Foolish Things

Today Joel went back to the doctor for his second x-ray since his last recast. The bone is still aligned! Praise God! The doctor says his cast will come off the day after Memorial Day. Matt and I were slightly disappointed by the date. We have a family reunion Memorial Day weekend that will include plenty of swimming, but when the Dr. heard that--he said, "No way, we don't want a refracture." So the cast will come off after all of the fun. Hopefully Joel will be happily entertained sitting poolside watching everyone else swim.

I then called the pediatrician about Joel's cold. Joel's incessant coughing has not only disturbed his own sleep, but Mommy's and Daddy's as well. The pediatrician said that he wanted to check Joel, so after meeting some friends at Burger King Playland for lunch, we headed to that appointment. Joel has a ear infection. As far as the cough goes, the new medical standard is no treatment for children under age two. Despite having the humidifier in our room at sauna levels the last few nights, Joel is still having a rough time of it, in part because he can't reposition himself to alleviate the coughing. Poor little guy. Prayerfully, he'll be over it soon.

When we all got back home, I started thinking about all the stuff I'm so behind on--ironing, yard work, phonics, times tables and long division review, my own Bible study lesson, etc. I began reading an article in a homeschooling magazine that arrived today. A homeschooling dad, who is also a pastor, wrote it. In it he said, "Obstacles (which God allows) are not meant to discourage you from doing His will. They are meant to strengthen you as He manifests His awesome grace to overcome them--one by one." He ended the article with this verse from Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth:

"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise
according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,
are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the
world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the
weak things of the world to put to shame the things
which are mighty; and the base things of the world and
the things which are despised God has chosen, and
the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things
that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."
1 Cor. 1:26-29

Weekend in Review

Joel is quite unhappy with his new cast. He's also had problems with constipation and he has a bit of a cold. All these factors have combined to make a crabby little boy. Joel hasn't slept well, so Mommy and Daddy haven't slept well. We did get the constipation problem solved and Joel was quite pleased to be able to have a banana today. He ate and drank more today than any day since his OR visit Wednesday. This was a relief to me. It's just not like him not to want to eat.

Yesterday, my parents came to visit us. They brought presents for everyone. Joel was tickled with his new toys. He even took a small break from his crabbiness to enjoy them. My dad mowed the lawn and my mom chatted with me while I got church clothes ironed. Dad treated us all to pizza and ice cream in honor of Matt's birthday.

Today we went to church. Joel has become quite the tyrant since he's been in his cast. He just points and screams until he gets what he wants. Well, today in church he decided he wanted Lydia' s pink marker. He screamed so loudly that I couldn't hear Pastor and I'm sure no one else could either (or at least that's what it seemed like to this embarrassed mother). Needless to say, Joel and I had to step outside for awhile.

The Lord did bless me today by giving me something I'd been wanting to get Joel. Right after Joel's accident, I went to Walmart to check out the wagons there. I saw a huge Radio Flyer wagon for $100. I just couldn't justify it. The wagon we already had was working fine for Joel, although it was a bit of a tight squeeze for him. I went to a yard sale yesterday and I saw one of those Radio Flyer wagons. They were asking $45. I still couldn't justify it, so I didn't buy it. Today, on the way home from church, I stopped at the same yard sale and it was still there. I asked the gal if she'd consider going down on the price. She said she'd take an offer on anything else at the yard sale (there was still a ton of stuff), but she wouldn't negotiate on the wagon. I got back in the van, drove around the block and came back. I was so nervous, but I screwed up the courage to get out of the van and give the gal a slip of paper with my number on it. I told her I had a baby in a spica cast and if she hadn't sold it by the end of the sale, I'd still be interested in it. Then she said, "O.K., I'll sell it to you right now. How about $35?" I said, "How about $30." "Sold," she said. As it turned out, she was a pediatric nurse and had seen babies in spica casts. She said she's seen plenty of accidents involving bunk bed ladders. Anyway, Joel now has a fancy new wagon that even has a cup holder for his sippy cup. God is good.

Good News

We finally got some good news today from the doctor. Joel's bone is staying in the correct position. Yeah! We're praying that it will continue to do so. This cast is very tight compared to the other two. The last couple of nights Joel has had a difficult time because he can't get a lung-full of air. He coughed much of the last two nights and has generally been quite uncomfortable. The doctor cut a hole in the cast in Joel's stomach area. This was quite alarming for both Joel and me. Sometimes modern medicine can seem so archaic. Joel already seems to be breathing a bit easier. The doctor also cut a slit in the cast covering the side of Joel's foot. We've seen some colors in Joel's toes the last couple of days that we didn't want to see, so this cut should relieve some of the pressure on his foot. Needless to say, we were quite relieved when we saw the x-ray--the bone is perfectly aligned. The doctor left with a huge smile on his face. I'm quite sure he was just as relieved as we were.

