If you are keeping up with my BIL, today has been our worst day yet.
He woke up with his throat on fire, so he decided to stay home from church.
He finally felt a little better tonight and got up.
On his way out of his room, he fainted in the hall. (side note: the neurologist said no more wheelchair. Too much time in the wheelchair will cause any progress in retraining of the brain to regress)
It took us a while to wake him up. Once he did and felt ok, he started to stand up. Fainted again.
He ate some dinner, and rested a while. Got up to go to the bathroom and face planted in the middle of the hardwood floor.
It took me a long time to wake him up.
Once awake he kept saying, "I am so tired of this."
Not a good day.
Our worse thus far in 4 months.
We have made zero progress.
*sigh*
He's in his room right now listening to worship music.
To Him Who is able.....
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Five Question Friday!
It's that time again, and one of my questions was picked this week again! Thanks to Mama M, we can all join in on the Five Question F-U-N!
Here we go!
Here we go!
1. Would you ever vacation alone?
heck YES!!! I would LUUUUVE to do that!
heck YES!!! I would LUUUUVE to do that!
2. Do you go the speed limit?
I always go at least 5mph over...I just can't bring myself to go 30! That is SOO slow...and so is 55 on the highway! 65-70 is much better!
I always go at least 5mph over...I just can't bring myself to go 30! That is SOO slow...and so is 55 on the highway! 65-70 is much better!
3. Why did you start blogging/following blogs?
I think I started reading a friend's blog about her family. Then I started reading comments and clicking over to other blogs. I was hooked! Had no idea there was a huge network of blogs.
I think I started reading a friend's blog about her family. Then I started reading comments and clicking over to other blogs. I was hooked! Had no idea there was a huge network of blogs.
4. Where do you shop for yourself?
Have you heard of a little store called Target? uh yeah. I'm there at least once a week. I also love the GAP outlet for clothes and New York & Co.
Have you heard of a little store called Target? uh yeah. I'm there at least once a week. I also love the GAP outlet for clothes and New York & Co.
5. What was the song that you danced your first dance with your spouse to at your wedding...or...what song would you like your first dance to be to?
No first dance yet. Don't want a big regular wedding. Just a big party after the honeymoon!
No first dance yet. Don't want a big regular wedding. Just a big party after the honeymoon!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
ten things i hate about you 14 13 random facts
**UPDATED... as SOMEONE so nicely pointed out, I only have THIRTEEN random facts here. Clearly, someone has too much time on her hands...
Alternately titled: You want random? illgiveyourandom
I can't STAND touching cotton balls. wigs. me. out.
I drove a standard for 18 months, hating every minutes of it. Now that I have an automatic, sometimes I miss having a standard.
When I paint my fingernails I do it right before bed. Undercoat, 2 coats of color, one topcoat. Then I sleep with my hands on top of my down comforter.
I HATE stickers! Like the stickers kids always want to give you to wear. I can't do it.
My cell phone cover is lime green.
I have to be covered with at least a sheet when I am sleeping. No matter what.
I have a strange obsession with cleaning my ears...well, the inside.
I leave my keys in the front door a lot, yet I never think to look there when I can't find them an hour later.
It drives me up a wall when people try and talk to me during movies or shows. Commercials are ok.
I rearrange my bedroom all the time!
I'm never in a regular sleeping pattern. Probably why I'm tired a lot.
There is always at least one animal asleep on my bed.
And, finally for now, the air freshener in my room is "Dancing Waters" from Bath and Body Works.
How about you? What are some random facts?
Alternately titled: You want random? illgiveyourandom
I can't STAND touching cotton balls. wigs. me. out.
I drove a standard for 18 months, hating every minutes of it. Now that I have an automatic, sometimes I miss having a standard.
When I paint my fingernails I do it right before bed. Undercoat, 2 coats of color, one topcoat. Then I sleep with my hands on top of my down comforter.
I HATE stickers! Like the stickers kids always want to give you to wear. I can't do it.
My cell phone cover is lime green.
I have to be covered with at least a sheet when I am sleeping. No matter what.
