MckMama is giving away an HP TouchSmart!!! Go to http://www.mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/ for details!
Very cool.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
What did I do to deserve this?
So I had a not-so-great Monday. And Tuesday started out with the question, "What did I do to deserve this?"
That's right....I was reading Job.
Ok, I know that I'm no Job, he of the renowned patience (though he did rail at God quite a bit, frustrated for what he saw as punishment that he didn't deserve)--I've lost patience with my children, reveling in the "do justly" part without balancing it out with the "love mercy." I have, on more occasions than I'd like to admit, allowed myself to sleep in instead of getting up to start the day right with quiet time. And I could go on, but you get the picture.
Except for Grace. Because of His sacrifice for me, I have been cleansed. Because of His power I live each day trying to be like Him.
Just suppose.
Suppose that God had a conversation with Satan a few years ago, and that I was the topic, rather than Job. Satan tells God that the only reason that sing His praises, crave His presence, teach my children to love Him, is because He has built a hedge around me. He'd blessed me with a loving Christian family, a Godly husband, two beautiful and healthy children.
Thankfully Satan didn't orchestra every piece of property and both children taken, turn my husband against me and send "friends" to stare at me for 7 days before telling me that the only reason all this had happened because of sin. Instead, he tried steal my faith by introducing my family to the realities of life with a little girl with DiGeorge Syndrome, spina bifida and wide circle of other problems. To round out the year, he took my much-loved father, much too young.
Maybe it wasn't Satan's doing. Maybe it's "just life" in a fallen world, but Satan's scheme is to use it to put a wedge between me and my Creator.
At any rate, I have to admit that I'm still working through why God would allow Daddy to die at age 55. But if Satan wanted to use that to shatter my faith, sorry (or not), not happening. If anything, it makes me more determined.
But I am echoing Job's sentiment when it comes to Madeline Kate. "What did I do to deserve this??"
What did I do to deserve waking up every morning to her sweet smiles; to her grin when she raises her arms to say, "SO big!"; to feel her little hand patting my face; to see her eyes light up when I ask her if she wants to sing "One little fishy"? What did I do to deserve seeing her delight when her sisters love on her or her Daddy coos at her? What did I do to deserve watching how God is already using her little life to bless and inspire so many? What did I do to deserve that she signs mama and says daddy? What did I do to deserve Madeline Kate?
So to the enemy of this child of God, I say, "Your mission failed." And to God, my Rock and Shelter, "How can I keep from singing Your praise? How can I ever say enough? How amazing is Your love! How can I keep from shouting Your name? I know I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart want to sing!"
That's right....I was reading Job.
Ok, I know that I'm no Job, he of the renowned patience (though he did rail at God quite a bit, frustrated for what he saw as punishment that he didn't deserve)--I've lost patience with my children, reveling in the "do justly" part without balancing it out with the "love mercy." I have, on more occasions than I'd like to admit, allowed myself to sleep in instead of getting up to start the day right with quiet time. And I could go on, but you get the picture.
Except for Grace. Because of His sacrifice for me, I have been cleansed. Because of His power I live each day trying to be like Him.
Just suppose.
Suppose that God had a conversation with Satan a few years ago, and that I was the topic, rather than Job. Satan tells God that the only reason that sing His praises, crave His presence, teach my children to love Him, is because He has built a hedge around me. He'd blessed me with a loving Christian family, a Godly husband, two beautiful and healthy children.
Thankfully Satan didn't orchestra every piece of property and both children taken, turn my husband against me and send "friends" to stare at me for 7 days before telling me that the only reason all this had happened because of sin. Instead, he tried steal my faith by introducing my family to the realities of life with a little girl with DiGeorge Syndrome, spina bifida and wide circle of other problems. To round out the year, he took my much-loved father, much too young.
Maybe it wasn't Satan's doing. Maybe it's "just life" in a fallen world, but Satan's scheme is to use it to put a wedge between me and my Creator.
At any rate, I have to admit that I'm still working through why God would allow Daddy to die at age 55. But if Satan wanted to use that to shatter my faith, sorry (or not), not happening. If anything, it makes me more determined.
