Merry Christmas!

Dear Family and Friends,

From your Bible Methodist missionaries in Mexico, we wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!

~ Marc and Melodie Sankey; Jordan Cameron and Logan

~ Steve and Beth Stetler; Maria and Kent

(excuse my dear middle son who apparently wasn't having a good picture day..)

Very Good News Indeed

Well, we are happy tonight - this has been a great day, for at least 2 important reasons.


Reason # 1. Logan received the final doctor's ok to release him from the IV antibiotics per the good CT scan results, remove the pic line from his arm and switch to oral antibiotics for another 2 weeks. We are to see both the ENT and the Infectious Disease doctor again in 4 weeks, but for now, they are very happy with Logan's progress and are confident that the right treatment plan was found and is being pursued. After sinus/eye surgery, 2 hospitalizations, over 6 weeks of IV antibiotics and several oral antibiotics tried before that, it appears that we're winning the fight with this infection. We are so grateful to God for His touch on Logan - we know it has been His mercy that has spared Logan's eye, if not his life, due to the incredibly sensitive area the infection has been in.

Getting ready to remove the pic line

Reason #2. Steve completed his first semester of Spanish language school today and Logan and he were celebrating together! Congratulations, Steve - awesome job!

Just had to compare how great his eye looks tonight with how it looked his first day in the hospital.

One More Week

We took Logan to the Infectious Disease Specialist today and received basically a good report. His CT scan results from Monday are encouraging - the abscess and infection are receding, but she has extended his IV antibiotics for another week. Her plan is to remove him from the IV infusions next Thursday, if his appointment with the Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist next week goes well and the ENT is satisfied with his post-surgery progress.

So here we are, infusing antibiotics for another week. He'll be on oral antibiotics for a minimum of 2 weeks after that. We're encouraged - the infection is responding and his eye looks almost completely normal.

Thanks for your love and prayers.

Melodie

Early Morning Antibiotics

Logan's schedule of IV antibiotics keeps us all busy. He's "tethered" to the pole 3 1/2 hours a day. One infusion lasts an hour and a half (two different medicines) and the other two last an hour. 7a, 3p and 11p. He does pretty good with it, just gets tired of sitting there that long. But as you can see here, he's snoozing away the hour.

He had his CT scan yesterday at the hospital and we are to see the doctor tomorrow afternoon to learn the results and the next step in his treatment. We hope the pic line can come out and we can be done with the IV antibiotics. We'll have to wait and see.

Hope your Tuesday is good!

Encouraging News

We received our first encouraging news about Logan this afternoon when we again saw the Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Linsangan. She was very pleased with Logan's appearance - clinically he looks great, she said. We are to continue his 2 IV antibiotics through next Wednesday, when she wants to see him again in her office.

Logan is to have another CT scan on Monday and she will decide the next step in all of this according to the results of that scan. She did share with us that she was praying that we would receive good results from the scan - we assured her that we are all praying, too.

We are so thankful for this good news and again want to thank you for praying for Logan and for all of us.


Melodie

The Corn Maze

Here's a few pics of our visit to the Corn Maze on Thanksgiving Day. We went with some missionary friends and had a really good time.

Marc and David Lambeth, playing tetherball

Cameron's feet got tired, so he just hopped on - what a kid....


Me and my sweetheart

Jordan, Cameron and Logan and their friend, Jared

Logan having fun on that big slide

Thanks, Jonathan and Renee, Kylie and Korey, David and Lynn, Jeremy and Jared, and Collette for accompanying us! And the supper at Denny's afterwards was fun, too.

Happy Thanksgiving

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you all from our family! We took over the Stetler's kitchen (while they're all in Central America) and cooked a delicious turkey and trimmings dinner. We kept talking about how good it was to have all this "States" stuff - creamy cottage cheese, real Cool Whip on the homemade pumpkin pie, etc. Tonight we're going to the Donna Corn Maze with some friends. Should be fun!

We are so grateful to God this Thankgiving Day - for so many things. First of all, that we are together as a family, all 5 of us. Not in a hospital - but all together. Not in our own home - but all together. We are so thankful that God has called us to be missionaries to Mexico - that He has chosen us to do His work there.

We are grateful for God's touch on Logan's body. While we still do not know the outcome of all this, we are so thankful for the improvements we are seeing and are trusting Him for the rest.

We're thankful for you - our friends and family, and for all those who have prayed so faithfully for Logan. Thank you.

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Marc, Melodie and boys

Having Fun on the Court

Marc and the boys played some basketball last night after we ate supper. Marc's got 'em beat right now all the way around, but one of these days......

Home Again

We brought Logan home this afternoon - thank the Lord! He's looking so much better as you can see. Scroll down to compare this pic to the nasty ones.

