Medical Update

Today is a transfusion day for M. Her hematologist shared the results from her MRI. Unfortunately, it's not good news. The iron count around her liver is a 9. For perspective, 10 is dangerous and 5 is where she should be. We are thankful she is not at 10! However, it does mean that more aggressive chelation is needed. So from now until a yet determined date (read "awhile"), M will have to be hospitalized every 3ish weeks for a 48 hour visit to have both her transfusion and an iv drip of the medicine she was previously taking subcutaneously at nighttime at home.

We have yet to determine the "how" of how we'll do it, but we're so thankful to have a great hem team looking out for M. She'll need these transfusions for life and she will always have to watch her ferritin markers. This is life for our pirate princess, but we pray God uses it for His glory.

She already wants to be a doctor ("to fix Mama's heart"). Of course, she also wants to be a ballerina and pizza shop guy, and an ice skater, and a cash register clerk, and a teacher, and....

High School Ahead

Today I dropped our oldest son off at a local Christian high school to visit for the afternoon. A chance to see what he thinks about attending this fall.

This fall.

As in, my son is going to be in HIGH SCHOOL THIS FALL.

Can someone please pass the oxygen mask?!

Way gone are the days of Elmo and Sesame Street, of play-doh and books on my lap. People would say, "Treasure the time; it goes so fast!" I thought they were nuts. I was exhausted!

And now a hormonal teen bangs our dishes and girls call the house. It's a crazy time to parent.

Since the beginning, our number one goal has been for N to grow up with passionate faith in Jesus. I can sense a tug of war in him; living for Jesus isn't easy for anyone today...especially for teens! The devil doesn't want passionate people on fire to change the world for Christ!

I look at the precious little time we have left with him and realize just how valuable each moment, each interaction with him is.

Lord, grow this boy into a young man after your heart. Give him Your dreams to chase and Your vision to fulfill. Author his steps. And help his parents to guard, direct, and disciple him into what You have for him to be. Amen!

AGAIN....

The kids are home. Again. Out of last 14 possible school days, I think they have had 5 without early dismissals, late delays or cancellations.

And they are at the end of their ropes.

Or is it that WE are at the end of OUR ropes?

I would love to say that we are sitting by a quietly crackling fire reading Dickens or Austen or Tolkien, but although we are reading Tolkien, nothing around here is quiet.

Will we make it?! I'm just really not sure. Certainly not without a major coffee and sugar hit for the parents. Lord, have mercy.