It is simply awesome to sit here at home after my first speaking engagement and here the encouragement that people have felt through God's story through us. It is also an amazing thing to here how others feel like they too can tell their stories of Faith and God's work in there lives. I am truly blessed to be called by Him to do His work.
A little update on the family.
Kasi is doing amazing!! She has been through school for a full week plus part of this one. She stills get tired, but over all is loving life.
Aubree is playing soccer and trying to get her mind back into the swing of soccer. I know that she has had a really hard time with all the stuff we have been through as a family and she has processed it all very well. God is doing things in her heart too through all of this. She knows that her soccer is a gift from Him and she is starting to focus on playing for him all the time. She too gets distracted by life and how it all fits together, but I can't say I blame her....she is 12. I have to remind myself how old both girls are because they are both mature beyond their years. Not only in life, but spiritual maturity. I am so blessed to see God at work in there life and see how they respond to His call to them.
The boys are doing really well! They both have had their eyes checked now and believe it or not it is NOT because of drugs in their system when they were born. It is heredity! Yep a genetic thing that they will monitor and help in anyway they can. Sometimes they can have a patch and sometimes surgery or glasses. Ben did get put in glasses this week which he loves. It helps him see and focus. He is so proud to be like his dad with his glasses too. All he wanted was for his dad to like them. So very good to see too. Nathan will be watched for a while with Ben. I pray that this is something that they learn to cope with and it doesn't cause any learning problems. We also pray for their brother who is with their birth mom. The chances of him having this is great and hopefully he too will go to a specialist to determine if he does and gets the proper care. We pray for him regularly, daily, actually several times a day. God is good and holds him and grows him too! We pray that he will grow up knowing our Savior and know about his brothers who love him very much.
I am filled with joy over the fact that now only is God using this journey He has us on, but He is growing all of us up in Him. I am so blessed!
Praise be to God the author and perfecter of our faith!
Jodi
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
New Day!
Tomorrow will be Kasi's first day back to school, full time with normal classes. It is very exciting for all of us, believe me!! Not only does she need this, but all of us need her to go back too. We all love her dearly, but she is all of 14, and I know most of you can understand that. Plus, Kasi and I are so much alike that we might fight a little. We maintain a GREAT relationship, unlike a lot of teenagers and parents, which makes the bickering even harder. Her overall health is great too. We are amazed at the progress she has made and at the same time, we are not surprised because that is just what God does for her.
We are also starting to process everything that has happened over the last couple of months. It is crazy, but truly it seems to be a blur at times. Emotionally I don't think I really processed a lot of it, that is until last night.
We watched a movie called, "Letters to God" and I am sure a lot of you have seen this movie. I must say, that thoughts and feelings in that movie were overly real. Kasi our strong one who never cries in movies, was weeping and I was too. She felt all of the things that the actor was writing about in his letters and although he dies, Kasi is still with us. We are so blessed to be able to share more years with her and I celebrate that everyday. Not just with her but all of the kids God has in trusted to me.
My heart began a "remembering" time last night, which I think is good, of remembering and feeling all of the "stuff" of being up at U of M for that many days. It is more than just a thought process it is a cleansing for me. Kasi too felt a little overwhelmed with emotion, but feeling everything she faced too was a great thing for us. We now look to the future of God incredible story that is to be told through us. It is humbling to know God is choosing me/us in this way. We will be obedient in all we do and our road and story doesn't begin or end with Kasi. It keeps going and going with each new day.
We currently are facing testing for both boys for autism or even ways to better help them grow and learn. They will both be seeing an eye specialist on Tuesday for a most-likely genetic eye condition. Plus, they will be able to tell us if there is some neurological going on for further help. Nathan has started school at Ottawa Area Center in their infant program and he is doing awesome with that. Ben, is learning really well at school and his teacher is such a blessing!! I am not sure what the road is that we will be going on with these boys, but we know that God is with us all along the way. Our story, really God's story through us will continue. I will keep sharing because I feel like these posts, well they are our letter's to God.
All of your prayers for our family are felt and appreciated. God is doing amazing things in our lives, each one of us and that is a blessing. Hearing Ben pray brings me to tears. His heart and compassion for others is overwhelming too. God is doing great things in his heart and that is something I continue to pray for.
God is sooo faithful, good, and incredible! May His name be praised today and always!
Now, for me.....on to speaking. Seriously???
We are also starting to process everything that has happened over the last couple of months. It is crazy, but truly it seems to be a blur at times. Emotionally I don't think I really processed a lot of it, that is until last night.
We watched a movie called, "Letters to God" and I am sure a lot of you have seen this movie. I must say, that thoughts and feelings in that movie were overly real. Kasi our strong one who never cries in movies, was weeping and I was too. She felt all of the things that the actor was writing about in his letters and although he dies, Kasi is still with us. We are so blessed to be able to share more years with her and I celebrate that everyday. Not just with her but all of the kids God has in trusted to me.