Now we're settling in for 2 1/2 more weeks of IV antibiotics, steroids, drops, nasal spray - a lot to keep up with but we're doing our best.

From all outward appearances, Logan is doing well - his next CT scan is scheduled for December 3rd. This will tell us the status of the infection after almost 6 weeks of IV antibiotics.

Again, thank you for your prayers for Logan.

Looking Better

We are cautiously optimistic tonight. It is obvious to us that the Lord is touching Logan in direct result to prayer on his behalf. He is looking so much better: very little discoloration and very little swelling. Apparently the new antibiotic along with the steroids he's on now to reduce swelling is working. The doctors assured us this morning that with such a deep tissue infection, time and the proper medicine is the best course of action to fight this. We hope to be able to bring him home from the hospital tomorrow and finish the 2 week course of IV antibiotics at home.

Sad to say, the 5 of us will not be going on the Sankey Family Trip to Guatemala and Honduras that is to kick off Monday morning. We are incredibly sad about it, but we know that without a doubt Logan's health is the most important of the two - we all agree on that. I guess we'll just have another South Texas Thanksgiving!

Thank you for praying and to so many of you for taking time to let us know you're praying - it means so much.

Melodie

Back in the Hospital

Logan was re-admitted to Children's Hospital last night due to Wednesday's discouraging CT scan results. The infection is still not responding to the antibiotics, so another, stronger antibiotic is being tried. Blood levels have to be checked when using this new antibiotic, therefore the doctor felt it best to hospitalize him again, at least until the proper dosage is set.

Logan's doctors are very concerned (their words) and of, course consequently we are, too. We do ask your prayers for Logan - we know God is able to touch him and help this new medicine to be effective.

Of course, this has dramatically changed our trip plans to Central America. Nothing is finalized yet, but at the very least Logan and I will not be able to go.

Thank you for praying.

Melodie

Every Eight Hours

This is what you'll find me doing...every eight hours. The infusions are going well - we have 2 more days of them. The central line comes out Friday afternoon, if all goes as planned. Thank the Lord we've had no problems with the line - I'm really glad.

Logan had his 3rd CT scan this morning; tomorrow we see the Infectious Disease doctor and the ENT on Friday. We're hoping and praying that these extra days of IV antibiotics have cleared up the infection enough for Logan to be able to travel to Central America next week.

We are still seeing improvement in the appearance of the eye: less swelling and discoloration.

Interesting refrigerator items

Everything's ready to go

Logan "patient"ly putting up with "Nurse Mom"

Play, Play, Play

That's what boys who've been cooped up love to do! Yes, we were being careful in case it looks scary.

The central line antibiotics infusions are going well - I think I have the hang of it now. But it sure is a lot to keep straight, I'll say that.

We're "Home"

Logan came home from the hospital last night about 6 pm. He was so happy - the smile on his face says it!



He's doing well, but needs another 7 days of IV antibiotics due to the extensive infections in his sinus cavity and his eye. A central line was inserted yesterday, so that we could leave the hospital and infuse the antibiotics at home. Home health care is teaching Marc and me how to infuse the medicine - and we'll hopefully be able to do it ourselves beginning Monday morning. Those of you who know how I "love" needles can just pray extra hard for me.


The language school where Marc attended - RGBI - has offered us the use of an apartment here on campus until we're ready to return home - such a blessing!

Uncle Steve gave Logan some pretty cool money as collector's items

Logan's outside playing with friends and brothers this morning - what he's waited to do for so long. He has to be careful with the central line site, we're keeping an eye on him, and he's loving his freedom!

He is schedule for another CT scan and 2 follow up doctors' appointments next week.

Logan and his "prize" from Walmart

We're cutting this rather close since the entire Sankey Family is flying to Guatemala on Monday, the 19th and on to Honduras the latter part of the week. This trip has been planned for years, tickets are bought, and we're praying everything goes well with Logan so we can go.

Again, thanks for all your prayers!

Melodie

Post - Op Logan

Logan came through his surgery very well this morning. It was a success, the surgeons felt like they accomplished the objectives: clear out the infected sinus and put in a tube in his eye to help drain the infection.

How well he does over the next couple days will determine when he goes home from the hospital.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying!

Melodie

Here's the Next Step

Logan will be having sinus surgery tomorrow morning at 7:30 here at the Children's Hospital. A pediatric ENT specialist will be performing the surgery. Logan will be hospitalized at least 2 more days, according to the information we have at this time.

We would appreciate your continued prayers for Logan.

Thank you,
Marc and Melodie

Still Here

Well, Logan didn't get to come home from the hospital today - he is more than sad about it. His CT scan done this afternoon showed that while the cellulitis around his eye had improved, the abscess under his eye had not - even with 6 days of strong antibiotics.

