Prayer Request

Cousin Donna is doing better.  The assumed blood clot has disappeared or doctors think it might have been something else.

However, keep Cousin Debbie in your prayers for blood pressure.

Different cousins ... same side of the family.

Thanks.

Prayer Request - Cousin Donna

Our cousin - Donna - has a blood clot in her lung following a minor knee surgery.

This is one of my Mom's cousins that she grew up with.

Results of Rhoda's MRI

My baby sister, Rhoda, was in a pretty bad car accident last Spring.  A truck ran a stop sign at a big intersection (country roads) and plowed into her driver side door.  She was alone.  The whole mess has become quite complicated, and she has had to get a lawyer.

A few months after the accident - after the money from insurance stopped, but before she got the lawyer - she began to have increasing bad problems with her shoulder, to the point that she went to the ER.

She went in for an MRI on Monday and yesterday found out that she has Tendinosis.

She said on FB

 "Tendinosis The suffix "osis" implies a pathology of chronic degeneration without inflammation. Doctors prefer the term tendinosis for the kind of chronic tendon injuries that most of us have. The main problem for someone with tendinosis is failed healing, not inflammation; tendinosis is an accumulation over time of microscopic injuries that don't heal properly. Although inflammation can be involved in the initial stages of the injury, it is the inability of the tendon to heal that perpetuates the pain and disability. Most of the pain associated with tendinosis probably comes not from inflammation but from other irritating biochemical substances associated with the injury
So maybe if it'd been caught in the beginning when I kept saying it hurt maybe it would be better... I don't know... But looks like I should've been on lifting and such restrictions from the get go.. UGH!"

Please keep her in your prayers - as she does a LOT of lifting with 4 children of her own from nearly 9 down to nearly 3.  And others that she babysits, including a nearly 2 year old hefty little boy.  She had been headed to pick them up the day of her accident.  Now days, our Dad gets up to go get them on the days Rhoda has them.  Then he trades cars and heads for work 45 minutes away, which means he looses an hour of sleep those mornings.

She has been very helpful at this time, helping to co-ordinate meals and rides for us.

Update - 2:30 PM PRAY PLEASE

Please Pray

Joyce just called - things are worse than we thought.

Somebody is coming take me to the hospital.

Must decide fast = bypass surgery or what to do - damage is more than they thought or expected.

Please pray.

This is incredibly hard on us - our finances are in horrible shape after one hard hit after another - I don't even know the beginning or end of the stuff in Tim's office, he's not very organized about it.  Pray for me.  I've just lost my Mom 2 years ago, and I'm not handling this new news very well.

Update on Tim - 11:00 am ... 3-4

I just got off the phone with Tim.  His parents were with him.  The main topic of conversation was whether or not the kids and I should come down there.

He decided that he would rather have me with the kids and all of us safely at home for right now.  We live far enough away from the hospital that it is a real undertaking and gas is not cheap.  Although the two younger ones are really beginning to miss him, LaRue keeps checking his office and the bed for him.  Joel put on his tennis shoes and wanted to know if it was a warm hospital or a cold one.  Vannan keeps going for walks to the barn.  Kendra is cleaning her room.

But they had just finished doing an EKG on him .. he was laughing and saying he'd just had his first sonagram and  the baby was fine !  arms and legs and everything.  His mom was telling him to behave.

He's expected to go in for a catherization around Noon.  Or about NOW as I am typing this.

He says he'll not be able to lift anything for a while, or any "activity" for a week or so (I'm not sure how long as the speaker phone was a bit fuzzy).  And he'll have to eat much healthier.  I'm not sure how this will affect his job.  He has been selling insurance benefit packages to businesses for the last 5 or 6 weeks - maybe a bit longer.  He only gets paid if he makes a sale - and I'm not sure any of them have gone through far enough to give him a paycheck yet.  Basketball season has ended - so he's got a while to recoup before volleyball this fall.  He has been under a lot of stress the last 12 years - and especially with job hunting for the last 3 years.   Pray for his health and his job situation - I know between LaRue's birth and the car accident last year, Tim lost a lot of momentum while selling the Medicare supplement insurance ...

I should have another update by mid afternoon.

Tim Update 10:30 pm on 3-3

Tim was finally admitted to a room and has been given something to eat.  He was so hungry after not eating yesterday and today.