My heart began a "remembering" time last night, which I think is good, of remembering and feeling all of the "stuff" of being up at U of M for that many days. It is more than just a thought process it is a cleansing for me. Kasi too felt a little overwhelmed with emotion, but feeling everything she faced too was a great thing for us. We now look to the future of God incredible story that is to be told through us. It is humbling to know God is choosing me/us in this way. We will be obedient in all we do and our road and story doesn't begin or end with Kasi. It keeps going and going with each new day.
We currently are facing testing for both boys for autism or even ways to better help them grow and learn. They will both be seeing an eye specialist on Tuesday for a most-likely genetic eye condition. Plus, they will be able to tell us if there is some neurological going on for further help. Nathan has started school at Ottawa Area Center in their infant program and he is doing awesome with that. Ben, is learning really well at school and his teacher is such a blessing!! I am not sure what the road is that we will be going on with these boys, but we know that God is with us all along the way. Our story, really God's story through us will continue. I will keep sharing because I feel like these posts, well they are our letter's to God.
All of your prayers for our family are felt and appreciated. God is doing amazing things in our lives, each one of us and that is a blessing. Hearing Ben pray brings me to tears. His heart and compassion for others is overwhelming too. God is doing great things in his heart and that is something I continue to pray for.
God is sooo faithful, good, and incredible! May His name be praised today and always!
Now, for me.....on to speaking. Seriously???
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
A new year...
I can't believe it is Jan. 5 already. Tomorrow will be my first day back to work and Kasi is actually going to school for 1 hour tomorrow. Nathan had his first day of school today at Ottawa Area Center, which he did pretty good I guess, but it was super hard on me. Over all we are starting to get back into the swing of things.
Over the past few weeks I have been reminded by several people that there are a lot of people that read this blog. Even more than what I realize! I have to tell you all a little something about this blog too. When I sit down to put something in here I always have something to say. I don't sit down and just write and sometimes that is why there are many days in between posts. Along with that, Kasi is home now and the day to day stuff is not very interesting.
As I sit here today trying to put all of my thoughts into a short update I seem to be at a loss for words in how to describe my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I have reflected on the last two months and still I am working on remembering all of my feelings through the process, and at the same time I am brought back over and over to where this all began. "The Whole Story" post that I posted in October. There are so many parts even in that post that is missing to the true "whole story" that I don't even know how to begin to share. I want you to know though that I am being challenge to start to share. I really mean challenged too.
Although I like to talk, public speaking is something that I never feel adequate to do. I am not sure if it is because I never want to be that boring person that everyone falls asleep too, no, I know that can't be it! I do know though that it is because I have so much to say, and so many thoughts about our God and how incredible, awesome, and great He is that time limits might be a problem and being able to articulate what needs to be said. So, now I am relying on the Holy Spirit not only for comfort, but for guidance as well. I have in the past, but this is a new road to go down. This is also a request from all of you faithful prayer warriors to pray for me, pray for Kasi because she too knows that she has been called, she just doesn't feel ready yet or that this is her time. For me, the time has come I guess :-)
I have also heard over the past few weeks that the people that have been impacted by this blog is overwhelming. In fact I don't even know the extent of it all and I don't need to. What I do know is that this blog and stuff in it that impacts and changes lives is not because of my writing but because of God's working. He is the One who works in all things, through all things, and before all things. That is the awesomeness of our God.
I was riding home from UofM this week and we were listening to a sermon from Grant Community Church, in which I have to say that if you go to that church you are blessed, and the minister's sermon was on from Calm to Caous to Calm. The reason we were listening to this was because he used some of my blog for a sermon illustration. I have to say, first to hear him say he prays for Kasi brought tears to my eyes because he is a stranger to me, and yet a brother in Christ. God's family. He then went on and quoted some of what I had written and that was a humbling, overwhelming, personal, amazing, and truly I don't have the right words to describe what I felt. I am TOTALLY ok with it, don't get me wrong, but to hear someone read my heart, that was a very different feeling. His message that God gave him could have been my heart right out there and it was great, I actually wanted to shout "amen" a few times, but of course in the car with Kasi watching a movie, well.....I said them to myself, remember God hears my heart.
I am not sure where God will be taking this blog, Kasi or myself in the next year or more. I know that our journey in Faith is continual and we will continually be updating and growing. I also know that I will be doing a little chapel on Friday, and a women retreat in Feb. already. That is my onward journey, and Kasi's will be one of more healing and understanding of how incredible she is. She does not see how she is "different" in her thought process of things because she doesn't understand what it is like to not know God as she does. She doesn't get what it is like to having never felt God touch you or hear God or have the peace that passes all understanding. All she knows is that fear doesn't grip her. She was not fearful going into this surgery, and she was not fearful during her recovery. She was just Kasi, and she truly let God fight her fight to survive. That will be her story, when she can fully understand it herself.
