House of Krause

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say…
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name!

Yesterday was a fantastic day for Luke! I laid down with him for his afternoon nap and had a very peaceful revelation. Luke was nestled in the perfect position in my arm, he was so comfy he didn’t move a muscle.  We were both so relaxed. I started praying and asking the Lord for Luke’s healing. I prayed that Luke’s life would become a testament!  I realized the Lord and God of the universe, the one who keeps the earth spinning and created every living thing in it, Is with us still and is for us. The God that holds the world in His hands also holds my sons head in His hands. I asked for healing, and these are the miracles that happened yesterday. Luke woke from his nap to run up to me and say “Hiiii, Mama” two words put together, BIG for him! He told me “Nooooooo” when I asked him if he wanted a bite of my peanut butter banana sandwich. And continued saying “no” all night long when we asked him questions we knew required a no answer.   He stacked blocks 12 high (big business when your two).  Then I woke up this morning to him telling me brother and sister are eating “eehgg” (eggs). He saw their hard boiled eggs on the counter at breakfast.

I know to most people this wouldn’t seem like a big deal, but in our house it’s everything.  We can watch with our own eyes his language emerging. It gives us confirmation that he is in the right speech therapy. It tells us our family efforts are not in vain. And most importantly it shows God’s hand in healing Lukes brain, an answer to prayer!

We forget God is still in the business of doing miracles every day, sometimes we just forget to take the time to see them.

Please click HERE for Nancy Kaufmans web site for early signs and warnings!

Preston my sweetheart!

Lily my love!

First Point Mugu trip. Tent camping with Daisy!

I wanted to take the time to tell you about my other two wonderful children! My oldest son is Preston. He is 8 soon to be 9 in a few weeks.  Time just keeps flying by. He is in 3rd grade this year. Lily is 6 and a first grader! I want them to know how much I love them and how much they mean to me…how much I appreciate them. For the past year so much of the focus has been on Luke. He’s the baby, and on top of that he has special needs. Preston and Lily have been so understanding of that! They know I started this site to reach out to other families who are going through the same struggles. They are so good with Luke, they help me so much. I could never make it with out them. They take care of Luke when I need a time out of my own! They hug me when I’m crying and upset.  They celebrate and get excited with me when we hear something new from Luke. I feel their love and I need their love.

What a joy and a blessing they are to me!

God has been pressing it upon my heart to keep encouraging Preston and Lily in their their daily lives!  It’s seems these days everyone you talk to has more bad news, more sad stories, more drama, more negativity than ever before.  You get to the point where you just feel like you can’t take in any more! I can’t help but to take things to heart, I end up feeling so bad for people. It really bums me out. Anyhow, the Lord has been showing me that children these days are experiencing the very same thing. And unless they are given guidance and shown how to find  peace and hope in their lives, they are going to be really bummed out too!  Kids have the capacity to understand much more than we give them credit for.  I’ve been trying to explain to them that they really don’t know what other kids are dealing with. Just like other kids may not understand what you guys are going through at home.  I’ve been trying to give them extra encouragement, Pray for them more, yell less!  I keep reminding them in the morning before they leave for school, to be a light to those around them. Try to stay positive,and encourage other kids to do the same.  It is our job as believers to shine for God!  Young and old,  God has called us the be the salt and the light of this earth!

MATTHEW 5: 14-16

You are the light of the world! A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on it’s stand, and gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven!

My Preston and my Lily… thank you for remembering to be a light and shine for Jesus! I am so proud of you! Thank you for being a light to children around you…and to me.

I love you,

Mom

Super Trooper Kids!

Spending one on one quality time with your little one is so rewarding. It gives you the chance to really see what’s going on inside that little head. It creates lasting memories and allows the chance for real bonding. With all the stress, worry and just plain work of having a child with disabilities, it’s great to just spend some time having fun!  It’s funny, I find my older kids enjoy the activities just as much as Luke does (if not more)!

The proprioceptive system refers to the sensory information from our own muscles and joints, telling us about our own body position and movement. The functions of proprioceptive is to increase body awareness and to help with motor control and motor planning. It also aids in providing emotional security, we can trust our bodies, we feel safe and secure!

1.Animal walks

-frog hops (squatting to floor-hands and feet, alternating weight)

-big bear  (hands and feet on floor)

-donkey kicks (hands on sofa or floor, kick feet out alternately)

-kangaroo hops (jumping with two feet off the floor)

-leamer (squat low and jump up and forward)

-hippo or elephant (stomp feet and sway arms)

2. Good old fashion wheelbarrow walks (with support at hips/thighs/ankles)

3. Pillow crashing

-pile them up and run to crash into them

-step up and jump into them

-roll on floor into them

-stand and fall into them forwards/backward/sideways

4. Hold hands for “Row-Row-Row your boat” sitting or standing

5. Luke loves “London bridge is falling down”  we always give him lots of extra squeezes when he’s caught!

Thanks Jill for so much wonderful information! I’ll add more activities soon.

