Spring Day

We have had enough rain to turn the grass bright green and when the sun is shining the world outside my window looks like it has been color enhanced. We used the swings today. My friend Amy saw us out on the swings and doubled back to my driveway to join us. There was laughter and plenty of sunshine. Kathryn remained in the house and we communicated by telephone.

I am so thankful for the day Kathryn had. Tomorrow she is going to try to use the stairs and prepare her own meals. It is slow going but necessary that she begins to take over her care. I will be at the hospital with Qavah all morning for her transfusion. I am already anticipating that when I come home, Kathryn will be grinning over her accomplishments.

The nurse from the endocrinologist's office called the other day and said that everyone there is astonished that Kathryn is working. She told me that there are many people wanting to be put on permanent disability for the smallest things, and Kathryn puts them all to shame. That is not her goal, but she wants to live a full life, and for now that means being able to enjoy the ability to work. She knows that finding pleasure in her work is a gift from God.

Health Update

Kathryn has posted a health report on her site. Her health has been improving at the Campbell-Home Hospital. The food is better, the nursing care is better, and there is nothing like being in your own bed. If Kathryn can manage to keep still a few more days, she should be able to get around and keep mending without further damage to her rib. There have been things she can work on to keep her mind busy, and that always helps.

I took Qavah for her blood work today and another transfusion has been ordered for Thursday. She is used to the routine. This afternoon at the lab she lifted her sleeve and felt for a vein. When she found one, the nurse let her wipe the area with the alchohol wipe. Once the blood was drawn she picked a Dora the Explorer bandaid and Cinderella stickers to take home to her collection. All of that was done in under five minutes with no fuss. That amazes me every time.

The health reports I've written here do not include how many nights we were awake all night, nor do they focus on the hardships of controlling pain and prednisone levels. But tonight on my "power walk" I poured my heart out to my friend and walking partner. She listened with compassion and we ended our walk as we always do with prayer. Our walks take the edge off of the stress. I am so thankful for Linda. She has to be so flexible but we do manage to work our walks into both of our schedules. Some days I fall into bed dog tired. But when the girls health takes a turn for the better, and they are strong and healthy, my heart rejoices in a way I would never know if it weren't for the days that push me beyond what I think I can give. The strength to keep going comes from the source of life itself. I could not manage without God's amazing grace.

Remembering God's Faithfulness

We have had several good months of fun with Kathryn. We went on a few adventures together as mother and daughter as well as meeting up with friends and going out shopping. All those months in the hospital were so distant in Kathryn's memory that they hardly seemed real. But last night her wings were clipped again as she was turning on her side in bed. She had just fallen asleep when she rolled onto her side and felt a strong pop in her upper right side followed by intense pain. She was able to call Paul Burton on his cell phone and he came running to the house from his apartment to tell us Kathryn was in trouble. After checking on her, Paul Burton was pretty sure last night that Kathryn had cracked or broken another rib. I stayed with her for the rest of the night trying to control her pain, but by morning I knew she had to see her doctor. Her rib is cracked but by God's grace it hasn't broken in two like the last rib. She has no bruising and the doctor said the rib would heal more quickly if it doesn't break.

The tears she shed today over the matter were quiet. I dried them with a napkin at the cancer center while we waited for the doctor and Qavah nibbled on cookies. Dealing with the rib problem means bed rest, and giving up the few freedoms she had begun to enjoy. But as I remember the former days, we have seen great things happen after a setback. This too shall pass and I know that this suffering will again lead to greater victory. Beloved, do not be surprised at the firey trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. 1Peter 4:12,13.

The Fourth Child

As Kathryn and I pulled up to the curb of a nearby department store I told her how wonderful she looked and how much fun it was going to be to shop again. We were looking for an Easter dress for Qavah and since we all like ruffles and pink I thought we were all going to enjoy ourselves very much. Kathryn and I looked at the variety of dresses thinking about how Qavah might like them but something in the corner near the dress department drew her attention more than anything else. She was intently finding an ensemble of her own.