Please stay in prayer for our family, we have a lot still going on. Health wise, well Ron was in the ER overnight on Christmas for chest pain. His heart is fine, but he does have Barrett's disease which he will be seeing a specialist for. Nathan for his development as he is experiencing all new things now at school, and he will be 2 next week!!! Aubree, well, just to keep her safe and playing soccer to glorify God. She loves Him with all of her heart and she does play for Him. She will be playing her normal soccer stuff this year, plus she added a super "y" team for the summer. Ben is doing great! He too is falling more and more in love with Jesus everyday. I love talking to him about Jesus and listening to him, in fact tonight he was asking about how God and Jesus can be the same and different. I love moments like that! We are all good as you can see, we are living for Jesus in our everyday and praying for a place to call "home" where we can worship our Father together with His/our family. We will be faithful to His call on times he wants us to speak and we will continue to listen to Him as to what He wants us to say. Even on this blog!
Be Blessed everyone in this new year!! We will be on here, hopefully weekly!! God's blessings to you, and may His love surround you all.
Jodi
Over the past few weeks I have been reminded by several people that there are a lot of people that read this blog. Even more than what I realize! I have to tell you all a little something about this blog too. When I sit down to put something in here I always have something to say. I don't sit down and just write and sometimes that is why there are many days in between posts. Along with that, Kasi is home now and the day to day stuff is not very interesting.
As I sit here today trying to put all of my thoughts into a short update I seem to be at a loss for words in how to describe my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I have reflected on the last two months and still I am working on remembering all of my feelings through the process, and at the same time I am brought back over and over to where this all began. "The Whole Story" post that I posted in October. There are so many parts even in that post that is missing to the true "whole story" that I don't even know how to begin to share. I want you to know though that I am being challenge to start to share. I really mean challenged too.
Although I like to talk, public speaking is something that I never feel adequate to do. I am not sure if it is because I never want to be that boring person that everyone falls asleep too, no, I know that can't be it! I do know though that it is because I have so much to say, and so many thoughts about our God and how incredible, awesome, and great He is that time limits might be a problem and being able to articulate what needs to be said. So, now I am relying on the Holy Spirit not only for comfort, but for guidance as well. I have in the past, but this is a new road to go down. This is also a request from all of you faithful prayer warriors to pray for me, pray for Kasi because she too knows that she has been called, she just doesn't feel ready yet or that this is her time. For me, the time has come I guess :-)
I have also heard over the past few weeks that the people that have been impacted by this blog is overwhelming. In fact I don't even know the extent of it all and I don't need to. What I do know is that this blog and stuff in it that impacts and changes lives is not because of my writing but because of God's working. He is the One who works in all things, through all things, and before all things. That is the awesomeness of our God.
I was riding home from UofM this week and we were listening to a sermon from Grant Community Church, in which I have to say that if you go to that church you are blessed, and the minister's sermon was on from Calm to Caous to Calm. The reason we were listening to this was because he used some of my blog for a sermon illustration. I have to say, first to hear him say he prays for Kasi brought tears to my eyes because he is a stranger to me, and yet a brother in Christ. God's family. He then went on and quoted some of what I had written and that was a humbling, overwhelming, personal, amazing, and truly I don't have the right words to describe what I felt. I am TOTALLY ok with it, don't get me wrong, but to hear someone read my heart, that was a very different feeling. His message that God gave him could have been my heart right out there and it was great, I actually wanted to shout "amen" a few times, but of course in the car with Kasi watching a movie, well.....I said them to myself, remember God hears my heart.
I am not sure where God will be taking this blog, Kasi or myself in the next year or more. I know that our journey in Faith is continual and we will continually be updating and growing. I also know that I will be doing a little chapel on Friday, and a women retreat in Feb. already. That is my onward journey, and Kasi's will be one of more healing and understanding of how incredible she is. She does not see how she is "different" in her thought process of things because she doesn't understand what it is like to not know God as she does. She doesn't get what it is like to having never felt God touch you or hear God or have the peace that passes all understanding. All she knows is that fear doesn't grip her. She was not fearful going into this surgery, and she was not fearful during her recovery. She was just Kasi, and she truly let God fight her fight to survive. That will be her story, when she can fully understand it herself.
