Be Still and Know...Then and Now

I am not sure I even know where to start. So much has happen over the last two weeks with the DD surgery and hospitalization and now were are at home and learning about a new normal. The surgery and hospital experience were defiantly a first for me. I have been in the hospital numerous times but this was the first time experiencing it from a parental point of view. It defiantly changes your perspective a bit when the focus shifts from yourself to your child. I can defiantly say that Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital is the place to be if your child is experiencing any kind of medical issue. The entire hospital stay was handle with compassion and everyone there (with the exception of one or two nurses and technician who were problematic) really understood the unique situation in dealing with concerned parents and sick children. We had an endless supply of DVD’s at our disposal and for the most part the nurses were very responsive and timely in dealing with the unpleasant bumps the...

If all goes well w should hit the home front in a few hours. I am not sure what the time table is ortall than needs to happen but they are releasing the DD today.   I have to tell you, after six days in the hospital I for one and ready for my own bed, my own shower, my own food, my own coffee, my own everything.   I long to sleep in a room and know that no one will tap on our door at 2:00 in the morning to ask the DD to wiggle her toes or check her temperature.   We anticipate a difficult few weeks as she adjusts to a new normal. She will have to learn how to compensate for the difference in her back as well as re-learning how to do specific things.   For the first few days (maybe longer) I will have to set the alarm thru the night to administer medication to help with her pain level but that is completely manageable.   We have gotten into the zone as far as working together to get her out of bed and to the potty and back in again. Basically she can achieve most o...

Hey y'all! Just checking in briefly, things are progressing well with the DD recovery. She has a visit with PT this morning and they plan to get her out of bed, a major step in the recovery process!!! I am thankful for wonderful nurses and the good coffee in the family hospitality room that is just down the hall. If you would like to check on the DD progress you can follow the link at the bottom of this previous post Y'all keep praying (and I know that y'all are) for a swift recovery! Blessings Robin

The DD is out of surgery and sleeping. The will continue to move her from side to side which is not a pleasant experience . Please pray for her endurance and her obedience to do what the nurses and doctors say is best.

4:30 came very early this morning, but we are at the hospital. Please be in prayer for all the doctors, surgical nurses and staff who will be attending my DD today. The procedure (Posterior Spinal Fusion began about an hour ago (at about 8:30ish) they anticipate it taking about 4 to 6 hours. I will keep you updated when time permits. Blessings Robin

Well we are down to the last few days before the DD surgery. I have been making my mental lists of things that I need to do prior to setting off for the hospital as well as getting things in order here at the house.  I had an interesting moment in the closet the other day. I was doing the annual seasonal shifting. It was way past time to move all my sweaters and winter clothing to the spare closet.  I was standing in the doorway looking at my side of the closet. This is my side of the closet... (edit: when I look at this picture I notice that nearly all of my shoes are black, this tells me two things. One: I am extremely fashion challenged. Two: I have an extreme aversion to shopping and black shoes will almost all the time go with everything.) Then I turn and looked at the DH side of the closet and I had to laugh.  This is the DH side of the closet... For the first few years of my marriage the DH's rather fastidious tendencies toward neatness was a major bone of contention (s...

You may have noticed the absence of my posting and the absence of my commenting. It isn’t because of a lack of interest, I simple have been totally wrapped up in the overwhelming process you face when you get ready for a beloved child to face a major surgery.   The DD was diagnosed with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in January of this past year. Her surgery is in a few days and I find myself in the midst of unfamiliar territory. I have had numerous surgical procedures in my lifetime, however none of these procedures has impacted me the way this has.   As a mother and I know I am preaching to the choir for the most part, but the idea of something this major, this complicated and this intensive being done to my DD is frightening (even thought it is necessary) it still doesn’t not make it any less overwhelming.   I have spent the last few days scouring my bible for all my favorite verses so that I may wrap myself in the word and use that as ammunition for when those moments ...

Step 1: Get up at 5:45 AM. Step 2: Send an email that I forgot to do the night before. Step 3: Leave the house at 6:35 AM. Step 4: Stop for a Chicken Biscuit (meal one in the car) Step 5: Get on the express way travel to Hospital. Step 6: Arrive at Hospital at 7:50 AM. Step 7: Check in at Patient Registration at 8:00 AM. I am 30 minutes early. I was supposed to be there at 8:30 Step 8: Fill out multiple forms, sign my life away, check and re-check social security numbers, birthdays, and every other aspect of our lives. Step 9: Wait for a really long time while the hospital patient coordinator figures out their new software, as today was the very first day they began to use it. Step 10: We move to the “waiting room” and wait for about an hour. Step 11: CT Scan at 9:35 AM (it was schedule for 9:00). Now they told me on the phone that the CT scan would take 45 minutes so as I am walking back I tell the technician that I need to call up to day surgery to let them know that we will be late ...

I am not sure I even know where to start.  There are times when things run smoothly, like a well oiled time piece, the precision and the accuracy are a thing of beauty. The graceful sweeping motion of the second hand as it makes its revolution around the dial marking each minute one after the other.  There is comfort in the unchanging things like the passage of time the rising and the setting of the sun, the constants of life.  But what do you do when the constants of life seem to be out of sync? What do you do when life seems to be out of balance and you look around and you begin to wonder how things got so out of whack?  Then when one thing is out of whack you wake up the next morning only to find that the amount of wackiness has increased by an exponential rate and you are surrounded by overwhelming circumstances.  Overwhelming, even scary circumstances.  How do you overcome the fear?  You see the logical, faith grounded side of me knows exactly where the fear comes fr...