And the crowd goes wild....

It's been mentioned by many of the masses that it's been a while since I sent out an update...Sorry!!! Lots of excuses but the fact is, I've been purely lazy, therefore it's a pretty long one...it's also late, and I'm tired so it might include some totally random stuff.

Three hospital stays in less than three months definitely took a toll on us, but, I believe we're beginning to get back on an even keel.

Tuesday (Dec 15), we had a bit of a disconcerting report from Dr. A regarding Ron's labs from the previous day. Once again his potassium was way too high (6.1) and his glucose was too low (46). The only variable we could come up with is being back on Heparin therefore Dr. A discontinued his 3xdaily Heparin injections and did another blood draw that Wednesday (16th); results showed everything back to normal. CRAZY! Dr. A decided until we can come up with another plan, Ron is to stay off the Heparin. The following Monday's labs were completely normal.

It's such a fine balance when you live on TPN, the delicate intricacies of our bodies that God created, man has a hard time replicating. Add on Ron's penchant to develop blood clots and having so many side effects develop due to blood thinners brings on a heightened level of complication.
Here's the problem:
blood clots can be deadly, optimally requiring some type of blood thinner therapy
BUT, Ron's body doesn't metabolize oral blood thinners properly; he develops hematomas with subcutaneous Lovenox (blood thinner) injections and now we find Heparin (blood thinner) administered through his PICC seems to elevate his potassium level as well as decrease his glucose level.
So...it's back to the drawing board for Dr. A and Dr. M as everyone holds their breath and prays fervently that Ron will not develop any clots while off blood thinners. I must say though, it's been a great break for both of us; this means 3 less times a day that I have to flush, inject therapeutic Heparin, flush again, and inject heparin lock. Not that I'm counting...but that's 12 less syringes I have to deal with each day!

Wednesday, December 16, Ron had his appointment with the neurosurgeon at UT Southwestern. Dr. S is referred to as the "cowboy" of neurosurgeons (the preeminent neurosurgeon around with his training being with the best of the best, in Zurich). We felt very comfortable and confident of his assessment. Diagnosis: he definitely has an abnormality (That's my guy AB-normal!) but it is under 5mm, therefore, Dr. S feels good about doing nothing other than to continue to monitor for a while. Ron will go back in a year for testing to see if there are any changes. As long as things remain stable, he'll continue to go yearly (for several years) and as long as things stay the same, after these several years the time frame will then be lengthened. Even though Ron has a history of aneurysms, this will not effect the course of treatment. Aneurysms in the brain are totally unique from aneurysms in any other part of the body. They share the same name but the characteristics, the way they act and grow are completely different.
(By the way, this has absolutely nothing to do with why he passed out Thanksgiving.)

On Friday, December 18, he had his followup with Dr. A who was happy to see that he has pretty much regained all the weight he had lost during the last few months. We talked more about the importance of Ron concentrating on physical therapy and healing therefore the recommendation is to take a much lighter load this next semester, keeping his body from becoming overly fatigued and hopefully helping to keep his immune system up so that he doesn't have any crazy medical episodes.

Christmas preparations and celebrations have kept us busy. We've really enjoyed spending time with various family members, yet pacing ourselves by also getting a lot of R&R. We've slept in alot, taken naps and even spent all day in our jammies once...it's been GLORIOUS! The first couple of days of my break, when the weather was wonderfully warm, I was able to enjoy getting outside to catch up on some much-needed yard work. And, of course, the Christmas Eve snowstorm ushering in a White Christmas was great!

That's our recap of the last few weeks...other than the little glitch with heparin-induced potassium and glucose problems, they've been pretty good ones. Busy, but good. Ron does continue to have yakking episodes, although he had a stretch of 7 days (woo hoo!) without yakking, it's been back to daily for the last 4 or 5 days :(

I was super-excited to be able to post on my facebook Dec 26th that we were home therefore breaking our "holiday hospital" streak! We're planning on going 2 for 2 with New Year's Eve coming up, so please join us in praying for a continued medically uneventful Christmas/New Year's season.

Blessings to you!!
Christie

PS: Please know we LOVE receiving your cards, e-mails, texts, facebook messages, etc. You are all so encouraging to us and I am such a slacker for not returning, but, what can I say....life often gets in the way of our best intentions. Please know YOU are VERY MUCH appreciated!!!

Free at last....

We're home!!! Very tired, but oh so glad to be home! As soon as we arrived home, I unloaded the car, ate a sandwich and then hit the bed for a good long nap.
Ron was asleep in the recliner before I could complete my sandwich!

Final results: all the testing revealed...no definitive answer as to why Thanksgiving's trauma took place. The best guess is he had a vasovagal syncope. (Aren't you impressed by my ever-increasing medical knowledge??? )

My best understanding is: Syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness and posture (fainting or passing out). Vasovagal refers to the vagus nerve which, among many other things, is responsible for heart rate, keeping the larynx open for breathing, gastrointestinal stuff, etc.

Vasovagal syncope is not an uncommon occurrence. It happens to many people in a variety of circumstances: people passing out at the sight of blood, fainting due to dehydration and/or forceful yakking, etc. But, Ron's a "professional" yakker, so, why did it happen now? Not sure; could have been the result of elevated potassium, force of yakking, possible dehydration, or the cutoff of blood circulation due to the positioning as he was yakking (similar to reaction when you stand with your legs locked, blood pressure drops and you don't get enough blood/oxygen to your heart and brain); or a combination of all of these things.

Will it happen again? No one can say.

Some of our biggest concerns are: what would have happened had Ryan not found him, why was he unresponsive for such a long period of time and what can we do to guard from this happening again? No one has any answers to these questions. The only thing Ron can try to control is his position/posture when he yaks; try not to get into such a compressed crouching position. He tried that this afternoon when he yakked and ended up pulling a muscle in his back....poor guy, feels he can't win for losing!

I have to confess, it would be very easy to give in to fear and never want to leave Ron alone, but this is what faith is all about isn't it? We can't spend our days living in fear, being consumed by the what if's of life. Jesus came that we might live an abundant, victorious life...He never said it would be easy.

"For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God." I John 5:5

Choosing to trust that God's strength is perfected through our trials,
Christie

From Streams in the Desert 2

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning: Psalm 30:5

A.W. Dixon wrote: "It is better to have darkness with stars...than all sunshine and no stars"

"Any man can sing by day; but only he whose heart has been turned by the gracious hand of Jehovah can sing in the darkness...only the peace of God can give gladness in the darkness of adversity. God gives joy in sorrow; and when the sad one sings through his tears, then the Lord comes to him with new and more tender assurances....that which is born of trust rises in rapture" ~ Wm. M. Taylor

Overcoming fear of the unknown

The last two days have been ones of hurry up and wait. Yesterday was busy with CT angiogram and small bowel follow through; while today, has been incredibly slow waiting on test results. On top of that we were thinking we would get to go home today, however, we are now waiting to have PICC replaced. Yes, his less than a month old PICC is not drawing so they want to replace it before sending him home. IR's schedule is incredibly full so they will not be able to get to him until 8 or 9 tonight. And seeing that he has to be monitored for at least 2 hours afterwords, he will have to stay another night.

The small bowel follow through looked markedly better from his most recent one in the spring, which is very good. The contrast made it's way through in a timely manner and motility looked much improved. Now, why does he continue to have the bloating and yakking? Quite the puzzlement, my hubby.

This afternoon we finally received results from CT angiogram and there is definitely something there, but it is undetermined as to what it is. It could be just a loop in a vessel, or it could be a small aneurysm, they can't tell. The neurologist, in consultation with Dr. A, decided to refer Ron's case to UT Southwestern. Presby will send the information over to UT Southwestern to be studied by their neuro team, which is supposed to be the best around. They will then, most likely, have him come in for further testing.

You'd think we'd be a little freaked out by all that's taken place over the last few days and now this possible diagnosis; but, honestly, we are doing very well. As we were discussing the possibility of these results, we wondered if all this other stuff happened just so we would have all these tests in order to find this possible aneurysm. Again, God always goes before us; and we're choosing to trust him for whatever the results may be.

This morning as I was reading a devotional I wasn't able to get to last week, it struck me how appropriate the timing was for today. I hope it ministers to you as much as it has to us.

Much love, Christie

Overcoming the Fear of the Unknown
20 Nov 2009
Micca Monda Campbell

"Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before." Joshua 3:4a (NIV)

Do you have a fear of the unknown? If so, then you know how nerve-racking it can be. Fearing the unknown can cause us to live on pins and needles as we spend precious energy anticipating the worst-case scenario. There are two problems with this type of fear:

1. The future is not here.
2. The future is not ours.

While the future may be out of our hands, it's not out of the hands of an adequate and trustworthy God. When we face a worrisome unknown situation, we can look to Joshua as an example.

It's recorded in the first chapter of Joshua that before Moses died, God passed the baton of leadership to Joshua. The Israelites had been wandering in the desert for 40 years under the guidance of Moses. Now, their journey was almost over. Just beyond the Jordan River was their promised land—the land that God had guaranteed to Abraham and his descendants.

Upon reaching the Jordan River, Joshua and the Israelites set up camp by the stream and awaited God's direction. Much like their meeting with the Red Sea, God had to make a way for them to cross over the river. On the third day, God told the officers to instruct the people that when they saw the Ark of the Covenant (where God's Presence abided) to follow it because they had "never passed this way before" (Joshua 3:4). In essence God was saying, Follow Me and I'll see you through this unknown territory.