After we left the doctor's office, Daddy headed to work and the kids and I decided we had cause for a celebration. We stopped and ate donuts at our favorite donut shop. This place has been an institution in our town for 60 years. We usually only stop there once or twice a year, but we decided today was a day worthy of a good fresh donut with LOTS of sprinkles.

Praise be to God that we're finally seeing the end of the tunnel. The doctor says another month or so in the cast should do the trick for Joel's leg. In the meantime, we're learning to take life at a slower pace and to be more diligent in counting our blessings.

Family Fun Night

We had a nice time at home tonight--no scurrying around getting ready for another OR visit, no trips to Walmart for more size 5 diapers--just the 7 of us together. We've been promising Lydia a "Potty Party" for quite some time now. Lydia's friend, Taylor, had a Potty Party when she completed her potty training. Lydia thought a party would be a great idea for her, too. Her main concern was that we have cupcakes with pink frosting. Well tonight, after all the delays due to Joel, we succeeded in having the potty party--complete with pink cupcakes. We played the geography game Take Off after dinner. The kids insisted that I play, too. Well, how could I resist? Games and geography--my favorites--too bad there was no math included. Actually, it wasn't that bad. Joel being immobile actually has an advantage--we were able to play the game on the living room carpet. While the rest of us were playing the game, Joel made up his own game. He alternated sticking his thumb in Lydia and Paul's belly buttons. This got all three of them to laughing and then the rest of us joined them. It was nice to laugh again. Things have been a bit stressful around here and we all needed a little bit of fun. Joel began screaming when the cupcakes were passed around. He didn't want to be left out. I cut the frosting off of his cupcake because I didn't want to deal with the mess. I had Paul deliver it to Joel. Paul said, "Momma, Joel is sad because he doesn't have any frosting." I turned around and saw the most disappointed look on Joel's face. Then we all burst out laughing and Joel laughed, too. While we ate cupcakes, Daddy read about Jesus' betrayal and trial, but the kids were too happy to notice the somberness of the passage. As I washed dishes I couldn't help but notice the irony. I think it was lost on everyone else. Then we all sang "Happy Potty Party" to Lydia and the kids trundled off to bed. Hopefully we'll all have sweet dreams tonight.

Little Boy Dreams

Paul came into the living room this afternoon wearing a big black cowboy hat. He had Lydia happily lassoed around her waist and he was holding the other end of the rope. "Hey Liz, do you want to play with us? I'm a cowboy and Lydia is the cow. All we need is a cowgirl!" My sweet first born son--he's growing up in so many ways. Yet, he's still small enough to play and dream in little boy ways. I treasure these times in my heart because I know someday, all too soon, I'll look at him and see that he has grown into a man.

Third Cast

Yesterday Matt and I consulted with two doctors from out of town to get their take on how we should proceed with Joel. We had been praying for clear direction and we got it. Both those doctors felt it would be best for us to go ahead with the planned recast here in town this morning. So we did. Joel is getting pretty suspicious of anyone in a blue coat, but all in all he did quite well. The anesthesiologist decided to put Joel under a general, so his recovery time was a bit longer this time. After the doctor told us the reduction had gone well, we headed up to the pediatric floor to wait for Joel. However, Joel was so upset in recovery, that they came and got us to be with him down there. I don't know who was more relieved to see us--Joel or the old man trying to recover right next him. After we got Joel back up to peds, he snuggled up to me and we took a snooze together. He woke up, ate some jell-o, drank a lot and then we signed the release papers so we could leave. We picked up the other kids at Grandma Dianne's. Grandpa Bob had spent the early morning hours with the kids at our house, then he took them to Miss Cami's, then Grandma Dianne picked them up there. Needless to say, the kids are a bit on edge with all that's been going on, just as we have been. Hopefully things will settle into a routine now. We requested that Joel be x-rayed on Friday as well as next Tuesday. We'd like to know a bit sooner if the bone slips out of place this time.

Matt's sister Lori made us dinner for tonight. We're going to let the kids eat it while Grandma Dianne and Grandpa Bob watch them so Matt and Joel and I can have a date night. We're thankful to have relatives living so close. They've all been a huge support to us.

Last night, as I lay in bed with sleeping little Joel, I cried out to the Lord on his behalf. No parent wants to see their child suffer. The Lord impressed up me a very deep truth--I was only experiencing a very small taste of what He suffered as He saw His only Son die on the cross. I know this sounds shallow, but I'd always focused on how much Jesus suffered on the cross in being separated from His Father. Jesus willingly died for me, a poor and wretched sinner. "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again." (John 10:17-18) The flip side of the coin is, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16). What kind of love is that? Unfathomable-- a mystery, one I will never fully understand this side of Heaven. Thanks be to God, that although I am chief among sinners, I have been redeemed by a loving Heavenly Father, who gave His only Son to die for me and that by the drawing of the Holy Spirit, I have come to know this love, even though I can't possibly understand the depth and breadth of it. I am so happy that I am His and He is mine. What's six weeks in a cast in view of all of this?