The doctors said he should have come in yesterday - I guess I should have pushed instead of being hesitant - but we are uninsured and that is so NOT what I wanted - Dr's kind of scare me.  I guess too, he wasn't telling me all of his symptoms, because when I did get him to read them, he went ahead and called about it.  I was actually more of a thought of gall bladder.

They will do the catheter tomorrow at lunch time.  He's asking for his laptop, so I may send it down with somebody tomorrow.  Joel, LaRue and I all have a nasty cough and cold - so I'm not sure I should go spend hours up there with 3 coughs and runny noses.

Please keep him in your prayers.

This decade has been so hard on  us, especially financially.  A few bright spots in life - like our children - and being around our family.  But otherwise, it has been a fairly difficult time.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Tim Update 7:30 pm on 3-3

 Tim's parents are out at the hospital with Tim.

Yesterday he came home around lunch, just after, and was in obvious pain.  After walking up and down the house several times, laying down and going to his office and sitting in the bathroom, I got out of him that his chest was hurting ... maybe it was a horrible case of heartburn.  I gave him 3 more antacid tablets, and he said it really helped a  lot.  Then he said his back was hurting.  He took Tylenol or Ibuprofen and said he was fine.  But soon he went back to bed.

This morning he slept very late, ran an errand, and went back to sleep.  No fever - this is not like Tim.  Even when he was in his office he was hunched over and seemed to be just sitting there.  No laughing at funny things or the kids, he just looked off.

About 5pm, I told him to call his Mom and do whatever he told her to do.  And shortly there was an ambulance in my front yard.  Tim walked out to it, and maybe 15 minutes later, they left.

Tim's mom called about 6:00ish? to say that he was in the hallway in "holding" and they wanted to run tests.  He was not at that moment having a heart attack, and seemed to be fine.

About 7:30 she called again.  He's still in the hallway.  She and his Dad are taking turns sitting with him.  (Yes, I stayed home to take care of the kids - if they need me, they will call.)   They did an EKG? and want to investigate it further, something was not quite right.  Also want to do a stress test in the morning.  Pray for wisdom for the doctors.

And pray for us too - during supper - we found we have no HOT water - plenty of water.  It just isn't hot.  Dad has been over to investigate, he'll have to bring home some tools and test it tomorrow.

LaRue is cruising the house looking for Daddy.

8:10 - Joyce just called.  He DID have a heart attack.  They are going to do a catheter tonight as soon as they can.  Please keep praying.

Prayer Request from Steve and Karen

Steve and Karen get into my blog a lot.

She is the one who was driving when we were hit by the semi in November.

She just had the baby Paul with Down's Syndrome.

They have 5 children, Katie, Bethie, Matthew, Esther, and Paul.

Here is a piece Steve wrote this afternoon.  They said I could share it here.  Prayers are needed.  

She is still in a Lot of pain and not sleeping well.  That is a big reason why I've been taking the kids the last several weeks for her to do their homeschooling.   She brings them to me on Tuesday, hangs out and putters in my kitchen and catches up on computer time.  On Fridays, she returns to pick them up.  So they had just gotten home and slept when they called this morning - my Dad went and got the 4 older ones so they could go to the Dr. this morning.  They swung by to pick up the kids, I fed them supper, the big girls helped bathe the kids, and we only sent Esther home.

Karen had a rough night last night. We've been sitting on a piece of news because it seemed rather vague and we've been waiting for more news from the Dr.

 

Short story, Karen has a mass in her abdomen that the midwife identified at her 6 week post-partum check. We went to see our GP immediately, who ordered a sonogram the following week. When it came back, he said that her left ovary was enlarged and since the image was not very clear regarding what it was, he wanted a Gynecologist to give a second opinion. When I questioned him, he said it could be cancer but it was much more likely that it isn't. So, we waited all week for a call scheduling that appointment, but one never came.

 

Meanwhile, last night I woke up about 3:50-something to the sounds of Karen throwing up and breathing the way she does during labor, kind of tremblingly with some vocal involvement with each breath. She complained of "pretty sharp" pain in her left abdomen, said that she'd taken an ibuprofen about an hour previously, and that she was cold. It seemed to me that her nausea was due to pain and being a little shocky.