I have a strange obsession with cleaning my ears...well, the inside.
I leave my keys in the front door a lot, yet I never think to look there when I can't find them an hour later.
It drives me up a wall when people try and talk to me during movies or shows. Commercials are ok.
I rearrange my bedroom all the time!
I'm never in a regular sleeping pattern. Probably why I'm tired a lot.
There is always at least one animal asleep on my bed.
And, finally for now, the air freshener in my room is "Dancing Waters" from Bath and Body Works.
How about you? What are some random facts?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Pulse
I was sitting in a "webinar" for grad school orientation. Since I was a little early checking in, I watched a few "commercials" on the site. I was struck by one man's testimony, more so by a phrase he used.
"Pulse for Christ"
The man giving the testimony did not expound upon this phrase; he was only using it in a list. However, I couldn't help but think more about it.
If you just sit there for a minute and ponder this phrase, does it take your breath away a bit, like it did for me?
Imagine what our lives would be like if every beat of our heart whispered His name. Imagine what our lives would be like if HALF our heart beats were sustaining us to do His work. Imagine what our lives would be like if one sixteenth of every heartbeat each day was a pulse growing stronger and stronger to make a different for eternity.
What a thought.
How much more can we be doing on a daily basis to make each pulse be a cause for the kingdom?
"Pulse for Christ"
The man giving the testimony did not expound upon this phrase; he was only using it in a list. However, I couldn't help but think more about it.
If you just sit there for a minute and ponder this phrase, does it take your breath away a bit, like it did for me?
Imagine what our lives would be like if every beat of our heart whispered His name. Imagine what our lives would be like if HALF our heart beats were sustaining us to do His work. Imagine what our lives would be like if one sixteenth of every heartbeat each day was a pulse growing stronger and stronger to make a different for eternity.
What a thought.
How much more can we be doing on a daily basis to make each pulse be a cause for the kingdom?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Getting to know you
I do believe this is my first time doing a post on Keel's Carnival! I can't believe it's Sunday night already! Where on earth did the weekend go??
1. Waffles, pancakes or french toast?
whole wheat banana pancakes!!
umm, if we have people over. I couldn't care less about football
1. Waffles, pancakes or french toast?
whole wheat banana pancakes!!
2. Dream home..What would it look like?
Big master bathroom with a jacuzzi & a HUGE closet off the bathroom. Look at this baby:
Big master bathroom with a jacuzzi & a HUGE closet off the bathroom. Look at this baby:
3. Favorite sport to watch during the Winter Olympics?
Do they do gymnastics in the winter?
Do they do gymnastics in the winter?
4. The first word that comes to mind when describing yourself?
random
random
5. Dresses, pants (jeans, leggings, etc.) or skirts?
Jeans from Gap!! Love their new 1969 Long & Lean jeans...all I have to say is you don't have to be lean to wear them.
Jeans from Gap!! Love their new 1969 Long & Lean jeans...all I have to say is you don't have to be lean to wear them.
6. What is your favorite time of day?
BEDtime
BEDtime
7. Beach or Mountains..which do you prefer?
Are ya kidding? Do ya know me?? BEACH!
8.Will you watch the Super Bowl?Are ya kidding? Do ya know me?? BEACH!
umm, if we have people over. I couldn't care less about football
Friday, January 22, 2010
Hymn or Chorus?
This joke is hysterical! Maybe it's just my background! Thanks to Sarah over at NH Food and Whine for sharing the web site with me!
Totally worth the read, I think!
Totally worth the read, I think!
An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was. “Well,” said the farmer.”It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns.”
“Praise choruses?” asked the wife. “What are those?”
“Oh, they’re okay. They’re sort of like hymns, only different,” said the farmer.
“Well, what’s the difference?” asked the wife.
The farmer said, “Well it’s like this . . . if I were to say to you, ‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you, ‘Martha, Martha, Martha, Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA, the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows, the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, in the CORN, CORN, CORN, COOOOORRRRRNNNNN.’ Then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well that would be a praise chorus.”
