Our testimony - Jadon is healed!

On 30th June 2008, my 2nd baby Jadon was born. Even though he was my 2nd baby, he meant alot more to me than my first. That's because I knew him before he came to me. In 2005 when I was expecting my first baby, I wrote 2 names in my pregnancy journal:

Girl - Jaimie
Boy - Jadon

My maternal instincts told me it was a boy but I was wrong! It turned out to be Jaimie. :)
So for the 2nd pregnancy, I knew it has to be Jadon this time, Jadon has to come and so I prayed for it. God granted me my desire and I was very happy and strongly felt like I knew Jadon way before.

As much as he was special to me, he also gave me the most pain - physical labor pain as well as emotional pain. After a 14 hour labour, his newborn checkup showed an elevated reading for his TSH (Thryoid Stimulating Hormones) which meant there was a possibility for Hypothyroidism. This sounded so alien to me since my first baby did not have a single health issue. My whole world came crashing down. I know there are many other health issues which are more serious but I just couldn't help but think "WHY ME?".

The doctor's explanation in layman's terms was - if it's not treated, he will become stupid, retarded and with poor growth.

With that explanation, my world really came crashing down. Everyday I just looked out for signs of retardation. Every little single movement he had would make me wonder and worry if it was normal. I just lost the enjoyment of a newborn.

on 29th July 2008, 1 month old Jadon started his daily Synthroid dosage after 2 retests which showed a rising trend in his TSH levels. We were told to take the medication daily without fail for 3 years because the first 3 years were the most crucial for brain and physical development.
When he turns 3 years old, he would be taken off the medication for 1 month and if his TSH reading came back normal, it means his case is transient and he would be able to quit the medicine. If not, it would mean his thyroid glands are unable to function and he would have to take the medicine for life.

Looking at my then 1 month old Jadon, "lifetime medication" seemed to me a very cruel word and even though I prayed for stength and faith, I had no peace and comfort at all. I couldn't totally let go. Whenever someone commented he was cute or tried to play with him, I had doubts in me, thinking they were noticing he has a sickness even though one with a thyroid disorder doesn't look abnormal in anyway. As he grew, he responded more and I gradually began to let go and was able to surrender all to God. I eventually had this thinking in my mind - whatever may come, the result is going to be good, he is going to be healed so why should I worry about what happens in between?

Over the 3 years, with the help of medication, his TSH levels were maintained low which meant his condition was stablised. I began to have more peace or rather I was not bothered by it anymore and became a little lazy in praying for his complete healing.

Jadon turned 3 on 30th June 2011 and we stopped the medication from 1st July to 29th July as planned. During this time, I came back close to God again because I started attending a Korean church where God's presence was greatly felt. My church leaders, pastors and myself began praying very diligently. We fasted for 1 week and met in prayers. We believed and declared in the name of Jesus that Jadon was healed.

29th July 2011, we went in to the doctor's for the results. Jadon's TSH levels were 6.8 without the medication. It was a rise compared to when he was under the medication (usually 2 or 3 points)and was not a good sign afterall. However our pediatric endocrinologist who had been seeing him since newborn days said that as long as it's not above 10, there is no need to go back to medication as yet. He suggested going 1 more month without the medicine to see if the reading drops. Needless to say, if it drops then we will be saying goodbye to the medicine. If it doesn't it means he will continue the medicine again.

I didn't have a bit of doubt or disappointment at all. I knew at once that it was all part of God's plan to bring me back closer to Him once again. This time, we fasted the whole month, prayed and believed and claimed victory for Jadon even harder. Coincidentally (actually not), the pastor's messages during this period was all about God's timing, waiting for God's timing, healing in God's timing! How appropriate!

29th August 2011, we went in the 2nd time. "It went up abit but...." where the doctor's words. I was scared abit but he was actually referring to the last time. As he mumbled that, he opened the file for this time's result. The graph showed a drop. It was 5.5 this time and I had prayed for a significant drop! My mind went blank for a moment and then I started tearing. I was just so thankful and overwhelmed by God's love and faithfulness at that moment.

As I think back now, I think I know why God didn't just let Jadon pass the first retests 3 years ago but yet "allowed" him to end up taking the medicine and breaking my heart. It was all part of God's plan to draw me closer back to Him. I don't think I would have sought God again if we didn't go through that difficult period. He even sent me to a church where His presence is so strongly felt because I always felt that God's presence can never be felt in Korean churches since it's not my language. Now I know I don't want to go back to where I was before. It is very good to be in God's presence all the time and indeed, God heals in His time.

Praise the Lord!