Another Cast

"This is getting to be a bad habit," Matt said after the doctor left the room. Joel's doctor took another x-ray today and found that the two parts of his femur have shifted out of alignment to a 35-degree angle. The doctor would like to see that angle at no more than 20-degrees (small children can correct small angles with growth). So Joel is scheduled for another recast tomorrow morning. Another OR visit, another time under anesthesia, another fussy/crabby day for Joel and another stressful day for Mom and Dad. As you can tell, I'm not very pleased with this turn of events. We're praying for God's wisdom as we look into other options for Joel. These options would have to pan out within a short time frame (1 to 2 days), as his bones have already begun to form a callous, so the window of opportunity is getting smaller.

I've been reading the book of Judges during my morning devotion time. Gideon was given a clear vision when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" (Judges 6:12) Gideon sure didn't feel mighty. "O my Lord, how can I save Israel [from the Midianites]? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." (6:15) Then the Lord told Gideon to tear down his father's altar to Baal and build an altar to the Lord on top of it. The Lord was preparing Gideon for battle. Later, the Lord would take an Israelite army of 32,000 and whittle it down to 300 so that all the glory of the battle won against the Midianites would go to the Lord and not to Israel.

The Lord has given Matt and me a vision for our family, a vision that was confirmed this past weekend. We feel so weak and small and ill-prepared to work out this vision. God knows that. He wants all the glory to go to Him. The last couple of weeks, the Lord has asked me to remove the idols that would hinder me in the battle that lies ahead. These idols are not evil, but they are keeping me from God's best. One biggie for me has been the desire to get projects done around the house so that if another house were to come on the market that would suit our growing family, we would be ready to walk through that door, should the Lord provide it. A baby in a full body cast, a pregnant Mommy, school work, end-of-year assessments and a very busy Daddy are not conducive to getting a bunch of projects done. This idol must go. I like the way Oswald Chambers puts it: "If your hopes are being disappointed just now, it's because they are being purified." The Lord has always provided for us and He always will. He promises to never leave or forsake us, even when life takes twists and turns we're not expecting. So we continue to wait on the Lord (we're getting used to being in this mode), knowing that His plan for our family is so much better than what we could ask or even imagine.

Back Home Again

We had a wonderful, although exhausting, weekend at the home school conference. We arrived in town early enough on Thursday afternoon that we were able to check into our hotel and then meet my cousin and his family for dinner. This was an unexpected treat for all of us, as we hadn't anticipated having the time or energy for any "extras" on top of the conference.

The conference was very encouraging to all of us. The kids got to see all of the other families who are home schooling, too. So many families in one place, all following the Lord's leading in the discipling of their families. All things considered, Joel did really well. His diaper changing is so much easier now and he was content during the conference as long as someone was holding him. Lydia and Paul did a lot better than we anticipated. This was due in large part to the fact that they were able to play with their friends, Eli and Annie. Eli and Annie's family attended the conference with us. This was a blessing because we were able to fellowship with one another and share child care duties as well.

During the lecture Saturday morning, we spotted some old friends that we hadn't seen for a very long time. We were able to eat lunch together and get caught up on all the Lord is doing in our lives. Matt and I were encouraged and blessed by them. It was definitely a "divine appointment."

We were also able to introduce ourselves to the keynote speaker for the weekend, Doug Phillips of Vision Forum Ministries. This was a thrill for all of us. Upon our introduction, Mr. Phillips went into a Scottish brogue which especially delighted Grace. We were able to tell Mr. Phillips how much his ministry has blessed our family and Matt was even able to ask him a "Matt" question.

As we drove home, Matt and I were able to talk about the different things the Lord had impressed upon each of us over the weekend. It snowed over the mountain pass (in April?), but the roads weren't slick. In honor of Matt's birthday, which we hadn't been able to celebrate, we stopped and got ice cream. We stopped at a 50's style McDonald's and everyone got to order whatever they wanted--no matter how big (even though Mommy and Daddy knew they wouldn't finish it). Of course the jukebox and the Chevy Bel Air booth were big hits.

Yesterday we went to church and then out to lunch in honor of Daddy's birthday. Grace and I picked up a cake at Dairy Queen in the afternoon and then we made soup for dinner. Daddy was delighted to be surrounded by his brood singing "Happy Birthday." We had a little Bible time and then I read to the kids for a bit before bedtime. We all slept well and hard. Today is a "catch up" day--laundry, dishes and school work. Daddy went back to work. For the last four days, Joel has spent most of his time in Daddy's arms, so I expect some fussiness from him. We were refreshed and encouraged by the Lord this past weekend and now we're ready to get back in the trenches and keep doing the work He has for us to do.

