every circumstance. I gave her a Message bible (I don't know if she's a believer or not) I also gave her “the Father's Love letter” to encourage her. I pray she reads them. I left my contact info and hope to be able to deliver occasional meals to her as I’m only 10 minutes from the hospital. Maybe watch her daughter while she showers. She lives over an hour away and family hasn't really come by often. We prayed for her and she seemed encouraged. I pray she and her family comes to Christ. I wish I would have done more the last couple days. Another mama was blessed by the Above Rubies magazines. The other mother I befriended had already left before I could pass out any books or pray with her. Please pray for Zoe, Jordan and Jasmine and their families. We pray healing, salvation through Christ, and God's peace, direction, provision, and wisdom. Thanks again for all that you've done. In Christ, our GLORIOUS REDEEMING Savior!

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km63bQinoJk’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Refrain
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
Refrain
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

WATER -

I could get lost in all of Your love for me
Your love and mercy is all that I need
Great is Your kindness, great are Your deeds
And when the world surrounds me, You’re all I see
Hold me in Your arms
Catch me when I fall
Hear me in my darkest hour
Your love flows like Water washing over me
Your love flows like Water washing over me
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=267399

Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey goodbye! Our farewell photo at CHOC!