Good Morning. His mercies are new every morning...great is His faithfulness. My dad and I slept like rocks and are headed to the hospital to relieve my sister. We have spoken to her this morning and have found that they asked all family members to leave the room from 12 am to 7 am. My mom was actually able to sleep deeply for many hours and was still sleeping at 7am.
On the other side of the coin, my mom has expressed feelings of depression. Yesterday she realized that she has lost the majority of her vision in her left eye. My dad says that her eye still functions but the brain does not recieve or recognize it.
Oh...time to go. Thank you for your prayers.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Update on Mom and Family
Right now I am at my parents home here in Iowa and wanted to update you on the condition of my mom. On Saturday morning my mother complained to my father of severe pain in her head that came on very fast. They waited thirty minutes and then realized that it was time to call the ambulance. The CT scan showed that there was a "egg" sized clot in the right frontal part of the brain. They began to treat with meds to see if her body would absorb the fluid. I was called at 11:30am by my dad and immediately began making phone calls and packed to head to Iowa.
They then did a MRI to make sure that there was not a tumor causing this clot. I was led to believe that it was a stroke but was somewhat confused because of some of the information that we were all recieving. In the early afternoon the pain had not decreased and the doctor re-assessed her and made the decision to operate. This was explained to us early as a very risky procedure and only as a last resort. I recieved the call while in route to Iowa that she would be having the surgery.
At 5 pm she was taken to surgery. We all knew that there was a great risk but felt like it was the best thing to do. I arrived at 7 pm to join my dad, brother and sister-in-law. At 8pm the surgeon came out to announce that the surgery was very successful and that she was doing well. He clarified the situation better...she had what was called an Ayloid Angiopathy. This is not a stroke nor a clot. This also is not a anurisym (sp?). The difference being that it was not a dominent vein that burst and bled nor was it a blocked vein with a clot. Within the brain there are thousands of microscopic veins or maybe capillaries and they began to bleed. There is no explanation as to why or how they began to bleed. They bled creating a pooling of blood the size of an egg. The blood also began to move over the top of the brain. He said that there was a tremedous amount of pressure when he removed the skull piece. He also explained with great confidence that she would not have made it through the night without the surgery. He was able to clean up the fluid and stop the bleeding and close her up.
That first 24 hours were most critical to watch for bleeding...which would require a second surgery. She was in extreme pain after surgery and finally had decreased around 12 o'clock...but still very uncomfortable. Her stats were great and we thanked God that she has complete strength in her extremities and full speech.
My sister had arrived in Iowa from Alabama at 9 pm. She ended up spending the night with mom as I went to my folks house with my dad to rest around 1 am. We went to bed around 2 am and Dad was awake at 4:30 am. We were back at the hospital at 7am.
My sister was doing awesome! We visited and sent her home around 9am to rest at my folk's. The morning was very painful for my mom and it was difficult to feel so helpless. My brother returned to the hospital with his family after doing some snow removal for my Dad at his apartment buildings in town and at his acerage. I was touched with all of the visitors that cared so deeply for my parents.
Oh, her CT this morning turned out awesome and there was very little pooling of blood. The doctor was very pleased. She will be going to a regular room tomorrow afternoon if all continues well. She was able to sleep peacefully from 2pm to 5pm for the first time since friday night. My sister arrived this evening to take over for the night. Some of us went for dinner and then returned to the hospital to visit. My dad and I returned to the acerage around 9pm and will go back in the morning.
During this visit for some reason I have been so touched and thankful for my family and our relationship. Oh yes...we are all very different in personalities and we are far from perfect but we love one another and I can see how we pull together in crisis. Everyone is focused on what is best for my mom and dad. It is not a competition to see who can do more or be most effective. There is percise communication taking place and ideas being shared. I am thankful to have all of them. Oh, I haven't even mentioned my husband who is caring for all six children at home while he has been suffering with a cold and fever for four days. He didn't hesitate to send me to my family and has held the fort down with great diligence...I am actually thinking that I am not needed there!! Ha Ha :( Also, my brother-in-law Jerry could not join my sister and he once again gave his wife to stay with my parents for over a week. That is what a real family is like. I probably sound all sappy so I will blame it on having only 2 hours of sleep!!:)
My father is an amazing man. I have seen him carry a load that is heavier then any man that I personally know. He loves my mother in such a deep way that he would give his life for her without hesitation. He has been so strong and carries on with the daily chores that must be done without complaint. I see him with a new appreciation for his indurance in this thing we call life! I admire his integrity and strength that helps hold us all together. I love you Dad.
