Just letting you know we are still here… hanging in there. I am a bit overwhelmed emotionally the last few days. I’m not sure if it is left over from watching Ryan go through withdrawal for most of last week. I did well being patient last week, but felt more frustrated over the weekend and this morning. The attending told me he thinks Ryan looks great and has really progressed over the last three weeks. There have a been a lot of changes – um, duh – his heart is closed up (it’s easy to forget how much happened when I’m so focused on today) and it was encouraging to be reminded where we were a month ago.
I could also be adjusting to the girls in school three times a week. They are a handful, but I miss them and now feel like our time together is spent correcting and rushing from one thing to another, even if it’s just trying to get them through dinner, baths, reading and bedtime.
Ryan seems better today in some regards and is the same in others. He is still running a fever, but his white blood count is normal so it may be a result of withdrawal. At least he is now consolable and more comfortable. He went in and out of sleep today during my visit and gave me some very brief half smiles. However, I’ll take that any day over sweaty, anxious and unconsolable. They are holding off on CPAPs until his fever is gone. Then we will start working again to retrain his diaphragm. I can’t wait until he is off the vent. Then I can hold him whenever I want and we can take his restraints off.
Random warning: I started today behind the eight ball. I chose to spend last night connecting with Henry since he’d been away all weekend instead of tidying up the house (which amazingly was clean on Saturday night, but fell apart by Sunday night). I can’t stand visual clutter so the dishes shouted my name all morning but I didn’t want to ‘waste’ the time I could be at the hospital with Ryan. I prayed on the way down and said, Ok, Lord. You know I didn’t get to the dishes, so if you could please work on that, it would really help me mentally.
I know you think I’m weird, but yes, I did ask God to do my dishes. 🙂 I came home to find the kitchen clean. I think my friend, Chara, did my dishes when she dropped off dinner. I can’t think of anyone else who would’ve done them. So, call it coincidence or an answer to prayer, all I know is my dishes were done and it made me feel so much better.
Ok, I’m too tired to make this congruent and witty. More tomorrow.
(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (14)
yeah for good friends answering prayers! praying for you!!!! Strength and endurance.
Yes, your friend may be a great friend…but God prompted her to do those dishes because you asked him and it was something you needed today. I know that there are many other “things” you need with Ryan, but I’m seeing God answer those prayers too. What a blessing he is to your life. You will never be the same, God’s goal for every believer……to be more like His Son.
Thank God that He specializes in fixing “broken” hearts AND washing dishes!
Stephanie
We are following you and praying for you through Kay Neild’s updates at our church.
Dropped by your blog and wanted to let you know…
Praise God for clean dishes!! What a wonderful blessing.
A good friend is one of God’s Greatest Blessings…and an answer to your prayers.
Praying for you all.
Pax Christi.
It is wonderful to be reminded that God cares for even the smallest of details. He cares even when those pesky sparrows fall to the ground and how very much more He cares for us.
Your friend deserves a big round of applause for being so thoughtful and caring.
Now, you think about this, if God cared enough about you to help you get those dishes done, how much more does He want to help you with Ryan?! He is standing ready, just waiting for us to ask.
We are continuing to remember you all in prayer.
With much love and prayers,
I’ve been thinking and praying for you (and Ryan of course) the past few days. I know you must be stretched to the limit emotionally and physically these days. So glad to hear about the answered prayer with the dishes! I know that was a blessing to you. (I’ve been struggling with alot of pain the past few days and my dear husband has cleaned the kitchen every day so I know what a relief it is!) Please know that you’ve been such an encouragement and blessing to me through all of this…and even when you reached out to me before Ryan was born. I pray that God will continue to give you grace.
Love, Tyra
Awww.. that is a neat reminder that HE is in the small little things in life. Keep hangin in there. You are doing a great job!
What an answered prayer!
You do have a lot on your plate. Being overwhelmed is probably an understatement for you. Has Katie called you?
So neat to hear how God cares about the little things like a clean kitchen. God heals broken hearts and cleans kitchens. Awesome.
Love ya lots.
Sometimes it’s those little answered prayers that make the biggest impact in your day – like a neon sign saying “I am with you – in ALL things.”
Oh I love that the dishes were done!!
Leighann I love it that you told us how God did the dishes through the hands of a loving friend! That is just the neatest thing I have heard in a long time. I love the little ways God shows us that He loves us. He knows every detail of our lives and He cares about the small things too.
I have a nephew who was in the hospital for a whole year when he was born because he was born really early and he wasn’t even 2 pounds. He got scalded skin disease when he was in the hospital because of all of the drugs he had to be on, and he is autistic,…BUT he is 22 now and just such a neat guy with the biggest smile and the most loving heart. He is kinda handsome and he is fun and we all just love him and praise God for him. He has been a big blessing to our family, and he continues to be.
Who knows why God allows things to happen, but I am sure He has a good reason, and a plan for all of our lives. Just imagine my niece going to that hospital to see her little guy every day for a whole year! And yet she is so very glad he lived, and it was all worth it.
(And this is my side note to that,…even if he hadn’t lived it still would have been a blessing to have him and love him for however long God allowed,…just like our little 6 yr. old Anna that went to be with Jesus, who had heart problems for 6 years, but she was such a wonderful blessing to us all and we are thankful for everyday we had with her.)
I know you grow weary and I sure can understand honey. I just want to encourage you that you all will be better people after facing all of these great trials together and from growing close to God during it all.
Just enjoy everyday with your kids and know that God selected you to be their mommy. He knew you could do the job well.
I am trying to be an encourager and I hope that all I have said was taken as I meant it,..to encourage and give you hope that nothing that “happens” in our lives is by mistake. Sometimes we just don’t understand,…but God knows all and He sees the tapestry of our lives from the top and it is a beautiful sight. But to us, all we see sometimes is the knotted and messy underside of the tapestry and we can’t appreciate it’s beauty.
Ok, well,…I am sorry that all of that came out ,…I was just long winded. {{HUGS}} Hang in there sweetheart.
Love and Prayers,
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
I totally get what you are saying about the girls and feeling disconnected. With both kids in school it would be so nice to come home and spend some “down time” together but after homework, baths, etc. the evening flys.
My mom is right again:), life is all about seasons. Just as you get use to one “season” of your life, life changes.
I wish I could be there to do your dishes and lighten the load. Who knows maybe in another “season” we will be able to spend time together again.
Love and prayers. Amanda L