Day Seven

On this seventh day of illness I have received some rest. It, overall, was the best day since Tuesday. I have still had fever and aches, but much milder - until about 7 PM. I am so thankful. Even though tonight is not great, the day being so much better encourages me. Maybe tomorrow will be even better! Please thank God for answering prayers. Being sick so long has given me more time to just think about spiritual things. There is much to be thankful for!

In fact, one good thing today came from an actual burst of brain power. I have been spending 1 1/2 hours every day hooked up to a milking machine. (I know that is way more than you wanted to hear, but I haven't figured out a graceful way to talk about it.) I have wished that I could do something productive during that time. I have spent much time praying, but today I had another great thought (in that little burst) I can listen to CD's with headphones. We have lots of sermons that I've never listened to, so I was very excited about the idea.

Thanks again for praying, and praise God for giving me rest on this seventh day.

(Okay, sorry about the weird look, but I tried to be clever and put the word "power" in a smaller font. But it won't make everything after "power" big again, and I'm not redoing=)

Back to Urgent Care...

John took me back to Urgent Care this morning. The doctor ordered a chest x-ray which revealed a lung infection of some sort. She said it's not pneumonia, but said that it would be unclear on an x-ray whether the infection is bacterial or fungal. Most of you know that I baulk at taking antibiotics, especially while nursing, but I am going to do that this time. I am so tired of being sick and so weak that I don't even want to think about thinking of something else. Plus, it will help determine whether fungus or bacteria is the problem.

Please pray?

I mentioned in my earlier post that I have been sick all week. Today is day five of fever and head and body aches. It is old. I feel like I am letting my family down. Providing food for Jason has been one of the hardest things to continue. I am so earnest about breastfeeding him. Please pray for me? I really want to be well. (I went to Urgent Care Tuesday and baffled the doctor.) If I am not well soon I will go back, I guess. Thank you!

Attitude

I get lots of forwards. Well, it feels like I get lots of forwards. I don't particularly like to get them. Usually I delete unread. Occasionally, I will read one, though. I opened one this morning that I was sure I'd seen before. I hadn't. I am pasting it below. It's not especially different than other things you see, but it is profound in its own way.

Attitude Is Important

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.' So she did
and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. 'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.' So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that
she had only one hair on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'today I'm
going to wear my hair in a pony tail.' So she did and she had a
fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that
there wasn't a single hair on her head. 'YEA!' she exclaimed,
'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly.......

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain!

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I have had my share of pity parties over the last several months. I have. But I think one of the things I am seeing and trying to learn is what the message above says. Our circumstances don't have to determine our happiness or our mood. We don't have to use the nuisances of life as excuses to be miserable - or to make other people miserable. I suppose we can go on and be joyful and sweet all the time.

I have been sick all week, and you know that has been discouraging. It has not erased the perpetual good that God is and does, though. Maybe I will laugh more today and smile. And just maybe I will feel better too.

New Accomplishments for Jason!

Yesterday Jason accomplished two new things that really encouraged me! He was able to eat with a regular bottle! It took him longer because it was more work for him, but he did it. He hasn't yet finished eating the full amount that way, but nearly so. One time he ate all but 1 1/2 ounces of the six normally eaten.

AND he has been saying a "ny" sound! There are only two sounds that you don't use your soft palate muscle to form: the "m" and "ing" sounds. That means that he had to use his soft palate muscle to form his new sound. I know that is tiny, but I was so excited. I am also hopeful about his speech because, so far, he has been pretty vocal. He does lots of cooing. Some of the other boys weren't so free with those adorable noises.

The picture is not of the regular bottle, but I am including it because we all get a kick out of his new desire to "help" with his feedings. I really don't ever want him to hold the bottle for himself because feeding times are natural bonding/cuddling times, but it is fun that he likes to hang on to it too.

James and Joshua

James and Joshua have continued playing ping pong since we moved. In fact, they have played a lot. They haven't been able to be outside a lot because of the heat. (It's been the hottest summer on record!) When they do go out there's not a lot to do because the yard is so tiny. As a result many hours have been passed at the ping pong table.

Recently, we read an article in the Surprise newspaper about the city opening a new racket complex, featuring tennis courts designed to attract professional play, racket ball courts and a clubhouse where there are several ping pong tables. The facility opened September 8. As it turns out, the ping pong area is free, and there is a ladder of competitive players. James and Joshua put themselves on the list of players. In order to be included officially they had/have to call someone already on the ladder and challenge them to a match of the best four out of seven games. James played his first match Thursday night. He challenged the #1 man and got beat. However, he only lost by two or three points a game. After the match James, Joshua and John played with the number one and two guys some. In doubles play James and Joshua actually did quite well. Joshua has yet to connect with the person he challenged. He has been a bit disappointed by that. If he doesn't hear from the guy, he will just challenge someone else.

Open letter to Haelley

Well, little Haelley, I told you in my letter that Joseph had been bested more than once by Mr. Lizard. Today Mr. Lizard met his match! Your grandpa got him! He was trying to catch him as he scurried along. Soon Mr. Lizard took a turn up the concrete wall, thinking he was escaping his stressful ordeal, but alas! Grandpa (who has always been fast himself) thrust an ice cream tub against the wall and over Mr. Lizard. He is now on display in the living room for a time.

I think his tail is very interesting! It is at least twice as long as his body and tapers fabulously from nearly as wide as his body at the beginning to almost thread-like at the end. You can look at the picture and see what I mean.

Soon we will have to let him go so he doesn't die in the living room, but it has been fun to know that for a time that Mr. Lizard has been outwitted.

Kisses to you and much love!