Thank you for your prayers. I am going to be and will proof read this another time. Most of what I have written will bore the majority of people that are not closely related but I wanted to take time to get this down.
They then did a MRI to make sure that there was not a tumor causing this clot. I was led to believe that it was a stroke but was somewhat confused because of some of the information that we were all recieving. In the early afternoon the pain had not decreased and the doctor re-assessed her and made the decision to operate. This was explained to us early as a very risky procedure and only as a last resort. I recieved the call while in route to Iowa that she would be having the surgery.
At 5 pm she was taken to surgery. We all knew that there was a great risk but felt like it was the best thing to do. I arrived at 7 pm to join my dad, brother and sister-in-law. At 8pm the surgeon came out to announce that the surgery was very successful and that she was doing well. He clarified the situation better...she had what was called an Ayloid Angiopathy. This is not a stroke nor a clot. This also is not a anurisym (sp?). The difference being that it was not a dominent vein that burst and bled nor was it a blocked vein with a clot. Within the brain there are thousands of microscopic veins or maybe capillaries and they began to bleed. There is no explanation as to why or how they began to bleed. They bled creating a pooling of blood the size of an egg. The blood also began to move over the top of the brain. He said that there was a tremedous amount of pressure when he removed the skull piece. He also explained with great confidence that she would not have made it through the night without the surgery. He was able to clean up the fluid and stop the bleeding and close her up.
That first 24 hours were most critical to watch for bleeding...which would require a second surgery. She was in extreme pain after surgery and finally had decreased around 12 o'clock...but still very uncomfortable. Her stats were great and we thanked God that she has complete strength in her extremities and full speech.
My sister had arrived in Iowa from Alabama at 9 pm. She ended up spending the night with mom as I went to my folks house with my dad to rest around 1 am. We went to bed around 2 am and Dad was awake at 4:30 am. We were back at the hospital at 7am.
My sister was doing awesome! We visited and sent her home around 9am to rest at my folk's. The morning was very painful for my mom and it was difficult to feel so helpless. My brother returned to the hospital with his family after doing some snow removal for my Dad at his apartment buildings in town and at his acerage. I was touched with all of the visitors that cared so deeply for my parents.
Oh, her CT this morning turned out awesome and there was very little pooling of blood. The doctor was very pleased. She will be going to a regular room tomorrow afternoon if all continues well. She was able to sleep peacefully from 2pm to 5pm for the first time since friday night. My sister arrived this evening to take over for the night. Some of us went for dinner and then returned to the hospital to visit. My dad and I returned to the acerage around 9pm and will go back in the morning.
During this visit for some reason I have been so touched and thankful for my family and our relationship. Oh yes...we are all very different in personalities and we are far from perfect but we love one another and I can see how we pull together in crisis. Everyone is focused on what is best for my mom and dad. It is not a competition to see who can do more or be most effective. There is percise communication taking place and ideas being shared. I am thankful to have all of them. Oh, I haven't even mentioned my husband who is caring for all six children at home while he has been suffering with a cold and fever for four days. He didn't hesitate to send me to my family and has held the fort down with great diligence...I am actually thinking that I am not needed there!! Ha Ha :( Also, my brother-in-law Jerry could not join my sister and he once again gave his wife to stay with my parents for over a week. That is what a real family is like. I probably sound all sappy so I will blame it on having only 2 hours of sleep!!:)
My father is an amazing man. I have seen him carry a load that is heavier then any man that I personally know. He loves my mother in such a deep way that he would give his life for her without hesitation. He has been so strong and carries on with the daily chores that must be done without complaint. I see him with a new appreciation for his indurance in this thing we call life! I admire his integrity and strength that helps hold us all together. I love you Dad.
