Under the Weather

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Isaac Update, Prayer Request

We've had a sick little boy at our house since last Friday night.

Isaac spiked a fever Friday night, so we treated him with a fever reducer.  But Saturday evening, we allowed the medicine to wear off, and his fever hit an absolutely frightening 104.4*.

He had ibuprofen in his system for about 30 minutes when we took his temperature, so we immediately gave him acetomenaphine as well.  After waiting about 20 minutes more, his temperature had not come down at all.

Needless to say, we rushed him immediately to the emergency room.

The staff did every test imaginable:  flu test, strep test, urine test, blood gases, blood cultures, all the basic levels, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and of course his temp.

It took about 2 hours for his temp to come down under 101*.  Poor baby was so miserable that he actually slept through most of our stay in the ER, and he didn't even cry through all the blood sticks or the cath they had to do to get a urine sample.

The ER doctor's final diagnosis was something "viral", since all tests came back normal/negative.

While we were there, Ike started coughing up phlegm and so the doctor ordered i.v. antibiotics, since he was already hooked up to a saline drip.  Then gave us another antibiotic to get filled on the way home.

She also prescribed asthma treatments every 4 hours for his cough.  We don't quite keep to that schedule.  We allow his cough and his breathing to dictate his treatments.  After all these years, we know what we're doing, and we prefer to give as few treatments as possible.

We took him to see his pediatrician yesterday, and he also diagnosed an ear infection and gave us medicated ear drops.

We thought that his fever was gone by this morning.  We had kept him on ibuporfen since Friday, and prefer to let it wear off on day #4 or so.  However, this morning, after about 4 hours with no fever reducer in his system, his temp jumped back up to 101.7*!

So, back on more meds, poor baby!  He slept some this morning and now Mrs. Julie is here to see that he stays comfortable the rest of the afternoon.  He is very lethargic and more than happy to listen to his "hallelujah" videos today.

If you could pray for Isaac today, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.  It really means a lot.

Alesha

 

Just the Two of Us

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Florida Weather, What's Happening

I spent the day with my hubby today.  He was manning a booth at an educational conference, and I was able to go along with him.

What a blessing to leave my house, very calm and not worried, knowing that Isaac would be cared for so well! 

I am so grateful for our caregiver!!!

It was fun to see what my hubby does when he attends these conferences, and to help him out (a little) at his booth.  I was also able to connect with a few old friends I had not seen in person for quite a while.  It's encouraging to see that they are still involved in Christian education, teaching children about the Lord!

Doug and I had a lovely lunch, although we will probably not choose to return to that particular chain restaurant.  We were just not impressed, even though they sent us out the door with free muffins because it was our first visit there!  We were, however, together, and that was the important focus of this day.

Our gorgeous fall weather has finally arrived – which means the temps are in the low-80s during the day; and I am looking forward to a good weekend.

Blessings to you,

Alesha

P.S. I am planning to have a big sale in my jewelry shop in the month of November…be sure to stay tuned for the details! 🙂

Less is More

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Isaac Update, Just My Thoughts, What's Happening

I looked to see if I had any new pictures downloaded since my last post…and to this blogger's utter shame, I do not!

How embarrassing!

😉

So, with no pictures, I'll have to work really hard to make this interesting, won't I?

We are all doing well, but not great.  Doug is still fighting an eye infection, and Isaac and I are both still having sinus issues.  Isaac isn't sleeping well, either, so…well, you know…hyper, overstimulated boy and tired mama and daddy.

We have made some changes to his feeding schedule lately, and to our utter delight, it has gone really well.  We are feeding him fewer times during the day, with more formula at each feeding.  He seems to be more satisfied between feedings this way, and we are really pleased.

