Busy week

This week was a busy week, even by our standards.  When Leah looked ahead on the calendar a few weeks back and saw everything written down for this past Thursday, even she made a comment as to the number of visitors scheduled for that day ... and then there were a few last minute additions.

But we made it through, although I think I may have learned a few lessons about how much is too much, especially for this particular momma.

Medically speaking, Anna is recovered from her infection.  Today is the last day of her antibiotics.

Tuesday was a somewhat eventful medical day for her, however, because there was a bit of "miscommunication between the teams" at the hospital about her need for stress dosing.  Since she has been on steroids for so long, her adrenal glands have shut down.  That means that when her body undergoes some kind of physical stress (like an infection) she needs extra steroids, or she feels extra cruddy.  If it gets bad enough, her life can be threatened.

Well, it didn't get that bad, but by Tuesday she was still feeling really cruddy even though the infection was pretty well cleared up.  I asked the stress dosing question again, and sure enough, she needed it.  This past Friday, however, she began her very long, slow taper from her steroids.  In about three months she may (or may not, depending on how things go) no longer be taking a daily steroid.

On a side note, one of our visitors on Thursday was a home health nurse; we hadn't met this one before Thursday.  I had to explain a situation I won't go into on this blog because there as some aspects of Anna's care we'd like to keep private.  At the end of my explanation, the nurse looked at me and said, "Do you have a medical background?"  I said, "No, but we've learned a lot in the past six months."

We're trying our best to balance the medical needs, rehab needs, social needs, educational needs, family needs, personal needs, and everything else, but it's a lot.  Saturday morning we had some friends come over to help spread mulch, pull weeds, hang out, play with the kids, pick, snap, and freeze green beans.  When they arrived, two families brought meals ... one to put in the freezer, one for dinner that night; what a relief.

This coming week looks to be less busy.  Anna should be in a better place; the week just prior to her chemo is typically "easier" for her than others.  However, things are just going to get harder for her as her treatments continue; her body is going to get more and more worn down until the treatments stop.  Her next round is scheduled for July 29th and 30th, with another round planned right before school starts.  The next four months are also going to be tough, for all of us.

Time for prayers

Thanksgiving
Please give thanks that Anna has healed from her infection.
Please thank God for all of our friends and helpers who are willing and able to come to our home and help us this summer.
Please give thanks that my parents were able to come and spend a few days picking produce and spending time with their grandchildren.
Please thank God for the beautiful summer weather that has caused our garden to produce lots and lots of extra food this year.

Requests
Please pray that Anna keeps up her strength, stamina, and positive attitude as she continues to go through her treatments.
Please ask God to guard and protect our physical bodies; the past six months are starting to take their toll on the 30-something bodies of these parents :)
Please pray that we continue to find the strength and wisdom to make the best decisions of how to manage our time and energy in the coming weeks and months.

Thank you, as always, for all of your help, support, and prayers.

I haven't closed with a song in awhile, but this is one that Anna learned at Camp Luther a few summers back when she went to grandkids' camp; it's also one that I learned during my college days.

Lions by Lost and Found

Oh them lions they can eat my body
But they can't swallow my soul
They keep on trying to crash my party
But they can't get control
No way, baby.

Satan prowls like a roaring lion,
Seeking whom he will devour.
Yet I know that though he keeps on trying,
He's no match for Jesus' power.

Even demons believe and tremble,
But they try to ruin your life the same.
Yet I know that when the saints assemble,
Satan runs at every sign of Jesus' name.

Oh them lions they can eat my body
But they can't swallow my soul
They keep on trying to crash my party
But they can't get control
No way, baby.