Update on Doug’s Grandma

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Food and Drink, Hallelujah Diet, Prayer Request, What's Happening

Just wanted to let you know that Doug's grandma came through surgery ok.  She was in a regular room, and already talking, before Doug's mom went home for the evening.

Doug left this morning to fly out to be with them.  We tried to tell Isaac that Daddy was going "bye-byes" for a long time, and that we would talk to him on the telephone.  Now whether he can comprehend that is another thing entirely.  So, I'm praying that he will understand enough to know that all is well, even though things may be different for the next several days.

I know it's true, too, that he will sense my emotions and feed off of them, so I am praying for peace for myself. 🙂

Thank you for praying.  Please continue to do so, if the Lord lays our family on your heart.  I know that Grandma's recovery will take quite a while, and she is not a very patient woman. :~D  However, she is very feisty and full of vim and vigor.  I think, in the long run, those qualities may be more important than patience in her recovery!

So, Ike and I are off on our adventure of fending for ourselves!  I visited the chiropractor yesterday just to make sure everything was in its proper place – too funny, I know!  However, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right? 

As far as I know, we won't have any help.  My mom will be checking on us, I'm sure, but she doesn't know how to feed Isaac or give his meds.  She can change him, and shift him in the bed, but like myself, she doesn't lift him.  

I know we will be using his lift a great deal this week for Isaac.  My goal is to have him in his wheelchair for several hours each day.  I know that is best for him, rather than being in the bed.  I won't be putting him in his recliner in the living room, as it is too difficult to get him out of it, even with the lift.  His position is much better in his wheelchair, any way, so that is what we will do.

Now I will leave you with a funny picture.  I did not plan this meal to be so color coordinated.  I was simply trying to cook up the veggies that needed to be cooked before they started spoiling, and this is what we ended up with.  It might look funny, but it was delicious!!!  (Broiled asparagus, green beans amandine, and broccoli and pea salad – all from Hallelujah Acres recipes)

Green supper 

May God bless your day with peace,

Alesha

 

Days of Decisions

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Isaac Update, Prayer Request

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.

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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

One More Giveaway Post

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Links to Share

…I hope you don't mind. 🙂

I think the title says it all:

The Best Bead Giveaway Ever!

If you've ever been tempted to try your hand at jewelry making, perhaps now is the time!  I will certainly be leaving a comment for this giveaway!!! 🙂

A Momentous Occasion

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings

Sunday morning, the most magnificent thing happened:

I sat next to Doug in church.

Hmmm…doesn't look too exciting when I just type it out like that, does it?

Let me tell you, though, it was truly momentous.

I'll give you the rundown of the past 7 years:

  • Doug pastored a church for 3 years.  He was always up at the pulpit, while I sat in the back or to the side, trying to keep Isaac occupied and quiet.
  • For the next year, we attended a church that met in a classroom.  No pews there – only odd little swivel seats that were attached to the tables.
  • For most of the next year, Isaac was too ill to go to church.  Doug cared for him daily at home, while I worked full time.  So I felt that on Sundays, Doug should get to go to church.
  • For the first year we lived here, we took turns going to church.  We were never there at the same time.
  • For the last year, Isaac periodically makes it to church.  If he does, Doug sits with him in junior church, or in another part of the building in case he is having a noisy day.  If he doesn't make it to church, Doug generally stays home with him so I can be involved in the music ministry.

During these years, we attended one wedding that my husband wasn't officiating and we sat next to each other in the pew. 

Other than that, this was the first regular church service that we have been able to sit side by side in church in nearly 7 years!

See?  I told you it was magnificent.

My sweet cousin, Joy, who works in Isaac's junior church, had worked out a volunteer to sit with Isaac during their service.  That freed up Doug on Sunday morning, just as the choir was coming down to take their seats during the last hymn, to meet me in the back of the auditorium, and sit with me during the preaching.

It was wonderful!!!

I will be honest and tell you that I did feel a little separation anxiety with both of us being away from Isaac.  For the most part, he is with one of us 24/7 all the time.  We make that choice on purpose.  God did give him to us to parent, and he is unable to speak for or defend himself.  So we take our responsibility very seriously.

However, we feel completely confident that he will be well cared while he is under the watchful eye of the sweet lady who has volunteered to minister to us by sitting with Isaac.  We are really grateful that the Lord has seen fit to work this out for us.

Now, I just want to admonish you – don't YOU ever take for granted sitting next to your spouse during a church service. 🙂

Blessings to you,

Alesha

The Lord Thinketh Upon Me

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Isaac Update, Prayer Request

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

No More Night…No More Pain

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Just My Thoughts

Gail met Jesus today.

I'd guess she'd say she was having a really GREAT day.

The rest of us…not so much.

One day soon, we will experience it with her:

Please pray for Mike, her mom, dad, sister and brother.

Thank you,

Alesha