Things are moving towards normal now. I worked today for the morning. Chris is going to school tomorrow.
This afternoon, the kids and I went downstairs and watched a movie - just being together. It's much cooler downstairs. The upstairs gets rather warm here on the Mesa! Afterwards, we worked together for 2 hours and returned our home to a cleaner state. Nice.
And having done all stand. If we can just stand in the middle of a crisis - not fight, not argue, not try to fix it ourselves, God will make the way.
Ah, lesson learned - again.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Whew
It seems that there is not a calm AFTER the storm, just a lull between waves. One day I'm thinking God for his protection during the Passion Play production: no flues, colds, infections. We had all been healthy. Twelve hours later, both my children have horrible sore throats and can't talk - admittedly, the quiet was good.
But things just continued down hill. Sore throats went away but the pain in Chris's gut and back did not. Three days in the hospital, limited diet, an endoscopy and two weeks of meds. Not only was he not better, he was getting worse.
Then last Monday, he comes into our room, doubled-over in pain. To the doctor we go! We discover that day that the back problems they had seen on the emergency room CT Scan had been healed - thank you, Father! But, why is his abdoment hurting? Dr. Z touches him and he flinches hard. The Dr. believes it's his gall bladder. Other doctors don't agree, so the decision is made to consult doctors who specialize in pediatrics.
Wednesday night, 5:23 pm, we leave for Denver an arrive at the hotel at 12:53 pm. Seven hours and two Lortabs later, we are sleeping in a foreign beds. At first, it was just to be Chris and I. Then I thought that if I took Ashley, we could possible see her surgeon for her first post-op x-rays. David came home to see us off and decided he should go as well. That was God's providence. David's arrival coincided with the Denver Docs calling and asking us to bring all of Chris's tests with us. David needed an hour to complete something at work and that gave me time to go to the hospital and pick up the records. Had he not made that decision and we had been inside talking about it, we would have missed the call and not taken the records, thus delaying Chris's treament. God's hand at work.
Thursday, we awoke and went to the Bass Pro Shop - one of our family's favorite places. I can clothes shop and have a Starbucks and they can look at outdoors things and go to the shooting gallery, too. While we were shopping, Chris began to feel quiet poorly, so we headed to the Children's ER. In the ER, they let him lay and rest but felt that keeping our scheduled appointment with the specialist would be best.
At 2:00, we went to meet the Gastroenterologist and a Surgeon. David took Ashley to her specialist. The GI guy thought there might be other possibilities, but seeing Chris's symptoms and his tests together, he felt that it was a dysfunctional gall bladder. Then came the surgeon who never even questioned that there was another possibility. He said that at 35% HIDA scan (how they test they gall bladder) in a healthy person was fine, but a 35% scan in a person with upper quadrant pain and his symptoms was a bad gall bladder. Dr. Bealler left and sent in his scheduler.
God's hand again - he had one opening on Friday at 4:45pm. We took it.
On Friday we checked out of the hospital and rushed over to a local theater to see STAR TREK - great movie! It has ruined us for seeing movies in Durango! The theater's screen was wider than our largest theater is deep! It was a WIIIIDDDEEE screen.
Then we went to local mall. yeah! A little Old Navy, Game Stop and a few others before heading to the Hospital.
Chris's 4:45 appointment became 6:00 pm and at 8:00 we were finally in a room. God provided a family room in the hospital for us to stay in. It was a nice room with a queen bed and chair and a private bath. Sis and I went down and showered and then slept in Chris's room. It had a couch that became a nice bed. David slept in the family room - decided he needed the rest since he had to drive home.
The next morning the doctors came in and said that Chris's gall bladder was swollen to the size of an adult male and when they dissected it, there was a coating of fat inside. In his age, this would be due to a genetic factor (I'd been saying for a month that I had GB problems, my dad, his parents. . . ). His gall bladder was dysfunctional and just didn't work.
So why did God have us go to Denver for this? I don't know. But I do know that's where we needed to be. Each step, God opened doors - specialists who had available appointments, a doctor here who could make things happen, family rooms, records - all in God's plan.