As luck would have it, the exact same Sunday a young, new Christian from the city church attended the small town church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was. “Well,” said the young man, “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs.”
“Hymns?” asked the wife. “What are those?”
“They’re okay. They’re sort of like regular songs, only different,” said the young man.
“Well, what’s the difference?” asked the wife.
The young man said, “Well it’s like this ¦ If I were to say to you, ‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a regular song. If on the other hand, I were to say to you,
Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth.
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, glorious truth.
For the way of the animals who can explain
There in their heads is no shadow of sense,
Hearkenest they in God’s sun or his rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.
Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight,
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed.
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn chewed.
So look to that bright shining day by and by,
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn.
Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.
Then, if I were to do only verses one, three and four, and change keys on the last verse, well that would be a hymn.
Funny, eh??Five Question Friday!
I haven't participated in a few weeks, but I'm back this week! Head over to Mama M's page to read her answers and others who have linked up!
1. What is better, growing old with out money or dying young and wealthy?
Money isn't everything....but it sure does help sometimes! :) I'd rather grow old than peace out too early.
2. Who takes out the garbage at your house?
Usually my brother
3. Have you ever had the same dream many times?
When I was young, I swear, once a year I had the same dream. Pirates were coming to raid our house and the only place I could hide where they wouldn't find me was underneath the back seat of our old school caravan. Scared me half to death every time, but they never got me!
4. Can you play a musical instrument?
I've taken piano and trumpet lessons. I spent more time on the trumpet, which I totally regret. I was 1st trumpet for a few years. Since I was actually good at it, I quit piano to play the trumpet more. Two years later, I quit trumpet. I REALLY DISLIKED my music teacher (Sarah L, you will know who I am talking about!!)
I can also play a little guitar.
I play a pretty mean recorder, too!! I still remember how to play Amazing Grace.
5. If you owned your own store, what would you sell?
hmmm, can I just live in Target?? I would never want to own my own store. BUT if I did, I'd probably have a little shop in a downtown area, selling locals' clothing and jewelry creations. Totally not an original idea, I know.
Now, go write your own answers! please.
1. What is better, growing old with out money or dying young and wealthy?
Money isn't everything....but it sure does help sometimes! :) I'd rather grow old than peace out too early.
2. Who takes out the garbage at your house?
Usually my brother
3. Have you ever had the same dream many times?
When I was young, I swear, once a year I had the same dream. Pirates were coming to raid our house and the only place I could hide where they wouldn't find me was underneath the back seat of our old school caravan. Scared me half to death every time, but they never got me!
4. Can you play a musical instrument?
I've taken piano and trumpet lessons. I spent more time on the trumpet, which I totally regret. I was 1st trumpet for a few years. Since I was actually good at it, I quit piano to play the trumpet more. Two years later, I quit trumpet. I REALLY DISLIKED my music teacher (Sarah L, you will know who I am talking about!!)
I can also play a little guitar.
I play a pretty mean recorder, too!! I still remember how to play Amazing Grace.
5. If you owned your own store, what would you sell?
hmmm, can I just live in Target?? I would never want to own my own store. BUT if I did, I'd probably have a little shop in a downtown area, selling locals' clothing and jewelry creations. Totally not an original idea, I know.
Now, go write your own answers! please.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
2am
We thought we were making progress.
The longer we can go preventing my BIL from fainting the better.
He hasn't fainted since being home; he hadn't fainted since be on the EEG at the hospital.
That was 2 weeks ago.
That is the longest he has gone since October.
So far our only method of prevention has been him being in a wheelchair.
2am this morning he called out for help.
My parents ran in and found he had fainted in the corner of the bedroom behind the door.
He had no idea what he was doing and had no idea where he was.
PT starts next week.
My sister flew out over the holiday weekend so they could spent some time together.
She is back home now because they can't afford for her not to work.
We covet your prayers, knowing He is able.
We are not losing hope.
The longer we can go preventing my BIL from fainting the better.
He hasn't fainted since being home; he hadn't fainted since be on the EEG at the hospital.
That was 2 weeks ago.
That is the longest he has gone since October.