Luke does not like looking at himself in the mirror very much. Many of his experiences with a mirror have been during therapy sessions when we are trying to get him aware of his tongue placement. Mirror work is very difficult, Luke usually will not look.  Luke’s speech therapist “Ms. Megan” says often tell tale sign of speech apraxia is when a child is asked to stick the tongue out, then move it side to side.  Instead of being able to isolate the tongue, the child’s entire head moves side to side. This is true for Luke. You can see it in Luke’s video’s.  Anyhow, we’ve been trying to turn mirror experiences into a more positive time. Luke’s Play therapist Cindy is full of great ideas.  We have mirrored closest doors.  We spread out towels on the floor and let the kids put shaving cream all over them. We did finger painting, brush painting, drew mickey mouse faces and had Luke look in at himself. Preston and Lily wrote messages and just giggled and laughed and thought it was the coolest thing. They also thought Dad may come home and kill us. We did manage to get shaving cream all over the floor and even a bit on my new comforter. So worth the fun.  It seems there is always a way to turn a negative into a positive! Thank you to the wonderful people in our life that continue to show us ways! You have become like family to us!

October 2006

No one can tell you how to feel as a parent.  All parents want the best in life for their children, that’s just the way it is!  The moment that baby is born and the doctor wraps him up and lays him in your arms, that’s it! Your heart suddenly melts away, everything you thought you knew, Gone! Life takes on a whole new meaning, your sense of selfishness, Gone! If I could change things for my son Luke, I would in a second. I remember being  a little girl and whenever I got really sick, my dad would always hold me tight in his big strong arms and say “What ever you have, whatever your sick with , just come over here and give it to me, I’ll take it from you so you don’t have to be sick anymore.”  I’d smile and try to rub my sickness on him. I thought it really might work! It’s so hard to watch your child go through something that is difficult.  I feel guilty because I’ve seen so many people I love go through so much more with their own children. I watched my best friend say good bye to her first born son. I saw the pain in her eyes, longing for him back. Things that I think I could never do. I wouldn’t make it. I’ve always been committed to God. I always told him I’m willing do anything that He needed me to do. If I could change one heart towards the Lord, then yes God I’m your girl. But when it comes to the kids Lord, well let’s just leave them out of it. Hmmm….Who am I to say what God’s plan and purpose is? I tell Luke all the time he’s helping other children. He smiles and laughs. He knows what I’m saying. I also ask him if he is an angel?? He modestly shakes his head no, then puffs up and signs BIG, BOY! He doesn’t fool me, I know he’s straight from heaven. God wants us to minister and help each other. If your load is light, carry some of your neighbors. Give your shoulder to someone who is deeply hurting. Rub up against the sick!

Galatians 6;2 says, Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfills the law of Christ.

Serenity prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference . Amen

I’m convinced nothing happens by accident or chance. One random Sunday Paul asked me if we could go to our old church. I reluctantly agreed. So we got ready and headed off. The kids went to Sunday school and Paul ended up walking around with Luke outside. I sat in the service by myself and was amazed when the guest speaker came up. Her name was Robin and she was a missionary for signs of Love, an organization she started herself.  She went into the rural communities in Honduras and taught deaf people how to communicate using sign language.  She gave children a voice for the first time in their lives. Robin’s story was unreal. It touched me so much, I cried through the entire message. it was no accident that we attended that service! Long story short, I took a leap of faith and took a whole box of crosses made by the deaf Hondurans as a way to make money to provide for their families.  Each cross has the picture and story about the cross maker. It’s a beautiful gift, and feels wonderful to know you are really helping another person.  If you are interested send me a message at jen@jenkrause.com The crosses are 20$

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.- 1 John 4:11

For whoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. -Mark 9:41

Well,  It’s time to turn the page on another year gone by. I think 2008 will be one I won’t soon forget. In a way I’m sad to see it go but I feel excited and hopeful for what’s next. I’m praying good health for Paul. I’m praying for Preston and Lily, that they will become all God wants them to be.  My prayers are for Luke to talk in 2009! I hope you feel encouraged too! Don’t let anything stop you from what God wants you to do this year. I think so many times our self doubt, and fiery darts from the enemy tell us” You can’t do it, look at your life,  look at all the sin in your life, how could you really make a difference?” Don’t be held back in 2009. Hold on to Gods promises!

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. -Psalm 18:2

But we have this treasure in Jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.- 2 Corinthians 4:7-9