Finding Strength

Things started off well last week. We had a great time at Alexa's Spring Concert. She looked beautiful and all the kids were the cutest sight and sound to behold. We were so proud and happy for this moment we got to share and we all went out for pizza afterwards to celebrate!
 

 
The next day things took an unexpected turn. I was trying to get my ‘head in the game’ sort of speak for surgery, preparing myself mentally and emotionally to stay strong and positive for the surgery and for my family.  The day started off well going to Alexa's school for an art walk to enjoy some of the children's creations. When we returned home around lunch time, Lexi and Luke were happily playing when suddenly Luke my 3 year old had this super scary episode. He became pale, started grabbing his head saying it hurt really bad, looked suddenly weak, like he was going to pass out and said he couldn’t breathe. Now I am a not a new kid on the block when it comes to kids illnesses, being a mommy of 4 I’ve seen many things come and go, yet I’d never seen this. I felt weak at my knees and rushed him to the children’s ER as he threw up several times. I tried talking to him on the way there to keep him alert. When we finally arrived as I opened the door and tried to get him out, he told me “mommy don’t carry me” and I asked “why not?’ he said “I don’t want to get you dirty”. It broke my heart that he was even thinking that and he was being so thoughtful in this situation. But I said “please don’t worry about that, I love you and I don’t care to get dirty”. Long story he puked tons, first food, then phlegm, then something that looked like green Kool-Aid (maybe bile) and finally nothing although he was still nauseous. Docs x-rayed his tummy and noticed his liver was “a little full” so then they ordered an ultrasound which revealed his liver was enlarged. As I was sitting there I became so broken, worrying about what this meant and how I would deal with him being sick and Alexa’s upcoming surgery. As I sat around waiting for results, getting him hydrated and watching Toy Story, I smiled at him through my tears and prayed. Having to hold him down for IV placement and being wheel chaired from here to there for tests I was quickly thrust into the realities of the hospital world. In the midst of all this, I was also worried about my car which I had hurriedly parked in the fire lane as we arrived many hours ago and to top things off I had lost my keys. I was sure by this point my car was either ticketed, towed or stolen. Thankfully my sweet brother stopped on his way out of work and was able to find my keys and car. The ER Physician came back to tell me not to worry too much as his labs looked good but they still referred us to see hepatologist soon, before Alexa’s surgery, to find out more of what is going on.

As a mom who has had the proverbial shoe drop, you always live in fear or if not in fear at least always with the realization that your normal can change in an instant.  To say the least my heart was broken and my spirit crushed.  I was weak, worried and depressed.  I wondered how I would find the strength to get through.  All I wanted to do was lay in bed with my babies and cuddle them forever.  I prayed and prayed and prayed some more.  As soon as I woke up I prayed.  When I couldn’t fall asleep I prayed.  As I struggled to take care of my family’s daily needs and house I prayed.  I decided to look up information on our JW.Org online library about dealing with emotional distress.  I read many encouraging stories of people who have dealt with severe trials and it gave me hope.  I read the bible accounts of Jesus and the story of Job, who although suffering continued to say “Let the name of Jehovah continue to be praised”. (Job 1:21) And let me tell you that although I was worried about how and if or when I would recover from this major setback I am happy to say I have.  As we have faced many hardships in the past, I know that God is always there but when you are in the middle of the storm you doubt.   Slowly I regained my perspective and a positive can do but only through God’s strength attitude.   I could feel the peace of God spoken about in the bible calm and comfort my troubled heart.   I can attest to the fact that God’s word is true – He gave me peace and serenity when I most needed it.  I also continue to ask daily for wisdom, guidance, patience, courage, strength, insight, endurance, more faith and for his name to continue to be praised through our life.  I am so thankful as well for the many thoughts and prayers and even dinner extended on our behalf from family and dear friends.  And thankful for my wonderful husband who listens and encourages me as well. 