Names That Didn't Make the Cut

Last night at the dinner table the kids began discussing names for the new baby. Lydia thought the name should be Mary. Then she went to the dishtowel drawer and put a blue towel on her head and rocked her baby. She asked Daddy to get the camera. Then Paul, in all seriousness, said, "I think we should name him Paul 2."

God's Handiwork

Today we got up at 4:45 a.m. to ready ourselves to leave for the hospital at 5:00 a.m. Grandpa Bob arrived at 5:15 a.m. to take over the care of the other kiddos. We headed for the hospital with Joel, got him settled and then waited in the lobby. The doctor came about 8:15 a.m. to tell us all had gone well. We headed up to the pediatric ward to a screaming Joel. He screamed for about and hour until the anesthesia wore off. The doctor said Joel could eat a regular diet, so I got him his favorite food--a banana. Instead he decided he wanted the yogurt I had gotten for Daddy. Joel quickly gave up on the inefficient spoon and decided to drink the yogurt right out of the cup. Then he ate the banana. That's my boy!
The doctor came to check on us at 9:30 a.m. and told us we could leave whenever we were ready. We hadn't expected this at all, but were quite pleased because it meant that Matt could accompany me to my ultrasound at 10:30. God is good. We called our friend Peggy, who had offered to be with me during my appointment so that Matt could stay with Joel, and told her she didn't need to come after all. We changed Joel's shirt and diaper (the doctor made more room in his diaper area--so much nicer than before). Then we headed to my appointment.
The ultrasound went very well. We're pleased to announce that the Lord has blessed us with a healthy baby boy. After a trip to the ER the week before Christmas and a diagnosis of "miscarriage," we couldn't be more overjoyed that all is looking well with this little guy. His kidneys, his 4-chambered heart, his bones, his spine, stomach, diaphragm, brain--everything looks good. He is being knit together in his mother's womb by an awesome Creator, who is worthy to be praised. This is why we plan to name him Jude (which means praise and thanks) Christoper (his Daddy's middle name).
Matt and I went to pick up the other kids, who had spent the morning with Miss Cami (Jenny's daughter). She spoils the kids silly and they love it. The kids had been tossing coins and couldn't decide whether the new baby would be a boy, a girl or twins. Our announcement of "it's a boy!" ended the controversy. Then we all headed home for a much needed quiet time.
Tonight we will finish packing for the home school conference. The Lord has truly made the way straight for us to go. We'll leave tomorrow and are praying for a weekend of extraordinary encouragement and blessing. Thanks for all the prayers. We are truly blessed to be supported by the Body of Christ in such an awesome way.

A New Alarm Clock

Today Elizabeth and Paul were playing in the barn on the edge of our property. The neighbor peeked his head over the fence and said, "Here, can you take this chicken, it's been here for 4 or 5 days and wakes us up at 4 every morning!" Elizabeth gladly complied. Mind you, we're against roosters around here. We don't want to fiddle with candling our eggs before we eat them. All previous "hens" that we've bought that have turned into roosters after maturing have become dinner. Elizabeth came inside to tell me, "Mama, now we have FOUR chickens!" She then went on to explain what had happened. I looked out the window, "Elizabeth, it's a rooster, you should have said, 'no thanks.' " Then I asked, "When did all of this happen? Just now?" Elizabeth (the to-the-second time keeper of the family) looked at her watch and said, "No, it was 10 minutes ago."

Rx: A New Cast for Joel

We took Joel for his post-op appointment this morning. The x-ray showed that his femur bone is not aligned correctly and he will need a new cast. Joel was really swollen when his cast was put on a week ago and after he lost all the fluid he was retaining, the cast was no longer tight enough to hold the bone in place. The doctor originally said he wouldn't be able to redo the cast until Friday. This news was very disappointing to Matt and myself as we were still planning to make our long awaited trip to the Christian home school conference this weekend. These conferences serve as a yearly dose of encouragement to us to "keep on keeping on" down this narrow path the Lord has chosen for us. I began praying that the Lord would make the way straight. Then the doctor came back in the room and said he had scheduled the OR for tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. Praise God! We should be released from the hospital by late afternoon. The upside of all of this is that Joel will get a new CLEAN cast, which will hopefully stay clean a bit longer now that his Mom and Dad have figured out some trouble-shooting measures to prevent diaper area problems.
I will also have my ultrasound tomorrow. It will be an extended ultrasound because I'm of "advanced maternal age." I've been a little on edge about it and I had hoped Matt could be with me, but he'll have to be with Joel in the hospital. Yet I know that Lord will provide for all my needs as I'm worth much more to Him than many sparrows (Lk. 12:7)
The Lord blessed me today through my sister-in-law, Jessica. She took care of my kids during Joel's appointment AND picked up my house while I was gone. Since my schedule is no longer what I had planned for this week, it was a relief to have that item off of my list. God is good.
As I was resting this afternoon, I began to pray and this hymn began to play in my mind:
All glory, laud and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David's royal son, who in
the Lord's name comest, the King and Blessed One.
All glory, laud and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring. Thou didst accept their praises; accept the prayers we
bring, Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King.