We didn't find a dress but bought the bat and ball. After dinner tonight I asked Paul Burton to throw the ball to Qavah a few times so she could swing her bat a time or two. I suggested he pitch the ball to her in the front hall. He looked shocked and said, "Mom, why would I throw the ball in the front hall where the breakable lamps and chandelier are?" I said, "Don't worry about that." He leaned forward in his chair and exclaimed, "Who are you and what have you done with my mother!?" Yes, enough said about child number four; they get away with a lot more.

Monday in March

We have had a good weekend. By Friday, Kathryn had gained ten pounds of water weight and still had difficulty breathing. But slowly her body is recovering from her reaction to aspertame found in her sweetened seltzer water. She said this evening that she feels like getting on the computer again to check in on friends and add a blog entry. That is a good sign.

The tooth fairy made another stop at our house last night. Qavah now has two missing teeth and is enjoying sticking her tongue out through the gap in her lower teeth. She told me that she hoped the tooth fairy would leave her tooth so that she could still play with it. We must have a very understanding tooth fairy because the tooth along with a dollar bill was left under her pillow this morning.

When Qavah and I were waiting for our fight to Florida a few weeks ago, a young boy around six years old was also jumping around smiling with a toothless grin. An older gentleman looked at the boy and asked the boy's mother how much the tooth fairly leaves for a tooth these days and she sheepishly replied, "The last tooth to come out cost the tooth fairy forty dollars." I was so thankful that Qavah has no idea what the words "forty dollars" meant, and she was happy with her "paper dollar" as she calls it.

I am loving being Qavah's mother. This afternoon she curled up in my arms in the rocking chair and I watched her sleep for over an hour. It was so peaceful. We also are reminded daily of the little things that have come into our lives because of having a five-year-old. As we joined hands to pray recently my husband quoted Madeline's mealtime prayer, "We love our bread, we love our butter, but most of all we love each other." Amen!

Blogging Medical History

This hasn't been an easy week for Kathryn. She was feeling bad again and I wasn't sure what to do for her. I picked her up from work early the past two days. Her electrolytes were off balance and she has had headaches for several days. As I was awake with her most of the night on Thursday we prayed and talked until the sun came up. Basically, as we were talking I told her that I was having an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach and the bottoms of my feet felt red hot. She told me that she had been having that problem also. I started thinking about the things we had been eating and drinking and the one thing we had in common was a glass of seltzer water before going to bed. She had gone shopping with her dad while I was in Florida and bought what she thought was going to be a great treat; flavored seltzer water. I went downstairs to the kitchen and read the bottle and discovered that the sweet taste in the seltzer came from Aspartame. Reviewing the facts, Kathryn started with the head ache about the time she started drinking the flavored seltzer water. We looked up the side effects of Aspartame on the internet and discovered that she had most of the symptoms of an allergic reaction to it, including difficulty breathing.

I wanted to blog about this so that I will have some documentation to remember the event. We don't typically use diet drinks, but rather mix fresh fruit juice with plain seltzer water. I'm glad we have had this experience. I'm also glad we figured out what was wrong so that Kathryn can avoid diet drinks made with Aspartame. Kathryn's skin is dotted with petechiae but she has the whole weekend to recover. Her hematologist saw her today and although her red cell count was a little low, her blood work looked fine. Compared to what we have dealt with in the past, this is nothing.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for reading and keeping up with the latest news.

Sunshine

Sunshine is important to me. I need it. The sun broke through the clouds late this afternoon and I gave a shout to Qavah to come to the window with me. She saw the sun and asked to go outside to play. Then I read Kathryn's post tonight and saw that she had the same response with her office co-workers. I couldn't thrive in the places where winter brings months of darkness, like Sweden or Alaska. So the praise in my heart tonight is that I live in the southern United States where sunshine and blue skies illuminate the Blue Ridge Mountains often. Seldom do we have so many days of rain without seeing the sunshine. Both girls are feeling better, and tomorrow's weather is supposed to be sunny all day. As Qavah would say, "Happy, happy, me!"

A Glimpse of Glory

What are vacations really? Qavah and I would say we had the perfect vacation. There were no worries, no cares, or fears. The weather was perfect so the winter clothes and jackets stayed in the suitcase during our stay in Florida. We enjoyed romping around in short sleeves. There were times that I would have a feeling of pure joy. I could close my eyes and tilt my face toward the warm sun and think, "It doesn't get any better than this!"

