This is a banner which Elizabeth’s entire school signed and sent to her.   She really loved it!   Thanks!

The visiting hours for friends are 1 pm - 8 pm Monday to Saturday, with 5 pm – 8 pm being the best times to see Elizabeth without interruptions.     
On Sunday visiting hours are from 10 am-8 pm, and there is no schedule therapy so anytime is a good time to visit.    

On Thanksgiving (tomorrow) the visiting hours are from 10 am-8 pm, and there is no schedule therapy so anytime is a good time to visit.  

Room 114D
150 New Providence Rd
Mountainside, NJ 07092

click for directions

I should mention that the entire children’s hospital in Mountainside will be closing and  moved to a new (and improved) facility in New Brunswick, NJ.    Elizabeth is schedule to be moved on December 4th.   I’ll keep you informed.

Today the study team met with Elizabeth and told us what they have planned for her.    She was also fitted for a wheel chair, so that she can get around the hospitial.  Uncle Chet came for a visit yesterday evening and threw a small ball back and forth with her.    I played her in Connect-Four and she won three games straight (her right had has improved just enough to lightly clasp the pieces).    We also stayed up and watched the TV show The Biggest Loser.  That is the show where contestants compete in taking off weight.  She was sad to see Kay voted off the show.  

Brian

“I will praise the name of G*d with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”  Psalm 69:30

Quick note – I am going to the hospital and we are meeting with Elizabeth’s doctor about the tests.  Also we are moving to the Children’s Hospital in Mountianside this morning around 10:30 am.   Lord willing, we will update the blog later in the day.  

Brian  

Just a quick note that Elizabeth had her MRI tonight – but we will not know the results until tomorrow morning.   Also it has been confirmed that we are moving Elizabeth to Mountianside Children’s Hospital tomorrow – the address is: 

Edited:  We have been trying to keep things normal for Monique and Megan – therefore I brought Monqiue out to bagpiper bagpipe lessons tonight.  Some of you may not have know that Elizabeth has been taking bagpipe lessons for the last couple months.    Here is a picture with her instructor from a few weeks ago:

Brian

On Sunday Elizabeth was tired all day – because of lack of sleep the night before.   But for her yesterday was one of the best days!   She had so many friends from school  come by – she was smiling all day long.   While she loves the adults visits – she really missed her school pals.  Some of the parents shared stories of Elizabeth’s kindness at school with me.   How she befriended the smallest kid in the class or gave her lunch to someone else - because they forgot their lunch, or how she always remembers to say hi to the parents.  

In the morning we had our worship service and in the Evening the Rodrigues family came  and joined our family in singing the Psalms with Elizabeth – the room was filled with music and it was a wonderful time of praise. 

One small piece of good news is that yesterday the hospitial removed the IV and some of the other hoses attached to her.   We were able to put her in a wheel chair (which we were instructed to do twice a day for now on) and her sisters pushed her around the hospital hallways.  

This morning Elizabeth was better rested and feeling better.  In New Jersey we had snow on the ground, which Elizabeth loved looking at.    I grabbed a couple buckets and brought the snow in to the hospital so we could have a snowball fight (the nurses thought is was great and were laughing).   Elizabeth got a few good shots at me and her mom!   

EDIT:   I should mention that we will likely be moving Elizabeth to Mountainside Children’s Hospital which specialize in spinal cord recovery, in one or two days from now.   We will let you know as soon as this happens.    Her stay is estimated to be about 4 to 6 weeks depending on her needs.  

Well I am off – I promised Elizabeth that I would pick up two new Wii games called ‘Playground’ and ‘Petz 2′.   

Brian

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  James 5:16b

For those that are coming to visit her she is in Goryeb Children’s Hospital, which is part of the Morristown Memorial Hospital’s campus.    We have had a number of people which have parked immediately when they entered the campus – but that will place you on the wrong side of the campus.   When you enter the campus just follow the signs for Goryeb Children’s Hospital, and park in the valet parking which is just past the entrance. 

This morning since Elizabeth can not go to church – so we are bringing church to her – thus our tiny congegation will be having a short worship service in her room at 10:30 A.M. this morning.  

Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

Brian

Jenn’s Edit:

1) Elizabeth enjoyed seeing the snow flurries out her  window this morning.

2) The Lord’ sustaining mercy.

3)  My hubby, Brian – don’t know how I’d make it through without him!

4)  The great hospital Elizabeth is in.

5)  Our worship service in Elizabeth’s hospital’s room this morning.

Hi!  It’s really me Jenn.   Thank you all so much for your prayers.  It means so much to my family!

Here is what I am grateful for today:

1) James & Leslie and Brittany coming to visit Elizabeth (her uncle, aunt and cousin.)

2) Brian’s parents coming too.

3)  An old friend came.

4)  Megan’s contagious laughter.

5) Doing the household chores when I came home -makes it feel a little more normal.

 Some of the cards, stuffed animals, flowers and ballons, sent to encourage her. 

Keep praying, please!

Jenn

Well I gotta run.  I want to eat with the girls then I have to go back to the hospital to sleep.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

Family & Friends,

Yesterday morning Jennifer (which slept over) told me that Elizabeth moved her left leg a little bit. Remember this is the leg that has not moved at all.   By the time I arrived at the hospital, Elizabeth was unable to do it again, and for the rest of the day the leg remained motionless.     When the Neurologist came by we told him about the leg movement and he decided to test her reflexes again.    It took a great effort – but a small reflex could be seen in both legs, which is good news.    This morning (I was sleeping over) when she woke up she was again able to slightly move her left leg.    It’s not much, but any movement is a welcomed sight.   The doctor told me he had one more trick and told me he wanted to give her Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG)  which has no serious down side but may help her if she has Transverse Myelitis.  

We are still scheduled for an MRI on Monday and we expect results back from some blood work next week also.  

Elizabeth had a lot of visitors yesterday.  Elizabeth’s sisters Monqiue and Megan, Aunt Tara, one of her fellow classmates Madeline visited with her mom, Her school teacher (which brought us Elizabeth report card, which was great, and a bunch of wonderful homemade cards from her classmates), and a cute dog named Mitsy.    Here’s a picture of Mitsy giving Elizabeth a high five!  (you’ll see the laptop in front of her – we were sharing your comments with her – and she was delighted to read them!)