Finding a rhythm

We are slowly, but surely, finding a rhythm here at our home.  At least we think we are.  Of course, as soon as we think things are stable, something will be thrown off, so maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.  But I can't do that, now can I?

In terms of stable, though, I think medically stable.  Just about anything else we used to care about, doesn't really bother us now.  Well, that's not entirely true.  But pretty close.

Anyway, today a home health nurse came to draw Anna's blood for some labs.  She told us that no news would be good news.  That means that unless we hear otherwise, everything is fine until Anna's appointments on Monday afternoon.  We didn't hear "otherwise" at all today.  No news is good news, right?

Matt and I have come up with a few different systems that seem to be working in terms of managing Anna's medical and physical needs that seem to make the details of day to day life a bit easier.  Plus, we've taken turns getting a decent night's sleep, so, of course that makes things look a bit brighter, too.

We have all had our ups and downs this week, including Anna, but I like to think that we have had more ups than downs.  More smiles, than tears.  The effort to get Anna home and all the work it takes to have her here is definitely worth it, for all of us.  To be able to be with one another physically, in person, every single day, is not worth replacing for an instant.

In light of Nurses Appreciation Week, I need to make sure I honor the appropriate people who have helped us get to this point.  Prior to February, our family did not have much contact with nurses (with the exception of a good friend who just happens to be a night nurse at the children's hospital) nor did we know what they necessarily did on a daily basis.  Now we do :)

Basically, pediatric nurses are pretty awesome people.  They're smart.  They're caring.  They put up with lots of puke, poop, grumpy kids, and sad, tired, frustrated, anxious, and/or feisty parents.  But they also help make the hard times a bit more manageable and help families get through to the end.  So thanks to any and all nurses.  Especially after having to put up with the puke and poop and all of the medicine we've put up with this week, too.  We have just a little more of an idea of what it must be like.

Usually this time of year we're thinking about Teacher Appreciation Week, but now we'll be thinking also about Nurses Appreciation Week.  And as a quick throw-back to last year, here's what happened during the first week of May last year in our family.

"This week is Teacher Appreciation Week.  On the way home from school on Tuesday, Anna asked me why we hadn't done anything for her teacher.  Well, our life is a bit chaotic at times and I hadn't planned on doing anything, to be honest.  When we got home, Kate threw a fit about something and went to her bed to cry while Ethan and I went to his room so I could feed him.  When I finally came to the kitchen 20 minutes later, Anna had made this card for her teacher.  What a sweet kid we have on our hands!"

 

Time for prayers

Thanksgiving

Please thank God for time together as family.

Please give thanks for supportive communities.

Please thank God for medical treatments.

Please give thanks for the healing that comes with music, smiles, and laughter.

Please thank God for restful sleep.

Requests

Please ask God to continue to grant our family time together.

Please continue to ask God to give our family strength, healing, wisdom, comfort, support, and rest.

Please continue to pray for Anna's care providers at the hospital and with the home health providers.

Please continue to pray for those who have seen our witness, that the Holy Spirit would work in their hearts.

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.