first sounds and words...

"And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely in my hand. I stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth. I am the one who says to Israel, You are my people!" Is. 51.16

"Then the LORD reached out and touched my mouth and said, "Look, I have put my words in your mouth!" Jer 1.9

Today marks a year since Ben has uttered his first sounds and a few slight words! An evening I will never forget!! It was pretty funny because yesterday I was telling him NO (in our goofy childish way) when he asked to get up and he said, "what?" I told him agian in the same matter and he again said, "what?" Once again I said it and Ben responded, "you're going to have to speak more clearly!"...and he said that loud and clearly! So, at the year mark of him speaking he is correcting me and making sure I am speaking clearly too!
I was with Ben that evening and we were just hanging out together. I had tried a few times (ok, masses of times) to get him just to follow me and utter a sound on his own and not just non-voluntary! I was laying beside him and I asked him to say HMMMMM. I paused and waited and then I heard the slightest HMMM! Again Ben, say HMMMM! Ben did it again! I tried his name and a few other words as well and he did them. It was quite and very short but Ben did it! We tried a few more sounds and words in a very monotone and straight voice. He continued to do it and follow my lead! It was very quite and Ben got out of breath very easily with one word!

Here are a few videos of him first making noises and saying a few words. One is July 6th, 2010 and then other a few days later on July 9, 2010...





In Ben's last ST session he was able to speak a little message to you all! He came up with all of the words and sentances on his own and then put them all together! He was super proud of his work when I played it back for him!



{off video ben's voice is actually alot more clear at times}

"Hi everybody, I want to tell you that I am doing great and that rehab is good.
I am getting better and I thank you for your prayers.
I love you all!"

Ben has gotten where he is today because of God's healing hand, his hard work and determination and ALL OF YOUR PRAYERS!! We are truly blessed by each and every one of you who continue to faithfully pray for us all the time! Like our blog name, Our Hope Endures, it does and it is by the grace of God and all of you amazing people!

**Top 2 prayer requests...please pray for Ben's walking (HE REALLY WANTS TOO)

and his continence!!**