We still have a very big battle to face with Alexa and we are still waiting to find out what the hepatalogist has to say about Luke’s liver, although I am hopeful it is nothing of serious concern.   Meanwhile, the nerves still creep up on me here and there and my stomach gets a sudden sinking feeling when I think too much about tomorrow.  But I am trying to apply Jesus advice to take one day at time, so when these feelings return I just keep praying.  I know that no matter what, our God will get us through as he has done time and time again.  But for now I am so thankful to  experience God’s tender mercy and care and the truthfulness of the words found in Psalms 34:18 ~  “Jehovah is close to the brokenhearted; He saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  And that was definitely me last week but now I have been “given power beyond was it normal” (2 Corinthians 4:7) “for when I am weak I am made powerful. “ (2 Corinthians 12:10)

 

 

A Wonderful Life

On Saturday, the 10th of April, we celebrated my parents 35th Wedding Anniversary {althought their real anniversary date is April 27th}!  It was a surprise party held at our house!  I had been extremely busy with this project.  A collaborated effort between my siblings and our amazing spouses.  The event turned out so wonderful and my parents were completely surprised.  We invited long old time friends and family.  Many came from out of state.  It was great to see my parents reaction. They never had a wedding, nor went on a honeymoon and besides taking then out for a nice dinner they had never had a party for any of their previous anniversaries and so we knew it was time! About a month after Alexa's surgery I told my sibblings I was ready to start planning and working.  We did it all very fast and then we waited for the day and prayed for good weather.  At night it looked so nice because we had so many nice lights up in the trees and a string of lights above the dance floor.  On the menu was tacos de carne asada, al pastor and chicken, beans, rice, pasta salad, chips, and all kind of salsa's.  To drink there was aguas frescas de horchata, tamarindo, punch, beer and water.  Yum!   Here are a few pics to commenmorate the occasion.

My little family

My parents with good friends, the first to give them bible study

My siblings

The Mariachi's

Waiting in suspense for the guest's of honor {i.e. my parents} to arrive

A dreaded call to 911 & new mail lady in the neighborhood

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Okay many of you know about the 911 call because I posted about it on facebook but I still want to update here for the sake of conserving an accurate historical account of the facts.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, my girls were/are sick. Alexa has never really been sick at all since bringing her home from the hospital, that's a little over year with nothing serious. Which has been wonderful and a true blessing! Oh and lot's of diligent work like hand washing, hand sanitizer, staying away from public places (as much as possible) and knowingly sick people, etc. But alas, with older children in school it is impossible to not have 'bugs' enter our home. So Yazzy came down with a cold, very runny nose, and sneezing, turned to coughing, low grade fever, only one night she the fever spiked 102. She does not like to be in her room alone, the face mask I bought her fit her big, and so she didn't feel terribly bad so she wandered around the house more than I would have liked. Needless to say, Alexa then came down, with a low grade fever, and some head congestion, then on early Friday morning, 1 a.m. to be exact, I had to make the call that being a heart momma I had always dreaded. Docs always warned me that getting sick for Alexa could prove to be very dangerous. She could get into serious trouble right away. That night she was very congested but managed to fall asleep after a while of fussiness. I had two humidifiers going in the house, one for each child, but still Alexa woke up gasping for air. She couldn't breathe, she kept trying to catch her breath but it wasn't happening. I could tell she was feeling panicked as was I. I woke up my husband, who was also feeling sick, and then I called 911. They were here relatively quickly. I had to explain all of Alexa's medical history. Called the cardiologist and we were on our way to the Children's ER. They gave Alexa a small dose of extra oxygen along the way. She was laying on my chest and I was propped on the gurney as we drove away and into an uncertain future. I worried about what we would be told as we got the hospital, I feared her needing to be intubated. She hated being messed with. Her 02 levels were a little lower than usual, which is not good because they are already low to begin with. She sounded very junky in her chest and noisy as she tried to breathe. The doc finally came to see us, and after listening to her suspected Alexa had Croup. She ordered for her to get a breathing treatment, a chest X-Ray, a nasal swab to rule out flu, and some oral steroid medication to open up her airway. After the breathing treatment which she hated but finally slept through the end of I could hear a noticeable difference in her. She sounded just so much clearer. The flu test was negative, thank goodness, and I felt so bad because I had to hold her down for the chest X-Ray and she just looked at me with her big sad eyes and wondered why I was doing this to her. I really hate her having to get soooo many X-Rays as it is so much radiation for a tiny body. But they had to make sure her lungs were okay. So after a long morning there about 5 a.m. I finally called my hubby to come pick us up. All I can say is thank goodness for 2 a.m. cartoons. And thank goodness we dodged one big bullet and got to come home sweet home again.

Now for other news, as I mentioned in my title there is a new mail lady in our neighborhood.

She is kind and generous and brings with her hand made notes with good tidings and cheer.

She travels far and wide

with big brother watching

carrying extra precious cargo

through traffic jams



and dangerous opposition



always with enough time to stop and chat to see how your doing



and to stop and skip a few rocks



does it all in high fashion



and never misses your house

Now don't you wish you had a mail lady like that?

I am glad we do.