Please stay in prayer for our family, we have a lot still going on. Health wise, well Ron was in the ER overnight on Christmas for chest pain. His heart is fine, but he does have Barrett's disease which he will be seeing a specialist for. Nathan for his development as he is experiencing all new things now at school, and he will be 2 next week!!! Aubree, well, just to keep her safe and playing soccer to glorify God. She loves Him with all of her heart and she does play for Him. She will be playing her normal soccer stuff this year, plus she added a super "y" team for the summer. Ben is doing great! He too is falling more and more in love with Jesus everyday. I love talking to him about Jesus and listening to him, in fact tonight he was asking about how God and Jesus can be the same and different. I love moments like that! We are all good as you can see, we are living for Jesus in our everyday and praying for a place to call "home" where we can worship our Father together with His/our family. We will be faithful to His call on times he wants us to speak and we will continue to listen to Him as to what He wants us to say. Even on this blog!
Be Blessed everyone in this new year!! We will be on here, hopefully weekly!! God's blessings to you, and may His love surround you all.
Jodi
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas to all!! I don't know how to put all of my feelings into words this year. It seems that there is so much on my mind. I sit and watch our family being all together knowing how precious each life is. I am so blessed to be the mom of some awesome children. I hear Ben pray and it is a blows my mind where he came from and now where he is, and Nathan too. So many people tell us how lucky they are, but I never see it that way. We are the "lucky" ones. Even though I never say the word lucky, I feel it is just another one of God amazing works. He sure has filled my heart and I feel honored to be His child.
This Christmas we are spending most of it at home. We can't have any sickness come into the house. Kasi is doing really well and I am super happy to be home. Kasi did have a doctor appointment in which we found out she has actually lost 2 lbs since she has been home. Her doctor really made it clear to her that she needs to eat even if that means taking her meds to eat. Another thing we have to do is keep the house warm so she doesn't waste calories keeping her body warm. So, we set the temp at 70 and that is where it stays. Believe it or not she still wears a sweat shirt and sometimes a hat because it is "cold".
I have watched her go through so much in the last 2 months that this weight thing seems so little in comparison to everything else. I know it is very important too because it could put her back into the hospital. That is why she can't get sick either. Her body doesn't have the strength to fight it. We know our God is amazing and His hand in on her, so we are smart with our choices, and we know He will do the rest.
So, all of my reflecting on my heart and what our family has been through, this is what I have been thinking about during this Christmas season. Something new to me that is for sure, but it makes sense to where we are.
Christmas Eve and Mary and Joseph were searching for a place to stay. How long was Mary in labor? How far did she have to walk? How did she feel knowing the King of Kings was about to be born and there wasn't any place for Him. Now it would be hard just not being able to find a place being in labor, but to think that the baby you are carrying is "the baby". Of course she didn't fully understand what His work was going to be about, but she knew He was special and here they are lying Him in a manger. We always think about how awesome it is that Jesus was born in a manger because it shows His humble heart, but what were Joseph and Mary feeling and thinking? I know how I would feel as a mom, and a mom of a first born. We wouldn't settle for anything less than the best hospital.
Then to watch Jesus grow. How great it must have been as a mom to watch Him learn and experience life, knowing all the while He was God's Son! Think about watching him at the age of 12 or how they must have felt when they couldn't find him. Oh My, loosing a child for a moment is one thing, but the responsibility they must have felt knowing how special He was to the world and they didn't know where he was. Overwhelmed I am sure!
Then on to watch Jesus minister. I am sure it was kind of hard to watch some leaders of the church talk bad about your son. The talk that must have happened in "his home town" where he was not welcomed. As a mom, I might have been angry, hurt, or both. I just wonder how was it to be his sibling? To see so many following him, and to hear him speak with such wisdom. Making the Bible make sense in a different way. In a way that touches their hearts.
All of this, for years being together, growing, learning, and watching. Over 30 years being a family, bound by flesh of this world. Mary did you know, that your baby boy, was the Saviour to the world. How did she feel seeing him suffer? How was it at the foot of the cross of her son, hearing all of the mocking and seeing what they were doing to him? How did she bare such pain............for me. For Me. For Ron For Kasi. For Aubree. For Ben. For Nathan. For Anthony (the boys brother who we pray will grow up knowing Jesus!)
For You. How did his siblings feel? How was the family the day after? How was their grief? They didn't have the full gift of the Holy Spirit yet. They did not know he was going to rise again for the world! (well, they would have if they would have listened to all of his teaching, but it didn't make sense to them...yet) How incredible, the baby Mary and Joseph were struggling to find a place to lay down, was hanging on a cross in front of them. I am sure it didn't make sense because he had not been a "savior".....YET....He was! Baring our sin and shame, so we can have this incredible gift of being close to our Father once again.
As I reflect on Christmas this year, I reflect on the whole story. I have seen our family suffer through some circumstances of living in a broken world. I have also seen God's work not only in our life, but through others all over the place. I am touched that God would choose us to be the faithful ones who could share God's good news that is for all people. A Saviour has been born!! And even more than that, He is living here with us. Jesus is going before us, along side us, and sometimes pushing us from behind. I have felt His peace and know His love even more today.
