A New Normal??

Davin ended up having respiratory complications following his surgery and we ended up spending 13 days in the hospital. He has some good days and some bad days. Today was somewhere in the middle. He has only slept through the night one night so far. It has been a long couple of weeks. Our new normal for right now includes, a hospital bed, oxygen, a feeding tube, a puls-ox, and breathing treatments. Also at night he wears a c-pap which helps expand his lungs. I think of it as being in between oxygen and a respirator. It has been very difficult getting used to this new normal. Davin is furious that he can not eat right now. "Regular Davin" eats regular food, has never had oxygen or any of these other things. He is not loving it and is a bit annoyed with his cast. His cast comes all the way down his left side and half way down his right leg.

On the up side, I am so thankful for a successful surgery. I am thankful that Davin was in a children's hospital where they are so skilled dealing with all kinds of problems in children. I am thankful for equipment to take home so we could finally leave the hospital!

I think the hardest thing of all has been to watch Davin be so miserable. He did not smile for five and a half days and that has never happened before in his life. Davin is the happiest person I have ever known in my life. The doctors and nurses were trying to understand what Davin is like in his normal life so we would know where we were trying to get him back to and it was so hard to make them understand that this sick, sad little boy was nothing like my Davin. Poor thing. What a trial for a little boy.

God is good and He is faithful. I will keep you posted on how he is doing. Thank you all for your prayers.

Surgeries and Such

Davin will have his surgery tomorrow morning around 8am. EST Thank you all for your prayers and concern. I will update you with how he is doing as soon as I can.

Greater Love

I learned a lesson today. We had communion tonight at church and the Lord brought something to my attention about His sacrifice on the cross.

About a week ago, I was all set to give blood for my son, Davin's surgery. I had never given blood before and I have not had a needle for quite a long time and I really found myself fretting about this. It was not something I voiced, but kept thinking about it and getting nervous about. Finally, I talked to myself and let myself know that my son was about to undergo much more than this little needle. It was the least I could do. The very least.

I have always thought I love my kids A LOT. I mean a whole lot. I have devoted my life to them from the minute that my oldest daughter was born. I think if you asked anyone who knows me, they would tell you that I am a mother through and through and that I love my kids. And yet, here I was struggling with doing such a little thing for Davin because of fear. It would never have kept me from giving blood for him, but I certainly had to calm myself down several times.

So, tonight the Lord brought this to my mind as we were having communion and I realized how little I love. I have always thought that the parent/child relationship is so reflective of our relationship with our heavenly father. But, is it really? Could it ever be? The Father was willing to give his son. He had just one son. He knew all that He would go through. Jesus himself was willing to go forward with the Father's plan knowing the incredible pain (much more than a needle) and suffering that He would experience. Wow, I am humbled by what real love is.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Football Pep Talks

My nephew Jonah plays football. He is six years old and he is really not loving the whole thing. They practice a lot and it is very disciplined. My sister told me about the coach's pep talk after the big game this morning and I found it hysterical.

Coach: We have got to get a handle on these tears. We can not win football games if everyone is crying during every game. If you are crying, you can not focus on tackling or scoring. We can not have every player crying during every play.

Is that too funny? Do you think that is what the coaches for the NFL teams say after their games? Can you just imagine it? Listen, we have got to get a handle on these tears.....You are getting paid a zillion dollars and you can't focus on tackling if you are crying. Too funny.

Generations

Today my son Cheney and I went out to lunch with my parents, my sister, and my great Aunt Margie. I had not seen my great aunt in several years and it was so nice to see her. She is my paternal grandmother's youngest sister. There were four sisters altogether (I believe there was at least one more sibling who passed away in childhood or infancy) and I learned so much from watching their relationships. Alberta, Gladys, Hazel and Margorie. Aren't they great names from that generation? I remember when the eldest sister was dying of cancer. My grandmother (Gladys) took in Aunt Alberta and took care of her. The other two sisters came everyday and together they took turns taking care of Alberta. That made a huge impression on me. I wanted that for my 4 children. When one of them is down, they should all rally to that the one who is down. I can't imagine that was an easy decision to have your sister come and stay at your house knowing she would breathe her last breath there. What a sacrifice and what an example to your children and grandchildren. I also remember all four sisters and the two husbands who were still living getting together every week to play cards together. They loved each other's company. Now my Aunt Margie is the only sister left. I saw so much of my grandmother today while I spent time with my aunt. What a blessing. I have been missing out on this by not seeing my aunt. I was also so thankful that my 16 year-old son was willing to go with me and get to know this aunt that he did not even remember. What an excellent way to spend an afternoon.

13 Things about Alan Scott

I am just not feeling very creative, so I will blog 13 things about my husband, Alan. He will be excited about that, since he did not feel I wrote enough about him in my 100 things.

1. Alan met me when he was 9 or 10. (Of course he loved me immediately.) Okay, he doesn't admit to that, but I am sure it is true. Someone on the bus told me that.

2. Alan has one sister and one brother. He looks very much like his brother, but I tell people you can tell them apart because Alan is the much better looking one. My brother-in-law loves this.

3. Alan is a very devoted father and has been from the minute he laid eyes on Ashleigh.

4. Alan loves all of our kids to be here.

5. Alan used to be a computer nerd. (Well, he still is, but it's not his job anymore.)

6. Alan played football in high school. I always went to the games, but didn't pay real close attention. On the other hand, he could tell me exactly where I was during the game. Freaky!

7. Alan dragged me out of a car after we were in a very bad car accident on our first car date. Unfortunately, he dragged me into a briar patch.

8. Alan has blonde hair.

9. Alan is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and is a great example to his family.

10. Alan doesn't need a lot of people around him.

11. Alan started a forrest fire when he was in boy scouts.

12. Alan told his grandmother that he would never get married and even signed a paper stating that very thing. She never let him forget it.

13. Alan has been my husband for 22 years.