Jaimie's 2nd, Jadon's 1st performance for xmas 2010

On the evening of 24th Dec 2010, we had a Christmas Eve service in church. My friends and I from the Junior class were supposed to perform a song & dance item so we had practised a few times before the actual event. Didi attends the Infant class and they didn't join us during practice so he just stood there without having to do anything. Mummy and Pappy were surprised to see Didi in that Pororo costume because he usually won't even want to wear a hat or anything extra on his body. Anyway he didn't cry and just stood there beside me throughout the whole performance.

Funny "empty" glasses

17 Dec '10 - Going to school in the snow

Yesterday was Korean culture class so we had to wear the hanbok. Since midnight it started to snow so the whole ground was covered with snow when we went to school.
It was so difficult walking on the snowy ground in my hanbok. We literally skated on the slippery ground.

My best friend

This is my best friend in school. Her name is Choi Ju-Hee. She is nicest to me that's why she is my best friend! She is a few months younger than me but I look much bigger and fatter. O my!!

Playing doctor

It's hard to snap pictures of me and Didi playing together because we are always fighting and snatching each other's toys. Today I managed to sit down with him and play doctor. It was fun because he did everything I told him to. Now, that is what I call play - means doing it MY way!

Jaimie performed in church

The church that operates my school celebrated its 13th anniversary yesterday and at the thanksgiving service, my friends and I performed. We practised during school time and finally on the actual day we put on angel costumes for the song. It was my first time performing and mummy said she was proud of me because she didn't know I could do this. It was a last minute decision to join because I saw my friends practising and I thought I also wanted to peform so I practised. I didn't even show her the steps at home!

Jadon trying to be a dinosaur

Didi loves dinosaurs and watching dinosaur clips on youtube. When he watches them, he pretends he is a dinosaur too and will roar like one.

Jaimie's school outing to the museum

Last week I went on a trip to the museum with my school. The pictures taken in the museum turmed out to be blury but we managed to take a nice group picture outside the museum.

Jadon's new hairstyle

Last week at the salon when mummy was having a haircut, the stylist commented that Jadon's hair was long and suggested trimming his fringe. Mummy thought it was free (since it's going to be just very minimal cutting) so she said yes. It turned out to be a little chaotic because he cried quite a bit but managed to calm down with a lollipop. But the hairstyle was totally not mummy's desired style (mummy likes it messy and long). But now we feel that Didi looks good in his new hairstyle.

At the end of the session, mummy was charged for Jadon's cut!!!


BEFORE



AFTER

Air show in Korea...

9 Sept 2010 - We went to Osan for the US Army airshow. Because of the traffic jam, we arrived late and the show was over. Nevetherless we managed to see real fighter planes and helicopters. It was a nice experience afterall.

Hiding IN the mattress

One day, mummy couldn't find Didi but discovered that the mattress looked very "lumpy".


The big "lump" inside.




The zip was left opened.... (?)




The little Didi was inside!!! He unzipped the mattress case and went to hide inside.




He couldn't come out and had to scream for help.

Hey what's cooking?

Jadon loves cooking for mummy. These days his language is exploding and he can say many words. As he cooks, he says "cook carrot, pot, soup, hot, blow, see, nice, AAAAA" and makes mummy open her mouth to eat.

1 boy and 1 girl in our family

Manual car wash centre

Last Sunday we went to the manual car wash centre to wash Pappy's car. We planned to help Pappy wipe and clean but because Didi kept whining that we had to stay in the car to play and drink banana milk.

Jadon's banana car

Didi made this banana car last week with my Morphun blocks and a toy banana and plate from our cooking set. He called mummy, "See, Bababa car", which means Banana car!

At 25 months - Jadon's talking in 2 words

Jadon will turn 25 months in 3 day's time. But he is already putting 2 words together to form short sentences. Mummy said I could only do this when I was close to 3 years old!

Our pet snail

3 years ago, we had a pet snail from a bunch of vegetables and we put it in the balcony, gave it watermelon and leaves but it escaped after a few days and never came back. This year, we adopted a pet snail from another bunch of vegetables that mummy bought.
Didi enjoys looking at the snail but he is afraid to touch or even go near it.
Now, our snail is hiding in one of our plants and will come out whenever he wants some sunshine.

Pictures of our summer trip - June 2010

This year we went down south to 전라도 instead of up north to Kangwondo where we always went. This time, it was also Didi's birthday and we had a cake in the chalet at night. The chalet was facing the sea and it was very nice but with a little bit dirty with mosquitoes and dead insects lying all over. Wemanaged to visit the Dinosaur Museum, bamboo forest and green tea plantation. At the bamboo forest, I got biten by a big fat mosquito and had allergic reaction on my legs. They swelled up and was so painful and itchy. It was an unforgettable holiday!

Jadon is 2 years old!

Jadon is 2 years old now. Ask him these questions and he will answer:

Q: What is your name?
A: Car. Jadon.

Q: How old are you?
A: TWO!