We've got a full house today. J's mom, dad, brother and sisters and later her aunt and uncle. wow. What fun! We've been busy cooking and baking all morning. We are thankful for so many things. God is GOOD!
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.
11.26.2009
11.25.2009
Cinderella and Prince Charming
M. and G. have this little "game" they play in the morning. M. wants to be Cinderella, and she wants G. to be prince charming. G. is usually reluctant to be prince charming.
One morning, I heard the following as they were lying in our bed
G. "OK. You be Cinderella, and I'll be...Gus-gus."
M. "Nooo."
G. (sheepishly) "Ooh-kay. I'll be Prince Charming."
I heard them again this morning at the breakfast table:
M. "I be Cinderella and you be prince charming." (it's not as clear when she says it--but it's much cuter)
G. (sheepishly as he puts his head face down on the table) "Alright. I'll be prince charming."
Too cute.
One morning, I heard the following as they were lying in our bed
G. "OK. You be Cinderella, and I'll be...Gus-gus."
M. "Nooo."
G. (sheepishly) "Ooh-kay. I'll be Prince Charming."
I heard them again this morning at the breakfast table:
M. "I be Cinderella and you be prince charming." (it's not as clear when she says it--but it's much cuter)
G. (sheepishly as he puts his head face down on the table) "Alright. I'll be prince charming."
Too cute.
J. Did Great, so did M.
The nurse met J. at our home last night for the next round of infusions for M. I was at church for confirmation, so J. had to do the needle herself. She did great. The nurse gave her a tip that will help us both: Pinch the skin together--rather than go straight in. This gives more control and a little less the feel of going right into her stomach. M. did ok with it--but it's so hard. She woke up crying a couple hours later, but we calmed her down and she rested well through the night. At breakfast, though, she cried when I told her we had to leave the tube in like last week. Poor thing.
11.24.2009
Update on M.
M. will have her next infusion tonight. The nurse will come and help J. insert the needle and another five days of nightly infusions will begin. It went well last week, all things considered. Although, the infusion site was firm and tender to the touch by the end. The nurse on call said this was due to build-up of fluids in such a tiny body. We may need to change sites midweek. We'd rather see if we can pause in the middle to give the fluid more time to be absorbed. We'll have to talk to the doc to see. She's a trooper, though. Next transfusion is the end of next week, so we should get another update on her numbers then.
Please continue to pray for her, that her iron levels would continue to go down and the oral chelation drug would ultimately work.
Please continue to pray for her, that her iron levels would continue to go down and the oral chelation drug would ultimately work.
My Own Memories
I'll miss J's grandmother too. She was so much fun. She always had a smile on, was quick with a funny joke or rhyme, and loved to play games. What fun! I liked how she would just wander over to her piano and start playing. I appreciated her passion for her family's history. She showed me pages of handwritten notes! I wish I could have known her longer--what a fascinating lady.
She was always good to me and clearly loved and appreciated our kids. But.....there was one time that we didn't see eye-to-eye. It was the first time I visited her in her home in Florida. She was teaching us a game of dominoes. At one point she called me a cheater! Now, I am competitive--but I don't cheat. Ah, well. I still laugh about that. We played many more games of dominoes, so I guess she got over it.
She was a joy to be around, and I'll miss her....even though she did call me a cheater once.
She was always good to me and clearly loved and appreciated our kids. But.....there was one time that we didn't see eye-to-eye. It was the first time I visited her in her home in Florida. She was teaching us a game of dominoes. At one point she called me a cheater! Now, I am competitive--but I don't cheat. Ah, well. I still laugh about that. We played many more games of dominoes, so I guess she got over it.
She was a joy to be around, and I'll miss her....even though she did call me a cheater once.
Compassion For Tinker Bell
One thing that helped us on this car trip was the DVD player. The kids didn't have it on the whole way, but did watch a little more than usual for us on the road. Last night, they were watching Tinker Bell. All of a sudden, little M. starts crying and crying and crying. We couldn't get her to say what was wrong she was crying so hard--great big tears. We asked her brothers in the back if something sad was happening, and sure enough--Tinker Bell was crying! Poor Tink didn't think she'd ever find her own prince charming, and it broke little M.'s heart. So precious.