But I am echoing Job's sentiment when it comes to Madeline Kate. "What did I do to deserve this??"
What did I do to deserve waking up every morning to her sweet smiles; to her grin when she raises her arms to say, "SO big!"; to feel her little hand patting my face; to see her eyes light up when I ask her if she wants to sing "One little fishy"? What did I do to deserve seeing her delight when her sisters love on her or her Daddy coos at her? What did I do to deserve watching how God is already using her little life to bless and inspire so many? What did I do to deserve that she signs mama and says daddy? What did I do to deserve Madeline Kate?
So to the enemy of this child of God, I say, "Your mission failed." And to God, my Rock and Shelter, "How can I keep from singing Your praise? How can I ever say enough? How amazing is Your love! How can I keep from shouting Your name? I know I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart want to sing!"
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Last night, around 11:15....
....I finished the last requirement to get my Bachelor's of Science in Accounting.
Can you hear me doing the happy dance?
Can you hear me doing the happy dance?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Quote
Daddy was reading Finding Favor with the King by Tommy Tenney (author of One Night With the King) when he went to be with the King. Mom gave Jordan and I the accompanying devotional books for Christmas last year. Yesterday, I read this:
Have you prayed about the difficult or challenging situations in your life? Make sure you've taken care of any wrong motives, unforgiveness, or unconfessed sin in your life. Then prepare a banquet for the Lord through a genuine outpouring of your love in the form of thanksgiving, praise, worship, adoration, and a lifestyle that says yes to Him in word and deed.
This is how you make sure you pray His will instead of merely your wants while also seeking His face as your First Love rather than merely your First Source.
That thought has been challenging to me ever since I read it. The difference between First Love and First Source is all the difference in the world, isn't it?
Have you prayed about the difficult or challenging situations in your life? Make sure you've taken care of any wrong motives, unforgiveness, or unconfessed sin in your life. Then prepare a banquet for the Lord through a genuine outpouring of your love in the form of thanksgiving, praise, worship, adoration, and a lifestyle that says yes to Him in word and deed.
This is how you make sure you pray His will instead of merely your wants while also seeking His face as your First Love rather than merely your First Source.
That thought has been challenging to me ever since I read it. The difference between First Love and First Source is all the difference in the world, isn't it?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Baby hat giveaway!
For a chance to win a baby hat (!!!!), head on over to visit Jen at her blog, Our Journey with Micro-Preemie Twins! The beanie is from Baby Blvd, and that site is also running an offer of free shipping on any orders that mention Jen's blog. Have fun...Christmas is right around the corner!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Quick Medical Update
Well, after 9 appointments in under two weeks time, besides her four therapies per week, we were certainly kept busy, busy, busy! But we had some great news, too, so--worth it? Yep!
Of course, Maddy got her casts off, and her braces made and fitted (and re-fitted, which unfortunately caused her first pressure sore. Yes, that made be sick in my stomach. Unfortunately, I hear it's not uncommon when braces are first adjusted, and since Maddy can't feel anything from at least her waist down, there's no way for her to tell me. Needless to say, we're watching the sore like a hawk, and it is healing, although it does take a while. And this is turning into the longest parenthetical statement in my blogging history.).
We also visited the ENT doctor. Now that the (turquoise) tubes are in the adorable little ears, he wants to go ahead with an ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) test to make sure that she has no hearing loss. With the tubes, we're definitely not seeing any signs of it, but since she isn't babbling much at all yet, they'd like to make sure that we're not missing anything.
The neurologist simply bumped her Keppra (seizure medication) to match her weight. They will do another EEG when she's been on the medicine for two years.
The pulmonologist has scheduled another polysomnogram (sleep study). I don't have a lot of hope for weaning her off oxygen since her SATs continue to drop when she's off O2, but at least we'll be able to make sure that things haven't gotten worse.
Now for some really good news!