So far our only method of prevention has been him being in a wheelchair.
2am this morning he called out for help.
My parents ran in and found he had fainted in the corner of the bedroom behind the door.
He had no idea what he was doing and had no idea where he was.
PT starts next week.
My sister flew out over the holiday weekend so they could spent some time together.
She is back home now because they can't afford for her not to work.
We covet your prayers, knowing He is able.
We are not losing hope.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Clean out your purse, woman!
My findings....
(Sorry, cell phone quality! It's actually a really cute green color!)
1 chapstick
2 lip glosses
1 lindt chocolate
2 dove dark chocolates
1 necklace
1 ipod USB cord
1 quarter
1 Dunkin' D's card
2 starbucks cards
1 bottle of pamprin
1 bottle of lactase enzymes
1 two week old clementine
2 pieces offresh two-week-old bread in a sandwich bag
3 mittens
1 package of clean well sanitizing wipes
1 tampon
3 receipts
3 hair clips
1 ipod
2 pairs of sunglasses
1 empty wallet
...and I don't have kids to blame it on!
Anyone else have a bottomless pit??
(Sorry, cell phone quality! It's actually a really cute green color!)2 lip glosses
1 lindt chocolate
2 dove dark chocolates
1 necklace
1 ipod USB cord
1 quarter
1 Dunkin' D's card
2 starbucks cards
1 bottle of pamprin
1 bottle of lactase enzymes
1 two week old clementine
2 pieces of
3 mittens
1 package of clean well sanitizing wipes
1 tampon
3 receipts
3 hair clips
1 ipod
2 pairs of sunglasses
1 empty wallet
...and I don't have kids to blame it on!
Anyone else have a bottomless pit??
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Five Question Friday 2 Days Late
I'm hopping on the blog carnival 2 days later. Mama M doesn't mind! :)
1. Worst trouble you ever got into as a teenager?
hmmm, I have no idea....I had a fresh mouth, so I have a feeling it had to do with that...
2. Are you a morning person or a night person?
I'd like to say neither...but I am more of a night person. SOOOO NOT a morning person...more like a bear if up too early!
3. Are you a one-handed or a two-handed Texter?
Two because I have the full keyboard
4. Democrat, Republican, or Independent..or maybe even Green Party (whatever that is).
I think I'm a registered Republican.
5. Are you a pet person?
Are you kidding me?? Do you even KNOW me?? Have you seen this post?
1. Worst trouble you ever got into as a teenager?
hmmm, I have no idea....I had a fresh mouth, so I have a feeling it had to do with that...
2. Are you a morning person or a night person?
I'd like to say neither...but I am more of a night person. SOOOO NOT a morning person...more like a bear if up too early!
3. Are you a one-handed or a two-handed Texter?
Two because I have the full keyboard
4. Democrat, Republican, or Independent..or maybe even Green Party (whatever that is).
I think I'm a registered Republican.
5. Are you a pet person?
Are you kidding me?? Do you even KNOW me?? Have you seen this post?
Friday, January 15, 2010
Noise
I am totally the girl who puts on music as soon as she gets in her car. Start up that engine, buckle my seat belt, and before I throw her in reverse I have made my ipod selection.
Unlike my friend MckMama, I am a music gal! ;) Love listening to it- all the time! Sitting doing school work? Music softly on in the background. Getting ready in the morning? Music playing. Blow drying my hair? Music turned up so I can still hear it. Winding down for the night? I have a playlist, "Lax", for that. Do you get the picture? I love music.
I'll listen to almost any genre. I love it all. I don't love all songs, but my music choices are across the board. From Jim Brickman to Rita Springer. From Rascal Flatts to 40's music.
However, as I was starting up my car today, I buckled my seat belt and threw her in reverse. I missed a step! I got about a mile down the road before I realized I had no music on. I reached for the power button but stopped my hand short. I was enjoying the silence. It was so peaceful. I felt like I just needed to take a deep breath and sit there in silence because it was so wonderful and clear.