One Week and Counting

It's officially one week since Joel fell. Tomorrow will be one week with since he got his cast. Hopefully, by the grace of God, we will have only five weeks left.
Friday night my neighbor, Marge and I put the vinyl fabric on Joel's eating enabler. Daddy and our friend Brian did a good job of designing the device. Joel is enjoying being able to sit (or rather hang out) at the table during meal times. It's very much like before the accident, except now he can't climb onto the table! Maybe by the end of his time in the cast, he will have forgotten how much he used to enjoy crawling around on top of the table (despite the punishment he received for doing so).
Saturday morning, Daddy took Grace, Elizabeth and Paul out for breakfast. Daddy hadn't planned on taking Paul, just the two girls. They have been working overtime to cover the stuff mom and dad usually do. Well, Paul was quite upset when he got wind of the breakfast plan, so Daddy took him, too. Paul said he wouldn't eat any breakfast because he had already had a huge bowl of Kix. Needless to say, he changed his mind when hot chocolate and a waffle with strawberries and whipped cream were offered. "I'll never eat two breakfasts again!," he concluded.
Grace and I got a little work done in the flower beds and Elizabeth mowed the lawn (in her own unique style). She was quite proud of herself and we gave her a lot of praise for her efforts.
Today we went to church and spent the afternoon resting. Taking care of Joel is physically exhausting and we needed to catch up on some sleep. We're still trying to find things that entertain Joel, even if only for a few minutes. A short attention span in a fourteen month old is normal, but when he's so limited in his mobility, the task of keeping him occupied is even more challenging.
God is good and we see how He has provided for all of our needs, even in the small things. Today I was able to find 10 little toys for Joel at Goodwill. The woman at the counter said she'd give them all to me for $1. This afternoon, I realized we were out of bananas (Joel's favorite food). Then a couple from church stopped by with two bags of fruit, including bananas. Our God loves us so much that He even sees to the little details of our lives.

A Better Day

Today was a better day than yesterday. I went to Walmart this morning and got some moleskin to apply to the edges of Joel's cast around his diaper area. We're hoping this will work to keep things cleaner. I also picked up some supplies for a picnic lunch. When I got home, Grace and I packed up and we all headed to our favorite little park in the big van. Joel got to use his new car seat for the first time. He was pleased to be in a more vertical position with a good view of all the "goings on" outside. He also enjoyed seeing his Daddy, brother and sisters play football and slide down the slide at the park. He even got to (gently) swing on the swing in Gracie's lap.
We headed back home for quiet time and I tried to locate some foam for Joel's wagon. My aunt (a physical therapist) suggested we get some foam and cut it to the shape of Joel's body to make the wagon more comfortable for him. The only problem is, the Foam Shop has closed. I called the man who reupholstered my kitchen chairs a few years ago. He remembered exactly who I was. I explained the situation and he told me to bring the wagon to his shop and he'd get something figured out. When I got there, he measured and cut a very thick piece of foam to fit the wagon exactly. I asked him how much I owed him and he refused any money. Foam is very expensive these days and I fully expected to pay quite a lot to get it, but God worked through that man to give me the foam I needed for my little boy.
When I got home every one was sleeping and I got into bed and napped beside little Joel. I think he's starting to get used to the fact that he can't turn on his side to sleep. After quiet time, the door bell rang. A woman was delivering a fantastic cookie bouquet from our good friend, P.K. It had 7 cookies, one for each of us. The bear cookie in the middle of the arrangement had Joel's name on it and a cast on one leg. Joel was delighted when I offered him the head and arm for dessert.
My neighbor, Marge, who can sew anything, refashioned a pair of Joel's sweats. She delivered two leg covers today. These will work beautifully to keep his one exposed leg warm. Marge even made a loop with Velcro to accommodate the rod of the spica cast. Like I said, she can sew anything.
Now Daddy is heading down to the school yard with all of the kids to let them burn off some energy before bedtime. I plan on getting caught up on laundry and dishes. I haven't been as on top of these jobs as I usually am, but I'm not as anxious about it as I would have been a week ago. Even though this has been a difficult week, Matt and I are very aware things could be much worse. We're thankful to the Lord for His mercies which are new every morning.