That's not all. The people were instructed on how closely they should follow the ark. Without this instruction, the people would have crowded the ark and God wanted every person to be able to see His presence ever faithfully leading them through the unknown valley. What greater encouragement could they have than this, that the Lord was their God, a God who was with them?

You see, friend, the Lord understands our fear of the unknown. He realizes that you may be in a situation that you've never passed through before and you're afraid. It may be the first time you've been without employment. Maybe you've just been diagnosed with an illness or your child is in rebellion. You've never been down this road before and you don't know which way to go or what to do. God will guide the way.

Joshua's life was unpredictable and full of unknowns much like yours and mine. Yet, he successfully resisted fear by keeping his focus on God rather than the events surrounding him. Just as God guided the Israelites through unknown territory, He will guide you and me too. When we come to a place we've never passed through before, God is always present to help us.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; (Isaiah 43:2,3b, NIV).

Even though the children of Israel were not told how they would pass over the river, the people went forth in faith. We too can move forward in faith sharing in the promised presence of God leading the way through our unknown circumstances.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your promised presence. It comforts my heart to know that I am not alone. Lead me, Lord, through the unknown in my life. Make Your path clear and I will follow it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Micca's blog – Reflections

Today's devotion was taken from Micca's book, An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger Than All Your Fears. Order your copy by clicking here.

Do You Know Him?

Application Steps:
The Bible calls us to walk by faith not by sight. God doesn't always give us the details we desire.

He does give us Himself. Believing is certainty that He's laid out a path and He goes before us.

Reflections:
Have you ever run from fear? Where and when?

Where did you find comfort from your fear?

How can God's promised presence soothe your fears?

Power Verses:
Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (NIV)

Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (NIV)

© 2009 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.

Sit still...

Much-needed lazy day here at Presby. Last night was rough, Ron's IV seemed to be going off constantly...I was beginning to wonder if they had done it on purpose to evoke a seizure for the EEG!

Neurologist was in and said not all the data from the EEG had downloaded as yet, but what had, looks normal. He also said the MRI looked good, but the MRA of his brain showed what is either an artifact or could possibly be an aneurysm in the right front lobe of Ron's brain. From what I understand, an artifact is when you see something on an image that may not actually be there; could be a coil of vessels that take on the shape of something foreign or some other oddity. (Leave it to Ron to have this little phenomenon happen!) Given Ron's history of aneurysms, they feel it should be further examined, so he will be scheduled for a CT angiogram tomorrow.

I hadn't realized they were doing any MRA and didn't exactly know what it was, but now I know an MRA specifically produces images of blood vessels whereas an MRI produces images of organs, muscles, bones, nerves.

Ron is also to have a small bowel follow-through. Since both the CT angiogram and the small bowel follow-through require dye (contrast), which puts stress on the kidneys and he only has one; they aren't sure they will be able to do both on Monday. They will first check his kidney function from his early morning labs; if all looks well, they will try to schedule the CT angiogram first thing in the morning and small bowel follow-through later in the afternoon; in the meantime running alot of IV fluid through him. Obviously the CT angiogram takes precedence, if scheduling doesn't work that way, they will wait until Tuesday for small bowel test. So, no word as to when he'll be able to go home. We were told this afternoon he will also have to prove he can hold food down before being allowed to go home, therefore this evening's yakking was disappointing!

Whew, lot of technical stuff in this one! May be too much information, but as I always say; these e-mails are my therapy session...writing it out helps me get my head wrapped around what's going on.

By the way, this new information has absolutely nothing to do with what brought him here! Aye, aye aye...my unique husband! I call him my walking time bomb, never know what's going to go off next!

Please continue to pray for definitive answers and that we will be at rest as we wait.

As I was reading today, this verse and the commentary on it really spoke to me

"Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out.” Ruth 3:18

Waiting on God involves a time of testing.

Waiting on God assumes that God is working, with our best interest in mind.

When you must wait for God to work, what is the quality of your waiting time? Are you anxious, trying to make things work out, or are you resting in the better plan of God?

“Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him to act" Psalm 37:7

It's all good...

Another busy day here at Presby!

The Cardiologist came by and said that Ron's echo/stress test looked good, no problems there. They will continue to keep him on the heart monitor through tonight though. Then neurologist was in to do an evaluation and ordered an MRI of his head and neck and also has set him up for a 24 hour EEG. I wish I was able to download the photos off my phone so you could see how he looks with all those probes coming out of his head, quite comical. He has to wear these continually for the next 24 hours. It also has a video monitor recording him...looking for any signs of seizures. And he's had a multitude of blood draws.

Ron is so ready to be out of here. It's been difficult to have to miss out on all the family activities of the weekend. On Friday, the family had a pool party celebrating Papa's 90th birthday with 27 family members scheduled to attend. Then today, we were all going to the Texas Tech/Baylor game at the new Cowboy Stadium.

Other than being tired he's feeling ok and thinks all the tests are unnecessary; so what, he just passed out and was unresponsive for about 1/2 an hour...what's the big deal? He'll just have to suck it up, though, because he'll be here at least until Monday.

Nothing else to report from here. Good night all!

Christie

Oh the Drama

Lots of poking and prodding throughout the night/morning but thankfully Ron's been sleeping in between. He is responsive, cognitive, looks like CRUD, but, all things considered doing ok. Docs are fervently trying to figure out what exactly happened and, most importantly, why.

Only thing they've found thus far is that his potassium level was very elevated, though other electrolytes were fine. Elevated potassium can indicate heart problem, but his EKG looked good, and he's been on a heart monitor all night with no remarkable instances. Consult with cardiologist confers they don't think it's his heart, but they are doing a nuclear stress test (medically induced) to be doubly sure. We are down in nuclear medicine right now.

When Dr. A was in this morning Ron remembered after yakking and flushing last night, his body spasmed and muscles began drawing up into a fetal position and he could not stop it...next thing he knows; the paramedics were transporting him. In the ER he was experiencing tingling in his right arm and both legs, but moreso in the right.

These issues are definitely not the norm, but not unheard of in patients with adrenal insufficiency. There are also instances where heparin (the blood thinner he is on) will act as a steroid and cause adrenal issues to be exacerbated.

Thanks for your prayers, emails, posts and text messages. We're hanging tight, so thankful I'm able to stay in Ron's room with him. I also slept off and on as they were in and out (I actually think we had about a 1 1/2 hour stretch in there at some point and it was glorious!!!!) Aaron was able to go by the house and get the bag I keep packed for emergencies (note to self: packed bag goes with us anytime we leave the house; along with computer...my lifeline of communication!)

I've been able to have a hot shower, put on clean clothes and even a little makeup...you know the old saying, when you look good, you feel good! At least it's worth a try. And since Ron was not able to eat before the stress test, I ate his yummy lunch; so, yes, I am trying to take care of myself.

Sorry, I'm not able to have my phone on down here but will check for messages/texts when procedure is complete (they said it would take 1 1/2 - 2 hours for stress test).

So thankful for Dr. A and the awesome nurses/staff here at Presby. "Sometimes you wanna go, where everybody knows your name!" (as well as your extensive medical history!)

Christie

Much to be thankful for...

Great Thanksgiving spent with family at Ryan and Stacee's. Good food, and very relaxing time.

That is until we found Ron passed out in the bathroom, unresponsive.

WARNING: Following details may be disturbing to some of you; use your own judgment as to whether to continue.

Evidently Ron had become ill and was in the bathroom yakking. At least the last thing he remembers is yakking, flushing the toilet and then the paramedics moving him onto the stretcher...we don't know what happened but we believe he was out for about 10 minutes before Ryan found him and was completely unresponsive another 10+ minutes after that, with the paramedics arriving shortly.

It was incredibly scary!! The bathroom is one of those little toilet rooms in the master; Ron was crouched over the toilet with his arms draped over the rim and his head hanging in the toilet; thank God it's one of those low water toilets or he would have drowned. He was white as a sheet, eyes rolled back and not responding to anything. Ryan had to crawl in there with him (Ron's body was keeping the doorway from opening more than a crack), sweep his throat, check his pulse and respiration's and hold his head in a more stable position while Aaron and Tony worked to get the door off it's hinges so they could remove it and get Ron fully laid out in order to do a more thorough assessment. Meanwhile, I'm on the phone with the 911 dispatcher (who was very calm, patient, and soothing).

EMS arrived quickly and we headed to Harris downtown. En route I was on the phone with our fabulous Dr. A who advised we were to go to a nearby hospital, let them run some tests and stabilize him, then transfer via ambulance to Presby for continuity of care.

PTL!!! Ron's CT revealed no signs of stroke, no signs of pulmonary embolism (blockage in artery to lung), lung x-ray looks a little sketchy but labs look ok. Once he was stable and initial tests were completed, he was transferred to Presby...arriving at 2:30 AM. Now tucked in for the "night"; with more tests to come.

Please pray, the entire family (as well as friends) have been pretty shaken up by this; especially those who were there and witnessed how bad things looked. And especially pray for definitive test results.

I'll update as I know details.
Christie

Giving Thanks

I had an epiphany (I love this word!) this week. Now, some of you will probably think, well isn't she quick to catch on! But, what can I say...