Be Blessed this Christmas with the love of God that is greater than what we can conceive. Even if you are in the middle suffering or hard circumstances, there are people who have walked this path before us and God was with them and He will be with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. His mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness. Thank you Jesus!
May you all celebrate the Christmas Miracle, the whole story, the salvation of all who believe, being laid in a manger......
Fragile fingers sent to heal us, tender brow prepared for thorns, tiny heart whose blood will save us.....
Welcome to our world!!
This Christmas we are spending most of it at home. We can't have any sickness come into the house. Kasi is doing really well and I am super happy to be home. Kasi did have a doctor appointment in which we found out she has actually lost 2 lbs since she has been home. Her doctor really made it clear to her that she needs to eat even if that means taking her meds to eat. Another thing we have to do is keep the house warm so she doesn't waste calories keeping her body warm. So, we set the temp at 70 and that is where it stays. Believe it or not she still wears a sweat shirt and sometimes a hat because it is "cold".
I have watched her go through so much in the last 2 months that this weight thing seems so little in comparison to everything else. I know it is very important too because it could put her back into the hospital. That is why she can't get sick either. Her body doesn't have the strength to fight it. We know our God is amazing and His hand in on her, so we are smart with our choices, and we know He will do the rest.
So, all of my reflecting on my heart and what our family has been through, this is what I have been thinking about during this Christmas season. Something new to me that is for sure, but it makes sense to where we are.
Christmas Eve and Mary and Joseph were searching for a place to stay. How long was Mary in labor? How far did she have to walk? How did she feel knowing the King of Kings was about to be born and there wasn't any place for Him. Now it would be hard just not being able to find a place being in labor, but to think that the baby you are carrying is "the baby". Of course she didn't fully understand what His work was going to be about, but she knew He was special and here they are lying Him in a manger. We always think about how awesome it is that Jesus was born in a manger because it shows His humble heart, but what were Joseph and Mary feeling and thinking? I know how I would feel as a mom, and a mom of a first born. We wouldn't settle for anything less than the best hospital.
Then to watch Jesus grow. How great it must have been as a mom to watch Him learn and experience life, knowing all the while He was God's Son! Think about watching him at the age of 12 or how they must have felt when they couldn't find him. Oh My, loosing a child for a moment is one thing, but the responsibility they must have felt knowing how special He was to the world and they didn't know where he was. Overwhelmed I am sure!
Then on to watch Jesus minister. I am sure it was kind of hard to watch some leaders of the church talk bad about your son. The talk that must have happened in "his home town" where he was not welcomed. As a mom, I might have been angry, hurt, or both. I just wonder how was it to be his sibling? To see so many following him, and to hear him speak with such wisdom. Making the Bible make sense in a different way. In a way that touches their hearts.
All of this, for years being together, growing, learning, and watching. Over 30 years being a family, bound by flesh of this world. Mary did you know, that your baby boy, was the Saviour to the world. How did she feel seeing him suffer? How was it at the foot of the cross of her son, hearing all of the mocking and seeing what they were doing to him? How did she bare such pain............for me. For Me. For Ron For Kasi. For Aubree. For Ben. For Nathan. For Anthony (the boys brother who we pray will grow up knowing Jesus!)
For You. How did his siblings feel? How was the family the day after? How was their grief? They didn't have the full gift of the Holy Spirit yet. They did not know he was going to rise again for the world! (well, they would have if they would have listened to all of his teaching, but it didn't make sense to them...yet) How incredible, the baby Mary and Joseph were struggling to find a place to lay down, was hanging on a cross in front of them. I am sure it didn't make sense because he had not been a "savior".....YET....He was! Baring our sin and shame, so we can have this incredible gift of being close to our Father once again.
As I reflect on Christmas this year, I reflect on the whole story. I have seen our family suffer through some circumstances of living in a broken world. I have also seen God's work not only in our life, but through others all over the place. I am touched that God would choose us to be the faithful ones who could share God's good news that is for all people. A Saviour has been born!! And even more than that, He is living here with us. Jesus is going before us, along side us, and sometimes pushing us from behind. I have felt His peace and know His love even more today.
Be Blessed this Christmas with the love of God that is greater than what we can conceive. Even if you are in the middle suffering or hard circumstances, there are people who have walked this path before us and God was with them and He will be with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. His mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness. Thank you Jesus!
May you all celebrate the Christmas Miracle, the whole story, the salvation of all who believe, being laid in a manger......
Fragile fingers sent to heal us, tender brow prepared for thorns, tiny heart whose blood will save us.....
