Something fishy

Happy Birthday Nix !!
This is how Deqlan is occupying himself as i type this blog! Toilet paper is so much fun!

Not a very clear pic but you can see how red and itchy Deqlans hands are from the Krill oil,shame

Logs on her 8th Birthday swimming at Meggies house

Me swimming with all the kids, it was so hot!

Deqlan and Keaton playing on the jungle gym at Hannahs party on the weekend

Birthday girl Hannah! We didnt get to spend to much time together - there was a water slide , you see, and thats where Deqlan and i were the entire party! Deqlan wasnt feeling to well though so we had to take him home eventually

Oumie and Keaton, just love this photo!

Megs, me and Dee on Friday, we all went out to celebrate Deqlans great news NED for 2 years!

Our survivor, Nanna and Grandpa

'Itchy' 'Sore" two of Deqlans new words from the past few days - he discovered the meaning of these as he experienced and allergic reaction to krill oil.

lets start at the beginning. Krill oil is known to have fantastic properties and is more powerful then the regular omega oils, which we have been giving Deqlan. We have heard so much talk about it in the autism community. So we thought we would give it a go. The first time we tried it , Deqlans nappies were awful. So we gave it three days to try again to make sure it was the krill oil and not something else. Oh boy. Deqlans hands came out in a rash. each day got a little worse.

To add onto this, Deqlan had three rough days last week, fighting upper respiratory tract infection, with this temp going up to 39 each night. The Gp on Sunday eventually had to give an antibiotic which gave Deqlan a temp free night on Sunday and by Monday was much better...but the rash got so bad on his hands he didnt sleep again, cause he was so itchy. He would wake up crying every few minutes saying 'itchy' 'sore' and take my or marks hand to scratch his hands and feet. Tuesday morning took Deqlan to dermatologist to get her opinion, and she reckons it definitely allergy related. We got a cortisone cream , which has definitely helped, his hands looking much better, still itchy and red with some little blissters on his fingers, but he is not moaning as much as he was. So Deqlan is allergic to crustaceans such as krill and prawns and lobster etc - when he we used to give him hake, he used to throw up, every time, so he also cant handle hake, but can handle haddock??? So we will just need to continue being extra careful what Deqlan eats and steer clear from fish ! We will put Deqlan back onto Baby iq omegas when he is completely over the allergic reaction and also put him on his next course of diflucan when he has recovered.

We saw Liezl today, Deqlans therapist that set up the home programme for him, and she to was very impressed at the great changes in Deqlan - when he saw Liezl he gave her a beautiful smile, shame! Liezl also brought us a beautiful file that we can fill with information all about Deqlan - his likes and dislikes, food information , family information etc, so lovely! We going to complete it and give to his new teacher at Little leaps in Jan

I actually started making a little story of my own with all these details and more to hand to Ash and Jacqui tommorow - we are having a little get together with Dada and Nana to see more of the school and what a typical school day will be like. We are also going to chat about looking into Occupational and speech therapy again. Also going to take photos , which we will show Deqlan in the holidays so he can get used to the school idea and his new teacher Jacqui! Wow this is a big step , after being with Deqlan nearly every second of the day for 3 days, to watch him go to school, wow. As i have been saying to everyone, i am trying to prepare myself, but would i do know and what i am grateful and thankful for is that Deqlan is healthy and well and he will get to go to his very first day of school. wow.Will let you know how it goes!

Deqlan is thriving. His language grows each day. His understanding seems to increase each day. He is more loving and giving and playful and happy and HEALTHY!!!! PRAISE OUR LORD

new words and phrases, yes we have moved up to two words now!!!

ALL CLEAN - when finished bathing

WELL DONE - after Deqlan does something i always say well done, he has started saying it to now!

