Today Elizabeth is moving to New Brunswick today – (in fact the entire hospital is moving).   The move is scheduled for 11:20 A.M. this morning.    Elizabeth is looking forward to the move – she’s heard good things about it.    Her room number is 212.

Children’s Specialized Hospital at New Brunswick
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, New Jersey

Directions:

From The North (I-95 South / New Jersey Turnpike Cars Only Lane South)

1. At exit 9, take ramp right for RT-18 North toward Tower Center Blvd. / New Brunswick / Trenton / Princeton 0.9 mi
2. Bear right onto SR-18 North 2.2 mi
3. Take ramp right for SR-27 South / Albany St toward Princeton 0.5 mi
4. Turn right onto CR-527 / Easton Ave 0.1 mi
5. Turn left onto Somerset St 0.3 mi
6. Arrive at 200 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

From The South (I-95 North / New Jersey Turnpike North)

1. At exit 9, take ramp right for RT-18 North toward Tower Center Blvd. / New Brunswick / Trenton / Princeton 0.9 mi
2. Bear right onto SR-18 North 2.2 mi
3. Take ramp right for SR-27 South / Albany St toward Princeton 0.5 mi
4. Turn right onto CR-527 / Easton Ave 0.1 mi
5. Turn left onto Somerset St 0.3 mi
6. Arrive at 200 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

From The East (SR-18)

1. Take ramp right for SR-27 South / Albany St toward Princeton 0.5 mi
2. Turn right onto CR-527 / Easton Ave 0.1 mi
3. Turn left onto Somerset St 0.3 mi
4. Arrive at 200 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

From The West (US-1)

1. Take ramp right for RT-26 / Livingston Ave toward New Brunswick 0.3 mi
2. Turn right onto SR-26 / Livingston Ave  0.6 mi
3. Turn left onto CR-680 / How Ln  0.3 mi
4. Turn right onto SR-91 / Jersey Ave  2.1 mi
5. Bear right onto SR-27 / French St  0.2 mi
6. Turn left onto Plum St  0.1 mi
7. Turn right onto Somerset St < 0.1 mi
8. Arrive at 200 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

From 150 New Providence Road

1. Start out going NORTHWEST on NEW PROVIDENCE RD / CR-645 toward FERNWOOD RD. ” 0.2 miles
2. Turn LEFT onto US-22 / SPRINGFIELD RD. Continue to follow US-22 W. ” 13.7 miles
3. Merge onto I-287 S toward I-95 / PERTH AMBOY / NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE. ” 4.2 miles
4. Take the EASTON AVE / CR-527 exit- EXIT 10- toward S BOUND BROOK / NEW BRUNSWICK. ” 0.2 miles
5. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto EASTON AVE / CR-527 S. Continue to follow CR-527 S. ” 4.7 miles
6. Turn RIGHT onto Somerset Street. ” 0.3 miles
7. Arrive at 200 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 

Hello Brian here.   Spent Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon with Elizabeth.   Here is a new picture of her in her new manual wheel chair (yes - she has graduated from the automatic to the manual chair):

Sunday morning we awoke to a light snow (1.5 inches).   Elizabeth and I went out into the courtyard and did a lap around it, it was nice to get outside.  

One thing I wanted to see was Elizabeth standing and I got the opportunity when she had to be weighed today.    The nurse lifted Elizabeth up so that she could grab hold of a bar – and she was able to stand for about 25 seconds.   Yes I have a picture:

Now that’s a beautiful site to be seen!    We have a long way to go – but things like this are very encouraging.

Brian

And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. Psalm 119:45

Hi, it’s me. I’m not feeling particularly grateful at the moment but I will attempt to list 5 things I am thankful for after this short update.

Elizabeth can stand (for about a minute if she has something to hold onto to help keep her balance.)  So now she is a big help in transferring herself from her wheelchair to her bed or the opposite.  She enjoyed a visit from Pastor Curry (the current pastor of a church we used to attend.) And she got a visit from her cousins and Aunt Tara this morning.

Tuesday morning we will be going to the new hospital in New Brunswick.   I toured the hospital already and it really is a gorgeous facility.  And the rooms are more private (instead of 4 to a room there is only two.)   They also have more up to date equipment. Their are a few small cons about the place but since I’m trying to not focus on the negative I will only mention the biggest one, which is that it is about 20-25 minutes farther away from home.

5 Thing’s I’m Grateful for:

1) My mom for being such a help at this time.  (Don’t know what we would do without her!)

2) Monique for being a big help to her Mi-mi  and sister Megan.

3) Thankful that Elizabeth’s condition isn’t worse then it is. (I have seen alot of kids with much bigger problems then Elizabeth’s at the hospital and have talked with many of their moms.)

4)That after talking with Brian on the phone he called me back again because he thought I sounded too down during the first conversation so he wanted to cheer me up.

5)That G*d will not give me any more then I can handle.

Well, that wasn’t so hard.   Now, I better get to bed cause it’s way past my bed time.

G’nite!

 Hello Brian here.    Jennifer just went back to the hospital and as you would assume – I am home now.   Jennifer wanted to blog – but for reasons beyond our control she wasn’t able. 

As always I enjoyed my day with Elizabeth.   After three days of not seeing her – I was delighted to see that she had added strength in her torso.  This is the area which the physical therapists have been working on.    They explained that they have been focusing on strengthing her torso – to help her get in and out of the wheel chair and in anticipation of teaching her to walk again.    They ordered a brace for her left leg, which will go from her foot to her mid-thigh.  The idea will be to shorten the brace, as she gains strength in her left leg. 