I think we are like this with the Lord sometimes. Our lives are so busy. The busier we get, the louder the noise becomes. If we get to a point where the noise is too loud we won't be able to hear Him. Don't get me wrong, the Lord can speak to us anyway he chooses, no matter how loud the noise, but sometimes we just need to be quiet and still before Him to listen to what He has to say. He can turn our silence into something beautiful.
Like music to our ears.
Unlike my friend MckMama, I am a music gal! ;) Love listening to it- all the time! Sitting doing school work? Music softly on in the background. Getting ready in the morning? Music playing. Blow drying my hair? Music turned up so I can still hear it. Winding down for the night? I have a playlist, "Lax", for that. Do you get the picture? I love music.
I'll listen to almost any genre. I love it all. I don't love all songs, but my music choices are across the board. From Jim Brickman to Rita Springer. From Rascal Flatts to 40's music.
However, as I was starting up my car today, I buckled my seat belt and threw her in reverse. I missed a step! I got about a mile down the road before I realized I had no music on. I reached for the power button but stopped my hand short. I was enjoying the silence. It was so peaceful. I felt like I just needed to take a deep breath and sit there in silence because it was so wonderful and clear.
I think we are like this with the Lord sometimes. Our lives are so busy. The busier we get, the louder the noise becomes. If we get to a point where the noise is too loud we won't be able to hear Him. Don't get me wrong, the Lord can speak to us anyway he chooses, no matter how loud the noise, but sometimes we just need to be quiet and still before Him to listen to what He has to say. He can turn our silence into something beautiful.
Like music to our ears.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
BIL Update
If you follow me on twitter or have been reading some of my previous posts, you know my brother-in-law has been in the hospital since right after Christmas. LONG story short, he has been fainting since October. He lives in Ohio but came out to NH for Christmas with my sister. He has been in the hospital out here, and my sister had to return home to work. He saw several world renown doctors in Boston and tonight he was discharged....without a diagnosis.
Their treatment plan is to retrain the brain through physical therapy, medications, and aerobic exercise. It sounds crazy, but the doctors are at a loss. They have never seen a case like his. So he will continue to be an out patient with his doctor in Boston, and he will be living out here with us until he is ready to go back home to Ohio. We are looking at a couple months, I guess. I just don't get it. He went from a normal functioning guy to not being able to take 2 steps from his wheelchair to his bed without someone on either side of him. No way to live life at 33. My poor sister is home alone and has to go work every day thinking about whether her husband is going to come home well or whether she is going to have to live her life with him progressively getting worse. It sucks...there is no other way to say it.
However, we still have hope.
Psalm 33:20
"We wait in hope for the LORD;
He is our Help and our Shield."
Psalm 130:5
"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in His word I put my hope."
He is our hope.
Their treatment plan is to retrain the brain through physical therapy, medications, and aerobic exercise. It sounds crazy, but the doctors are at a loss. They have never seen a case like his. So he will continue to be an out patient with his doctor in Boston, and he will be living out here with us until he is ready to go back home to Ohio. We are looking at a couple months, I guess. I just don't get it. He went from a normal functioning guy to not being able to take 2 steps from his wheelchair to his bed without someone on either side of him. No way to live life at 33. My poor sister is home alone and has to go work every day thinking about whether her husband is going to come home well or whether she is going to have to live her life with him progressively getting worse. It sucks...there is no other way to say it.
However, we still have hope.
Psalm 33:20
"We wait in hope for the LORD;
He is our Help and our Shield."
Psalm 130:5
"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in His word I put my hope."
He is our hope.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Meet Ben (Part Three)
I know it has taken me a while to get this one up. I've had a lot going on here. Here are the links to post I and post II in case you missed them.
In Summation:
So by now you know all about Ben's disabilities. He is 27 and his cognitive development is significantly delayed. He has behavior issues, and he will never be able to drive or live on his own. He is on eight different medications four times a day, and his ability to reason and think logically is nonexistent most of the time. However, he is able to carry on a conversation.
Part Three:
Ben loves to read. I mean LOVES! He reads internet articles, junior novels, maps, and the Bible.