BITING

SAND

PRETTY

STRAWBERRY

TOMATOE

MATEY - from a Thomas Dvd

PUTTY - he calls play dough putty

CHEECKS

JEEP

PARTY

WINDOW - he likes to go to our bedroom window and say '1 WINDOW'

UP

HYUNDAI

BIRDY - oh boy does he love 3rd and bird, we watch his dvd at least 3 times a day

HI

THANK YOU

WOW

GIRLS - he has made another 2 little girlfriends in our road, who seems very taken with Deqlan and get just as excited when they see him, Deqlan runs to them, hugs them and then looks at me and says GIRLS!

KA BOOM - he tries to pull the girls around, then they all fall down and he says ka boom!

KFC

PIA - for piano, I am the music man is the new favorite song, especially the piano part

Another great change is when we drive around the car, Deqlan will point out signs he says, KFC, DONALDS ( FOR MACDONALDS) TOYOTA, CHECKERS, SPAR, so lovely to see - in the past Deqlan would just stare out the window and not interact with us at all!

I had a bit of an 'experience ' at the shop a few minutes ago. Deqlan always runs to the toy counter in this specific shop, running around the display, often pulling the cars off to look at them. Today a lady, that works in the shop came to pick the cars up Deqlan had taken off the shef, but was still looking at, saying he had to put them back they were for other children. I told her he was just looking at them as he had the same one at home. When she picked them up to put back on the display, Deqlan obviously got upset and started moaning, not even crying yet. She looked and him and said ' you must stop making a noise the other people will look at you' WHAT? I told her with the dirtiest face i could pull ' He has autism' She was obviously at a loss for words, and began to tell me how another child with a disability likes to look at the bubbles in the shop - to late to change the subject , to late to be nice to me lady.

I know we will probably encounter this type of ignorance and judgement without knowing anything about Deqlan another hundred times as he grows up , i just have to make sure it doesnt get to me like it did this morning. My Mom actually suggested i look at them and say " God Bless you, i forgive you cause you dont know what you saying' Thats probably the best way to go about it.

I wish people would be a little bit more understanding before judging and jumping to conclusions.

My sister and Conrad and Keaton will find out tommorow, if baby would like to reveal to us, what they are expecting. Happy and healthy, thats what we would firstly like to hear. Everyone has a feeling its a boy. I on the other hand, feel a strange connection to this little neice of mine already, as i did with my nephew before i knew he was a nephew!!! But Lord, either way, wow, what a miracle and gift. we cant wait.

Logan is with us for the holidays, her school closed 2 weeks earlier then it was supposed to, so she has been spending lots of time with Gaynor and Tyler at the cable learning how to wake and knee board! We will get her again on Friday night for the rest of the holidays and have lots planned to keep her entertained! She had a great birthday and got many phone calls and emails from around the world, including Don Sam Mia and Liam in the UK and Kevin and Louise in New Zealand and Tracey and Taylor in Australia!

Dee is doing fantastic - i couldnt believe my ears when mom told me he was coming home. TODAY! Wow God is so good, Doctor is so happy he says Dee can come home, we only expected him home on Saturday!! So we trust he will be in tip top condition for Christmas! Thanks for all the prayers, please do continue them

Aunty Shirl is also doing great and got home yesterday after having her hip op last week, it will take some time to gain her strength back, but the worst is behind her! We wish you a speedy recovery Aunty Shirl!

Prayers to Kim and family, and the tragic news of loosing her nephew this week to cancer and her brother last night, in a bike accident. Kim, we pray for you and your family at this heartbreaking time and we ask Our Lord to carry you, guide you and comfort you and only He can, if there is anything we can do, please let us know, sending you all our love.

p.s- please pray for Connor in the USA as he went for his check up ct scan yesterday, please pray all remains clear and normal and that he remains NED

to end off for today:

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF MY VERY BEST FRIENDS , NIX

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BIRTHDAY AND MANY MANY MORE!

MAY THE YEAR AHEAD BE FULL OF BLESSINGS AND LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND HEALTH. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING SUCH AN AMAZING FRIEND, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT AND PRAYERS YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE US, YOU ARE SO SPECIAL TO ME!

CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU SATURDAY, PLEASE GIVE JOSH A HUGE HUG FROM US, HE IS SO BEAUTIFUL

LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU FROM ALL OF US, GOD BLESS

MARK SAMM DEQLAN LOGAN

God Bless have a great weekend everyone

love Mark Samm Deqlan Logan

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE

Dee is doing great

Morning All

Firstly thank you so much to you all for the calls and emails and messages for Dee, we are blessed to have so many people who care about our family, thank you
Great News, Dee has already been moved from ICU to normal ward, most pipes off and out, except drainage pipes. The physio will start working with him today and he will have a soft brace for a while. He is i great spirits and not moaning of any pain, at the moment and we continue to trust and pray he will make a great recovery

God has already given me my Christmas gifts, my families health


UPDATE ON REEF:

Hi all. I went to see Lydia last night cos I found out they had been transferred to hospital here in joburg and
Reef is under the care of probably the best intensive care doctor in the country – Dr Bartlett at the Garden City Clinic. I did not get to see the little chap, but saw pics of him on his mommys phone and he is stable and they will know today if the infection is clearing. Dr was certain beyond doubt that his port was causing the trouble and they have put a temp port in his groin which is just for now and will be removed at discharge. The troublesome port was removed. In future for meds, Reef will get a drip and will get the needle which is ouch, but far less risky than a port which causes trouble. Prayers for today for the infection markers to come down. Lydia and Ryan looked ok last night. They were having dinner with Lydias parents and Ryans parents were leaving as I got there.
They have a room at the hospital just round the corner from their pumpkin and so are very very close by. Ryan is getting a lot of pressure from work, so pray for him on that, cos he wants to be with Reef and not leave there.. !!! Lydia was full of smiles. Reef will now be in isolation until all clear. His skin is all blotchy again from graft vs host disease which he may continue to get on and off all his life, but hopefully not.
Me
xxxxxxx


Thank you all and please continue the prayers
Love Samm and family

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY LOGAN!

Logs and me watching the Jonas brothers 3rd experience!
Dad and Logan - still half asleep!

Logan on her skateboard from Granny and Grandpa

Logs opening her presents and Deqlan getting on the table to do the birthday dance, unfortunately camera was to slow!

Deqlan giving Loggie her birthday hug!

We had a camp rock/Jonas brothers pool party for Logs yesterday with her two little friends , Caleigh and Riley and Aaliyah and Keaton and Deqlan

The Jonas brothers cupcakes Mark designed for Logan

Logan and Caleigh having a ball!

Logan, the mermaid, she must have been in the pool for at least 6 hours!

me and Loggie

Riley enjoying the slip n slipe Bev and Uncle Derek got Logan

Charles and Logan

Logan giving Conrad a big hug!

Bev, Logs, Meggie and Dee

Caroline.Logan and Gaynor

A nice hug for Tania

Aaliyah and Logs

granny and Logan

The girls helping Logan open her gifts

To Our Beautiful and precious Logan

Happy 8th Birthday big girl! We wish you a very Happy and wonderful Birthday for today and only the very best in the year to come! May all your wishes and dreams come true!

Stay the gorgeous , eager to learn, soft hearted, loving, caring, giving, sweet, beautiful daughter and sister you are!

Always know how much we love and treasure you and always know how proud we are of you!

Thank you for being so kind and gentle and understanding with Deqlan - you see Loggie, i told you one day he would love you back , and this morning you continue to recieve the beautiful hugs and holding hands Deqlan loves to give you, he loves you so much Logan, it is such a precious site to see the two of you together, thank you for being such a wonderful big sister!

Always stay the beautiful spirit you are, never change who you are for anyone! Its an honor watching you grow up and watching you learn and becoming a gorgeous young lady

We are so proud of you, know that Dad and Deqlan and I are here for you always!

We love you Logs and may Jesus continue to take such good care of you, He is also so proud of you , as he see's you trying so hard to learn so much about Him!

Happy Birthday big girl! We love you!