Thank you for your prayers. I am going to be and will proof read this another time. Most of what I have written will bore the majority of people that are not closely related but I wanted to take time to get this down.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
What a day!
My day began at 6 am after a short night of sleep due to my choice of staying up late and also suffering from a slight cold. Once awake I jumped into the day of homeschooling...which I believe is very close to supervising a corporation...at least that is what it felt like this week! I promised myself and the president of our school (Dave) that I would be diligent about getting a schedule for our day. There are great things about running off of a schedule and there does seem to be more productive use of time for each person. However, I don't believe that I was gifted in managment! My attempt in arranging our day so that I was not needed by all of the children at the same time still hasn't quite been accomplished. It never fails that I am working on phonics with Dana when Dylan wants a snack, DJ finished his independent study early or Dalton has questions about his math! I told them today to count how many children there were in our home...and how many Moms were in our home!! Needless to say, I feel pulled in many directions throughout the day but know deep in my heart that God is growing me and that I need Him every minute!!
Around 3 o'clock things were starting to settle down as each child was finishing their work and some were starting to do their cleaning chores that I assigned. I found a brief moment when no one was looking and retreated into my bedroom and locked the doors!! I layed across the bed to let my brain recharge for a few minutes and this is where Dave found me. Of course so did the children!! We have two entries into our room and find it funny how both doors will have children knocking on them. If you ignore one door they are sure to go around to the other door!!
Dave had worked a night shift and is also suffering from a cold (It is more blessed to give than receive!!) and decided to crash for a bit to prepare for round two. We were invited by a gentleman from Dave's work to dine at the very fine 'McCormicks and Schmicks' at the Plaza in Kansas City. The man is a wonderful example of Christ in the workplace. He invited four couples to join him and his wife. We were surprised at the invite and very humbled. We dressed in our finest and headed out the door around 4 o'clock!
We arrived around 6:30pm to the beautiful and very elaborate restuarant. It was such a change of pace after the whirl wind of school and delegating the children all day! McCormicks is known for the freshest of seafood. I ordered a delicious tortillini with salmon and Dave was daring and had shark! Dalton had told us to bring him some shark to try!! The food was wonderful and the people were such a blessing as they are all striving to honor God in their lives. It was a great a way to end a hurried day. Tomorrow begins our weekend and the day is very light. I am looking forward to it!!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Knowing God
A good friend of ours gave me a little devotional book printed by Parable publishers for Christmas this year. I have read several of the entries and have been touched by all of them in some fashion. One, imparticular, stood out above the rest that I would like to share...Knowing God
Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10 NKJV
Do you ever wonder if God is really "right here, right now"? Do you wonder if God hears your prayers, if He understands your feelings, or if He really knows your heart? If so, you're not alone: lots of very faithful Christians have experienced periods of doubt. In fact, some of the biggest heroes in the Bible had plenty of doubts-and so, perhaps, will you. But when you have doubts, remember this: God isn't on a coffee break, and He hasn't moved out of town. God isn't taking a long vacation, and he isn't snoozing on the couch. He's right here, right now, listening to your thoughts and prayers, watching over your every move.
The Bible teaches that a wonderful way to get to know God is simply to be still and listen to Him. But sometimes, you may find it hard to slow down and listen. As the demands of everyday life weigh down upon you, you may be tempted to ignore God's presence or -worse yet-to rebel against His commandments. But, when you quiet yourself and acknowledge His presence, God touches your heart and restores your spirits. So why not let Him do it right now? If you really want to know Him better, silence is a wonderful place to start.
Today's Tip
Finding time for God takes time...and it's up to you to find it. The world is constantly vying for your attention, and sometimes the noise can be deafening. Remember the words of Elisabeth Elliot; she said, "The world is full of noise. Let us learn the art of silence, stillness, and solitude."