First--On ultrasound, Maddy's kidneys (I should say kidney since her kidneys are fused into one horseshoe kidney!) are 75% better since her got her vesicostomy! The vesicostomy was needed because the reflux to her kidneys was severe enough that it was causing hydronephrosis. The vesicostomy is an attempt to take some of the pressure off the kidneys. We assume that she still has the reflux, but now there isn't as much to reflux into the kidneys, since her bladder is constantly draining into her diaper (THAT'S RIGHT! NO MORE CATHING!!!) Dr. Cain was hoping for 50% better one month out from the surgery, so 75% is awesome! He expects that by her next visit her kidneys will not be swollen at all.
Second--Madeline's cell function tests came back from Mayo Clinic. Due to her DiGeorge Syndrome, her T-cells have been just a bit low, not enough to cause major concern. Dr. Belcher tested the cell function, to see how they fight off infection, and they are functioning at 100%. This means that Madeline most likely doesn't have the terribly suppressed immune system common in most DiGeorge Syndrome kids. And since she doesn't have the heart problems associated with DiGeorge, her issue is "only" the spina bifida. We're still trying to keep Maddy away from anything nasty, but this was very good news to say the least.
I must get back to my schoolwork....Only 9 more days to go and I'm done, Done, DONE!!
Of course, Maddy got her casts off, and her braces made and fitted (and re-fitted, which unfortunately caused her first pressure sore. Yes, that made be sick in my stomach. Unfortunately, I hear it's not uncommon when braces are first adjusted, and since Maddy can't feel anything from at least her waist down, there's no way for her to tell me. Needless to say, we're watching the sore like a hawk, and it is healing, although it does take a while. And this is turning into the longest parenthetical statement in my blogging history.).
We also visited the ENT doctor. Now that the (turquoise) tubes are in the adorable little ears, he wants to go ahead with an ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) test to make sure that she has no hearing loss. With the tubes, we're definitely not seeing any signs of it, but since she isn't babbling much at all yet, they'd like to make sure that we're not missing anything.
The neurologist simply bumped her Keppra (seizure medication) to match her weight. They will do another EEG when she's been on the medicine for two years.
The pulmonologist has scheduled another polysomnogram (sleep study). I don't have a lot of hope for weaning her off oxygen since her SATs continue to drop when she's off O2, but at least we'll be able to make sure that things haven't gotten worse.
Now for some really good news!
First--On ultrasound, Maddy's kidneys (I should say kidney since her kidneys are fused into one horseshoe kidney!) are 75% better since her got her vesicostomy! The vesicostomy was needed because the reflux to her kidneys was severe enough that it was causing hydronephrosis. The vesicostomy is an attempt to take some of the pressure off the kidneys. We assume that she still has the reflux, but now there isn't as much to reflux into the kidneys, since her bladder is constantly draining into her diaper (THAT'S RIGHT! NO MORE CATHING!!!) Dr. Cain was hoping for 50% better one month out from the surgery, so 75% is awesome! He expects that by her next visit her kidneys will not be swollen at all.
Second--Madeline's cell function tests came back from Mayo Clinic. Due to her DiGeorge Syndrome, her T-cells have been just a bit low, not enough to cause major concern. Dr. Belcher tested the cell function, to see how they fight off infection, and they are functioning at 100%. This means that Madeline most likely doesn't have the terribly suppressed immune system common in most DiGeorge Syndrome kids. And since she doesn't have the heart problems associated with DiGeorge, her issue is "only" the spina bifida. We're still trying to keep Maddy away from anything nasty, but this was very good news to say the least.
I must get back to my schoolwork....Only 9 more days to go and I'm done, Done, DONE!!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Maddy's Dedication
In case you missed it on Facebook, I'm posting the link to view Maddy's dedication on Sunday. Thank you, Jed, for capturing the moments for us. If you don't want to see the entirety of the video, move ahead until you see Pastor take Madeline. It's priceless. :)
We were very thankful to have Glen's parents and sisters with us for the dedication. I wished that my Mom could have been there, and I especially missed Daddy since he had dedicated his other four grandchildren.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to pause the music that is already playing on my blog. And then....Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJsbNLRAlcY
We were very thankful to have Glen's parents and sisters with us for the dedication. I wished that my Mom could have been there, and I especially missed Daddy since he had dedicated his other four grandchildren.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to pause the music that is already playing on my blog. And then....Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJsbNLRAlcY
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