Working in my flower beds, or long walks alone, are my best prayer times. There's just something about being outdoors; quiet, all alone, away from distractions, that clears my head and opens my heart and mind to my Father's words of wisdom and instruction.

As I was out on a walk the latter part of my week (no, I wasn't working in my flower beds...as much as they need some attention and no matter how much I enjoy it, the idea of more "work" was not something I wanted to consider), I was finally still enough and quiet enough to really hear God speak to me. Of course, He speaks more gently and with greater compassion, but what it boils down to is: we're idiots!

How foolish we've been; we really set ourselves up for disappointment. Ron has only been home a week from a 12 day hospital stay-with 4 of those being in Intensive Care-and is still recovering from a nasty case of pneumonia and here we've been so depressed over his lack of energy and motivation; as well as his overall despondency? Why is it taking him so long to get back to where he was previous to this episode? Not very realistic is it?

We are so used to these little hospital "visits" that we often overlook the ramifications. Typically, when you've had a hospital stay you are prepared for a 4 to 6 week recovery period, yet Ron's been in for so many "minor" things, hospital stays are just part of our routine, therefore, our mindset is warped. A couple of days in the hospital is a huge difference from 2 major procedures, 4 days in ICU, 2 minor procedures and a case of pneumonia!

We tend to see ourselves as one of those "bop bags" we had as kids, you knock 'em down and they pop right back up. Amazing that no matter how often he was punched, that scary clown always had a smile on his face!




Remember, though, after days or weeks of punching, he seemed to lose his "umph", becoming droopy and more reluctant to pop back up so quickly? Typically, all he required was a little extra air, other times a major patching was needed; so we called on someone wiser and more experienced for assistance. We're the same, we can't handle repeated knock-downs without the assistance of those who have gone before us, experienced the hard punches of life and are there to help us bounce back. Most importantly, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf; He stands in the gap when we can't even muster up the strength to look up!

As I was reading this week in Psalm 107:22

"...offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about His glorious acts"

these words from L.B. Cowman spoke to me:

"...a sacrifice of thanksgiving is to praise God when you don't feel like it; when you are depressed and despondent; when your life is covered with thick clouds..."

And I Thessalonians 5:18 says:

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you..."

Notice, it doesn't say FOR all things but IN all things; yet we can be certain God has a plan IN all things FOR all things!

A plethora (my other favorite word I hardly ever get to use!) of lessons here:
* the more times we get knocked down, the slower we are to get up
* the importance of calling on our Father when we need "inflation"
* we need each other
* why so many kids are afraid of clowns -- no matter how hard you try to push him away, he jumps right back at you with that maniacal smile...just like that clown jack-in-the-box! (Ok, not so spiritual, but am I right?!)

Hmmm, what an appropriate epiphany (there's that fun word again!) as we go into this week of Thanksgiving. We are to offer praise no matter the "season" of our life. As I'm often reminded (when I get still enough to listen), our internal well-being should not be dependent on our external circumstances. Elementary lessons of our faith, but sometimes the most easily forgotten!

As you approach this Thanksgiving season, reflect on all you have to be thankful for; yet don't overlook the importance of offering praise even during the difficult times of life when you just don't feel like it!

Giving thanks with a grateful heart with YOU in mind!

Strength

Things have been quite difficult lately, but thanks to your prayers, and God's grace, we are beginning to find our way to a better place now. The circumstances have not necessarily changed, but we have definitely been bathed in His comfort and peace. We may feel we are back at square one, nevertheless, we are right where God wants us to be.

I have to confess, I had a major meltdown after this last emergency trip to Interventional Radiology. Going there was no big deal, we're used to these little hiccups along the way; don't like them, but try to deal with them and go on. However, after we met with the chief of IR and he showed us the pictures and extent of the clots, it became apparent that if we had not gone in, this would have quickly become a life-threatening situation. Clots in your carotid, jugular and superior vena cava, with one being the size of your thumb, is definitely not a good thing!

Once the procedure was over (at least what they could do for that day) and Ron was settled in ICU, I was spent. I found my mind wandering to that "what if" place. Fear got a grip on me and wouldn't let go. I'm sure this was enhanced by the fact that I was having flashbacks to just 2 years ago on Nov 4 with Ron taking a sudden nosedive, being rushed to the ICU and doctors telling me to gather family and friends. At one point his heart had stopped out, he was having great difficulty breathing therefore was intubated, he had septic shock and needed emergency surgery and they weren't certain he'd pull through. Then after surgery, being told it was worse than they had thought; everything they touched started bleeding and they could not contain it, so they packed him and sewed him back up in hopes of keeping him alive until the boys arrived.

Funny, how our minds and bodies respond to memories of things that are over and done with, yet continue to impact us physically, mentally and emotionally in such a significant way.

It was difficult to once again see the person I love most (this side of heaven) trembling from the pain. Then to be yanked out of my comfort zone of being able to stay there, and having to drive the 45 minutes away from him to try to sleep once visiting hours ended...oh, so hard!

As I was driving home, I was a wreck! I kept thinking, I can't do this again, I can't do this again! And then realizing, but what choice do I have? This is where we are; what's my alternative? Tell Ron, sorry honey, but I'm out of here...I've had my share and I just can't handle it any more? Tell the boys, ok, it's your turn to be in charge; I'm going home and go about my regular routine? You guys handle this.

As I cried out...please, God, I can't do this anymore; these words resonated in my soul "You're right, you can't do this. I'm not asking you to. But I am asking you to trust Me. Haven't I shown myself to be faithful in the past? Didn't I promise to never leave or forsake those who are mine?" Yes, but I'm still afraid...what if you gave us these two years only to....ugh, that awful "what if" rearing it's ugly head again!

I was comforted in knowing He only speaks truth. When I try to be in control of the situation, I may think I'm able to handle it for a while; but in reality, if it were up to me; I'd be an out-of-control, weepy, fearful mess! I'm so thankful I don't have to rely on my ability (or lack thereof).

This is such a humbling place to be in. We don't share our struggles in order to receive any recognition or accolades. We don't know why God has called us to this journey, but can assure you, it's definitely not us doing anything; we're not strong enough to get through this on our own. It's His strength and His grace that gets us through. We're just trying to figure out how to flesh out this faith we claim to cling so firmly to; believing that He has called us to be transparent and share all the ups and downs of this journey with each of you; while striving to bring Him glory.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness"
2 Corinthians 12:9

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit"
Psalm 34:18

Looking up,
Christie

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" John Piper

"Pursue the pleasure of knowing God intimately!" Patsy Clairmont

Weary

It's been a rough few days around here. I'm tired, Ron's EXHAUSTED and we're both rather soul-weary.

Ron has had trouble sleeping at night but slept until 2:45 yesterday afternoon and today he slept until noon, woke up long enough for a protein drink and then slept in recliner until 2. When he's awake he's been very lethargic and seems quite down. He's had yakking episodes daily, which causes his small appetite to diminish even more. His vitals are fine but he looks gaunt and feels weak. In all he's lost 9.5 lbs since he was admitted to Presby 2 weeks ago (8 while there, 1.5 while home).

As we've talked (or as I've pulled teeth trying to get anything out of him), he finally admits he feels useless and is questioning everything. We've prayed and prayed and believed we were on the right track with Ron and school and life in general around here, but now.....

Please pray.

Christie

"O Lord, how long will you forget me?
Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.
Don't let my enemies gloat, saying 'We have defeated him!'
Don't let them rejoice at my downfall.

But I trust (even when I don't feel like it) in Your unfailing love.
I will rejoice (even when I don't feel like it) because You have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord (even when I don't feel like it) because He has been so good to me."
Psalm 13 New Living Translation (parenthesis mine)

No place like home!

Holy Cow....Finally, we are home!!!

It's been a very, very long day but we arrived home around 8:30 ish. Ron was on target to be dismissed around 10 AM, all his doctors had been in and signed off, home health had been arranged, prescriptions filled, etc. BUT, when they came to do a last blood draw, his PICC would not draw, nor would it flush...not a good thing since he's only had it for a little over a week. They tried every trick in the book to troubleshoot but he ended up having to go back to Interventional Radiology this afternoon to have a new PICC placed. After placement, he had to be monitored for 2 hours with vitals taken every 30 minutes; UGH!!!

In the midst of this frustrating, hurry up and wait situation; we received a huge blessing. As I spoke with the pharmacist who formulates Ron's TPN (specialized pharmacy, not retail); we were going over all the medications he will be taking when she asked how he would be receiving the heparin. After I explained the process she told me that because of the specialization of her pharmacy they could actually pre-fill our syringes with the Heparin. Now, instead of a 6 step process where I have to handle filling the syringes from a vial, it goes down to a 3 step process. I'm sure this doesn't sound like that big of a deal to you, but it is HUGE for me! Anywho, I had to come home to pick up the vials and take them to their pharmacy in Dallas then go back to Presby to wait for Ron to go to IR. They then delivered them to our house, as they do our weekly supplies.

Whew!!!! Quite a day; but as Dorothy said, "There's no place like home!"

Christie

Good news!

After a long week(+) of feeling downright awful, Ron's finally picking up steam! Chest x-ray is beginning to show signs of clearing, he was able to keep his blood oxygen saturation at an acceptable level without any assistance (including during and after a walk around the floor) and his antibiotic cycle is complete as of tonight. So....he's coming home Wednesday!