We are glad to be home. Chris even went and watched his team win 2nd place in the Durango Shoot-Out tournament yesterday afternoon! Today he is moving a little slow but he is moving and took only Tylenol last night.
What's next? I'm always afraid to ask. I know that God will give us a renewed strength during this lull and when something else raises it's head, His grace will carry us and again, we will see the hand of God. I wonder when S*tan will realize that we are God's children? He seems a little slow witted at times.
Thanks to everyone for their prayers and notes of encouragement. Today, I am taking shelter in my home and hiding.
One song keeps going through my head:
"Everywhere you see insecurity
Surely there must be a place reserved for only me.
A special place to hide
Shelter from the storm outside.
Never fear, the Father's always here.
He will keep you.
He will keep you.
He will keep you in His hands!
He will keep you.
He will keep you.
He will keep you in His hands!"
I pray you see how God is keeping you today!
But things just continued down hill. Sore throats went away but the pain in Chris's gut and back did not. Three days in the hospital, limited diet, an endoscopy and two weeks of meds. Not only was he not better, he was getting worse.
Then last Monday, he comes into our room, doubled-over in pain. To the doctor we go! We discover that day that the back problems they had seen on the emergency room CT Scan had been healed - thank you, Father! But, why is his abdoment hurting? Dr. Z touches him and he flinches hard. The Dr. believes it's his gall bladder. Other doctors don't agree, so the decision is made to consult doctors who specialize in pediatrics.
Wednesday night, 5:23 pm, we leave for Denver an arrive at the hotel at 12:53 pm. Seven hours and two Lortabs later, we are sleeping in a foreign beds. At first, it was just to be Chris and I. Then I thought that if I took Ashley, we could possible see her surgeon for her first post-op x-rays. David came home to see us off and decided he should go as well. That was God's providence. David's arrival coincided with the Denver Docs calling and asking us to bring all of Chris's tests with us. David needed an hour to complete something at work and that gave me time to go to the hospital and pick up the records. Had he not made that decision and we had been inside talking about it, we would have missed the call and not taken the records, thus delaying Chris's treament. God's hand at work.
Thursday, we awoke and went to the Bass Pro Shop - one of our family's favorite places. I can clothes shop and have a Starbucks and they can look at outdoors things and go to the shooting gallery, too. While we were shopping, Chris began to feel quiet poorly, so we headed to the Children's ER. In the ER, they let him lay and rest but felt that keeping our scheduled appointment with the specialist would be best.
At 2:00, we went to meet the Gastroenterologist and a Surgeon. David took Ashley to her specialist. The GI guy thought there might be other possibilities, but seeing Chris's symptoms and his tests together, he felt that it was a dysfunctional gall bladder. Then came the surgeon who never even questioned that there was another possibility. He said that at 35% HIDA scan (how they test they gall bladder) in a healthy person was fine, but a 35% scan in a person with upper quadrant pain and his symptoms was a bad gall bladder. Dr. Bealler left and sent in his scheduler.
God's hand again - he had one opening on Friday at 4:45pm. We took it.
On Friday we checked out of the hospital and rushed over to a local theater to see STAR TREK - great movie! It has ruined us for seeing movies in Durango! The theater's screen was wider than our largest theater is deep! It was a WIIIIDDDEEE screen.
Then we went to local mall. yeah! A little Old Navy, Game Stop and a few others before heading to the Hospital.
Chris's 4:45 appointment became 6:00 pm and at 8:00 we were finally in a room. God provided a family room in the hospital for us to stay in. It was a nice room with a queen bed and chair and a private bath. Sis and I went down and showered and then slept in Chris's room. It had a couch that became a nice bed. David slept in the family room - decided he needed the rest since he had to drive home.
The next morning the doctors came in and said that Chris's gall bladder was swollen to the size of an adult male and when they dissected it, there was a coating of fat inside. In his age, this would be due to a genetic factor (I'd been saying for a month that I had GB problems, my dad, his parents. . . ). His gall bladder was dysfunctional and just didn't work.
So why did God have us go to Denver for this? I don't know. But I do know that's where we needed to be. Each step, God opened doors - specialists who had available appointments, a doctor here who could make things happen, family rooms, records - all in God's plan.
