The Sidewinder

Hola all,

So why the sidewinder...well it's a roller coaster at Hersheypark not far from Lancaster here in PA. It's one that you get in and they take you back up a hill then let you go and you go through 2 flips and a twisty turn before going up another steep incline, you pause...then you go through it all backwards. A thrill at times but sickening other times...that would be a good graphic description of todays events :)

First off let me put some verses that I got from my aunt and uncle today, reminding us of what we had in our wedding. The verses were 2 Cor 4:7-18 and some of it says this "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us...Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." WOW...how true in a time such as this, we proclaimed it at our wedding and now we need to live it. Thanks SO much for the reminder J&C.

So today we knew was scope down the throat #4. Though this was the one with the longest break in between and she has been on steroids this time around as well so I was secretly really expecting it to be out today though the news seemed like it will be awhile. After Grace's mom and I were in for about an hour the pulminary group came in so we had to leave. About an hour later the nurse came out with a "sorry" look on her face and said no. Everyone was bummed and it became a waiting game again. Time with Grace was more energized today as her heartrate was flying high as she was moving around and trying to motion to stuff. It took mom and I probably 10 minutes to figure out that she just wanted a tissue. But we finally figured it out and she calmed down a little again. We got her to smile a few times (when I showed her how long my beard is) and she wanted to have her glasses on today so I'm sure she saw more. Ups and downs, tears for me for the first time in her room I think as she rested while mom and I listened to a great worship song that I can't remember right now. I wanted to remember so bad but I'll have to ask mom about it. Sorry :)

Anyway at the end of the 6pm visiting hours we saw the head doctor and he said in about an hour he could talk. So we were in with him for about 30 minutes as I described how it happened and mom asked questions. He did an incredible job at explaining everything and stressed that there won't be any long term damage to her lungs or throat and that she will come out of this fine it will just take time. There was talk of a trach today...but it sounds like that isn't wanted and won't be needed if we can get this tube out in the next couple of days. They would probably first try to put a smaller tube in her as she is tiny as most of you know and so a smaller tube would really help that throat to heal so we shall see. One day at a time it sounds...we've got probably another 1.5-2 weeks down there.

So that's the ups and downs of the sidewinder today...but we know the Controller of the ride and we are trusting he knows the best path. It says somewhere in Psalms that as a man plans his way the Lord determines his steps.

For He is Good,
Lamar