Please pray as he transitions back home; that he will not try to push himself but will be patient with the healing process. Dr. A says it will take several weeks to fully recover from this bad bout of pneumonia. Also, as we adjust to life on heparin. I will have to inject this into his PICC every 8 hours and unfortunately it is one that will require several steps, not just a pre-filled syringe, yippee!. Due to the amount of heparin he'll receive, he will have to be watched closely for any signs of bleeding and will be prone to bruise very easily.

Also, pray for wisdom as he consults with his professors regarding this extended absence from classes. Some are willing to be very flexible and assign alternative assignments while others...not so much. You are loved and appreciated!!!Christie

Waiting

My poor guy....has a nasty case of pneumonia. He's been coughing, running a fever, yakking, swelling up from all the fluids they've pumped in him the last week and has just generally felt pretty miserable the last couple of days. So, it looks like we'll be hanging out at Presby for the weekend.

Below, is a link from youtube to a great song featured on the movie Fireproof. It has really spoken to me the last few days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHIqOHU6Dhg

Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend. And if we come to mind, please pray.

No Bueno :(

Ron definitely will not be going home today. His lungs are sounding "crackly", he's running a fever and they've had to put him on oxygen because his oxygen saturation is down. They've ordered consults from both infectious disease and pulmonology. Ugh!!! Please pray for my poor hubby. He obviously feels terrible along with being very down and frustrated.

The Suite Life on 6W...

Sorry I didn't update last night, it was a long day. Ron has been (and continues to be) exhausted. We moved again last night, out of ICU and onto the floor; which means he is improving. We are back to our home away from home on 6West (main building). Although it was nice being in the new fancy schmancy Hamon Tower, it's good to be back in a more quiet environment. And we were blessed to be assigned to the suite! Now I can sleep on the pull out in there, no more crashing on the kid's couch!

Presbyterian has undergone so many renovations in the last two years, including several since our last stay in September. As I explored some yesterday afternoon (and got lost multiple times throughout the day), I was happy to find the well-hidden cashier's office where I can once again buy parking tickets in bulk; that way I only have to pay $1 each time I park---wooo hooo!

Well, on to what you really want to know about:

Ron will be here at least through tomorrow, possibly Friday. His blood pressure and temp are stable; now, they are working on getting the rest of his body stable-with heparin injections 3 x a day we have to watch his blood count closely, and his electrolytes, phosphorous and magnesium have been off as well as his kidney being a little stressed from all the contrast used the last few days in IR. Once everything is in balance, he'll be able to go home.

Please continue to pray for rest....Ron feels like crud and it's mainly because he is so very tired. Of course with each medication, comes a different schedule so they are in and out often monkeying with him in some way. And every day he is in the hospital just sets his physical stamina back that much more. Poor guy needs a break! And of course, he's concerned about all the classes he's missing.

So, we are once again in a waiting pattern...biggest bummer is not being able to be out enjoying this beautiful weather (on top of the fact he's using up all my baby time!!! I've been hoarding my days off to use when our babies arrive next spring! Then again, he always has and will come first in my book!)

We appreciate each of you!

Christie

My devotional reading from Proverbs 31 ministry this morning was so appropriate; (which I've included below) references Deuteronomy 32:4, 10-14 (this is the NLT version)

"He is the Rock; His work is perfect. Everything He does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright He is!...He found them..He surrounded them and watched over them. He guarded them as His most precious possession...He spread His wings to take them in...The Lord alone guided them...He nourished them...He fed them..."

When Healing Never Comes
4 Nov 2009
Wendy Blight

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart..." Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

Today she is 16. A newly licensed driver, varsity cheerleader, confident, strong, funny, and beautiful, inside and out.

Then she was 13. Sitting in a doctor's office, between tears and trembling, we heard these words: "scoliosis," "a curvature of the spine," "back brace," " 23 out of 24 hours a day," " two years."

Words cannot explain life those next weeks and months as she faithfully wore her brace ... a brace that deformed her body, caused sleepless nights filled with pain and sorrow, and required her to quit something she loved: competitive cheerleading.

Questions plagued her heart. Why me, God? What did I do, God?

Questions plagued my mind. Why her, God? What did I fail to do? Please take this from her and give it to me, Lord...PLEASE!!

I cried out for healing. We obeyed Scripture. Elders of the church prayed over her. I laid hands on her and anointed her with oil. Hundreds of women prayed for her healing.

Healing never came.

Many nights she lay in my bed, locked in her brace, sobbing, asking, "Why me, Mom?" I lay next to her, tears rolling down my cheeks, exhausted, feeling helpless, wondering how we would make it to the other side of this.

Healing never came.

Her back worsened despite the brace, so we tried alternative methods.

Healing never came.

Oh, for a time, they kept her curve at bay—until six months ago. Her curve and the pain resulting from it had increased with astounding speed since then, until it reached the point that we had to face the reality of surgery. A surgery that requires this precious child of mine to put her life on hold. A surgery that means rods and screws will line her spine from top to bottom. A surgery that requires months and months of rehabilitation. A surgery that prevents her from ever tumbling again.

Healing never came ... or has it?

At first glance I'd say "no" because the Lord did not heal in the way I so specifically and faithfully prayed.

But, when I look at the promised result - it will straighten her spine and allow her to live pain free - I must say, "yes" healing is coming, just not in the way I hoped and prayed.

The passion of my heart, the call on my life, is to point others to find answers to their struggles, great and small, in the Word of God. So what do I say to myself as I kneel before the Lord? I allow the tears to come. I shake my fist, asking why has it had to come to this? I ask why did He not choose MY way?

And then, I surrender.

I take my own advice.

I go to His Word. His Word that speaks sweetly to me:

"Wendy, trust Me with all your heart. Do not lean on the knowledge of chiropractors, physical therapists, and others. Do not lean on your fears. Acknowledge Me, Wendy. My Name. My Power. My Strength. My Love. I promised to direct your path, and I have. This is the path I have led you to follow. Trust Me." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"Wendy, I do not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

"Wendy, remember My ways are higher than your ways, My thoughts higher than yours...TRUST ME with her because I have a plan and I love her more than you will ever know." (Isaiah 55:8)

I wish I could tell you today that I am not afraid. But I would be lying. I am afraid. I am afraid of the day they will roll her away to cut into her spine and insert foreign objects into her body. But I can tell you that I trust my God, and I ask Him daily to help me with my unbelief.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You that it is TRUTH. Father, for every woman whose heart aligns with mine today, direct us to Your Word. Speak truth into our circumstances. Help us with our unbelief. Help us take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Fill our hearts and minds with whatever is lovely, true, pure, excellent, and praiseworthy. Father cover us with Your wings. Help us to fully trust in You. I ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
For more on this topic, listen to today's Radio Show, Valley of Grief

Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story by Wendy Blight

i am not but i know I AM by Louie Giglio

Visit Wendy's blog - Living Truth

Application Steps:
If you have a struggle, take a few minutes today, go to God's Word, and ask Him to speak into your circumstances. Note the verses to which He draws you and personalize them as I did above. Pray them every day this week and watch what God will do.

Reflections:
Read the following verses and reflect on what they speak to your heart: Hebrews 4:16, Romans 10:17, and Hebrews 12:2.

Power Verse:
1 Corinthians 2:16, "For who has known the mind of the Lord that He may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." (NIV)

Isaiah 44:2, 21b, "Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not….I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me." (ESV) referenced

Things are looking up!

Praise God! Ron finally took a turn for the better yesterday evening. He's only had a couple of yakking episodes since around 6 yesterday evening. He's even been able to keep down a little apple juice. Still nauseous but better.

Blood pressure is s-l-o-w-l-y ooched up but still a little on the low side.

He looks exhausted and he is; still not been able to sleep. It's always a battle to get sleep in an ICU situation but now that the move has been made over to the new Hamon Tower, we're hopeful it will be a little more quiet.

Yes, we've made the BIG move. Ron was the inaugural patient in the Hamon 3ICU. The amount of extra nurses on hand is crazy! They send at least 3 nurses with each patient as they transport them with all their equipment (as well as emergency equipment, just in case). The trek from the 3rd floor of the main building, down to the lower level to take the Link and then back up to the 3rd floor of the Hamon Tower caused Ron to get a little nauseous, which led to his 2nd yakking episode...thankfully it occurred after he was in his room. It was so nice to be the first, even though that meant 7AM, we were able to get settled in quickly, instead of being on standby all day.

I've searched and searched but have yet to find our plaque...hmmm, may just have to make our own.

Haven't seen any docs as yet, but will report when I do!

Please continue to pray for rest!

It was a rough night and the day up to this point has proven to be just as crummy. But we're hopeful things will begin to look up soon; once all his new treatments are on board.

It's been over a year since Ron has been in the ICU and we'd forgotten how exhausting it is. Due to the extreme nausea and intermittent yakking, Ron has not been able to get much sleep...he dozes a little, but not a good, deep stretch of sleep (except when he's under anesthesia for procedures in IR).

Swelling in right arm had decreased enough to allow placement of PICC; so he went back to IR this morning where they removed the catheter in his left arm and placed PICC in right.