Did you catch that last one? Yep, he loves to read the Bible. In fact, you could ask him a totally random fact from the Bible, and I can almost guarantee he would know the answer. You know that judge who is only mentioned once in the Bible, Ben will know his name. Oftentimes, Ben is able to tell you in which book and chapter a certain passage can be found. Amazing, no? He can't add four plus five in his head, but he can quote scripture, tell you details from the Word that no one picks up on, and tell you who was related to whom.
1 Corinthians 2:9
"However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him"
(Christmas Eve 2009)
In Summation:
So by now you know all about Ben's disabilities. He is 27 and his cognitive development is significantly delayed. He has behavior issues, and he will never be able to drive or live on his own. He is on eight different medications four times a day, and his ability to reason and think logically is nonexistent most of the time. However, he is able to carry on a conversation.
Part Three:
Ben loves to read. I mean LOVES! He reads internet articles, junior novels, maps, and the Bible.
Did you catch that last one? Yep, he loves to read the Bible. In fact, you could ask him a totally random fact from the Bible, and I can almost guarantee he would know the answer. You know that judge who is only mentioned once in the Bible, Ben will know his name. Oftentimes, Ben is able to tell you in which book and chapter a certain passage can be found. Amazing, no? He can't add four plus five in his head, but he can quote scripture, tell you details from the Word that no one picks up on, and tell you who was related to whom.
1 Corinthians 2:9
"However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him"
(Christmas Eve 2009)Not Me! Monday
I had to think hard this week to come up with these...I think that means they won't be entertaining, so you may want to just stop here.
Ok, well, don't say I didn't warn you!
-I did not have this conversation this week inside a fast food "restaurant":
Ben: why is your hat still on?
Me: Because my hair is greasy
Ben: Oh
-I have not had to roll out of bed every night this week around 3am to let the dog out....
-I did not "accidentally" push the button to floor 2 at the hospital to see where Mike's roommate from this post moved to. You know, just in case there was cause for concern.
-It was not me who raided the kitchen on the floor at the hospital...found choc ice cream and peanut butter- mixed them right up! Have to be creative when you don't want to eat in the cafeteria every day.
That's it peeps. Head over to MckMama's blog to read more Not Me's! Surely there are some more interesting ones than mine!
ps. Part III of "Meet Ben" coming up this week!
Ok, well, don't say I didn't warn you!
-I did not have this conversation this week inside a fast food "restaurant":
Ben: why is your hat still on?
Me: Because my hair is greasy
Ben: Oh
-I have not had to roll out of bed every night this week around 3am to let the dog out....
-I did not "accidentally" push the button to floor 2 at the hospital to see where Mike's roommate from this post moved to. You know, just in case there was cause for concern.
-It was not me who raided the kitchen on the floor at the hospital...found choc ice cream and peanut butter- mixed them right up! Have to be creative when you don't want to eat in the cafeteria every day.
That's it peeps. Head over to MckMama's blog to read more Not Me's! Surely there are some more interesting ones than mine!
ps. Part III of "Meet Ben" coming up this week!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Room 1124
Curtain closes for patient privacy....
New patient enters room behind curtain...
Conversation behind curtain...
Doctor: Hi R. Are you still hearing voices?
R: Yes
Doctor: Do you still want to hurt yourself and others?
R: Well, that's gotten better....hey, I had you as my nurse in the psych ward....
Good luck, Mike!
New patient enters room behind curtain...
Conversation behind curtain...
Doctor: Hi R. Are you still hearing voices?
R: Yes
Doctor: Do you still want to hurt yourself and others?
R: Well, that's gotten better....hey, I had you as my nurse in the psych ward....
Good luck, Mike!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
it's the greek in me
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
in the waiting "room"
Pardon my appearance- I am working on it. :)
**Sorry, it's long, but I think worth the read.
I have spent multiple hours waiting around the hospital all week. If you don't know why, see my post here. In these hours I observed a great deal of people and situations.