Crummy Day

Yesterday was a bad day. Matt went back to work. I thought I could handle things here on my own. I had a few errands to run in the morning and as usual it took me longer to get out of the house than I wanted. Joel's care has added even more time to the usual schedule--to be expected. Grace has been a trooper through all of this. She's handling Joel like an old pro. I told her I wouldn't be gone long and that Joel had already had a poopy diaper. "Turn on Veggie Tales for him," I said, "and do a little school work." The littles (Paul and Lydia) and I loaded into the Suburban and headed over to the cousins' house.
I dropped off the littles to play while I ran to two stores. Matt wanted me to pick up some vinyl table cloth covering and batting for Joel's "eating enabler," so I headed to the fabric store first. Of course my pregnant brain had forgotten to grab the 50% off coupon before I left the house--oh well. I spotted some fabric with "Lightening McQueen" on it and grabbed it--a no brainer. The littles love the movie Cars. I figured Joel wouldn't care one way or the other. I paid for my supplies and headed to the sporting goods store. I bought some tennis racket grip tape to put on the stick of Joel's spica cast. The fiberglass on the stick was making Matt's hands raw, so I thought this would be a good solution.
I went back to the cousins' to pick up the littles and called Grace to see if she'd mind if I took them to McDonald's. This sounded good to her--I'm sure in part because it meant what little leftover pizza there was wouldn't have to be split between the 5 of us :) All of the kids have had a difficult time with all of this and I thought letting the littles play on the Play Place would be a welcome diversion.
When we got home (just 2 hours from when we had left) Joel had poopy--again! What a mess. The doctor warned us to catch his messes very quickly. Well, it took me 45 minutes to get him cleaned up. As I was struggling to get him cleaned under his cast, he peed. I cleaned him, blew him dry with the hair dryer and proceeded with the cast clean up. Well, he peed again. The third time he did it, I burst into tears. Elizabeth ran to her room, Grace brought me some Kleenex and Joel just looked at me like, "What's wrong, Mom?"
I then went to open the package that had been delivered to me from the maternity store. The woman at the store in the mall had ordered two skirts for me last week. I opened the package only to find 3 bras for Tyna in PA. I called the 800 number and the woman told me she could send me the skirts, but I'd have to be charged again for them. I kindly told her that it was their mistake, not mine. She insisted that until she received the bras back, she couldn't send me the skirts. I knew the skirts were in low supply, so I grudgingly told her to go ahead with the order. She said she'd credit me the money back after I repackaged the bras and sent them back. When Matt got home, he tried calling to reverse what he said was a "dumb" policy. They wouldn't budge. In the overall scheme of things, I know this isn't a big deal, but it felt like the straw that broke the camel's back.
I was so glad when our friend Tammy walked in the door with a beautiful meal and flowers for me, too. After dinner, I settled down with Joel in the recliner and watched the Baby Einstein video that Tammy let us borrow until we receive the ones we ordered. Joel, who had been fussy all day, finally became quiet as he watched. At 7 pm he fell asleep. Matt called the hospital to talk with his Nana for a bit and then he got the littles in the bath tub. We were all tucked in for the night by 8:30.
As I read in the book of Joshua about the failed battle of Ai, I felt like the Israelites, defeated and confused about what God was doing. After the sin of Achan was exposed and dealt with, the Lord told Joshua to go up against Ai again. He said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land." (Joshua 8:1) So today I will put on the full armor of God and prepare for battle once again.

Fourth Day

I can hardly wait until we can say it's been one whole week since Joel's cast was put on. That will mean 5 more weeks to go (or at least I'm praying for that). Yesterday we ordered some Baby Einstein dvds from E-Bay. I'm really not in favor of babies watching t.v., but I was told by two of my friends that I'd better give up that ideal and just concentrate on making it through the next month and half to two months.
My Bible study leader stopped by and delivered spaghetti sauce, ice cream, strawberries and a dark chocolate bar from Trader Joe's. Matt and I shared the chocolate bar after a stressful afternoon with Joel, who just couldn't be satisfied no matter what we tried. He's still pretty frustrated that he can't move. I'm hoping that soon he'll forget what he was capable of doing before he got the cast--it'll make life a lot easier.
Joel also got his first sponge bath yesterday. I think he really liked it. This was surprising to me because he usually pitches a fit whenever anyone comes near him with a wash cloth. He's also been quite patient during his 20 minute diaper changes. God is merciful.
Our friends Brian and Julie came over for dinner last night. Julie brought dinner and her kiddos to serve as a distraction for my kids. Brian brought supplies to make a special device that will enable Joel to be at the table with us when we eat. We've been holding him at mealtime and this will enable him to be more independent like he was before. Matt and Brian (the two engineers) love to work on these types of projects. I warned them to keep Joel's safety and comfort at the forefront of all design ideas (as if they needed that reminder)--this Mommy's pretty protective. Anyway, I think they were successful. Paul even helped "the guys" with his Dollar Store tools--pretty cute. Joel tried his new eating enabler at breakfast this morning. He was quite pleased. Tonight we'll put the finishing touches on it and it'll be ready to use for the next couple of months.
Last night during dinner, Matt's sister called to tell us that Nana was admitted to the hospital for swelling in her leg. When it rains is pours, I guess. Matt's mom and dad have been in Israel and won't be back until next week. Since they're the "emergency handlers" in crisis situations, the rest of the family has had to pull together to cover the more than usual number of emergencies that have arisen since their departure. The Lord is sovereign, though, and everything has worked out fine. After finishing dinner, I headed down to the hospital to see Nana. She has a blood clot in her leg and will be in the hospital for a few days. Trevor was able to visit her after I left. He made sure Nana had everything she needed from her apartment. So all's well that ends well.
We're praying for a better night's sleep tonight than what we got last night. This week has been emotionally and physically exhausting. It's in situations like these that we come to realize that our true source of strength is only found in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Adjusting to Life