He's continued to have nausea and vomiting despite being on both Zofran and Phenergan, and his blood pressure has been running very low all day as well. (70/38 at one point) and they are keeping him on oxygen since his blood sat is not stable on room air alone, as yet.

We were so glad to see Dr. A (gastro) this morning, he has been able to piece together many of the issues Ron's been having, since he is the ongoing primary doctor who knows him so well. One treatment is to increase his steroid which should help with both blood pressure and vomiting. He also said as hard as it is on Ron, the vomiting is not to be unexpected since his carotid/jugular and majority of veins in chest are raw and inflamed from procedures and because of clots (recent and previous); intra cranial pressure can build up. He likened to when a brain shunt fails-- vomiting will often occur. He also prescribed Phenergan and/or Zofran (for vomiting) every 4 hours and Protonix (tummy med) twice daily, all injected through PICC.

Dr. M (hematologist/oncologist) was also in this morning. It looks like Ron will begin heparin injections through his PICC beginning tomorrow morning as long term treatment for clotting issues. He'll get these 3 times a day indefinitely (most likely for the rest of his life)

On a better note: Temperature seems to finally be under control, YIPPEE! And it looks like he will be an inaugural patient to the brand new Hamon Tower ICU. The facility we watched them build from the ground up as Ron was here for such an extended period of time. They move 3ICU over tomorrow morning at 7AM. (We've got our eyes pealed for the engraved plaque stating "paid for by a generous donation from the Ronald Nordell family"...after all the money we've spent here, it's only fitting, right?!)

We had a little kink thrown into our plans, the Cash Cow at Hotel Presby has run out! They can no longer give me the long term rate of $30, in fact you must be here for 14 consecutive nights and then they only reduce it by 25%. They've also gone up on the parking (used to be $4 max and is now $5 and you reach the max much more quickly!) and valet has gone from free when he was first here, to $3 early this year and now up to $5. Gotta pay for that fancy new building they've just opened somehow.

Anywho, I went home the first night and spent the night at Aaron's bachelor pad last night...it was great to be just 15 minutes away as opposed to the monster drive it would have been at rush hour.

It's been hard, but I know God is stretching and growing me in all of this. I get so used to my comfort zones, those areas I think I can control; yet, control is only illusion! My heart knows but my mind forgets and I know it's a big, yet necessary step to being totally dependent on the Father. One of those areas I've clung to has been that subconscious thought that as long as I'm here, everything will be ok. And I've been reminded of this so often these last few days that whether I'm here or not, he still has excellent doctors and nurses. It just makes me feel better. And that no matter what, God is not just with Ron but He has gone before us and He is in control.

Thanks for your continued prayers.
Christie

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths" Psalm 25:4

Success

Procedure was long (almost 3 hours) and complicated, but had good results. Dr. D feels they were able to get all of the clots. He was surprised to find some of the remaining clots were old (he could tell by the thickness and texture). He said this is not uncommon when you have a long term PICC, Any time you have a foreign object in your body, the natural response is to get rid of it, which is one reason the body forms clots. Then add the fact that the PICC was out of place therefore dripping TPN into an area it wasn't meant for and you get all these small vessels backing up forming clots.

The original plan was to remove the clots and place a new PICC in the right arm. But, sometime during the night he lost both IV's in that arm and the upper one caused his bicep to swell a great deal, so, they were not able to put a new PICC in. He will go back to IR again tomorrow and hopefully they will be able to put PICC in at that point. In the meantime, they have left the catheter in the site to administer fluids, as well as port for antibiotics, steroid, and heparin (which he he has running continuously). I believe they said he will remain in ICU until they are able to get a new PICC in.

Tomorrow docs will confer to come up with a plan of action as to what the best course of treatment will be for Ron. It's obvious Ron's body is prone to developing clots so the need for anticoagulants will definitely be addressed. Then again, we know how his body has problems with blood thinners...quite the quandary!

Some of you have asked, "didn't they put a filter in to catch clots?" Yes, they did, two years ago at HEB. The filter he has is in the inferior vena cava (below the heart) while his problems are in the superior vena cava (above the heart). So, this filter doesn't help. "Then why not put a filter in the superior vena cava?" Great idea! Unfortunately, there are no good filter options available.

We're thrilled they were able to get all the clots, however, it's been a pretty rough afternoon. His left arm, neck and shoulder are sore, he's had nausea and vomiting and has also spiked a temp; so far they haven't been able to get it below 101. They are doing cultures along with a full blood work up and urinalysis.

Continue to pray faithful ones!

Many thanks!
Christie

Complicated???

Well, Dr. D tells me I'm married to a rather complicated guy (no kidding!!!). Thus, 2 1/2 hours later he finally comes out to tell me there were more clots than he thought and not all of them would break up, therefore he sucked out what he could but was unable to remove everything. They removed the PICC and placed a catheter into the affected areas (carotid/jugular and subclavian veins) that will deliver heparin for the next 12-14 hours in hopes of dissolving these clots.

Sunday morning at 9, Ron will go back to Interventional Radiology where they will take another look-see at how things are going. The hope is that this regimen works and they will then suck out the now broken up clots and place PICC in another location.

Please pray this treatment is succesful and he can get back on the road to healing. Due to the nature of the large amounts of Heparin (blood thinner) being delivered, he has been placed in ICU and I cannot stay with him. Since there was "no room at the inn" I have come home. VERY HARD to do...it kills me to know I'm so far away in case anything were to happen. But I know I have to release this desire for control. I may not be able to be there but God promises He will never leave us...what better hands could he be in, right? But it sure brings me a little more peace when I'm there too!

Also pray for a good night of rest for both of us...and especially against anxiety (which obviously will cause no rest!)

Thanks, Christie

BOO....

HOO!!! Yes, those are tears...tears of sadness, frustration and joy all rolled in one.

Ron decided why ruin a good tradition? We've spent most holidays over the last two years at Presby and it is Halloween (not sure that technically qualifies as a holiday, though) so, being my sweet pumpkin...he decided to give everyone a good scare. (Like the play on word nod to Halloween?)

Let me back up...It's been a bit of a rough week. Ron's had some major upper back pain the last few nights...in front of and behind left shoulder referring down back...which has caused him to not get any sleep due to discomfort. Pain typically goes away during the day...we're thinking odd, but who knows; could just be he needs a new pillow, right? Although pain has been enough to need prescription pain meds.

Last night (pain free at this point), he noticed within 30 minutes of hooking up to TPN, the pain began. So we started going back over the week, trying to piece things together...In retrospect we remember: on Monday when nurse did PICC dressing change, she had trouble getting sticky tape off PICC line and arm and ended up having to work quite a while on him. That night was first night of pain, Tuesday was a rough day since he slept so terribly...but thinking he just had a crick in his neck. Same scenario each night since.

Up to last night, when it dawned on him the pain seems to start each night after TPN has been hooked up. We unhooked him from the TPN and he seemed to sleep ok and woke up this morning with no pain.

Hmmm, we may be on to something here....

Could this all be just a bizarre coincidence that a strained muscle is exacerbated by pressure of something running through vein pushing on a common nerve or something; or is it possible PICC is out of place putting pressure on something when TPN runs through; or could TPN be leaching into some place it shouldn't?

Also, Ron's not positive, but as he examines PICC site, he thinks PICC looks a little longer than usual.

You know me and my "unlicensed medical degree"; just enough knowledge to be dangerous, but extremely cautious. So, we make a call to Interventional Radiology and are told to come in. As he's getting dressed we notice the small blood vessesls on his chest are predominant, which is odd; haven't seen that up to this point.

When we arrive at Presby they are waiting for us...we again relate the story and proceed to show Dr. D his chest, and now we notice his carotid is looking lumpy. They immediately take him in and find he has multiple clots in his carotid (along with several others in smaller vessels) and his PICC is definitely out of place.

Thank God, he noticed the TPN relation or this could have been a life threatening situation!

Right now, he is having a catheter directed thrombolysis.

This will better explain:
Catheter directed thrombolysis is a minimally invasive treatment that dissolves abnormal blood clots in blood vessels to help improve blood flow and prevent damage to tissues and organs.

When blood does not flow smoothly through a vessel, it can begin to coagulate, turning from a free-flowing liquid to a semi-solid gel, or blood clots.

In a catheter-directed thrombolysis procedure, x-ray imaging is used to help guide a special medication or medical device to the site of blood clots to dissolve the blockage.

Basically, he will have a procedure where they will inject a medication to soften the clot then a catheter with a teeny, tiny fan on the end of it will be inserted and it acts like a rotor rooter that breaks up the clot and then sucks it out.

They will also remove PICC and place in another location. We've discussed putting in a port but right now the consensus is PICC is the better option. Yes, you may have problems with PICC complications but they are small and more easily treatable. With a port you are in a major vessel and when complications occur they are usually major.

He will be admitted for a few days. Unfortunately, all of his regular docs (except Dr. D, Interventional Radiologist) are not on call this weekend; so their partners have been apprised of the situation. Monday, his regular doctors will confer and come up with a plan of action. The major component is an anticoagulant (blood thinner...aren't y'all impressed with my medical terminology?). Unfortunately, we still face the same old problem...because of his digestive issues, his body does not absorb oral blood thinner properly, and the twice daily Lovenox (blood thinner) injections tend to cause him to develop hematomas.