In the initial waiting room of the ER, I watched an elderly gentlemen on a stretcher being transported to a psychiatric hospital. In the post assessment room, I saw a student with either a deformity or a large amount of swelling in his head/on his brain. He sat in a wheelchair with a hole in his shoe and a thin jacket on to keep him warm from the harsh wind that night. He was alone. That room also housed a husband and wife. The wife was in a wheelchair and crying.
Once we were given a room in the ER, the room across from us had a number of people pass through. The first, a woman who had surgery recently, was discharged but began throwing up once home. The second, a man in a wheelchair bent over in pain. His clothes were tan and I could hear him moaning in pain. His feet and hands? Handcuffed to the wheelchair. He was escorted by a police officer. The last patient I remember was someone I saw in the initial waiting room. He was also hunched over in pain. His face gaunt. His coat was about 3 sizes too big and his winter hat sat atop his head, not covering his ears. He was a homeless man.
For about an hour my chair was positioned in the hallway between two floors. To the right was the ER exam room floor and to my left was the pediatrics floor. Hospitalized babies filled the beds that night. As I sat there I could hear the cry of a baby that sounded like a one year old. It wasn't a cry of need or discontentment. It was a cry of desperation and pain. I found myself pleading with the Lord to give this baby, whose face I didn't know, some relief and rest. The babe continued to cry off and on for about 10 minutes, and then, from the silence, I assumed he was able to finally rest.
I walked down the hall to the bathroom several times and each time I walked by one of the empty beds for babies in the hospital. The kind that we have all seen Stellan in through MckMama's pictures. I pictured all those parents who just want to hold their children and bring them home to their own bed, yet all they can do is reach their arms through the bars of the bed to comfort their child, letting them know they are close.
My mind raced knowing large quantities of parents walk the hallway of the pediatric wing every day for days and weeks on end. Millions of tears have been shed in that wing and in that hospital.
Yet, there I sat with warm winter boots on my feet, without a hole. My family was together. My coat fit properly. I had a home to go to and have never known the feeling of watching my child sit in a hospital bed, feeling hopeless.
It doesn't mean the Lord loves me anymore than He loves each person I observed. He loves us all equally.
It doesn't mean I have good luck and they have bad luck- I don't believe in it.
I means that I am responsible to take what the Lord has given me to give back to Him. It means sitting in that hallway looking for ways to extend His love to those who are hurting. It means praying for one another, even when we don't know their face or even their name.
It means no matter how bad things become, the Lord walks with us.
I means the elderly, the homeless, the incarcerated, the emotionally exhausted, the 24 year old grad student, and the wife with no answers have hope. That not one moment of their life goes unnoticed. There is hope in the One who created them.
Even in the darkest hours of life, there is always hope.
Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
**Sorry, it's long, but I think worth the read.
I have spent multiple hours waiting around the hospital all week. If you don't know why, see my post here. In these hours I observed a great deal of people and situations.
In the initial waiting room of the ER, I watched an elderly gentlemen on a stretcher being transported to a psychiatric hospital. In the post assessment room, I saw a student with either a deformity or a large amount of swelling in his head/on his brain. He sat in a wheelchair with a hole in his shoe and a thin jacket on to keep him warm from the harsh wind that night. He was alone. That room also housed a husband and wife. The wife was in a wheelchair and crying.
Once we were given a room in the ER, the room across from us had a number of people pass through. The first, a woman who had surgery recently, was discharged but began throwing up once home. The second, a man in a wheelchair bent over in pain. His clothes were tan and I could hear him moaning in pain. His feet and hands? Handcuffed to the wheelchair. He was escorted by a police officer. The last patient I remember was someone I saw in the initial waiting room. He was also hunched over in pain. His face gaunt. His coat was about 3 sizes too big and his winter hat sat atop his head, not covering his ears. He was a homeless man.
For about an hour my chair was positioned in the hallway between two floors. To the right was the ER exam room floor and to my left was the pediatrics floor. Hospitalized babies filled the beds that night. As I sat there I could hear the cry of a baby that sounded like a one year old. It wasn't a cry of need or discontentment. It was a cry of desperation and pain. I found myself pleading with the Lord to give this baby, whose face I didn't know, some relief and rest. The babe continued to cry off and on for about 10 minutes, and then, from the silence, I assumed he was able to finally rest.