Joel laughed today for the first time since he fell. Mommy played "There was a bee, who lived in a barn, he carried a bag pipe under his arm and the only tune that he could play was, buzzzzzz." This is a game my Grandpa Paul used to play with all of us kids. We knew what was coming when his finger became the "buzzz" and tickled us under our ribs. When the "buzzz" hit Joel, I got a big belly laugh--so good to hear from a little boy who's been kind of sad the last few days. He's pretty frustrated that he can't move the way he's used to doing.
Joel is so heavy and awkward to carry, so I haven't held him much. I get my cuddles with him when I lie next to him in bed, but this morning I picked him up. He was so happy that he snuggled into my neck and kicked his one free leg. I started crying--he's usually kicks both legs when I pick him up. I have to keep reminding myself that this is only temporary and that God doesn't give us more than we can handle.
Yesterday afternoon Joel was released from his clear liquid diet when he produced a messy diaper. Gone are the days when I could change a diaper in 3 minutes or less. After using what seems like 20 wet wipes, he needs to be dried with the cool setting on the hairdryer to keep his skin from breaking down. This will be something we'll have to watch very carefully for the next 6 to 8 weeks.
I was able to get to Walmart yesterday and buy a huge box of diapers, some Aveeno Ecxema lotion (Joel's skin has been so dry), a hairdryer with a cool setting and some fruit cups. I normally would never buy these, but since someone has to hold him while he's eating, I thought the smaller pieces of fruit would be more convenient. I also picked up a queen size pillow that fits perfectly in what the kids have dubbed "The Green Retro," which is the wagon that will be Joel's main mode of transportation for the next month and a half or so.
I was also able to get to St. Vincent de Paul where I bought 6 long sleeved t-shirts. Joel only had 2 t-shirts that didn't snap in the crotch--obviously they won't work for him now. I hope to get my super seamstress neighbor to make some sort of pant leg for him to wear on his one exposed leg.
A woman from the hospital stopped by yesterday and brought a brand new car seat made especially for kids in spica casts. We were told before we left the hospital that those car seats were no longer available, but I guess there was some sort of miscommunication. The doctor had said someone would just have to hold Joel in the car. I wasn't very comfortable with this idea, especially for out-of-town trips. Anyway, we'll have the use of the car seat as long as we need it.
Last night our friend Peggy (Joel's godmother) brought a homemade lasagna. It even passed muster with the finicky taste buds of Paul. Poor little Joel wanted a bite, too, but the nurse put the fear of God into us about giving him anything out of the ordinary that might cause bowel problems, so we gave him a piece of bread instead. In the next couple of days, we'll start introducing a greater variety of foods into Joel's diet.
We've been able to control Joel's pain with Advil. I'm guessing in the next couple of days he won't even need that any more.
Yesterday as Lydia and I were running our errands, one of my favorite songs from Selah came on the radio. Here's a few of the lyrics from "All My Praise":
I will follow You through green pastures
And sing hallelujah to Your Name
I will follow You through dark disaster
And sing hallelujah through the pain

And even in the shadow of death
I will praise You
And even in the valley I will say

Holy, my God
You are worthy of all my praise
Holy, my God
You are worthy of all my praise