Back From Funeral
I'm going to pause from work for a few moments to post a few updates. J's parents and siblings are all in town, so I'm not sure how much she'll get near a computer.
Sunday we traveled 6.5 hours to Olean, New York (southwestern upper NY state) where we met J's mom, dad, siblings, aunt and uncle at the hotel. Monday morning we got dressed and drove a half our or so to Black Creek, NY to a tiny little, ancient looking Baptist church for the funeral and burial of J's Grandmother. We think this was the church (the only one in town?) that she went to as a little girl. My main job was to take care of M. so that her mom could really focus. (not a small task for an hour long service.) never-the-less, M. did beautifully. (lots of books, stickers, and markers sure helped!) I was able to pay attention to quite a bit.
My favorite parts of the service were the contributions of J's family. Her dad sang Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone). Her sisters played flute and sang "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing." J's aunt played some ragtime music on the piano as people left the service. I don't think I've ever heard her play before--that was fantastic, and I wish I could have heard more. These musical offerings were a tribute to Grandma who loved music and passed that love on to her family. J's mom gave a brief but moving testimony of her affection for her mother-in-law. It was especially moving to me as another one who married into this special family--and since she is MY mother-in-law. I too, have been greatly blessed with a loving and supportive mother-in-law. Last, but not least, the gospel reading (John 14:1-6) was read by our own son, N. WOW! J and I were amazed as we looked at this young man in his sharp suit and his cool haircut reading the Good News of Jesus. Wow. We were (and are) very proud of him.
After the service we went down the road for the committal and the luncheon before caravanning back to CT with J's parents and siblings. Her aunt and uncle will join us again on Thursday for Thanksgiving. Once again, our kids exceeded expectations during the total 13 hours in the car. I continue to be in awe of them and their endurance on the road. I can honestly say that not one bit of misery on the road was caused by them. Great job, kids!
So, we're back today after busy, tiring and emotional days. I'll put a couple more things into a new post.
Sunday we traveled 6.5 hours to Olean, New York (southwestern upper NY state) where we met J's mom, dad, siblings, aunt and uncle at the hotel. Monday morning we got dressed and drove a half our or so to Black Creek, NY to a tiny little, ancient looking Baptist church for the funeral and burial of J's Grandmother. We think this was the church (the only one in town?) that she went to as a little girl. My main job was to take care of M. so that her mom could really focus. (not a small task for an hour long service.) never-the-less, M. did beautifully. (lots of books, stickers, and markers sure helped!) I was able to pay attention to quite a bit.
My favorite parts of the service were the contributions of J's family. Her dad sang Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone). Her sisters played flute and sang "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing." J's aunt played some ragtime music on the piano as people left the service. I don't think I've ever heard her play before--that was fantastic, and I wish I could have heard more. These musical offerings were a tribute to Grandma who loved music and passed that love on to her family. J's mom gave a brief but moving testimony of her affection for her mother-in-law. It was especially moving to me as another one who married into this special family--and since she is MY mother-in-law. I too, have been greatly blessed with a loving and supportive mother-in-law. Last, but not least, the gospel reading (John 14:1-6) was read by our own son, N. WOW! J and I were amazed as we looked at this young man in his sharp suit and his cool haircut reading the Good News of Jesus. Wow. We were (and are) very proud of him.
After the service we went down the road for the committal and the luncheon before caravanning back to CT with J's parents and siblings. Her aunt and uncle will join us again on Thursday for Thanksgiving. Once again, our kids exceeded expectations during the total 13 hours in the car. I continue to be in awe of them and their endurance on the road. I can honestly say that not one bit of misery on the road was caused by them. Great job, kids!
So, we're back today after busy, tiring and emotional days. I'll put a couple more things into a new post.
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