Please, please pray the doctors (mainly hematologist/oncologist) will be able to come up with a treatment that is good for him. Also pray against frustration and anxiety. It's hard to swallow this is how life may continue to be from here on out; he will always be a medically fragile guy. To look at him, it's hard to tell all he's been through and all he continues to deal with put in reality, it's always touchy.

So, you've read the sadness and frustration...now the Joy

We have joy in knowing we are at an excellent hospital with people who know Ron inside and out (literally!)

We have joy in knowing we serve a God who knows us intimately, down to the number of hairs on our head at any given moment; and is not taken by surprise when these little hiccups come our way.

We have joy in knowing...we have faithful family, friends, prayer warriors who are willing to stand in the gap and hold us up. We couldn't do this without you!

Much love, Christie

"Be attentive when it's the darkest!"

"A life of faith involves seeing past what's happening today and believing in God's redemptive care in our tomorrows" from Catching Fireflies by Patsy Clairmont

"I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."
Job 42:2

And yes, I've learned my lesson and have a packed bag with us...against Ron's protest!

And so the journey began...

October 9 two years ago, Ron was admitted to the ER at HEB and after a night full of testing was diagnosed with a failing gall bladder.

Little did we know that a "simple" gall bladder surgery would forever change the course of our lives. Though we would NEVER want to go through the trials of these past two years again, we can honestly say we would not want to give up all that God has taught us and the relationships we've developed. God has shown Himself faithful! And though at times it's been so painful we've felt we couldn't go on, we've found there are some things that can only be learned through the pain and suffering that causes complete dependence on the Father.

We've also come to have a greater appreciation for the unfailing hope that is available to us through Christ, as well as the generosity of His people who have been so faithful to encourage, lift us up and minister to our every need whether that be financial, physical, emotional or spiritual.

You know, it's one thing to go through a short period of time relying on the help of others; but when it becomes long term..... You begin to feel you're "wearing out your welcome". That people are thinking, "Oh great, it's those needy Nordell's again!"

However, God continues to remind me we need to put aside our pride (Ugh! That awful P word!); and allow others to meet our needs. You'd think we'd have enough practice by now that it would be no big deal to ask for and accept help, but it's still difficult. And as we pray about our pride, He reminds us again that our stubborn determination to do things on our own is actually refusing to allow others to do for us, therefore robbing them of the blessing!We've all been there; when you know someone who is hurting, or going through any difficult time, you feel so helpless. You want to do whatever you can to lighten their load and still...pride too often wins out and we downplay what we're going through, denying our need for others. Yet, God calls us to work together as a body, each serving a different purpose; and meeting each others' needs. (Preaching to the choir here...you guys have been AWESOME in meeting our needs....We're the ones with the "P" problem!)

Too often we hold onto what we perceive to be those things we can control ~ yet I was reminded recently that control is only an illusion.

From Streams in the Desert:
"Lord, increase our faith" Luke 17:5

Faith is not clinging--it is letting go...It's God's plan that we fall--not to defeat, but into His arms....As soon as you recognize your sheer helplessness, and your failing strength, you let go; and falling upon Him, your fear goes, your mistrust goes, and the blessed assurance comes.

Enough preaching...Where are we today? Still dependent on God, as well as our family and friends. He, along with each of you, continues to rise to the occasion!

Speaking of which, we were incredibly blessed by my family's generosity, as well as a fabulous Columbus Day sale, and were able to purchase a washer and dryer without having to spend any money out of pocket. They were delivered about 10 days ago and they are fabulous! We spent Saturday watching in amazement our new toys in action. Aren't we the exciting couple!

That same week, we received a call from my dad informing us that a distant family member had contacted him and wanted to replace our stove top and oven for us! Wow!! We are blown away by this incredible gift. They've been out to measure and we should get them soon. What kind? you ask....I don't know, and I don't care...they are new, they'll cook evenly and they are free; that's all that matters! Many thanks, K&G!

On top of that, my brother stopped by recently to deliver a gift card from an anonymous donor to use however we wanted...to help with appliances or even book a red-eye to Vegas, whatever! Thanks "old friends", we are blessed because of you!

Thank you, Father, for Your sufficient provision (often through Your people!), Your grace and Your sovereignty!

On to the hubby: Ron's had his ups and downs the last few weeks. Mostly, he continues to have no appetite. He's back down to a protein drink in the morning, and a small portion for dinner. Amazingly, his weight is staying somewhat stable despite decreased eating. Dr. A has done a little tweaking on his medications this week, adding one that will stimulate his GI tract and one to fight bacterial buildup. Hopefully these will kick things back in gear. He's been a little more tired than usual since he's had increased reflux and yakking which keeps him from sleeping well.

Otherwise, he's doing well in his classes. He even made the highest grade on a major test in his anatomy and physiology class (actually the highest grade in his prof's classes for that test) and on today's test in Math he scored a 100! Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!

Please pray Ron's renewed digestive issues will resolve quickly and he will get some much-needed rest. And for his energy and stamina; lack of sleep causes an increase in weakness.

Much love,
Christie


"My Father has prepared these places for the ones He has chosen"
Matthew 20:23 NLT

Though this verse is in reference to James' and John's mother asking Jesus if her son's could sit in places of honor on either side of Him, it really spoke to me that wherever God sends us, we have full assurance He has prepared that place for us.

"Trust in the Lord and rely on your God" Isaiah 50:10b

"Oh me, Oh my!"

...to quote my good friend, Sharon!

The last few weeks have been way too busy! Between Ron's hospitalization, searching for new housing for Ron's parents and then moving them in, along with everyday life stuff...it's definitely taken a toll on us! Poor Ron, was so exhausted Sunday he hardly moved all day...quite honestly, I was getting a little concerned. Not only was he super tired, but was yakking again and just feeling overall crummy. I'm glad to report by Monday afternoon, he was feeling better.

The move last weekend went very smoothly; thank you for praying. We believe Dad is adjusting very well (quite honestly, I think he's digging his new bachelor pad!) and Mom, well, it's quite confusing to her. She asked the other day "how long do I have to stay here?" I'm sure the longer she is there and is able to get into a routine along with becoming more familiar with the staff; she will adjust.

After spending the day moving, we headed over to my sister's house that evening to celebrate our Sept/Oct family birthdays. They surprised me by making it a special 50th celebration for me! (Wow, seeing that in print looks...old!) My sister, Tami, even flew in from Atlanta to help celebrate my leap into the second half of a century.

I have the greatest family ever! We had a lot of fun (at my expense) looking through old high school yearbooks, and the decorations created by using some of my beautiful photos from days gone by; they even took the liberty to transform my face onto more famous bodies! I was really rockin' it and looked quite Fergi-licious! There was also an especially creative one of me as Faith Hill and Ron as Tim McGraw!

I cannot begin to tell you what a blessing my family is to us...they know how I'd always talked about going to Vegas for my 50th and decided to arrange a trip for me. Unfortunately, the unexpected things of life happen; our home appliances have decided this would be a good time to throw in the towel. We are in dire need of replacing our dryer and our washer is just as old; our oven and stovetop are also on their last legs (they've never been replaced and our house is 30 years old). So, once the family heard about this, they got together and decided to generously gift me with money to use either to go to Vegas or put towards appliances. I tell ya, it was an unfair decision to place in my lap; but my practical side won out and I'm shopping for a washer/dryer. We will also use our designated Christmas fund to begin looking for stovetop and oven. Another lesson in being totally dependent on God.

If you know of anyone who works in the appliance industry or is a builder/contractor who can help us get a great deal....we would be most appreciative!

Ron had a follow-up with the surgeon Monday. He was very pleased with the healing process, therefore we are finished with wound care!!! And, Praise God, the ultrasound done last week shows no sign of clot; which means we don't have to worry about the possibility of having to try blood thinner again!

Now, we're trying to get back into some semblance of a routine and are hoping to have a low-key weekend so we can get caught up on house stuff and just have some down time!

Much love,
Christie

"I will thank the Lord with all my heart...How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder them. Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. Who can forget the wonders He performs? How gracious and merciful is our Lord...He always remembers His covenant..." Psalm 111:1-5 selected NLT

"Bear not a single care thyself, one is too much for thee;
The work is mine, yea, mine alone; thy work is Rest in Me."
from Streams in the Desert 2

"Be all at rest" so thou shalt be an answer,
To those who question "Who is God and where?"
For God is REST, and where He dwells is stillness,
And they who dwell in Him that rest shall share."
Freda H. Allen

"I have never seen the Godly forsaken" Psalm 37:25

MIA

Sorry we've been MIA--the last couple of weeks have been CRAZY busy! Long post attests to it!

Ron came home on Tuesday, Sept 8 with IV antibiotics to be administered every 8 hours (which run an hour), twice daily Lovenox injections and daily wound care (along with his typical daily TPN and flushes). I jumped right back in to work on Wednesday amidst the chaotic schedule of all these medical tasks.

Praise God insurance approved having wound care nurse come daily for the first week to cleanse and pack his incision site. The antibiotics, on the other hand, were left up to me. The every 8 hour schedule wasn't too bad; it was the ordeal of scheduling the timing of getting the refrigerated antibiotic out 4-6 hours BEFORE administering that tipped the scale. But, you do what you have to do!!! And just like when you have a newborn, God gives you that extra measure of grace in the form of energy and stamina as needed. My mantra became "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Along with constant reminders to self "I can do anything for 9 days" which became "I can do anything for 8 days", etc. Special thanks to Marcie for her constant encouragement and countdown of how few days I had left!