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I have an internet friend who is traveling halfway across the nation today to meet and adopt a little girl she has been praying about for many, many months.  That is so exciting!  This little one has many special needs, and I am so thrilled to see her find a forever home with an experienced former nurse and mom who already has two other special needs children besides.  What a joyful home this special one will be coming back too. 🙂

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On a sadder note, we have more friends who are facing very serious battles with cancer right now – people our own age, and also folks who have been mentors and friends to us over the years. 

I really want to just lay right down in the floor and throw a temper tantrum about it.  I know that is such an immature thing to want to do.  I trust in my sovereign God – I truly do.  But for ME, for my friends' families, I am so sad to lose more precious people to this disease.

I read the following quote this week and it helped me:

"Do not be afraid to suffer.  Do not be afraid to be overthrown.  It is by being cast down and not destroyed, it is by being shaken to pieces, and the pieces torn to shreds, that men become men of might…" ~Beecher

I don't think I'm there yet.  I am still quite afraid to suffer too much.  However, I do want to learn to trust my Saviour more.  I do want to learn more of His power, and to see it used in my life; and it seems the two work together:

Phillipians 3:[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Yep – there seems to be a pattern there: 

  • less of me, more of Him;
  • less comfort, more knowledge of Him;
  • less of my control, more of His power.

I'm so grateful that He is willing to let me continue to "grow up" in Him.  I do feel like such a "brat" some days – and a spoiled rotten one, at that.  I thank God that He is a good and patient Father to me!

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Now, on a lighter note, Doug has been asked to help with our church's senior citizen's ministry.  He is extremely excited about that.  He will be working with an incredible saint of God who has just gone  – successfully, I might add – through his own battle with cancer.  Doug knows there is much to be learned from this seasoned pastor, and he is eager for the opportunity.

It makes me very happy to see my husband's gifts recognized and encouraged.

Yep…makes me proud and humbled all at the same time.

🙂

Our God is a good God (just in case you needed to be reminded.)

Thanks for reading,

Alesha

 

Hope in a New Law

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

The Law of the Old Testament was brutal.

The entire system was based on a continuing death.

If the people wanted to be forgiven, they had to slay innocent animals year after year.

Hebrews 10:1b – “For the law…can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

One animal did not forgive all of their sins, only the sins of that year.

What a horrible way to live!

That’s what makes Jesus’ death on the cross so amazing!

He died once.

Hebrews 10:12 – “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”

His sacrifice forgives all sin forever.

Hebrews10:18 – “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”

The writer of Hebrews calls this new system of forgiveness “a new and living way.” (Hebrews 10:20a)

Isn’t that beautiful?  Our salvation is no longer based on death, but rather on life.

Jesus' death ONCE offers us life FOREVER.

You can’t find a better offer than that!

Understanding this truth should fill our heart with thanksgiving for all that Christ did for us.

This life, however, is now a continuing living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1); and our life is no longer our own, and should be lived according to the new “law” of God.

Hebrews 10:16b – “…I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”

We are now guided by the Holy Spirit of God (Hebrews 10:15). 

We are not to live a life that pleases our flesh, but are to have instead “our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”  (Hebrews 10: 22b)  

Yes, God offers life, but He also offers this warning:

Hebrews 10:26-27a – “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation…”

After Christ’s sacrificial death for us, we cannot continue to live a life of sin.  Those who ignored the Old Testament Law died “without mercy” (Hebrews 10:28). 

Those who ignore the new laws that God has written in our hearts face an even worse fate.

Hebrews 10:29 – “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Once we have been saved by the blood of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, if we continue to ignore the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and continue to deliberately sin, we are in a dangerous position.

Hebrews 10: 30-31 – “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.  And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

The Lord God will not ignore our disobedience to His will and His leading.

Knowing and understanding the incredible gift that we have been given by Christ’s death and resurrection, we should purpose to walk in obedience to His Holy Spirit and to His Word.

What acts of obedience do we need to follow?  Hebrews 10 gives us a short list with which to start:

  1. Let us draw near with a true heart
  2. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering
  3. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
  4. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together

This short list should keep us quite busy, as we seek to live a life of gratitude for the irrevocable, definitive, settled work of forgiveness that God has completed in our lives.