But it does get better. We have our home in heaven waiting for us where all those vacation feelings will be lasting and true. An acquaintance in North Carolina, Rhonda, passed away last week. Although she was a young woman she was diagnosed with cancer six months ago and started preparing for her eternal vacation. She is now living that life of freedom and perfection that we long to have here, but can never quite obtain in a fallen world. I expect Rhonda's memorial service next weekend will be a joyful event, because her friends knew without a doubt that her faith and hope was in seeing Jesus face to face. It was while I was pondering her death that I thought of a vacation as a glimpse of glory. When we look at cruise ship magazines and photographs of the beautiful places in this world we all begin to dream about what it would be like to see those places. Wrapped into our longing for a vacation there may be a greater longing for the place of perfection we call Heaven.

Since we returned home, we've had five days of cold rain and haven't seen the sun. Qavah was tired and weak and had a transfusion today, and Kathryn has had a pretty tough time of it since last week when her Remicade treatment was due. The vacation feeling was short-lived, but what we all have waiting for us after this life will be better than any vacation we have had on this earth. It lasts for eternity and it is there for "those who believe."

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."
1 Corinthians 2:9
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

Florida Vacation

Qavah is a great little traveler. She was thrilled with her trip to Florida and now understands what a "beach" is. She had a wonderful time collecting shells and playing in the sand. The weather was a balmy eighty degrees with a cool breeze off the Gulf. We had sunshine every day. It was perfect for us. With Aunt Lil and Uncle Tony we toured St. Petersburg, ate ice cream twice on the pier, watched a variety of birds by the water, and learned how to play Going on a Lion Hunt; a game Aunt Lil learned in Africa. There were too many happy things to recount. Qavah smiled continually. We were free to enjoy the sunshine and Qavah's health and strength held steady all week. Her appetite was very good after the days at the beach, so I am sure she has gained a little bit of weight as well.

When I arrived at the house on Treasure Island, I looked in the mirror and thought, "Who is that old, tired, woman in the mirror!" While resting in Florida, I began to feel stronger. The rest that I had away from doctor appointments, schedules, and cooking, gave me the energy I needed to come home and look at the calendar again.

There are several upcoming doctor visits and Qavah's transfusion, but I feel so much more capable of meeting the needs of my family. I am so grateful to Aunt Lil, Uncle Tony, and Aunt Lois, who enjoyed every bit of the time they had with Qavah. They gave me my meals, and gave me a peaceful vacation. I am grateful for the early morning devotions and prayers that Uncle Tony provided to lift my spirit and remind me that God sees and knows my heart. Toward the end of our vacation in Florida, we were all quoting Qavah, saying, "Happy, happy, me!"

Florida!

Dawn and Qavah arrived safely in St. Petersburg this evening, and are already enjoying their time there with Aunt Lil, Uncle Tony, and Aunt Lois. Until today, Qavah had been more excited about the airplane ride than Florida, because she had no idea what Florida was but she points out every airplane that flies over our house. Now she is there, and enjoying every minute.

Those of you who read this blog regularly, know something of the depth of Dawn's commitment to her girls and their welfare, and her willingness to pour herself out for them. I'm sure you rejoice with me in this opportunity that she has been given to get away to a place she loves, for pure relaxation and re-creation.

Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Psalm 69:18, NKJV

Snow Today, Sand Tomorrow

I just checked the forecast for tonight for Virginia. Low teen temperature will have us under our electric blankets tonight. The snow is beautiful, but so cold that Qavah was outdoors in it for ten minutes before she headed back in to the warm house. I didn't even have time to get the camera. The temperature for St. Petersburg upon our arrival tomorrow is supposed to be seventy-six degrees. That will be quite a change from the past few days.

The shining sun on the snow is too bright for the eyes today. I have thought about Kathryn's latest post several times today on being washed whiter than snow. The brightness of the snow is a reminder of the brightness that shines from our lives when we know we have been forgiven and set free.