Now, back to Ron. By the first Saturday, we began to notice he was developing several small hematomas from the Lovenox injections, so made the decision to discontinue. He also spent that first week yakking, almost daily. Things settled down for a week but this morning it started again. YUCK!

Ron had appointments with GI and surgeon last Monday afternoon and they both confirmed he should not continue on the Lovenox. So, we happen to be the lucky owners of a 60 day supply of Lovenox. With only 3 days worth of it being used this leaves us with a total of just under $3900 worth of the stuff. HUGE Praise that our insurance co-pay for this was ONLY $75.

Other than the bleeding caused by the Lovenox, they are both pleased with his progress. Incision site is healing nicely, surgeon removed sutures and placed steri-strips on the ends while still leaving center open to continue to heal from inside out. Wound care is minor so I have now taken that over myself. GI has again decreased steroid level which always takes a while for Ron's body to adjust, leaving him with sinking spells, and this time the added side effects of feeling jittery, restless, unable to get comfortable. If it continues, as of tomorrow he is to resume the afternoon dose at half the strength.

Tuesday he will have a Doppler study to make sure there is still good blood flow on either side of where the vein was removed and to confirm the clot is dissipating. He will then have a followup with the surgeon the following week.

To add to all this excitement, Sept 9, the family received 30 days notice that Ron's mom would have to move from the assisted living apartment where she and Dad reside. Her care has reached a point they are no longer able to provide for her needs. So we've spent the last two weekends plus several evenings along with other family members, visiting skilled nursing facilities, residential care homes and continuing care retirement communities (ccrc) looking for the best fit. All of Ron's siblings were here this weekend to finalize the search and break the news to both Dad and Mom. It was a very difficult, emotional conversation but Praise God it went much better than anticipated. Dad recognizes Mom's decline and is on board with the fact that if Mom needs to move, he should move to the same facility. The family has decided on a very nice ccrc on the Southwest side of Ft. Worth which has the added bonus of being the facility where Ryan works! Mom will be on the 3rd floor, in the skilled nursing portion; while Dad will live on the 1st floor in the assisted living portion. We will move them next weekend. Please pray for both Mom and Dad Nordell as they make this change; especially as they transition to living in separate rooms on different floors. And, selfishly, for all of the family as we learn to adjust to the changes as well.

As you can imagine, we're a wee bit on the tired side...therefore, haven't even made it to church the last couple of Sundays. We've enjoyed a lot of extra time with family, but wish it were under better circumstances.

I believe that's our life in a nutshell right now. Oh, I forgot to mention, Ron had 2 major tests amidst the chaos! Poor guy! He made it through and did pretty well, especially considering he hasn't taken a college test in over 32 years!

Sorry this was so long! It's 11:00 now and I'm excited to say we can go to bed without worrying about any medical stuff! YIPPEE!!! Only having to take care of TPN now feels like a breeze!

Have a good week!
Much love, Christie

He gives and takes away...

Busy, busy day here at Presby...although I did manage to sneak in a short nap!

Ron had new PICC line inserted, wound care, visits from 4 out of 5 docs (resident, surgeon, GI, infectious disease; didn't have to see IR) plus they added another specialist to the team bringing the total to 6 docs involved! New doc is hematologist/oncologist...since he has such a "unique" history they aren't quite sure how to handle him and blood thinners. It comes down to risks vs. benefits. Over the last 2 years he has had a multitude of blood clots which points to the need for blood thinners, the flip side of that is, he has also had multiple bleeds which is exacerbated by...you got it, blood thinners! You know my "AB"-normal husband, he delights in stumping all the specialists!

Which is the lesser of the two risks...blood clot or bleeds? It's a coin toss. However, medical protocol says if you've had a blood clot you should be on blood thinners; new doc conferred with surgeon, resident and interventional radiologist and confirms he needs to be on blood thinners to avoid the chance that remnants of the infected clot travel through his body spreading infection which could be fatal. Unfortunately, once again, Ron has to be difficult; because of all of his other issues with digestion, his body will not properly absorb oral blood thinners which means he will have to be on Lovenox injections (in his belly) indefinitely. And yes, this is the same medication that caused the huge hematoma (bleed) which required surgery last summer. Like I said, risks/benefits issue; blood clots are harder to see than bleeds at this point.

I was in the room during his dressing change today. It's crazy, I've seen much worse, had to take care of much worse, but today, I just couldn't take it. I was ok when they removed the packing and cleansed the wound, but once they started packing it again and I saw how painful it was for him, I had to leave. I knew I needed to be watching in case I have to take this on when we go home, but I just couldn't do it. I know if it comes down to it, God will give me the strength I need. Until, then I'll just keep praying. I don't want wound care to be the only obstacle to keep him from going home.

Speaking of which, It sounds like everyone is on board with him going home tomorrow, although wound care has not been addressed as yet. Ron and I both feel we need to push for a wound care nurse to come out and do daily dressing change but we aren't sure how that will work. Typically, home health care will come out and teach the family how to do dressing changes so we'll see if insurance balks at this or not.

The last 2 nights we have gone on very long walks, indoors through the "link" at Presbyterian which takes you underground to the two other medical buildings, Perot and Jackson. Tonight, they were waxing the floors in the main area so we decided to take our own detour and explore a little...we found the morgue. Always wondered where it was...of course, it's in a very creepy out of the way area. I guess it wouldn't be wise to put it somewhere that people pass by on a regular basis, might freak them out...but we are not faint of heart, we go looking for it!!!!

This last little Presby "vacation" has been an eye-opener. Bottom line...no matter how much we try to deny or ignore the fact; I have a very medically fragile husband. Even though things have gone very well over the last few months, there are issues we will always have to deal with and because his body has gone through so much to be only 51 years old it's not to be unexpected. And it's hard...to think of going through these kinds of issues over and over again. Don't get me wrong, we know how blessed we are and we cannot begin to count the miracles he has granted in all of this. But it's still hard.

A very wise friend shared what God was speaking to her as she prayed for us and gave us permission to pass it on. Her words were right on target and correlated so well with what God has been speaking to me these past few days.

"I was asking God why you guys were having to go through all this again. It is so frustrating to me that Ron has been doing well all this time and then he has had this setback. God reminded me of what happened in the end of Jonah when he caused the vine to grow to give Jonah shade and Jonah was happy, but then the vine withered and Jonah was mad. God asked him if he had any right to be mad about that. It reminded me that if I am going to praise God for the success and the health Ron has had the past four months, then I can't get upset about whatever else He brings or allows. I can't see His plan, but I know He's still the same God, who gives and takes away. "
Thanks, sweet Ashley for sharing this with us!

I've been reading in Romans and a couple of verses just really jumped out at me:

"Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:39

I confess, there are days when I think, if you love us, Father, why do we continually have to struggle? Why don't You allow our path to be smooth and straight, instead of encountering these hairpin twists and turns? We know Your word says in this world we will have trouble, but there are times we feel we've had more than our share! We want to be faithful, we want to be strong, we want to trust You in all things...Yet, Father, sometimes we are just so tired...

"He is God who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise." Romans 9:5b

Knowing Your word is true, we will choose to trust You; we will choose to rely on Your faith and Your strength to be enough for today.

Good night! Hope you've enjoyed your long weekend!
Love,
Christie

PS: Yes, I have been staying at Hotel Presby the last couple of days...God graciously provided some extra income for me earlier this week in a way I wasn't anticipating which I've been able to use to pay for my room (since they continue to bless us by only charging the long term rate whenever we're here! Less than 1/2 the cost of a typical room stay!)

So many wonderful benefits of this arrangement:
allows me to sleep better at night knowing Ron's just 3 floors down if anything should happen
keeps me from being exhausted from trekking back and forth
I didn't have to worry about driving home late Friday night after waiting til midnight to see if he was having surgery immediately after doctor did midnight check of infection site
I didn't have to get up at 5 to be here by 7 for surgery on Saturday morn
I can be here when docs come around, no matter what time that may be
And, most importantly, I'm able to keep my sweet hubby company!

Sunday night update

Quiet day. Ron's had the post-surgery blahs, (not much energy/sleeping alot) along with quite a bit of soreness in his arm. Wound care nurse came in to do dressing change while I went out to grab lunch and is pleased with how it looks. Ron says she removed the packing, poked, prodded, took all her measurements, cleaned the wound site, replaced packing and redressed; all of which will have to be done daily, lovely.

Infectious disease doctor was in and said the culture came back positive for staph infection; although it is not the MRSA strain of staph which is very good (if you have to have staph!). Antibiotic has been tailored to specific strain. Thankful to hear staph was not in bloodstream, even though picc line itself, as well as gunk they had swabbed from site both tested positive.

Blood pressure is consistently more stable but glucose level continues to bounce around some; not too terribly bad, but enough to require insulin a couple of times.

Lost another 2 IV lines due to collapsed veins; most recent one only lasted 4 hours, UGH!!! They are wanting to give him a break from all the sticks so are trying to maintain just the one. They are having to disconnect PPN twice a day in order to run antibiotic for half hour; then hook PPN back up; not optimal set up, but his preference to avoid searching for an adequate vein. (PPN is not as highly concentrated as TPN in order to infuse through IV line, therefore it must run 24 hours a day.)