Elizabeth’s mood seems to be improving, where she is not relying on me and Jennifer as much.   For one thing – there is a young boy in the next room named Brian (great name) which is about the same age.   She enjoys playing video games, and shooting a mini basketball at a mini hoop, with him.  Elizabeth has difficulty shooting the basketball – but she still seeks to keep up with him. 

Elizabeth started school today   – yes school at the hospital, every child’s dream!  While many children would have hated it – Elizabeth seemed to enjoy learning again.   The teacher began by finding out about her favorite school subject, sports, music, etc… Then they started testing her to see what level they need to teach at.   She did very well and the teacher seemed quite impressed with her.   She then began to teach her at the fifth grade level – but in my opinion, it appeared a little to easy for her. 

Lastly - a reminder that Elizabeth will be moving from Mountainside to New Brunswick, NJ this Tuesday (December 4th).     The new address will be:  Children’s Specialized Hospital at New Brunswick, 200 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Brian

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 137:1)

There hasn’t been an update for a few days, because Jennifer has been at the hospital since Sunday night – and doesn’t have access to the blog.   This evening I will be sending her home to sleep and refresh herself.  

When I talked to Jennifer this morning she told me that there is a bit more movement in the left hand (it’s opening a bit more).     I asked about the left leg and she indicated that it is still without movement and that they have fitted her leg a special boot, in order to slow the growing atrophy.  

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It has been suggested by both sides of our family, that we have a custodian account setup for Elizabeth so that family members can assist with her future expenses.  Following this suggestion, I went to Chase Bank this morning and had an account setup.   Here is the information:     

Brian Hanley Cust Elizabeth S. Hanley
Routing Number:  021202337

Account Number: 2745429098

The Address for Deposits:

KY1 – 0900

NBBM

PO BOX 36520

LOUISVILLE KY 40233-6520

Thank you for your generosity and prayers.  

Brian

Psalm 11:1
In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

I was goofing around and I uploaded to YouTube a very tiny 3 second clip of Jennifer and our two youngest daughters - from about 3 years ago.    Elizabeth is in the middle.

Yesterday we had our worship service in the day room and it was great. Afterwards Jennifer and the kids went home and Elizabeth and me spent the day together. We had a couple of families which visited, which really brighted her day. Elizabeth tried her hand at drawing and was able to make a couple of pictures (e.g. Sponge Bob and Patrick Star) with her right hand. We had a wonderful day together and her eyes welled up with tears when I had to leave.

Today is my first day back at work, with Jennifer’s mom taking care of Monique and Megan, and Jennifer at the hospital with Elizabeth. I don’t know how we would manage without all our friends and family – Thank you! Brian

Psalm 127:3a “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD”

Edit:  To my delight my employer informed me that they are going to count six days (of the seven already taken off) as sick days.  Leaving me an additional six days in 2007 from which to help Jennifer and to visit Elizabeth at the hospital.   Praise G*d for that bit of news!     – Brian

5 Things I Am Grateful for Today:

1) My mom is here!

2)Talked with my sister, Donna on the phone.

3)G*d works all things for our good.

4) A gorgeous fall day.

5) Smiles that still can be gotten from Elizabeth and the other hurting children on her floor.

Tomorrow Lord willing, we will be having a simple morning worship at the hospital at 10:30-11:15 a.m. – you’re welcomed to come if you like.    Also all of tomorrow until 8 pm is good to visit Elizabeth.   The directions to the hospital at Mountainside, NJ can be found here.    If you are coming down New Providence Road from Route 22 – take the last driveway entrance into the parking lot.   The entrance, on the weekend, is on the righthand side of the building, if you are looking at the front of the building.   - Brian

 Hello Brian here.   For Thanksgiving my sister, her husband, my parents and the kids had dinner at our house, minus Elizabeth and Jennifer (which were at the hospital).   So immediately after we ate we went to the hospital, with two plates of thanksgiving food and a chocolate cake.    Elizabeth came out to the day room on her wheel chair and we had a great time.   Here’s a couple pics:

Elizabeth with Granddad and Granny. 

I spent last night and most of today with Elizabeth.   I do see some improvement in her grip on both hands.    Again not much, but there has been steady improvement.    It was my birthday today and she was able (with some difficulty) to sign a birthday card for me!   It was the greatest gift I could have received!    

On Monday I have to go back to work.   I’ve used almost all my personal and vacation days and sadly there has been zero concern or assistance from my place of employment.    It breaks my heart – and I can see that Jennifer is worried.   So please be in prayer for Jennifer as things get more difficult with me going back to work. 

Proverbs 19:14 “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.”

5 Things I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving:

1)  The Lord who is my rock and refuge

2)  My husband Brian- We are facing difficult times but I couldn’t imagine going through this with anyone else.  He is a keeper!

3) My three girls.   Something like this reminds you how much you love and cherish your husband and kids.

4)  That my mom &dad in law and my sister in law Tara, her hubby Pete and their kids provided Thanksgiving for Monique and Megan and came to the hospital to see Elizabeth! (she loved it!)

5) And I know this is a repeat but I can’t say it enough, I am so thankful for all of your prayers, love and support!

Short update (because I should be in bed.)

Elizabeth has a wheelchair now and all I can say is watch out!  She can really move!

She was thrilled to have the family there tonite but she was particularly happy to spend some time with her sister Monique!

Well , I’m off to bed.  Now there is another thing I’m thankful for: my bed.  So much better then the cot in the hospital!  Tomorrow the girls don’t have school so I will sleep in (a little) clean up (a little) spend some time with the girls and then we will all go back to the hospital to see Elizabeth.

G*d Bless you all!

Jenn