Prayers during transition

There are lots of changes happening now and that will continue to happen over the next few weeks. Our apartment is about half packed. Okay, that's probably an exaggeration. Maybe 1/4 is more realistic, if that. We'll get there though! We'll be loading a truck Monday the 8th and leaving either the 9th or 10th. We hope to arrive in Oak Harbor the 12th or 13th. Please pray that our stuff is delivered by the moving company on the 12th. If it isn't, it won't come until at least the 15th, which could make for a few interesting days in our new home (especially for Hazel and Jude).

Hazel and Jude are quite beside themselves lately. They have recently transitioned to formula and it is not going well at all (especially for Hazel). They are not eating nearly as much and are in obvious discomfort (so much so that Hazel doesn't even want solids anymore). We keep trying new kinds and are praying that we find the right match for each of them soon. Their teething also seems to be bad again. They've been teething for months and still have nothing to show for it! On top of the physical pain they're experiencing, we're sure they can sense the chaos around here. Please pray that they handle the lengthy car rides each day well, that they are able to tolerate formula so that they start eating more and are not in pain, and that they start sleeping better (Hazel has been up crying multiple times the past few nights).

We are very excited to get moved, settled, and start this new phase of life and are so thankful for the continued prayers of so many as we try and survive this period of major transition.

Reverend Snyder

Here is a picture of me taking my ordination vows yesterday, standing before a commission composed of ministers and elders from San Marino Community Church and other congregations in our presbytery. I was so thankful to have Heidi, Jude, and Hazel there with me--the first time we have all been in church together. And I was also happy to celebrate my call in the midst of the saints at San Marino who have nurtured us these past five years.

For the three people reading this who might be interested, here are the vows:

a. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

b. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you?

c. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?

d. Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions?

e. Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?

f. Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?

g. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?

h. Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?

i. Will you be a faithful minister, proclaiming the good news in Word and Sacrament, teaching faith and caring for people? Will you be active in government and discipline, serving in the governing bodies of the church; and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?

I answered them all in the affirmative.

Neurology Update on Jude: Still Good

Over the past couple months, Jude's head size has grown at a faster rate than the rest of him, and he has sometimes displayed mild symptoms of hydrocephalus (which could just as easily be normal baby things, except for the "sunsetting eyes"). Given his history, the pediatrician thought it best to have him checked again by the neurologist, even though Jude had previously "graduated" from neurology. So we went in for a cranial ultrasound last Friday and had an appointment with the neurologist yesterday. The news is still good: Jude again got the "all clear." His ventricles are still on the high side of normal, but he is otherwise still looking good. The neurologist thinks that his head growth is just him "catching up," which is consistent with his other areas of growth beginning to catch up as well. (His length recently jumped into the 10th-25th percentile for his actual age.) The wonder of Jude's recovery continues!

Medicine-Time Funny

Jude and Hazel's schedule got messed up by a doctor's appointment that ran long, so we got them up to give them their Prevacid after they had refused to nap for a long period. Jude was obviously still tired, so I shot a quick video of him because he and Hazel were cracking me up.

Our picky eater

Well, we were finally given the go ahead to try solids with the kids, but Jude has other ideas. He wants nothing to do with it. I have tried pears, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, and bananas. He says, "no" to all of them. He makes a horrible face and after a few bites, he looks like he wants to barf. I keep trying, but all he wants right now is rice cereal. A picky eater already? Oh no! What will I ever do? Will he not like my cooking? We will have to work on this. C'mon Jude.

Hazel's Favorite Toy

With all the toys Hazel has to choose from, which one do you think is her favorite? Watch and see.



She loves to play with the tags on all her other toys as well. Simple and fun!

Unexpected Graduation

We had an appointment at the GI yesterday and it went better than expected. Both Jude and Hazel's growth was great and Jude made a major leap on the length chart. His weight just can't seem to keep up with his length so he's still pretty skinny. Anyway, the GI said that she didn't want to make any changes to their medication or high calorie formula at this time since we're about to enter a major transition with moving. Once we're settled though, she said to start weaning them off their reflux medication and their high calorie formula. And we can start trying more solids now. Yay! She also said we shouldn't need an appointment with a GI in Seattle, which is great! One less specialist to make an appointment with. Way to go, babies!