Of course we all have, haven't we? Those weeks when there were amazing triumphs mixed with crazy schedules and stress, only to be followed by extreme exhaustion. Yeah. That is just about right where I am sitting.
Danny's schedule is busy because of stuff at work. My kids have something going on every night this week, except Friday, but including Saturday and Sunday, only to start again on Monday through the next Thursday. I say all of this so that you will understand why I have been and will be so sporadic on updating the blog. And, the timing is crazy, since we are hoping to find out what day Tammy will be listed. We are hoping (at long last) to finally be able to buy our new computer (a lap top) this weekend, God willing and barring any financial something-or-other that might come up! So, soon, I will be able to blog again on a more consistent basis.
Actually, it is a bit odd to say, but truthfully, I am considering this my "calm before the storm" season. I am enjoying being able to run my kiddos around, and I love being able to leave Tammy at the hospital knowing that she can ask for help when she needs it. I love knowing that she is getting better every day. I rejoice knowing that we are reaping God's blessings because of the many voices who have called out to heaven on Tammy's behalf. Right now, if I need to do something, leave early, whatever, I know that Tammy is not scared, not worried, even if she is somewhat inconvenienced (the nurse to patient ratio of ICU spoiled us a bit!) But, all is relatively calm. Busy is good, actually marvelous, compared to the chaos of our beginnings together on this blog.
I would like to ask you to begin to pray for Tammy's recovery after her transplant, as well as her health in the meantime. I believe she will get her transplant and that it will be at exactly the time God intends. I also know that He has a plan for her recovery. I ask that you will ask Him to give all of us the patience and the knowledge to get her through, not only transplant care, but through rehab as well. She is working really, really hard to push her limits physically - within reason of course - but there is only so much she can do with her lungs as lousy as they are. Ha! I have to share something with you, as I was typing the last sentence, I noticed that I typed "the lungs" the first time before I went back and corrected it! I think I am beginning to consider them as foreign matter, just like her body seems to be telling us. Too funny. However, I firmly believe, and the Physical Therapist (PT) has said as much as well, that her strength far exceeds her lungs ability to oxygenate her muscles. That is encouraging to us now, but pray that when she can breathe with her new lungs, that frustration will not set in when her body can't keep up.
Speaking of breathing, aren't we always talking about breathing? One more bit of good news, sometime today they were supposed to have begun to decrease her trache to begin to let it close up. Crazy, right? One thing I have learned, you never really know what a doctor plans beyond the next 8 hours, if they even let you in on that! We guess they decided to remove it so that if it takes a while for the transplant, she will be able to move down the street to a rehab facility. The trache complicates the move, so, if she can go without it, it is better for her to do so. So, again I find myself saying, "Never mind what I said before, here's the revised plan." I am so thankful for your patience with me in so many areas. Tardy. Lazy exhausted. Wrong. Could the adjectives ever cease?
I also don't think I have written about her right hand and arm in awhile. She blows my mind. She is able to raise her arm out to the side at almost a 90 degree angle. Slowly but surely the elbow is also loosening up. Tammy is making sure that she uses that arm as much as it allows so that she can regain it's flexibility. I do believe there are some plans to "whoop-up" on some of us on the racquetball courts! I am sure she gets discouraged that her right arm is slower in recovery, but it has been through some rough stuff. It no longer hurts to the touch, and other than one day right after PT started, she hasn't had any muscle pain from the therapy. To God's glory and honor, of course. She is also ready for them to do something about her fingers, but they want to hold off to prevent opportunity of infection prior to the transplant. Remember, any infection pulls her off the list, and if any permanent damage is done by the infection, she would never be able to get a transplant. But I don't blame her for wishing they'd remove the damaged tissue. I really can only imagine how surreal it must be for her.
So here are some specifics that I would like to ask you to pray for while you wait for me to be able to chase down a computer to blog again.
1. Pray that she will be able to hold things firmly in her right hand. She can close the fingers, but there isn't much strength.
2. Pray that she will be able to touch her nose with the thumb of her right hand. This is just a measure that we want to shoot for.
3. Pray she can increase the amount of time she sits straight up in the chair. Reclined she can be there most of the day, but sitting straight up with no back support is tiring.
4. She has some bicycle pedals to work with on her legs. Pray she can build up her time every day. Right now 30 seconds is a beat down, so let's pray that she will be able to go 2 minutes pretty soon.
5. Pray for quick insurance approval for the transplant.
6. Pray for a short time on the list, because the sooner it comes, the less time for other trouble to set in and the quicker she will be able to get up and moving again.
7. Pray that if the wait is long that we will remain strong in our confidence of the "goodness of the Lord in the land of the living," so that we will wait with grace and patience that brings honor to our Creator and Healer.
8. We have cancelled her lease at her apartment, at her request. So, we will be closing up and packing up one home, while at the same time, readying our home for her to come live with us. So we have stuff that needs to be organized, unfinished jobs that need to be done, not to mention once all of that is done, the major clean-fest that has to happen to get our home as safe for her as possible. We need stamina, provisions, and patience so that we (Danny and I) won't kill each other or our teenagers in the process!
Yep, I know the list is longer than usual. I try to only focus on a few things at a time. I just figured since I had been so horrid in writing consistently, I would make sure you have plenty to keep you occupied. Like any one of us couldn't have a list a mile long! Know that as we pray for Tammy, we are also remembering you in our prayers, not just in thanksgiving for all each of you have done, but as we lift you up, asking God to meet your needs and those of your loved ones as freely and as willingly as He has for us. We also pray that in all circumstances, regardless, you will see His goodness. I know I say it all the time, but there is no goodness that is greater than the goodness of the One God, the true God, the only God, the great I AM.
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