Poor Little Joel

Sunday evening, in an attempt to be a bigger boy than he really is, Joel climbed partially up the ladder to the kids' bunk beds. He came tumbling down and broke his femur bone. Within 15 minutes of the accident, Matt and I were loaded in the Suburban and driving to the hospital. Matt's brother, Trevor, spent the night and all day yesterday with the other kids. (Thank the Lord that Trevor has spring break this week.) We arrived at the ER about 8:45 p.m. Matt and I were so distressed that it did eventually become obvious to the ER staff that this truly was an accident. These days it seems suspicions of abuse are automatically raised in situations like this. In true ER fashion, it was a extraordinarily long time before any kind of treatment was given. Our good friend Brian came with snacks and water bottles (packed by his wife, Julie). He brought comforting words and hugs as well. He stayed with us for the duration. Joel finally received something for pain around 11 p.m. (I had given him Advil before leaving for the hospital, but it just wasn't cutting it.) We were informed there was "no room in the inn" on the pediatric floor, so the plan was to splint Joel's leg, get some pain medicine and go home for a few hours before returning to the OR early in the morning. I headed home to get some laundry and packing done and to lay down for a bit. Brian brought Matt and Joel home around 1 a.m. Matt and Joel got a few hours of sleep (Mommy was too agitated to sleep) and we headed back to the hospital about 5:50 a.m.
The reduction (realigning the bones) went well. Joel was put in a spica cast, which basically covers his body from the chest down. He will wear it for the next 6 to 8 weeks. We were blessed to hear that the orthopedist who worked on Joel is excellent, one of the best in town. Joel's recovery went well. He slept for 4 or 5 hours and then began drinking watered down apple juice (after Brian delivered a proper sippy cup). One of the nurses from the OR came up to our room later in the day and gave him a little stuffed monkey with a "limp chimp" bandage on his leg and a smiley face balloon attached to his arm. The nurse said that she has a little one of her own about Joel's age. She felt so badly for Joel that she had to bring him a little something. Matt and I were moved to tears over this stranger's kindness. God is good. Joel finally smiled a bit when he saw the balloon. Mommy was so glad to see him in better spirits after seeing nothing but terror and pain in his eyes the night before.
Our friends Julie and Tammy stopped by with toys for Joel and chocolate for us :) Pastor came and prayed with us. Then the nurse showed us how to change Joel's diaper. Besides moving him, this will definitely be the biggest challenge in the coming weeks. Keeping pee and poo off the cast is going to be next to impossible. The dr. says it's bound to get quite stinky. (We've been experimenting with Glad Press n' Seal Wrap.) The dr. said if we made it through the night with just a splint on Joel's leg, he was confident we'd make it o.k. at home with the cast on, so he released us about 5:30 p.m.
My sister-in-law Jessica brought our kids home shortly after we arrived. She even brought meals for us have on hand in the freezer. She said that I ought to realize how badly she felt for us since she's never brought a meal over, even after the births of our 5 kids. This truly was an act of love on her part--she's not one to enjoy time in the kitchen. Jessica also got Matt's grandma to her doctor's appointment, since I was unable to do it. Keep in mind that she has seven of her own children and her husband was gone most of the time she was doing all of this because he was with our kids. We are truly blessed.
The Lord granted us all a good night's sleep last night. Today will be a day of researching car seat options and Spica cast care, getting the wagon cleaned up so we can transport Joel, and going to Costco and Walmart for supplies, including diapers. (Overnight, Joel has gone from a size 3 to a size 5 diaper.)
My morning's Bible reading was providentially Joshua chapter 1 this morning. The Lord had given me several verses in Joshua for encouragement when Matt and I first started to home school. As I read the familiar verses again this morning, God reminded me that He truly is in all of this and He loves us more than we can imagine.
"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Shabbot

We've been trying to celebrate Shabbot (Sabbath) on Saturday evenings. We actually do it about twice a month. If we're gone or Mommy's just too tired to get the challah bread and the chicken soup made (the kids are convinced we have to have chicken noodle soup), then it doesn't happen. When we do get it together, it's a very nice way to prepare our hearts for the Lord's Day. (Jews, including Messianic Jews actually celebrate Shabbot Friday evenings.) We almost always invite guests to join us. This past Saturday, we invited Joel's godparents. Joel took his showing off very seriously. He walked and talked and laughed and generally clowned around to get everyone's approval. When we weren't clapping for Joel's antics, we had enjoyable conversation and fellowship.

Here's a picture of the table before the grape juice was spilled and the general chaos of eating with 5 kids took place. The white napkins on the challah bread represent the manna (Jesus the Bread of Life) that fell on the ground every morning for the Israelites as they wandered the desert. Two loaves represent the double portion they were to pick up the day before the Sabbath.

Snow in March

I thought March was supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. I thought April showers bring May flowers. I'm not sure what to think about snow at the end of March, especially in these parts. It did snow last Friday--for 3 hours. Weird. It didn't stick, but the kids were delighted. My sister-in-law called to tell me her little one was convinced that it was Christmas. Anyway, here's a picture of the kids in the snow with daffodils.