We are glad to be home. Chris even went and watched his team win 2nd place in the Durango Shoot-Out tournament yesterday afternoon! Today he is moving a little slow but he is moving and took only Tylenol last night.
What's next? I'm always afraid to ask. I know that God will give us a renewed strength during this lull and when something else raises it's head, His grace will carry us and again, we will see the hand of God. I wonder when S*tan will realize that we are God's children? He seems a little slow witted at times.
Thanks to everyone for their prayers and notes of encouragement. Today, I am taking shelter in my home and hiding.
One song keeps going through my head:
"Everywhere you see insecurity
Surely there must be a place reserved for only me.
A special place to hide
Shelter from the storm outside.
Never fear, the Father's always here.
He will keep you.
He will keep you.
He will keep you in His hands!
He will keep you.
He will keep you.
He will keep you in His hands!"
I pray you see how God is keeping you today!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Home
Took us 8.5 hours to drive home - stopping so we could let Chris walk and stretch. So tired, still! Chris is doing well.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Pray for Chris
Four weeks of illness is waaay too much for this kid! As time has gone on, he hasn't been able to eat without extreme pain, can't run without pain, can't drink without pain. Monday, he missed school again; went on Tuesday; had to come home on Wednesday with extreme pain. We saw Dr. Z and had to make some tough decisions.
On Wednesday night, after Chris being sick again all week, loosing more weight and still not being able to eat, we drove to Denver with an appointment to see a Pediatric GI and a Pediatric Surgeon today, Thursday.
The drive was uneventful and David was able to go with us. It took exactly 7 hours from home to hotel with no "bumps" in the road (i.e. the passes were clear, the wind was down, gas mileage was great, and the kids slept!)
Today, we saw both doctors - the GI guy was so nice and like, "hmm, could be gall bladder; need to continue h.pylori treament; let's talk to the surgeon." The surgeon was like, "yeah, what's the question, he needs his gall bladder out." We were told that although the tests were not 100%conclusive, his symptoms, persistent pain, progressing illness and abdominal tenderness pointed him in the direction of needing to remove his gall bladder.
I do feel better having him here at Children's. Everyone in Durango has been great. Yet kids need Kid Doctors. The surgeons was straight forward with Chris and I about the risks and possible complications and the fact that this may not be the cure - though he felt like it was a small chance that it was not his gall bladder. Chris listened and then the Dr. sent his schedule-lady in to see us.
SIDE NOTE: David had taken Ashley upstairs to see her surgeon and have her legs x-rayed - they are 3mm closer in length! In 4 months we'll have more x-rays. At this rate, may get to remove her pins in the fall! Their office was so great - I talked them and told them we were in the Hospital Clinic for our son, and asked if we could get an appointment and we did. Everyone looks so good on her legs and she got to keep a photocopy of her x-rays. Cool.
BACK TO THE STORY -
God worked it well! He had one slot open for Friday! So, no driving home and back to Denver! Wow, God!
We will spend the night in Children's Friday night and then come home on Saturday.
Thanks to everyone who is feeding dogs, watching the house, hauling supplies and mostly for PRAYING for us!
"The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord." I would much rather God have ordered our steps to stay in Durango. For God to heal Chris. For the h.pylori meds to have done the trick. For doctors there to be His hands for healing. But God brought us here. Our steps have been prepared. The angel of the Lord has prepared our way.
We just walk.
On Wednesday night, after Chris being sick again all week, loosing more weight and still not being able to eat, we drove to Denver with an appointment to see a Pediatric GI and a Pediatric Surgeon today, Thursday.
The drive was uneventful and David was able to go with us. It took exactly 7 hours from home to hotel with no "bumps" in the road (i.e. the passes were clear, the wind was down, gas mileage was great, and the kids slept!)
Today, we saw both doctors - the GI guy was so nice and like, "hmm, could be gall bladder; need to continue h.pylori treament; let's talk to the surgeon." The surgeon was like, "yeah, what's the question, he needs his gall bladder out." We were told that although the tests were not 100%conclusive, his symptoms, persistent pain, progressing illness and abdominal tenderness pointed him in the direction of needing to remove his gall bladder.