He's feeling pretty well, all things considered and is getting a little bored. We went for a long walk this evening and he did really well, although it exhausted me....his IV pole would not roll well so I was fighting it the entire time, whew!

So, there's your nightly report from Presby! Thanks so much for your e-mails with your words of encouragement; Ron really enjoys reading them (well, we both do but it's especially uplifting to him...this is the only link he has to the outside world!)

Much love, Christie

Busy day!

Ron's surgery went well. They were able to accomplish exactly what they had hoped which was to clean out the infection, and remove the portion of the clotted vein involved. They used a doppler to make sure he was getting good blood flow both above and below infected side. Dr H said he may have some residual clot floating around further up the vein but he will continue on Lovenox injections (blood thinner) for a while so this should not pose a problem.

His PICC line was on his right upper arm which is in the same area he had ruptured his bicep tendon. Since surgery he is having some numbness on the back side of his upper arm which is most likely due to inflammation. Praise God he is able to move all fingers as well as his thumb! He's a little sore but is able to keep on top of it with morphine. They decided not to use a wound vac since they didn't want to put that suction on the arteries and nerves. They closed a portion of the incision but left the center open to heal from inside out which will hopefully keep any residual infectious junk from breeding.

A couple of areas of concern:
he's had several veins collapse and are having difficulty finding any good ones; they don't want to do another picc or central line until they get infection knocked out
blood pressure has been running on the low side (low 80's over low 50's)
glucose has been a little on the high side
none are horrible things but they are definitely keeping an eye on things

Ryan, Stacee and Aaron spent the better portion of the day up here with us; always love their company! Ron was very happy to be able to take a shower this evening. Just like the "old days" at Presby; we got wound dressing covered, IV site covered and then allowed him to enjoy a warm shower and shave. The little things in life we take for granted!

Since he doesn't have a PICC line they are doing PPN, which is a watered down IV nutrition that runs through regular IV; will have to continue on this until infection has cleared and they feel comfortable about placing another line.

We're thinking he'll most likely be here until Tuesday.

Thanks for praying; goodnight all and have a restful weekend.
Christie

Surgery...

Today's been one of those days. While I was at work infectious disease doc and resident both did their rounds. Consensus is, the vein is clotted and infected therefore they need to do surgery to clean it out and remove that vein. Due to the blood clot, they have also started him on Lovenox shots again...the lovely blood thinner that has to be injected in his belly, yikes! He also had to have both IV's replaced due to collapsed veins at both sites. Other than that, he was pretty bored being all alone.

After I arrived this afternoon, Dr. H, surgeon (Dr. S's partner, S is out of town for weekend), came by to check out the arm and mark the parameters. He came back again tonight to see if redness had spread outside of marked parameters and will check again around 11-12 tonight (after he is finished with an emergency surgery). If it has spread more, he will take Ron in to surgery right then; if not, he will go first thing in the morning. The trick is to catch it before it spreads further, but they can't do surgery too soon due to the blood thinner he had earlier. So it looks to be a late night and then an early morning; but then again, sleep is highly overrated, right? At least that's what I keep telling myself!

Please pray for succesful surgery (whenever it takes place); for it to be as minimally invasive as possible, against spread of infection, as well as speedy healing process. It's one of those wounds they will have to leave open to heal from the inside out, with possibility of wound vac, dependent on extent of surgery. Also pray against possible nerve damage, delicate area surrounded by numerous important nerves to hand and fingers.

AND, pray against depression for Ron...he's really bummed out by all of this; feels we just can't catch a break. He is concerned about getting behind in classes and hates how much pressure it puts on me to step up and take on even more responsibility along with working and all that entails. We discussed and agreed on the reality that God has not changed just because our circumstances have. His plan for us is still the same, for us to continue to live totally dependent on Him, seeking to live in a manner worthy of His call.

I'll send post-surgery update late tonight or early tomorrow morning!

Much love, Christie

UGH...

After work today Ron informed me we needed to head to a doctor...his upper arm had been sore since yesterday and he noticed this afternoon it was very red, swollen and pus was oozing from PICC line site. I placed a call to Interventional Radiology at Presbyterian and they said to come right in. We arrived a little after 5 and were greeted by Dr. S (surgeon), Dr. D (IR) and Dr. C (IR) (Dr. A--GI--is out of the country for 2 weeks). They had already been conferring and had a plan of action in place.

PICC line was removed; two IV's were put in (with great difficulty, poor guy); and doppler revealed PICC's vein was clotted (from PICC site and up arm about an inch). He has been admitted for a few days to administer heavy duty antibiotics and run cultures to see what kind of bad bug is causing problem! They are also watching the clot closely to make sure it begins to resolve on it's own and/or if the clot itself is a source of infection that would spread.

I'm home for the night; will work tomorrow, then head up to Presby.

Please pray for definitive results from cultures; as well as clear direction on how to treat. Also for Ron; he's pretty bummed about the situation. Although I did remind him we've set a new record...4 months since his last hospitalization.

Will keep you posted,
Christie

Note to self....always, ALWAYS pack bag before heading to Presby for any reason, regardless of what hubby says; you just never know....!

News

Hello all, it's Ryan and Stacee. Hope this post finds you all well! We just wanted to share the exciting news with everyone! We are expecting!! And check out the picture below. We're holding some DOUBLE-mint gum and a box of TWINkies. Can you guess what the suprise is??





Yup.................Twins!!! We are due on April the 3rd. Mom and babies are doing well. A little tired and feeling.......well, pregnant with twins I guess!

Happy Birthday, Hun~

Today is my sweet guy's birthday! We celebrated over steaks at Ryan and Stacee's tonight along with Aaron.

Last year, we celebrated Ron's 50th by everyone eating only the things he could eat at the time...broth, jello, juice; and for dessert....pudding!

So happy to say, you've come a long way, baby!!!

Love you more than yesterday, less than tomorrow!

Where do we go from here?

As we look towards the future knowing Ron will never be able to return to his former career, our thoughts turn to "what now"? We know Ron's a long way from being able to work full time, but "where do we go from here?"

Everyone needs a reason to get up in the morning; something that makes you feel you are a productive part of society and Ron feels he's been lacking that for quite a while. Now that we are past the "life and death" stage of our journey, he's had a difficult time imagining what the future holds.

We have been praying fervently that God would grant us wisdom as we seek His guidance for the next step in our journey. And as you have joined us in praying (not knowing specifically what the prayer was about), He has answered!

Recently, God really spoke to us through both Pastor Tommy's message, and the worship music. The message was on our spiritual temperature. While his sermon focused on anger, God used it to speak to us about self-focus; something that happens all too easily when you have been living in the midst of a very trying situation. Two songs seemed to be tailored just to our situation.

You can read the words and listen along but you must first copy and paste. For some reason I couldn't get it to link! RATS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCvyXzV5kAk

and here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbJtqYow3Q

A great reminder that as we seek to hear God, He does speak AND He does have a plan, a purpose and a future for us; even when we can't see it. Something Ron really needed to hear.

After much prayer and consideration, Ron has decided to go back to school. We feel God is leading him towards something in the medical field. There are several options available in this field that will only require an associates degree. Right now, the one that looks most interesting to him is in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ultrasound). Having been on the "other" side of the medical spectrum has given him a unique outlook, along with great empathy and compassion, which we believe will be very helpful for his success. Obviously, he will have to take it slowly, the physical stamina issue is huge, coupled with the mental fatigue. However, a good portion of the classes he will need are available online and also through our local community college, located less than a mile from us.

As we spent many months in hospitals, rehab facilities and doctor's offices after Aaron's accident (8 years ago!), Ron commented often on how he wished he was able to do something in the medical field. Obviously, he could not quit his job and go back to school since we relied on both our incomes to survive!

It's incredible how God has provided this way for him now. No other time would he be able to draw an "income" while going to school; but now that he is receiving disability benefits, he can use his time and energy to concentrate on classes, while our financial needs are being met. Isn't God good???

The last couple of weeks have been filled with admissions, college entrance exam and yes, he even had to attend new student orientation! I won't lie, it's a very daunting endeavor. As you can imagine, our budget is already so tight it squeaks! But, we are choosing to trust and obey as we take this huge step of faith.

And God remains faithful!!! This morning, as we completed registration and held our breath as we clicked on that first tuition payment to be sent, Ron commented "I don't know how we're going to do this but I know God will take care of things!" This afternoon, we received a totally random, very sweet card in the mail. In response to a recent update, this couple was writing to encourage us to "hang in there". Enclosed was a check in the amount of what will basically take care of this semester's tuition and books! We've been keeping these thoughts pretty quiet as we've sought to know this was truly God's plan, so they had NO IDEA we were considering anything like this! AMAZING!!! Thank you so much (you know who your are!) for your generosity, but most of all for your willing obedience to His prompting to send that particular amount at this particular time!

We don't know how this is going to play out, but are choosing to trust Him as He faithfully reveals His plan each step of the way.

He isn't finished with us yet!!! We have a HOPE!
Christie

"As you go step by step, the way shall open up before you."
Proverbs 4:12 (Hebrew version)

"The Lord will guide you continually..." Isaiah 58:11 NLT

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV