Prayers

You know we don't do anything small around here.  Last week, I started having trouble taking deep breaths.  It was very weird.  Certain breaths were fine, others were excruciating.  I tried to just push through.  Then, C said she wasn't feeling well Wednesday evening.  By the time we woke up Thursday, her tonsils were so swollen they were past the midline, past the uvula.  We got her in to the doc that afternoon where he diagnosed her with severe tonsillitis.  We had her rest on Friday and B stayed home to help with P.  She doesn't seem to be improving much and so we'll probably need to get her back in to the ENT this week.

Then, we were able to get me in with a new doc in town.  She said my lungs sounded fine and sent me on my way.

Then, Pierson started to show signs of allergies & was up each night coughing like crazy.

Yesterday, I woke up having had a rough seizure, a migraine, and the pain in breathing was getting much worse.  So, the doc ordered a CT scan and started me on antibiotics.  It seems that I have more seizures on antibiotics and we have seen that this time as I was blessed to only have four seizures last week.  However, I've already had five in the last two days.  We received the results of the scan and it appears to be some type of pneumonia.

Then, Miss P decided that her allergies and drainage should kick in even more.

The final kicker is that our leader is sick.  Appears to be the flu.  Temp went from 99.9 this evening to 102.4 is about 30 minutes.  We gave him meds and it kept increasing.  We tried cold wash cloths, alcohol on the soles of his feet, etc.  Nothing was bringing it down.  So, he took a shower and it came down while in the shower and for about two minutes after he got out of the shower.  It has since spiked again.  Please pray that his body will fight this quickly.

Please pray that each one of us heals quickly!  Thank you!

Lunch

Daddy came home for lunch today and Miss P was so super excited!  She started screaming with joy and covering her face as he walked in the door.  She immediately asked him to sit down so that she could make him some pizza (Mimi & Pa got her a wooden pizza set for her birthday and she LOVES it!)!!

So, she had Daddy sit on the couch.  Then, she came back with a towel, napkin, & bib.  She put the towel under his feet (we couldn't get her to explain why), the napkin on his lap, and the bib around his neck "so tie no get dwirty."   Then, she went to get the pizza.  Once she returned she realized she needed plates and cups for both of them.

Daddy blowing on the pizza because it was so hot.

Yummy!!  This pizza sure is good!

Thanks for taking care of Daddy's lunch today!

Doesn't it look good to you?

FAST Prayers

Just a very brief and quick update!

The Lord has been AWESOME in guiding, leading, and working out our schedule this morning.  We began around 5 this morning arriving at the clinic just after 6:30 doing labs.  Thereafter we were able to getting squeezed in for another test that wasn't supposed to take place until we would already be gone.  PRAISE GOD!  Lastly, we were able to be moved up with our Neurosurgeon for our very last consult.

So, we are waiting to go back for the surgery consult.  Please pray for our communication with the Surgeon as well as our time with him.  Surgery is a very risky proposal and option for Princess and would be merely an "experiment" in hopes of reducing Princess' seizures.  Therefore, there are still a lot of unknowns and we are hoping for some insight from the Surgeon along with his expert opinion.

Other Important Prayer Request:
Please pray for one of my coworkers and his family.  We received a prayer request for his sister "L" who had surgery to have her gall bladder removed and is now facing a possible liver transplant.  During this process, she has been CareFlighted and is in the ICU.  Pray for L and her family.  Please pray for my coworker B and for answers and guidance for their entire family.

A Comprehensive Visit

Our time at Mayo is about to come to a close.  As we have previously shared, it has been an interesting visit with multiple highs and lows.  All in all, we have probably had our most comprehensive trip in four years.  We have been absolutely amazed by our busyness here at the clinic.  In the past, we have had downtime to gather our thoughts, update the blog, check emails, and check in with family and friends.  This go-round, not so much!  As mentioned earlier, it truly has been a whirlwind.

Overall, today was a good day.  We met with an Endocrinologist, Nephrologist, Internal Medicine, and lastly our Neuro Specialist that deals with Princess' dysautonomia.  Additionally, we had more testing.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  Princess has been able to keep her strength up despite the chaotic schedule and continuing to have numerous seizures.  At the time of posting this evening, she has had five seizures today.

Thank you, as well, for praying for our visits.  Progress has been made in discovering more about Princess' seizures.  Unfortunately, we are not coming home with a cure, but do feel that the direction we are heading could provide some relief in the future.  In our future we will most likely have more trips planned

Answered Prayers:
 - Communication with the Physicians both in the Hospital and the Clinic
 - Revealing and telling information regarding Princess' seizures.  We can now reasonably assume which seizures are occurring on the right side of the brain vs. the left side of the brain based upon physical manifestation.
 - Direction and Peace regarding medicine changes
 - Many of you have been praying for Miss C and we are EXTREMELY happy to announce that she has been granted permission and an extension of 6 MORE months to be with our family.
- Two of our main Physicians here have been fighting and not stopping in trying to find a solution for Princess.  It has been great to form a relationship with the doctors and just learn from them.
- Faithful friends who have journeyed well (both back home and here in Rochester)
- God's provision for us while here and the many blessings
- Healing of Critter's ear infection
- Opportunities to share Christ through our story and marriage

Lastly, if you know someone who is going through cancer or has dealt with cancer and has survived, today is World Cancer Day.  Praise The Lord for His healing in so many and Praise God for my healing just 7 years ago!

We'll look forward to posting more soon!

Cancer Survivor Day!!!

While watching the Super Bowl, we learned that today is Cancer Survivor Day!!!!

So, to each of you Cancer Survivor's out there, Praise the Lord and Happy Survivor Day to you!!!

I am especially grateful because it means that I still have B by my side, in sickness and in health!! 

We also got to celebrate and spend time with one of our Mayo friends, L, that is also a Cancer Survivor.  Same type as B, but her's was much more progressed!

Having dinner with our friend, L!!!

She is now cancer free, too!  So, everyone celebrate with us!!!  Praise the Lord for all of those cancer survivor's out there that He chose to heal!!!!

Still Cold!!!

Thank you to the many who have checked in on us from this weekend.  We are still at the Mayo Clinic undergoing more testing and more doctor appointments.  Lord permitting, we will be home by week's end.  This day has been a whirlwind while we are trying to knock out as much as possible.

We are making some progress and will look forward to posting more later this evening after we finish our day.

Be praying for our next appointment that we are about to be called for...We are meeting with the Neuro Immunologist to rediscuss possible auto-immune therapy or maybe some new findings from our time in the hospital.

By the way, I did get to experience -9 degree weather last night for about 4 minutes without a jacket.  It was AWESOME!