There is a wondrous hope in Christ’s new law, which He has put in our hearts and written in our minds.

Catching Up, Sort Of…

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Household, Isaac Update, What's Happening

We are still alive and kicking, down here in hot, still-feels-like-summer Florida!  I just wanted to let you know, in case you were, you know…wondering!

It takes up a lot of my time when I am helping someone learn how our household operates, and when I am teaching them about Isaac.

Our caregiver is working out better than I ever imagined!  It is taking some getting used to, though, having someone else in the house with us.  I have a hard time focusing on my blog, any way.  Some days I feel so anti-social because I just don't have the energy to keep up a running dialogue; but really, I don't think she expects that any ways.

Doug is still fighting off a cold, or allergies, or something.  Isaac and I got rid of the fever and cold, but are still having some coughing and stuffy noses.  It's like the allergens jumped on us after our cold, and we just can't get back to "normal".

Ike had his second week of riding, and just loved it!  We are so excited that he is being able to enjoy this activity again.

Sorry I wasn't able to post a "Creative Spark Friday" post over on my jewelry blog, if you are keeping up with that.  I had the "spark".  I felt the inspiration.  I just didn't have the time to make it happen.  I hope to catch up with it some time this week.

Well, I guess that's it from our house.  I'm praying that it finds everybody doing well at your house.

Blessings,

Alesha

Hope in Losing Control

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

"Control freak!"

Have you ever been called by that nickname? 

Maybe it was said in jest, or maybe it was screamed in anger. 

I think we've all had moments when we deserved that moniker.

There are those, however, who take the name "control freak" to a whole new level of crazy!  You know the kind of person I'm talking about:

They are so in control of every person around them that they have lost all control of themselves.

Proverbs 16:32 comes to mind:

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

We can certainly lay seige to everyone in our lives and take over every situation.  We can rule our "city" like a conquering army, forcing our control on those who don't wish it, and overpowering those around us.

However, it is so much better when we focus our energy on controlling our own spirit:

  • guarding every word that comes out of our mouth
  • walking away from situations that don't need our input
  • realizing that our way isn't the only way
  • knowing that someone else can do that job just as well as we can
  • allowing those around us to fail, rather than rushing in to "save the day"
  • listening carefully to instruction, instead of assuming we know the correct way to proceed
  • taking a few minutes to pray before responding to a critical situation
  • refusing to do someone else's job and focusing on our own
  • admitting our mistakes quickly, rather than blaming someone else

Controlling our own spirit is infinitely more difficult than controlling others.

It takes more prayer, more humility, greater sacrifice and extreme diligence.

The Scripture tells us, though, that it is "better" to be slow to anger and to rule our own spirit.

I think I'll just work on that today.  It looks like it could be an all-day job!

Blessings to you as you find hope in losing control (of others) to gain control (of yourself).

Alesha

Cowboy Isaac

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Isaac Update, What's Happening

Isaac is still coughing, but we figured the sunshine and fresh air would
do him more good, than harm; so he saddled up and went riding!

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IkeonDoub2

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IkeonDoub 

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He loved it!

Doug said when they took his hand to reach out and pet the horse's mane, he just laughed!  So exciting!

Now we just have to remember to shop for a hat that fits.  His head is so small that he needs an adjustable extra-small.  With all of us sick, we just haven't been able to get to Tractor Supply to see if they carry one.  So that's our goal for next week. 🙂

I have succumbed to the "yuckies" and now have my own fever, cough and congestion. :o(  And, quite honestly, Isaac is a much more pleasant patient than I am!

Our caregiver is working out wonderfully, even though we've had a glitch in the funding.  It's incredible to me that some businesses even stay afloat with the way they conduct their affairs!!!  But it is what it is, and we will just work (within) the system as best we can.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again,

Alesha