Welcome to our world!!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
HOME
I never knew a bed could feel so good! What a great night of sleep with no beeping, doctors coming in at all times of the night and no being woke up when Kasi would have her vitals taken. Unlike when she was a baby and we came home, I was not nervous at all about her vitals all night. It was a great feeling! Kasi slept great too. I think all she needed to feel better was to come home. She has not taken any meds yet today which is great!
As I sit here and think about the best part of being home, I really don't know what tugs at my heart more? The joy in the boys as we walked through the door, watching all of the kids being together last night, or just sitting watching them play, laugh, and be silly together. I have missed this so much. Even the craziness of it all.
Today we will be putting the finishing touches on our Christmas tree and I am very excited about that. All of you who know me well know that I always put Christmas music on, and when it is all done, we all sing O Christmas Tree! Not the whole song, but just enough to all smile and laugh.
Here is where we are at with Kasi. We know that the doctors did not repair her whole aorta like they really wanted to. The reason why is because of a few things. The main reason is because when they shut down the blood supply to the lower extremities they have a time frame to get things done. This time frame from start to finish is about 30 minutes, but with Kasi they shut her blood supply off for 60 minutes and they still were not into the lowest part of her aorta. They knew that they were out of time and when looking at her lower aorta they felt like it was a better decision to stop then to try and continue and fix the last part. This is because the aorta, by her renal vessels and below, looks to be elastic enough to grow with the proper blood pressure to it. So, with exercise it should start flowing better, but we will not know exactly what will happen so we will have many follow ups in the months and years to come. This is a normal for us though. Her kidneys are getting good blood flow to them, but we will need to start seeing a kidney Dr. again. Our previous kidney Dr. has moved on so this will be a harder transition. Not because the new Dr. in the office isn't good, but we had the best. We heard from the specialist at U of M that Dr. Cai is really good too, so we are happy with that.
Kasi also will not be able to go back to school until Feb. 15 ish. I think that is worse case scenario. Looking at her you wouldn't think she would have to wait that long. We were told 6-8 weeks from yesterday, so the count down begins! She will then go to school 4 hours a day for about 2 weeks. It takes a long time for her body to get strength back and we do have a walking plan we need to start as soon as she feels good enough to go out and do it. I am thinking we will start today. Outside and about an 1/8th of a mile. This will take all her energy and she will most-likely need a nap after.
As I start to look back over the last month and more I see all of God faithfulness to us. I look at the fundraiser that so many of you were involved in and the amount that was raised I was shocked at first. Now I see it as God knowing how much we really needed. I was thinking on the way home yesterday how I really didn't have that added stress to our stay up there. It was a blessing to be able to go to a hotel room and just be with Kasi for bit everyday. We felt like we "escaped" and it was a place for family to stay when they would come and visit. We didn't have to worry about how we were going to pay our bills with Ron being off and me being off too. It is such a God thing and when He says "don't worry about tomorrow" He means, I have it all taken care of. How precious we are to Him. I will end today with these couple of verses.
Psalm 34:19
A righteous man my have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.....
James 5: 16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed, the prayer of a righteous man is POWERFUL and effective.
The body of Christ has come together in a powerful way and I stand in awe of all of you who were called to pray for us through this whole thing. It wasn't a church group, school group, or one specific thing we are involved in. It was the whole body of Christ working together without denominational boundaries, just being God's hand and feet to us. That is who we are. As a family we have always been "different" in the fact that we choose to try and not be bound by titles and we are not going to say one church is better than another. We live to honor God and bless those around us with the blessings God has given us. Our cup is over flowing with blessing and that is because of all of you. Young and old, students and elderly. Thank you!
As I sit here and think about the best part of being home, I really don't know what tugs at my heart more? The joy in the boys as we walked through the door, watching all of the kids being together last night, or just sitting watching them play, laugh, and be silly together. I have missed this so much. Even the craziness of it all.
Today we will be putting the finishing touches on our Christmas tree and I am very excited about that. All of you who know me well know that I always put Christmas music on, and when it is all done, we all sing O Christmas Tree! Not the whole song, but just enough to all smile and laugh.
Here is where we are at with Kasi. We know that the doctors did not repair her whole aorta like they really wanted to. The reason why is because of a few things. The main reason is because when they shut down the blood supply to the lower extremities they have a time frame to get things done. This time frame from start to finish is about 30 minutes, but with Kasi they shut her blood supply off for 60 minutes and they still were not into the lowest part of her aorta. They knew that they were out of time and when looking at her lower aorta they felt like it was a better decision to stop then to try and continue and fix the last part. This is because the aorta, by her renal vessels and below, looks to be elastic enough to grow with the proper blood pressure to it. So, with exercise it should start flowing better, but we will not know exactly what will happen so we will have many follow ups in the months and years to come. This is a normal for us though. Her kidneys are getting good blood flow to them, but we will need to start seeing a kidney Dr. again. Our previous kidney Dr. has moved on so this will be a harder transition. Not because the new Dr. in the office isn't good, but we had the best. We heard from the specialist at U of M that Dr. Cai is really good too, so we are happy with that.