Dad, Samm & Deqlan

URGENT PRAYERS FOR LITTLE REEF

Dear All

Please can you say lots of prayers for little Reef - he was declared to be in remission from his leukimia just last week, but is now dangerously ill , back in Unitas, please see prayer request from Kim:

Hi all. Please say URGENT prayers for Reef. He was admitted to hospital last night with an infection and he is very very sick, and when I called the hospital this morning, I was told that they had almost lost Reef at around 6am, but the little fighter pulled through and is hanging in there. His doctor is on leave which is not such a good thing. Please God give Reef the strength to get through this after all he has already come through. And God, please be with his mom and dad to keep their chins up.

And please all say a prayer for my cousin Clare in PE who lost her son Nicholas yesterday after his very long brave fight. This is Clares’ second child, and she has had them both taken from her. I have no words to say to her at this time.

Prayers for Dee for this morning

Hello Everybody

Hope you had a great weekend?

This morning we need to ask you to please pray for a very special person, Dee, Megs and my stepdad and the most amazing Grandpa to Deqlan Keaton and Logan.

Dee has already been admitted to Little Company of Mary at 6am this morning and they are currently preparing him for his spinal op, to take place after 1130am this morning.

I ask you to please pray that Our Lord works His miracles through Dr Gurnells hands, that he does the best possible job, that the anaesthetist has Dee safely in his care, that the doctors and nurses that are going to be looking after him in high care/icu for the first few days and then into a normal ward till Saturday we believe. Please let Dee make a quick recovery, please let the pain be eased, please let him take it easy and be able to cope with the discomfort afterwards, and to be patient as he cant sit for at least 2 weeks after the op. Please pray for all his other vital systems to remain strong and healthy and all the precautions he has had and will have after the op, all lead to him remaining healthy and being on the road to recovery. We pray for no clots or blood pressure issues

I ask you to please pray for my Mom, who is of course, anxious and worried. Please pray that Our Lord fills her heart and mind with His peace and calmness, that Mom continues to be the loyal servant she is, and TRUST AND HAVE FAITH IN HIM, KNOWING THAT OUR LORD ONLY HAS PLANS TO PROSPER DEE, NOT TO HARM HIM, PLANS TO GIVE HIM HOPE A FUTURE.Please pray for Mom to get the rest she needs to help look after Dee ( i couldnt imagine a more amazing nurse for Dee) Please pray that she is safe on the road as she travels very often between home and the hospital, please take all fear and anxiety out of her mind. Please help us to help Mom in all possible ways.


Shall do an update as soon as we hear how it went, hoping to go and see Dee when Mark is home from work

Thanks for all your prayers and support and love, which i know will help Dee make an ever quicker recovery

God Bless,love
Mark Samm Deqlan Logan
SACRED HEART OF JESUS WE PLACE OUR TRUST IN THEE ALL FOR THEE OH LORD OH MY JESUS ALL FOR THEE

2 YEARS NED

Dear Deqlans Prayer army

I am delighted to tell you that all Deqlans results are normal!!! Perfectly normal - his Vma Hva urine results were perfectly in the middle of normal ! His feretine blood results are perfectly in the middle of normal ! Dr De Jager is delighted with Deqlan and only wants to see us in 6 months time! He can also see a great improvement autism wise , Deqlan was happy to sit in the room, and page through a car magazine, instead of screaming to get out the room to run around.

