Category: Isaac Update

We spent yesterday in Orlando, left the house at 7 a.m. and got back around 5 p.m.  It was an exhausting day, but we had a little fun too.

Isaac had several tests run in the morning, some of which were a lot of work for Mommy and Daddy.  He doesn't really care to have his head strapped down, or to lay still for multiple x-rays and ultrasound pictures.  So we got the quite the workout (especially Daddy) leaning over exam tables and  keeping head, legs, arms and torso still enough for the technicians.

After that was all finished, though, we were able to go for lunch.  It was a nice treat to have new choices to choose from.  We chose Jason's Deli.  Doug had one of their massive baked potatoes and I had a Portabello Wrapini.  And yes, it was just as yummy as it sounds. 🙂

When our lunch was finished, we headed over to Isaac's neurosurgeon's office, where we had a productive visit with Dr. Gegg.  He listened carefully to our story of Isaac's doing so well immediately following surgery; and then he suggested we change the settings on his shunt.  We decided to go with his recommendation, and are hoping that this will make a difference in his comfort level and his overall enjoyment of life.

It will take time to tell if the setting works well for him, but I will tell you this:  for the first time in almost 3 weeks, he slept the whole night through!  What a blessing that was.  If his sleeping through the night is the only change that takes place, that will be enough for me to know it was a good decision.

When our doctor visit was over, we headed to Whole Foods, where we thoroughly enjoyed shopping through their awesome array of organic products.  We even picked up supper from their food bars:  black beans, yellow rice, plantains and hummus.  The plantains were probably fried, but we just sort of overlooked that…they are too yummy to pass up! 🙂

~~~~~~~~~~

Now, I need to ask you to pray for Doug's grandma, Charlene.  She is the most spry octogenarian I have ever known, but during the last year, she has begun to have heart problems. 

She is in the hospital right now, and later this week will be having open heart surgery to repair 3 blockages.  Please pray for her.  She is very special to Doug, as she had such a large part in parenting him. He was raised by his mom who was single from the time he was around 3 years old, and his grandma who was a widow for the majority of his childhood.  He looks on her as his second parent, really.

So, we decided that Doug really needs to be there for Grandma's surgery and he is flying up to Ohio on Thursday to be with his mom and grandma.  He will be gone a week.  Those of you who know how our household functions will know that it is a huge decision for Doug to be gone this long.  If you think of us, we would really appreciate your prayer for Isaac and I while Doug is away.

~~~~~~~~~~

I guess that's it for my little update.  I am sorry that my blog has not been very upbeat lately.  It seems that things have been hitting us from all sides, and we are just treading water for now, keeping our heads up.

Through it all, though, we have not lost faith in the ways of our God.  We know that He leads us into seasons of peacefulness, as well as into seasons of storms.  He is the same God, and we can still trust Him; and that is what we have decided that we will do. 🙂

Blessings to you,

Alesha

Hey.

I'm just here to say we're doing ok.  :~)

Isaac had a few rough days at the end of last week – due to the antibiotics that he was on for his sinus infection.  His tummy did not take too kindly to them – again; and we had a few days of tummy aches, lack of sleep, increased seizures and general grumpiness.

At one point, on Friday, I just climbed up into the bed with him, because I had run out of ideas to try to make him happy.  He kept screaming and crying real tears.  You KNOW the real tears almost never happen with Isaac.  It was breaking my heart, but I couldn't discern if he was just "pitching a fit", was overtired or was in pain.

I texted Doug to come home.  I was really at my wits' end.

Turns out he was in pain.  His tummy was hurting. 

After aggressive measures were taken, and things were…shall we say…"cleared out"? he felt much better, and then slept for a few hours.  Poor baby.

(And, please, before you pass judgment on my allowing this scenario to occur…we had taken several preventative measures to avoid this particular side effect of the antibiotics – including increased water and juices, herbal laxative, daily probiotics, etc…but they weren't enough, apparently.)  😦

The antibiotic is finished, but we will have to continue to monitor the situation for several more days.  I think I must pray for wisdom more than anybody else I know.  I just feel so clueless about this boy of mine on some days. :o/

I am still grieving over losing Gail.  Doug and I both found ourselves very grumpy toward each other on Saturday – just being impatient and unkind with our words.  I went to my room, just to give myself a "timeout" really.  In my inbox was an email from a friend who was just checking up on me, and telling me she was praying for me. 

Suddenly, I realized mine and Doug's attitudes were not really directed at each other, but just a side effect of our grieving about Gail.  When our busy week was over and we had a few minutes to allow our brains to rest, our thoughts turned to her, and the sadness just sort of took over.  It's natural, I'm sure; but I hadn't stopped to analyze it.  I just knew everything was bugging me, and since Doug was the only person I was interacting with, he caught the brunt of those emotions.

To be sure, we made things right with each other within the hour.  We have been committed for many years to not harboring hurt feelings and grudges against each.  We try to practice the following verses from Ephesians 4:

[26] Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your
wrath:

[27] Neither give place to the devil.

That practice certainly came in handy on Saturday.  It was good to have the peace restored in our home, and to be able to vocalize a little bit that our hearts were feeling.

I am feeling much better after taking the antibiotic for the bronchitis, but I'm a little concerned that I may still have a sinus infection on board.  I have been using my neti pot, and I hope it will clear up any residual infection.  I am also dealing again with some other physical issues that I have had trouble with from time to time – not to the same extent as before, but just enough to have me feeling very run down and dragging a bit.

I do appreciate your praying for me when the Lord lays me on your heart.  I feel like we have been a very "needy" bunch at our house lately!  But then I remember that is ok.  The Psalmist worded it quite well for me:

Psalm 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon
me: thou art
my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

I look forward – with great anticipation! – to sharing with you when we are all feeling better and back to normal. 🙂

God bless you as you begin this new week,

Alesha