Kasi also will not be able to go back to school until Feb. 15 ish. I think that is worse case scenario. Looking at her you wouldn't think she would have to wait that long. We were told 6-8 weeks from yesterday, so the count down begins! She will then go to school 4 hours a day for about 2 weeks. It takes a long time for her body to get strength back and we do have a walking plan we need to start as soon as she feels good enough to go out and do it. I am thinking we will start today. Outside and about an 1/8th of a mile. This will take all her energy and she will most-likely need a nap after.
As I start to look back over the last month and more I see all of God faithfulness to us. I look at the fundraiser that so many of you were involved in and the amount that was raised I was shocked at first. Now I see it as God knowing how much we really needed. I was thinking on the way home yesterday how I really didn't have that added stress to our stay up there. It was a blessing to be able to go to a hotel room and just be with Kasi for bit everyday. We felt like we "escaped" and it was a place for family to stay when they would come and visit. We didn't have to worry about how we were going to pay our bills with Ron being off and me being off too. It is such a God thing and when He says "don't worry about tomorrow" He means, I have it all taken care of. How precious we are to Him. I will end today with these couple of verses.
Psalm 34:19
A righteous man my have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.....
James 5: 16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed, the prayer of a righteous man is POWERFUL and effective.
The body of Christ has come together in a powerful way and I stand in awe of all of you who were called to pray for us through this whole thing. It wasn't a church group, school group, or one specific thing we are involved in. It was the whole body of Christ working together without denominational boundaries, just being God's hand and feet to us. That is who we are. As a family we have always been "different" in the fact that we choose to try and not be bound by titles and we are not going to say one church is better than another. We live to honor God and bless those around us with the blessings God has given us. Our cup is over flowing with blessing and that is because of all of you. Young and old, students and elderly. Thank you!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
tomorrow
Well, we were told today that it is a very good possibility that tomorrow we will be going home! You know, I feel like it is really time. I can't explain it, but it is like we are at the end of a good stay with extended family and you know when the end must come. When some of the nurses got the news they have already given her hugs today because they are not working the rest of the week. It will be interesting to see how today is and if/when we go home tomorrow how many tears will be shed.
Kasi has been doing well. She still fights nausea and lower abdominal pain, but she is on meds to regulate this. We will be doing a follow up with our pediatrician for all of her "stuff" at home and hopefully have minimal trips back here. As for her surgery and the repair that has been done, she is doing great! She has really recovered here from that. We know though that she doesn't have much strength at all. As good as she feels, her body has gone through a ton and even a walk to the cafeteria yesterday made her muscles sore. It will be a while for her to gain that back. The doctor said it could take months for her to feel on top of it again.
Over and over we have been remind of God's goodness. We focus on His goodness to us and showing others His strength in us through this. Today I am just sitting filled with joy with all the good things that are ours. We are very blessed and we know this. And today we celebrate this too. Kasi will have a Doppler study done on her legs today and we know God has used the wisdom of the doctors to correct her blood flow. We are excited to see the results! We know how well she feels and that in itself is a testimony to the greatness and success of this surgery. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. That is not a one time out flowing, but a continual flow! Let the river flow, right from the throne of God!
Be blessed today, and hopefully my next update will happen at home! Pray for her to gain weight and have enough intake, that will be the key!
Kasi has been doing well. She still fights nausea and lower abdominal pain, but she is on meds to regulate this. We will be doing a follow up with our pediatrician for all of her "stuff" at home and hopefully have minimal trips back here. As for her surgery and the repair that has been done, she is doing great! She has really recovered here from that. We know though that she doesn't have much strength at all. As good as she feels, her body has gone through a ton and even a walk to the cafeteria yesterday made her muscles sore. It will be a while for her to gain that back. The doctor said it could take months for her to feel on top of it again.
Over and over we have been remind of God's goodness. We focus on His goodness to us and showing others His strength in us through this. Today I am just sitting filled with joy with all the good things that are ours. We are very blessed and we know this. And today we celebrate this too. Kasi will have a Doppler study done on her legs today and we know God has used the wisdom of the doctors to correct her blood flow. We are excited to see the results! We know how well she feels and that in itself is a testimony to the greatness and success of this surgery. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. That is not a one time out flowing, but a continual flow! Let the river flow, right from the throne of God!
Be blessed today, and hopefully my next update will happen at home! Pray for her to gain weight and have enough intake, that will be the key!
Friday, December 10, 2010
cookies!
Hello to all on this great Friday evening! Kasi is doing amazing and it is really hard for me to not pack her up and say "good-bye" to this place and come home. There are things that must be done here yet and of course we will continue them through. She is going to have to eat high calorie foods with little fat. That is interesting, I think she is just going to eat lots of pasta! She loves it and well, it has a ton of calories which will be a great help to get to the 2000 calorie mark for the day!
We also have a few more conversations to finish and a couple of nurses to say "good-bye" to. Some are not going to be working for a few days, and well, you never know we could be gone when they get back. Yes, that is becoming a possibility.
And the last thing is we have to hand out one more tin of cookies. Yep, we handed them all out and we had the privilege to give testimony to who God is through this! It was an amazing thing for us to do for all of our doctors. I have to say "thank you" to all the Unity students that made the cookies. They are amazing!! And you helped plant a seed to many up here and put many smiles on faces of doctors who sometimes don't hear all the goodness of God. We made sure we told them all who the cookies came from and they were all really impressed!
So, today we are very hopeful to go home on Monday. Kasi still thinks it will take longer, but I am really realistic to her going on Monday. It is a great journey that we have been on and will continue on from here. It will be even better to move this journey back home where we can grow together as a family again. I am convinced that our journey will continue in many areas of life. Our family is full of these stories of faith and we know the stories will continue because God never stops writing His story. He is with everyone who reads this too. I am wondering what would your page read? And would you allow everyone to read His story through you? It all goes back to something I have said along time ago, "do you have to say something? OR do you have something to say!" We have something to say, and we are saying it loud!
So I end tonights post with this. Yesterday when waiting in line for the bathroom a mom came up to me and said, "I have notice you have been here as long as we have and I don't know how you do it. How do you stay so upbeat and strong. I am exhausted!" I talked to her for a little bit and realized she really just needed to talk. As I listened I heard bits and pieces of "church" and "pastor" but never really heard anything about prayer. I didn't say anything about that to her of course that is not where I am going with this. Then she told me it had been a long 3 days and she asked how long we had been here. I almost felt bad, but then I thought, no God can show her His strength even greater for her knowing how long we were here. So I did tell her. We then parted ways, and I believe there is one more conversation that will happen with her up here. God is so good, and yes we have something to say about that!
Keep praying and praising! And just so you know, even through all of the struggles and frustrations, we have never lost our joy! True joy can never be stolen! And now we are living in that joy. Love to you all!
For I know the plans I have for you declares THE LORD!!!! Plans to prosper you, NOT to harm you, but to give you HOPE and a FUTURE!!!! Yes, the Lord declares this about Kasi.....hang on to your hats, His real work has just begun!
We also have a few more conversations to finish and a couple of nurses to say "good-bye" to. Some are not going to be working for a few days, and well, you never know we could be gone when they get back. Yes, that is becoming a possibility.
And the last thing is we have to hand out one more tin of cookies. Yep, we handed them all out and we had the privilege to give testimony to who God is through this! It was an amazing thing for us to do for all of our doctors. I have to say "thank you" to all the Unity students that made the cookies. They are amazing!! And you helped plant a seed to many up here and put many smiles on faces of doctors who sometimes don't hear all the goodness of God. We made sure we told them all who the cookies came from and they were all really impressed!
So, today we are very hopeful to go home on Monday. Kasi still thinks it will take longer, but I am really realistic to her going on Monday. It is a great journey that we have been on and will continue on from here. It will be even better to move this journey back home where we can grow together as a family again. I am convinced that our journey will continue in many areas of life. Our family is full of these stories of faith and we know the stories will continue because God never stops writing His story. He is with everyone who reads this too. I am wondering what would your page read? And would you allow everyone to read His story through you? It all goes back to something I have said along time ago, "do you have to say something? OR do you have something to say!" We have something to say, and we are saying it loud!
So I end tonights post with this. Yesterday when waiting in line for the bathroom a mom came up to me and said, "I have notice you have been here as long as we have and I don't know how you do it. How do you stay so upbeat and strong. I am exhausted!" I talked to her for a little bit and realized she really just needed to talk. As I listened I heard bits and pieces of "church" and "pastor" but never really heard anything about prayer. I didn't say anything about that to her of course that is not where I am going with this. Then she told me it had been a long 3 days and she asked how long we had been here. I almost felt bad, but then I thought, no God can show her His strength even greater for her knowing how long we were here. So I did tell her. We then parted ways, and I believe there is one more conversation that will happen with her up here. God is so good, and yes we have something to say about that!
Keep praying and praising! And just so you know, even through all of the struggles and frustrations, we have never lost our joy! True joy can never be stolen! And now we are living in that joy. Love to you all!
For I know the plans I have for you declares THE LORD!!!! Plans to prosper you, NOT to harm you, but to give you HOPE and a FUTURE!!!! Yes, the Lord declares this about Kasi.....hang on to your hats, His real work has just begun!
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