I do feel better having him here at Children's. Everyone in Durango has been great. Yet kids need Kid Doctors. The surgeons was straight forward with Chris and I about the risks and possible complications and the fact that this may not be the cure - though he felt like it was a small chance that it was not his gall bladder. Chris listened and then the Dr. sent his schedule-lady in to see us.
SIDE NOTE: David had taken Ashley upstairs to see her surgeon and have her legs x-rayed - they are 3mm closer in length! In 4 months we'll have more x-rays. At this rate, may get to remove her pins in the fall! Their office was so great - I talked them and told them we were in the Hospital Clinic for our son, and asked if we could get an appointment and we did. Everyone looks so good on her legs and she got to keep a photocopy of her x-rays. Cool.
BACK TO THE STORY -
God worked it well! He had one slot open for Friday! So, no driving home and back to Denver! Wow, God!
We will spend the night in Children's Friday night and then come home on Saturday.
Thanks to everyone who is feeding dogs, watching the house, hauling supplies and mostly for PRAYING for us!
"The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord." I would much rather God have ordered our steps to stay in Durango. For God to heal Chris. For the h.pylori meds to have done the trick. For doctors there to be His hands for healing. But God brought us here. Our steps have been prepared. The angel of the Lord has prepared our way.
We just walk.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Miracles Still Happen
Many of you know my son, Chris, has been ill for several weeks now. He even spent 3 days in the hospital having tests and getting rehydrated. The only thing they found was a possible gall bladder problem - although the test may have been askewed by medications. An endoscopy and biopsy showed had an h.pylori infection.
Yeah! Now we know! - or so we thought. Today he completes his two week treatment, but guess what? The pain is back.
During the hospital stay, a CT scan showed a spinal problem - spondylosis /spondylitis. Not good but manageable.
From Web MD:
"What is spondylolisthesis / spondylitis ?
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one bone in your back slides forward over the bone below it. It most often occurs in the lower spine. In some cases, this may lead to your spinal cord or nerve roots being squeezed. This can cause back pain and numbness or weakness in your legs. In rare cases, it can also lead to losing control over your bladder or bowels.
Sometimes when a vertebra slips out of place, you may have no symptoms at all or no symptoms until years later. Then, you may have pain in your low back or buttocks. Muscles in your leg may feel tight or weak. You may even limp."
"Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms include pain and stiffness from the neck down to the lower back. The spine's bones (vertebrae) may grow or fuse together, resulting in a rigid spine. These changes may be mild or severe, and may lead to a stooped-over posture. Early diagnosis and treatment helps control pain and stiffness and may reduce or prevent significant deformity. "
Yeah. Sounds great.
So when Chris awoke with pain on Monday, back to the Dr. we went. This is a Dr. who is a seeker. We even talked about God and the Bible and Dinosaurs during the Monday appointment as well as the authenticity of the Word (I had my "The Case for the Real Jesus" with me. We need to teach about intentional witness!). Okay, we went to Mercy, had x-rays. The next day, Dr. calls me. Hmmm, what the CT had shown and what the x-rays were now showing did not coincide.
"Oh, so God healed him," I said.
"What?" the Dr. replied.
"God healed him!" - two more times I said.
"Hmm, that is possible," replied the Dr with a change in his voice.
I mean, if the radiologist saw the spondoyl-thingy and the doctor saw and now no one can see it, don't you think that means there was a healing? Yeah, me too.
Now, the gut pain and upper back pain is still there, but it's not his spine. PTL!!!!! Walking is uncomfortable and running unbearable! Eating makes him sick.
Now I'm waiting to talk to Drs today to see what we are going to do.
Wow, God.
Now, pray for this Dr. God is talking to him!!!
Yeah! Now we know! - or so we thought. Today he completes his two week treatment, but guess what? The pain is back.
During the hospital stay, a CT scan showed a spinal problem - spondylosis /spondylitis. Not good but manageable.
From Web MD:
"What is spondylolisthesis / spondylitis ?