He is very happy and very positive that its been 2 years since the remainder of the tumor was removed the left adrenal glad area and that all is still clear , but will continue to monitor Deqlan in 6 months and when those results show all normal we will move to once a year check ups -ABSOLUTE MUSIC TO OUR EARS

THIS IS THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS GIFT WE COULD EVER RECIEVE - DEQLANS HEALTH, THANK YOU OUR GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL AND HEALING GOD, TO YOU ALL THE HONOUR AND GLORY AND THANKS - IN YOU OH LORD WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUT OUR TRUST

Thank you to all of you for your prayers and messages and for always being there for us , wow, we are blessed to have family and friends who love Deqlan and our family so much, there are not enough times we can thank you

I want to also say a very special thank you to Deqlans dada for putting up with me while we have for these results, and always , when i am maybe not the nicest person to be around. Thank you my love for supporting me and keeping us going even through moments when i am worried or scared - your faith in Our Lord, your encouraging words, does give me a quiet peace when i need it the most

Thank you to two very special ladies - my mom and megs who continue to be with us, every single appointment, check up , hand in, collection, you name it, they are there- thank you both from the bottom of our hearts , i cant explain the feeling when i walk out of Dr De Jagers rooms, just to see your faces, to smile at you to let you know all is ok, and see you smiling back - wow....

Our beautiful Deqlan, our gift from God, our miracle our reason for being - we love you more then we could ever show you, we are so proud of you , I want you to always always know that God is amazing in every way - he continies to work His miracles through you in every aspect of your life - how blessed are we that we are your parents and get to see these miracles in you everyday, we love you our beautiful precious Deqlan , you are our everything!

Keaton and Logan - we cant wait to celebrate with you this weekend , Deqlan adores you both as i know you do to, thank you for being understanding with him, for being gentle and considerate of Deqlans needs, i am so proud of you two, and we love you dearly.

We continue to ask you to please always always keep the prayers going for our beautiful boy

We continue to ask you to please always keep the prayers going for all the warriors, survivors and angels who are /have fought cancer. We ask you to pray especially for the angels who will be celebrating Christmas with Jesus in heaven this year and for their families who miss them so very much, but continue the fight for others.

God Bless you all, all our love and thanks and praise
MARK SAMM DEQLAN LOGAN
REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE

AND OH YES, ITS THE WORLD CUP DRAW TONIGHT, 2010, WE CANT WAIT!

ARMY GET YOUR CAMO OUT

Hello Deqlans Prayer Army

Please could you we ask for your continued prayers as we see Dr De Jager today for Deqlans blood and urine results, for his 3 monthly check up

Please pray they continue to be perfectly normal and that Deqlan remains NED TODAY FOREVER AND ALWAYS

Today will mark 2 years that Deqlan has had no evidence of disease and we pray Lord Jesus that the results we get today continue to confirm all is well and perfectly normal and always will be, and we already say thank You Lord

Deqlan has got a heavy cold at the moment, so not to happy especially when sleeping and battling to breathe through his blocked nose - will ask Dr De Jager to check his ears and throat out to make sure now antibiotic is needed

We also put Deqlan on a new supplement called Krill Oil (whales eat this fish) which is apparently fantastic and better then the normal omegas -well , not for our Deqlan, he has come out in a rash on his body, especially on his little hands, they are itching so much he scratches them during his sleep! His tummy is also upset and we just had a feeling about this from the start- so thankfully Our Lord has sent us the sign of the rash to stop the Krill Oil before Deqlan becomes more sick from it - Deqlan is probably allergic to crusteceans and some fish - hake we know for sure...so please pray these symptoms also to ease and the anti hestamine eases the rash

Have a great morning everyone, thank you for your prayers, they mean the world to us, we love and thank you all for your love and support and for standing firm in faith with us agreeing on Deqlans healing!

Great News for Jed - scans are stable so it shows the chemo is keeping the tumor from growing, please continue the prayers for Jeds miracle of total and permanent healing

Aunty Shirl had her hip op yesterday and all went well, she is just in a lot of pain, please continue the prayers for her to

Dee will be going in for his back op on Monday, will be sending out prayer request for him later, but please keep him and my mom in your prayers , that all is going to go very very well and that he makes a great recovery.

God Bless all our love and thanks
Mark Samm Deqlan Logan
FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU , DECLARES THE LORD, PLANS TO PROSPER YOU, NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE
JEREMIAH 29;11
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD, I AM THE GOD THE HEALETH THEE, I YOU OH LORD WE PUT OUR TRUST