We're not exactly sure what the next step is....whether the opthamologist will do a surgical procedure to drain the abscess, whether an ENT will get involved, etc. Logan's group of hospital pediatricians do not want to release him until this is solved, but since it's getting a little complicated, more time on IV antibiotics is the least that we'll have to look forward to - and more than likely a procedure of some kind in the next couple days.

Just to be very honest, we're discouraged....but we do know that God is in control and He is watching over Logan very carefully. Marc and I are doing our best as his parents: taking turns overnight in the hospital, trying to keep him entertained, being there with him as new IVs are inserted when old ones blow the veins.....but we as parents can only do so much and believe me, we feel our limitations very keenly tonight.

But God is Logan's Heavenly Father - He is watching intently and has Logan in His hands. We trust Him that He knows best - we just are asking Him to give us strength to come through this time, trusting more in Him and seeing that He knew best all the time.

Thank you again for your love and prayers for Logan - it is so encouraging to us to know you're praying.

p.s. these Lightning McQueen "jammies" really cheered him up - he LOVES anything and everything "Cars"related....

My Other Boys

Oh yes, I do have 2 other children, that's right.....that's almost how it feels, with so much of my attention being on Logan. Beth has been their 2nd mom this week and I can't say how much I appreciate her help. She's gone "above and beyond" in every way - thank you, Beth.

Delicious Chicken Fajitas that she made for all of us...and yes, those are homemade chocolate chip cookies you're seeing...didn't I say "above and beyond"....

As if language school wasn't challenging enough, try studying and preparing with 2 extra kids running in and out, people coming and going, different schedules, etc. Steve has amazing concentration skills - he just appears as "unruffled" as ever.

Here's what my other boys have been doing - this was the way they spent their Saturday...playing ball with Kent and the kids on the RGBI campus. They had a great time.

And a little better today....

Logan is improving slowly. The redness, inflammation, and swelling are going down very gradually. For this, we are very thankful. His doctors do want to keep him in the hospital over the weekend, do a repeat CT scan of his eye on Monday, and release him then if it is satisfactory.

Brushing those teeth after his shower this morning

The balloons and candy from Logan's friends at the Franklin Bible Methodist Church - thank you!

Just "chillin' out" with his DVD player

He's had a lot of fun stuff going on today to help with his boredom...my rough and tumble boy "just wants to be outside playing, that's all!" (his words)


Sponge Bob came to visit Logan today as well as some students from the Pan American University. They read books to the kids, gave out toys and restaurant gift certificates for Kids Meals, etc....plus cousin Kent is here to play games - the best part!

Thank you for praying for Logan.

A Little Improvement

After a day and a half in the hospital on 2 different antibiotics designed to treat a range of infections, we are beginning to see just a little improvement in Logan's eye - especially in the afternoons and evening. It seems that sleeping causes the swelling to be worse - not sure why yet.

He was seen by a pediatric opthamologist last night who wants to follow up with him once the antibiotics have had time to clear up the infection. He talked about a surgical procedure that may be necessary if the eye continues to run and tear. Hopefully we won't get to that point.

The pediatrician wants him hospitalized for a couple more days to observe him, put in drops several times a day and let the antibiotics she's using run their course, etc. So that's what we'll do - much to Logan's dismay. He just wants to "get out of here" - in his words.

Thank you so very much to all who have been praying: who've emailed or called to let us know. We are counting on your prayers.

Here's a few pics of his day yesterday.

a "trick or treater" bringing Logan candy

Balloons and treat/toy basket sent from Grandma and Papaw Sankey

His favorite, Mater

Hanging out with his brothers for awhile

Getting examined by the opthamologist

Playing in the playroom

And now we're admitted.....

Logan has just been admitted to the Children's Hospital from the Emergency Room tonight about 9 pm. A second reading of a CT scan done on him earlier in the afternoon shows a forming abscess in the sinus under/beside his bad eye - the left one. This can do nothing but make the situation/periorbital cellulitis worse, so the doctor wants to admit him for IV antibiotics and observation. We don't know how long he'll be in the hospital yet - probably at least a couple days.

Marc is with him tonight - he chose Dad to stay overnight instead of Mom - go figure! He's in room 358 of the Children's Hospital in Edinburg, TX. Beth and Steve have had our other boys all day long (and taking turns overnight) - thank you SO much!

Thank you again for your prayers and love. This has been a pretty overwhelming day, but we do know God is in control...He knows what He's doing - we just need His strength and peace during this time.

Love,
Melodie

The yellow shirt pictures are from his ER visit on Sunday. Red shirt pics are today.