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| playing outside in the chilly afternoon |
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| no gel in the mohawk today |
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| just waiting for school to call and say his hair isn't appropriate, lol |
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| yay, the boys cooperated for a few pics |
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| I never get pics of these two together, even though they are pretty close buddies |
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| what? me? |
Ok, I finally have a few minutes to recap our October! Emily is at school until noon today and Caleb is happily watching garbage trucks on youtube. Yes, Emily is at school! She missed 3 full weeks and 2 days. Today and tomorrow will be half days and then hopefully back to full days. She really didn't want to go back despite the warm welcome on Friday when she went in for an hour. She just likes being home so much, and we really didn't do much fun, she just likes hanging out together! The kids have no school Friday and then it's just two weeks before Thanksgiving break.
Well, like most of time these days October has flown by. It really feels like part of the month just disappeared. I know most of our readers are aware of all the details of our month, but for my own sake I want to write some of it out. Much of the last few weeks were a blur and a little surreal. It is actually fitting that I write today, because a year ago at this time Emily was too weak from vomiting to even be able to go to school. Just a few days later we would take her down to the city to place a gj-tube. Throughout the years we have been very grateful for the g-tube, without it our daily life would be way more stressful and we very likely would have lost Emily years ago. This surgery was a big risk, we knew that. I started crying as soon as they started wheeling Emily down to the operating room and I was quite upset saying "good-bye". One of the nurses commented that they needed to give me something to relax just like they were giving Emily, and I thought to myself, "but you have no idea, this isn't a kid you put thru a major surgery, not with all her medical conditions". Deep in my heart I knew everything would be ok, I truly feel like God covered me in peace, telling me that He isn't done with Emily yet. The social worker at school told Emily what a light she is at school and I knew Emily would be back, but in that moment of saying good-bye, ugh, such heartbreak. But surgery went exactly as planned, what a relief! Such a major praise to God for taking care of Emily on that operating table! And what a sweet reunion when we got to join her in the recovery room! Then we spent almost 2 weeks on a roller coaster of healing.
As I think back on the days in the hospital, there are so many emotions. Thrilled for progress in smiles and a tiny voice slowly emerging. Frustrated watching the numbers on the monitor. Scared listening to the breathing machine. Pained watching all the tubes and wires. And then excitement as each piece of the hospital gear slowly came off. Really the days went by quickly, the nights even more so. And we met so many nurses and doctors! We had prayed for no complications, for a smooth recovery and yet I knew that wouldn't happen. God uses us, and grows us, in the trials, in the moments of frustration. It's a challenge and yet a blessing I have found, in dealing with medical stuff. I have to trust Him and know that He loves Emily, all of our kids, more than I do, more than I can understand. I don't fully know what He is doing, but He is working all things for good and He knows the big picture of each of our lives.
Emily is really feeling pretty good, the pain is minimal and her feedings are going well. We follow up with the surgeon next week and will then work back to bolus feedings (5 meals versus the continuous feed). We are so thankful for a successful surgery, for stability in her digestive system (though the breathing difficulties was a bump in the road it allowed for a catscan to be done so that we would know everything was in place and looking good). We are so thankful that Emily can have a better quality of life, that the hard stuff was worth it. We know things could have gone tragically differently, so we are very thankful that God is providing us the opportunity to "return to normal" and enjoy the holiday season with one another. Thank you for your prayers and help with meals, childcare! Thank you for the many phone calls and facetime chats! We love you all!
The ultimate purpose of life is to show that Jesus is more precious than life.
—John Piper
I am teaching you the secret of being content in any and every
situation. This secret is all about Me—who I am and what I offer you. I
am your Creator and King, your Savior and Shepherd. I offer you Myself
in all My Power and Glory. I am the only One who can empower you to find
contentment in all circumstances. I have promised to supply all your
need according to My riches in Glory. The greater y
our
need, the more I invite you into the mysterious depths of My Being.
Intimacy with Me gives you strength; it also fills you with transcendent
Joy." —Jesus Lives by Sarah Young, p. 148
"I know what it is
to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the
secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or
hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through
him who gives me strength." —Philippians 4:12–13