I walked down the hall to the bathroom several times and each time I walked by one of the empty beds for babies in the hospital. The kind that we have all seen Stellan in through MckMama's pictures. I pictured all those parents who just want to hold their children and bring them home to their own bed, yet all they can do is reach their arms through the bars of the bed to comfort their child, letting them know they are close.
My mind raced knowing large quantities of parents walk the hallway of the pediatric wing every day for days and weeks on end. Millions of tears have been shed in that wing and in that hospital.
Yet, there I sat with warm winter boots on my feet, without a hole. My family was together. My coat fit properly. I had a home to go to and have never known the feeling of watching my child sit in a hospital bed, feeling hopeless.
It doesn't mean the Lord loves me anymore than He loves each person I observed. He loves us all equally.
It doesn't mean I have good luck and they have bad luck- I don't believe in it.
I means that I am responsible to take what the Lord has given me to give back to Him. It means sitting in that hallway looking for ways to extend His love to those who are hurting. It means praying for one another, even when we don't know their face or even their name.
It means no matter how bad things become, the Lord walks with us.
I means the elderly, the homeless, the incarcerated, the emotionally exhausted, the 24 year old grad student, and the wife with no answers have hope. That not one moment of their life goes unnoticed. There is hope in the One who created them.
Even in the darkest hours of life, there is always hope.
Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Monday, January 4, 2010
Hang on...
Update** Can't do anymore tonight. I am done fighting with photoshop thankyouverymuch :p Will try again when I have time.
Bear with me! I am trying to install my new template on my own...
I have no idea who the little girl is in my pics above....haha working on it! :)
Bear with me! I am trying to install my new template on my own...
I have no idea who the little girl is in my pics above....haha working on it! :)
Not Me! Monday* Hospital Edition
It's that time again, and I have some killers this week!
It was not me who was so distracted by someone telling me how much they loved my ring:
that I totally walked INTO the elevator door. Walked right INTO it! Definitely not me!!
It was also not me who stole my BIL's wheelchair to sit in when I was bored of sitting in the regular chairs in his hospital room.
It was not me making faces behind the the REALLY mean nurse's back.
It was NOT me who was able to better interpret my BIL's roommate by realizing he needed Lasix for "water in his legs".
It was certainly NOT me who also literally ran around the parking garage at 4am looking for our car outside the ER.
Finally, it was not me playing with the bouncy ball that hit the leg of an employee in the gift shop.
Head over to MckMama's site and link on up while seeing what others have not done this week.
Stay tuned for a more serious post about the hospital scheduled for tomorrow morning. I think it's worth the read.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Staying Entertained
2:30AM, hour 6, in the ER
Have to entertain yourself when you spend countless hours at the hospital. (My brother-in-law is the patient, not me)
Sorry for my absence....I've been at the hospital for days with limited internet. I should also add that I did NOT have to wear the mask near him, I was just bored.
That's all fun and games, but we would really appreciate your prayers for him. He has been passing out for 3 months, and NO ONE can figure out what is going on. He was going 4-7 days without passing out, but on Christmas Day he passed out twice and each day following. He has no warning of it coming, so he cannot sit down of even brace himself. He has hit his head on the wood floor at least 20, that's TWENTY, times. The story is SO long, but I will leave it at that for now. We are confident the Lord knows and will direct his doctors.
Have to entertain yourself when you spend countless hours at the hospital. (My brother-in-law is the patient, not me)
Sorry for my absence....I've been at the hospital for days with limited internet. I should also add that I did NOT have to wear the mask near him, I was just bored.
That's all fun and games, but we would really appreciate your prayers for him. He has been passing out for 3 months, and NO ONE can figure out what is going on. He was going 4-7 days without passing out, but on Christmas Day he passed out twice and each day following. He has no warning of it coming, so he cannot sit down of even brace himself. He has hit his head on the wood floor at least 20, that's TWENTY, times. The story is SO long, but I will leave it at that for now. We are confident the Lord knows and will direct his doctors.
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