Card Drive Map - Updated

When I posted the collage of cards containing the map that we have been marking for each state a card is received from I got several questions from people wondering if we had gotten their card because they didn't see their state marked. I got behind in marking the states because I've had other things Noah to take care of and that takes up a lot of time.


I had a few minutes to update the map this morning so here it is:

(Click on it to see a larger view.) 

And yes, we are still accepting cards so keep 'em coming. Noah is really enjoying them. The address is:

Wordless Wednesday: Collage of Cards

A collage of just some of the cards Noah has received.... 

Thank you to all of you who have sent cards! 

And a lot of people have been asking if we are still accepting cards and the answer is yes. Noah has a long recovery at home ahead of him and the cards will help during this time. He LOVES them.
(You can find the address for the card drive here if you need it.)


For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5 Minutes for Moms, Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs, and Wordless Wednesday Headquarters.

Noah's Recovery - Update # 8

Well, we are on day 8 and IV number 7....

He went one whole day without being stuck but it decided to stop working at about 6 AM this morning as the nurse was trying to give him a dose of antibiotics through the IV. It took three tries to find a vein that would take the IV. His poor veins are shot.

This morning when Noah's surgeon came by to check on him I told him about giving Noah a shower yesterday and how straight he looked and how it brought tears to my eyes. He thought this was wonderful and then shared with me that he saw Dr. P yesterday. (Dr P is the original doctor from Shriner's that we saw in January but suggested we see other doctors since he could not do the surgery until December.) He showed Dr. P the before and after x-rays of Noah's surgery and Dr. P was amazed at how straight he was. Apparently Noah's surgeon is using a method that Dr. P has not tried yet and he was even going to sit in on Noah's surgery last Friday to watch this new method in action but got called away. This was reassurance to me that we made the right decision. I had some qualms initially about not having the surgery done at Shriner's because they specialize in these types of surgeries and working with children like Noah but that was God letting me know that we made the best decision for Noah by choosing to use the surgeon we did. 


The fever is still up/down and up/down. It's so frustrating. We still don't know what is causing it. All the tests for infection and what not are coming back normal according to his surgeon so he ask the pediatrician to come back in. He did and still thinks it is because of the pneumonia yet his lungs sound clear and his oxygen levels are pretty normal without receiving additional oxygen. So, if the fever continues to spike up and down we may repeat the chest x-rays tomorrow. 


My niece has been busy with work the past few days and hasn't been able to bring cards down here but she was off today and made her way here with A LOT of cards and some packages, Apparently Noah was receiving SO many cards that the post office gave him a free upgrade from a small box to a big locker for all those cards and packages.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to each of you who have sent cards. No, it's not too late to send cards - Noah will spend most of the summer at home recovering so keep them coming. You can find the address and more information here. I have been so touched at how many of the cards are so personal including orange and purple colors in the cards, tigers, Clemson, dogs, the Beatles, baseball, etc... I will try and share some photos and details of some of the stand out cards in an upcoming post. We currently have cards from 26 states - we have a map and are putting a smiley face sticker in each state he receives a card from; fun and educational for Noah all at the same time.

Noah's Recovery - Update # 3 and Cards

Today has been another long day but I see lots of improvements in Noah from yesterday. And I got to hold him today! It felt a bit like holding my baby for the first time all over again. (haha) He pulled the IV out again so they decided just to leave it out and let him have whatever he wants to eat and drink so he has had some (cheese) crackers, tiger juice (orange Gatorade), and half of a PB&J sandwich. We also got a reclining wheelchair from physical therapy and he took a wheelchair ride. 

Thank you to all of you who sent cards thus far. Noah has looked at some of them and he has really enjoyed it. When he is being read different cards are some of the moments I notice cracks of smiles on his face. He has gotten so many different cards and many cards that have dogs, animals, etc on them. We have been tracking the states that the cards come from and he has ten states thus far. We've got a laminated map with happy face stickers in each state Noah's received a card from. We have been putting them up around the room and it sure is making the room a brighter, cheerier place! There are some on the wall right across from Noahie's bed and I have noticed him looking at them a couple of times.

He got one very special package from the folks at Clemson! It contained a football signed by the head coach and a tiger rag that was signed by the entire team along with a card with a tiger on it from the Athletics Director. Very cool stuff!  

Our church had all the kids in Sunday school make him a card so my parents brought back a milk crate full of cards. I have laughed many times reading some of the cute things the kids wrote on the cards. My favorite is one that has a picture of the Clemson football team with Noah as the quarterback. Super creative.

Please keep the cards coming! If you need the address or want a flyer check out the Card Drive Post.  Keep the prayers coming too!

Noah's Card Drive

In 2002 Noah had surgery on his heel cords and hips. While it wasn't as long of a surgery, hospital stay, and recovery as this surgery will be, it was still difficult for all of us, mostly Noah though. My niece, Holly, came up with the idea of doing a "card drive" for Noah as a way to show him how much he is loved and cared for. Basically what the card drive consisted of was setting up a PO Box and spreading the word by asking people to send cards to that address for Noah.

When I was telling Holly about this surgery she suggested a card drive again and I agreed. Noah's older now and LOVES to receive mail so I think he will actually enjoy getting cards even more this time.

So once again we've set up a PO Box and are spreading the word about the card drive.

I know some of you will want to help spread the word so I've made an e-flyer and blog buttons (posted below) that you can post on your blog if you are a fellow blogger and want to do so and you can email the flyer to friends and family if you are not a fellow blogger. Feel free to link people to this post as well. 

(I also have a printable version of the flyer - if you'd like that email me or leave a comment with your email address in it.) 

Send cards for Noah to:

The Noah C. Card Drive

PO Box 1085

Inman, SC 29349.


E-Flyers 
You should be able to click on them and save them directly to your computer. If you have problems with that, let me know! There are two different versions - both totally the same but with different pictures at the top. 

Blog Buttons
(One with and one without my blog address. You can link them back to this post.)

PS.... If you post this on your blog, leave me a link so I can come say thanks. :)

ETA: Yes, you can begin sending cards NOW. You don't have to wait till the 28th. We won't show them to Noah until after his surgery when he is feeling up to it.