We all need to make time for God. Even Jesus made time to be alone with the Father. Kay Arthur
One of the most wonderful things about knowing God is that there's always so much more to know, so much more to discover. Just when we least expect it, He intrudes into our neat and tidy notions about who He is and how He works. Joni Eareckson Tada
This devotion brought many thoughts to mind. First was that God is ALWAYS there. When I am over whelmed, angry or sad, He is here with me. Second was that He listens to my thoughts. That reminds me to have holy thoughts and to banish the ones that do not edify Him or the ones that the thoughts pertain to. Thirdly, God wants me to spend time with Him. I am sure to spend time with Dave, children, friends and family. But do I really ever put Him first? Do I ever sit quietly to listen to Him? Some may bring up the fact that God is a "loving God" and that He would understand since I am a mother of six children and homeschool. Much like a parent understands when their adult child doesn't call home often. But how delighted the parent is when the child calls to say hello unexpectedly! Just some thoughts...
Saturday, January 3, 2009
WARNING SIGNS and TEENAGERS
On New Years Eve most of our family stayed awake to welcome the New Year in. Afterwards several of us went to bed except for Darcey, DJ and Danielle. In the morning Dave went to Danielle's room to wake the sleeping beauty at 11 am. He found a note taped to her door saying the following...
Please stay out if you are of the age of 12 or 10, 8, 6 and 5.
I went to bed at 2:05 AM so by warning I am telling you that I will be cranky!
Thank you! Happy New Year!
I love you! Danielle
PS God loves you too!
Needless to say, Dave didn't take heed to her warning and proceeded to wake her up by actually jumping up and down on her bed!! She was kind and actually smiled!! Gotta love her!!
Perseverance
James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
So, I must ask, how many trials does one have to have to test our faith? Or, how immature am I that I face the trials that I do?! I asked Dave a couple of days ago to give me a verse for my blog for the New Year. James 1:2-3 was the verse that he gave me. I sat down and wrote a few things but it just wasn't coming out smoothly so I deleted it all. The reason that Dave gave me this verse is because we have been experiencing several trials over the past few days...weeks...months or should I say years?!! No, we all have great health. No, our house is didn't burn down. No, we are not unemployed. So, why is it that we forget how blessed we are when we are in the midst of difficulties even when they are small?
Recently, our mini van stopped working and we found that it will need a new engine...we have only owned this van for 1 1/2 years. Our heating system has not been working right for at least 10 years and no one knows how to fix it. A lot of shingles blew off of our roof during the last winter storm. The closet door in Danielle's room is broken. These are some of the things that Dave was referring to and I just couldn't get in the rythm to blog about them.
It wasn't until just a few minutes ago that this verse came back to my memory. You see on Christmas Eve we spent the day with family and later found out that one of them became very sick with the flu after we left. So, we have been in the lurch waiting for it to hit our family. On Thursday we went to church for prayer and had picked up pizza to eat with our Life Group before hand. One of the children got sick unexpectedly...twice. We went home and the child was laughing about how everyone was afraid of him. He did not seem to be sick but we wanted to be careful since we had been exposed. He didn't do anything else after that. Must have been a fluke.
Just 45 minutes ago, 2 full days after the first child got sick, I was sitting here at the computer working on our school schedules when another child came and stood behind me. I kept typing until I heard a HORRIBLE sound. Now let me explain that in our family, horrible sounds happen all of the time. Alarm is not necessary at every one. Except there should have been an alarm in my mind this time! As the warm and very smelly fluid splatted on my back I realized that it was time to be alarmed. Too late as usual!!
My last blog was about 'Telling the Truth'. I must keep my word and tell you that I was NOT happy and thought that the child was just making those grose sounds to be funny and accidently got sick. After my shower and a few stern words of rebuke, I realize that this was not their intent. It was hard for me to have compassion on this sick child due to the laughing that she/he was doing!! All is well now and Dave's office chair is airing out on the driveway.
Persevere? Survive!? Stay sane?! Be joyful in all circumstances?! Be compassionate?! Hmmm...I guess God is still working on me!!
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