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one bone in your back slides forward over the bone below it. It most often occurs in the lower spine. In some cases, this may lead to your spinal cord or nerve roots being squeezed. This can cause back pain and numbness or weakness in your legs. In rare cases, it can also lead to losing control over your bladder or bowels.
Sometimes when a vertebra slips out of place, you may have no symptoms at all or no symptoms until years later. Then, you may have pain in your low back or buttocks. Muscles in your leg may feel tight or weak. You may even limp."
"Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms include pain and stiffness from the neck down to the lower back. The spine's bones (vertebrae) may grow or fuse together, resulting in a rigid spine. These changes may be mild or severe, and may lead to a stooped-over posture. Early diagnosis and treatment helps control pain and stiffness and may reduce or prevent significant deformity. "
Yeah. Sounds great.
So when Chris awoke with pain on Monday, back to the Dr. we went. This is a Dr. who is a seeker. We even talked about God and the Bible and Dinosaurs during the Monday appointment as well as the authenticity of the Word (I had my "The Case for the Real Jesus" with me. We need to teach about intentional witness!). Okay, we went to Mercy, had x-rays. The next day, Dr. calls me. Hmmm, what the CT had shown and what the x-rays were now showing did not coincide.
"Oh, so God healed him," I said.
"What?" the Dr. replied.
"God healed him!" - two more times I said.
"Hmm, that is possible," replied the Dr with a change in his voice.
I mean, if the radiologist saw the spondoyl-thingy and the doctor saw and now no one can see it, don't you think that means there was a healing? Yeah, me too.
Now, the gut pain and upper back pain is still there, but it's not his spine. PTL!!!!! Walking is uncomfortable and running unbearable! Eating makes him sick.
Now I'm waiting to talk to Drs today to see what we are going to do.
Wow, God.
Now, pray for this Dr. God is talking to him!!!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Thankful Thursday. . .on Sunday
This week's Thankful Day is late, and spurred by Fort L*ewis's Graduation.
I am thankful . . .
* for my Country - I am proud to be an American. I am proud to be part of the most benevolent nation in the world. I am proud of those in my family and of my friends who have served to bring peace to other countries and to ensure the peace in our Home;
* for the freedoms that allow even wacko's their weird points of view;
* for the National Anthem - I am sorry for the graduates that did not get to hear that
beautiful song sung this weekend;
* for the ability to choose education;
* that we get to vote for a new President in 4 years;
* for those students, Master Plan included, who stand-up for Christian values on secular campuses across this nation;
* for the internet, where enterprising folks can verify the commencement speaker's "facts" as inaccurate;
* for God's promises, which are bright and beautiful and represented in each Christian Graduate;
* that though we may not be able to change the whole world, we can change the world for someone;
* that I can - and will - tell each Graduate that I meet: "well done! you worked hard! you are full of potential and dreams - go after them!"
I am thankful . . .
* for my Country - I am proud to be an American. I am proud to be part of the most benevolent nation in the world. I am proud of those in my family and of my friends who have served to bring peace to other countries and to ensure the peace in our Home;
* for the freedoms that allow even wacko's their weird points of view;
* for the National Anthem - I am sorry for the graduates that did not get to hear that
beautiful song sung this weekend;
* for the ability to choose education;
* that we get to vote for a new President in 4 years;
* for those students, Master Plan included, who stand-up for Christian values on secular campuses across this nation;
* for the internet, where enterprising folks can verify the commencement speaker's "facts" as inaccurate;
* for God's promises, which are bright and beautiful and represented in each Christian Graduate;
* that though we may not be able to change the whole world, we can change the world for someone;
* that I can - and will - tell each Graduate that I meet: "well done! you worked hard! you are full of potential and dreams - go after them!"
Friday, May 1, 2009
New Purse
Question:
What is it about new purse that makes us happy? It can be a $1.00 from the thrift store or $50.00 from the department store, and we are equally happy.
BTW: mine was $2.00 at the thrift store! Cool.
What is it about new purse that makes us happy? It can be a $1.00 from the thrift store or $50.00 from the department store, and we are equally happy.
BTW: mine was $2.00 at the thrift store! Cool.
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