Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!!!

That's the song that just keeps playing over and over in my head! The same song that I replayed continually in my mind while I was pregnant with my precious Korben!! There's just no way possible that we could NOT give praise to HIM for all the wonderful blessings and miracles that we've seen in our lives. All the valleys that we've gone through and all the stormy times in our lives...God was there with us, walking right by our side; and HE brought us through!! I love the Casting Crowns song "Praise You in This Storm". It just speaks right to my heart in so many ways.

We got great news on baby Ava today! They were able to take her off of the ventilator and remove that tube AND they were able to remove her chest tube also. Such great news! Blood work was done and so far all results are very positive and show that she's just doing great. What a lil' toughie!! Word is that, if she continues to do well today, Kelly and Nikki should be able to hold her and feed her tonight (for the FIRST time)!! What a blessing from above!

Kelly sent me this picture today on my cellphone. I know it's not the best quality in the world, but I just had to post a picture of the lil' angel that we've all been praying so much for here lately!!

Please continue to lift them up in prayer.

Picture Time...Just a Few New Ones

I thought I'd just share a couple of pictures with you real quick! (Can't help myself.)

Here's one of my sweet lil' man as he was just waking up at Mammy's house after sleeping all night long (as usual) in his cool crib! (Wish I was that cheerful in the morning!!)














And this one is of Korben waiting patiently in his high chair for his crazy Mama to take one more picture and then to put the camera down and FEED HIM!! HA!


















And last, but certainly not least, these two are of Korben and his friend, Elaina Grace. She's a month older than him. I think they're going to be pretty good buddies!! (Kinda like me and Elaina's Mommy!) Aren't they a cute pair!!

Meet Baby Ava!!...Korben's Newest Cousin

WOW!! We serve an awesome God!! On Monday, April 16, 2007, we welcomed the newest member of the Altman clan into the world. Little Ava Nichole was born a month early due to concerns about her sweet mama's BP being SOOO high. Ava weighed in at 6 lbs. 2 oz. and was 18 in. long!! She's such a precious lil' thing with a head FULL of dark brown (almost black) hair. (see picture below)




Of course, being born a month premature comes with it's disadvantages, too (no matter HOW anxious we were for her to get here). Ava is perfectly healthy except that the lower lobe of her left lung wasn't completely developed. Early this morning the doctors decided to put Ava on a respirator to help her with her breathing so she wouldn't have to work so hard. Being the tough lil thing that she is, they've already been able to lower the oxygen level some today. Thank you, Lord. She's doing great though! And the doctors and nurses say that this isn't anything that wouldn't be expected with any other baby born at 36 weeks.


Please keep Ava (and her mama and daddy, Nikki and Kelly Altman) in your prayers. It's been really hard on Kelly and Nikki not being able to hold her and to have their new baby in the room with them since she's been born. I know that the Lord will be faithful and they'll be able to get to know each other REALLY well soon! "I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well." Psalms 139:14


Lord, I thank you so much for the gift of life. And most importantly for the gift of salvation. I lift up Ava, Nikki, and Kelly to you and I pray that they would feel your arms of compassion wrapped around them during this time. And that you would touch Ava's lungs and heal her according to your will. I also pray that you would not let me take for granted the healthy child that you have given to me. Remind me continually that YOU are the one and only one who "makes all things new"...both physically and spiritually. Help us to look to You first for comfort and strength and to thank you always for the blessings, big and small, that you give us. In Your precious name I pray...Amen.

Happy Easter Everyone!!

Well...Easter has come and gone. Time is flying by so fast. I think Korben enjoyed it. He really just wanted to gnaw on the handle of his Easter basket (bucket). :D

Don't you just love his attire?? He slept in his pj's with eggs and lil' chicks on them! And then wore his sweet Strasburg outfit to church.

Speaking of church --- Easter sunrise service also marked our first church service in our new sanctuary. It was so wonderful to be able to worship with EVERYBODY in one service (as opposed to 2 separate services). I was just overwhelmed with the love that God has for us!! That Jesus was willing to die on that cruel cross for ME and for MY sins. But I'm especially thankful that he AROSE from the grave and that he LIVES now and that I will see him face to face when I get to Heaven!! I hope that you were able to reflect on the Love of God for you this Easter...and not just on the eggs and bunnies.

Lord, thank you so much for your unfailing love that you have for me. And for the assurance that you give in your word that, no matter how many times we mess up or disappoint you, Your mercies are new every morning! You forgive us as soon as we ask and we move forward together. I love you!!