The Same God

I am finally beginning to feel like all is well with the world, or at least with my little sphere of it.  What a month February has shaped up to be for our family.  It has been a stressful time both emotionally and physically as we worried about my mom, cared for Lilly in her recovery, and also attempted as much as possible to re-enter the normal daily routines with Jared and Anna and the many activities their lives entail.  Not to mention the stress for Tom as he re-entered an already chaotic work enviornment after two weeks away, with much uncertainty remaining as to our next assignment, all the while knowing there was much happening at home. 

As I went for a much-needed long run on Monday--needing to expend the physical energy to relieve stress and take some time away alone--I found myself praying and reminding myself that the God that brought Lilly through her surgery and guided Dr. Campbell's hands is the very same God that was at work in my mom's body and working through her doctors and nurses here.  He was so very good to guide my mind and my heart to remembering that He is more than able to do all things, and has purposes and plans--often involving circumstances we wouldn't choose for ourselves--that surpass our ability to understand.

So, after 3+ days in ICU and 6 additional days in a regular hospital room spent recovering from a "bad pneumonia," my mom was thankfully discharged today from the local hospital.  The fabulous doctor who took care of her during the first few days of her stay told her she had "walked as close to the edge of the cliff as you ever want to let yourself get, without falling off."  We celebrated at my house tonight with dinner at a kitchen table in a normal house...no hospital trays, no styrofoam cups and drinking straws, no hospital gowns, no medical staff (well, Tom was there, too, but only in the capacity of super-husband, daddy, and son-in-law).  My folks will stay here locally in a home that is less than 2 miles from us which is being graciously opened to them while its owners reside in their permanent home elsewhere.  We are so grateful for the Air Force family--one Air Force set of grandparents helping another set of Air Force grandparents out.  So my folks can be very nearby and we can enjoy spending time together, while they also can have their own quiet and germ-free space so my mom can be comfortable and can get the rest she needs before they venture northward to PA (and the ice and cold--who needs it?).

As for Lilly, she continues to become more and more herself, and is nearly fully adapted to her new shape and new stature.  There are a few daily tasks that are still more difficult for her because of her balance, coordination, and lack of flexibility, but we are working on those day by day and she is making great progress.  (This mama is having to get used to her new height too--I whacked her head with the microwave oven door as she helped me bake sugar cookies to take to the hospital because she *used* to fit under the microwave oven door when standing on the step stool.  No longer.  Silly mama!)  She had her first OT appointment today, and next week will also begin receiving PT in addition to the OT to help her build strength, flexibility, and coordination, and teach her some strategies to do things in new ways when needed.  She is still quite obviously needing her pain meds regularly...she will show signs of pain and discomfort after about 4-5 hours between doses, and within 15-20 minutes of taking her next dose, will begin to act totally like Lilly again.  She is also beginning to stretch out her sleep a little bit at night, so I am feeling a bit more rested every day. 

Here are a few videos from the past week or so, showing some of the things we have been up to...

First is a clip of Anna swimming the 50 yard backstroke at her recent District Championship swim meet in Pensacola.  She came within a few tenths of a second of qualifying for the Southeastern Regional Championships--we were really proud of her and she had a great meet, dropping time in every single event she swam last Saturday and Sunday.  Most exciting was watching the relays--she anchored the freestyle relay, and she led off the medley relay with the backstroke leg.

Next is a clip (sorry, barely any sound through the door!) of Jared playing his trombone solo at the regional "Solo and Ensemble" competition for middle school band students.  He scored a "Superior" rating--the highest rating awarded by the judges.  Tom was able to stand outside the door, but it was just Jared, the accompanist, and the judge in the room.  He has been working hard on his trombone and it shows.

Finally, here is a short clip of Lilly's first post-surgery steps while in CHOP.  I think this was probably post op day 2 or 3....  I had hoped to post this side-by-side with video of her walking around now looking so normal and tall and coordinated while walking, but that clip will have to wait...I have had no time to video anything!  THis one is a bit painful to watch, and I'mnot sure if I can get it to flip from being sideways...

So now, we continue to allow Nana to gain strength and clear her lungs, help Lilly to adapt and hopefully soon wean her off of her narcotics (she'll be thrilled to go back to preschool when those drugs are no longer necessary), and await word on whatever lies ahead for Tom's career and our family.  This week was the week to register Jared for high school and Anna for middle school, so we have gone ahead and done that *just in case* we're not moving, even though the odds are that we will be elsewhere for the next school year.

Stay tuned!