 

I called the clinic hoping to find her Dr. on call, but he wasn't, and the nurse plainly said that although the Dr. on call could do little but send her to the ER, there would be a Saturday clinic if we could get there by or soon after 8:30. Shortly after this, her pain began to subside,  enough that when Paul started stirring, she was able to feed him and even lie down, after about 20 minutes. Taking the Old Soldier's advice to grab sleep when possible, I lay down too and slept until 8. Karen says she only dozed.

 

We headed to the clinic and there they took a urinanalysis (normal) to make sure she wasn't having a kidney stone. We didn't learn much, but what we did learn was vaguely hopeful. We got to read the sono report, which described an amorphous mass on her left side (shockingly, of 5.9" diameter), with some evidence of structure (meaning not a plain old fluid cyst). While that may not seem like a good thing to learn, I prefer information to ignorance. The Dr. theorized that this mass may have ruptured (the peak of her pain last night) and if so, the fluid would be resorbed and she stays (relatively) pain free she could wait until her GC appt, which it turns out was scheduled for Tues. afternoon, 2:30 -- they just apparently forgot to call us. He also said that, things being what they appear, the GC will probably order surgery "pretty quick" (read: immediately). On the plus side, neither the Dr. nor Karen could actually find the mass this morning, which Dr. said was a good sign.

 

So, we earnestly seek your prayers in this matter! Karen will start pumping breast milk to store up a supply so Paul can eat if she goes to surgery as now seems likely, and to keep herself going too, assuming a good outcome. We will also need child care Tues afternoon so I can take Karen to the GC. So if any of you reading this have time on your hands Tues afternoon and would like to volunteer...?  First come, first served! :^D

 

Love,

 

--Steve

My Charming Kids

My Charming Kids: "Stellan was demoted from the Intermediate Care Unit to the PICU this afternoon because he was simply not doing well. He has been in SVT since 9 am with only one 6 minute break when a dose of Adenosine worked briefly, is still NPO (not allowed to eat by mouth) and there is no sign that this new regimen of heart drugs is doing any good."

....................... click the title for full article or updates ........................


Please pray for this baby and his family - he's 9 months old. His story is heart breaking - at least to me. He's been in the hospital much of his short life - was not expected to live to be born. They are trying to help him live long enough to be able to survive major heart surgery and having a pacemaker installed.

Prayer Request - My Mom Went to the Hospital

My dad called me early this afternoon - not sure exactly, around 1pm. My mom was passed out and he wanted me to give an opinion of what to do - what I thought. I listened and decided I had better just go over (they are RIGHT next door). I didn't like what I saw - and confirmed what I was thinking, we needed to get her to the ER. She was still passed out - color was bad, breathing in gasps ... and feverish. She had been sick most of the morning. Dad thought a stomach bug. And sleeping most of the morning. ..... She wears herself out trying to help everybody and doing it perfectly. It worries me, I think I'm the only one who really knows how hard she pushes herself and often the only one aware of her being sick - other than Dad, who is almost as bad.

She did somewhat come to - and if she was going to go to the hospital wanted to be dressed. And she walked somehow to the livingroom, sat in her chair, and was somewhat gone again.

Anyway, I called 911 and took the paramedics to the house. They started to ask questions, she was semi-coherent and slurring her words. Whether that means a more serious problem or just she was still very out of it, I can't say - so far there has been no update from my dad. I left after just a minute. Dad said her blood pressure was higher than her normal just before they left.

They took her to one of the bigger hospitals, rather than to our country one up the road.

Now we wait and see.

Please keep us, especially my parents, in your prayers.

Prayer Request

This is my niece - Marriana.



She had her 2nd birthday at the end of the summer.

She lives a long way away from us. I've only seen her once and my parents only a few times. Her parents kind of keep to themselves. Their choice.

Off and on in the past year, they had been reported for negligence to the state welfare.
They had lost her for a few days or a week or so, but managed to do what the welfare wanted and got her back.

Until now.
They are claiming gross negligence. Marriana is on the small size - but her Daddy always was too.

There is a court case this week to place her in a temporary home to see if her Mommy and Daddy can get themselves and their home back up to par. My parents haven't seen their home in over a year - we had no idea it was as bad as the caseworker said it was.

Things look pretty bad.

But the courts have asked my parents to come to the hearing. It is possible that they will be allowed to care for her - if they state approved their trailer. We're not rich, actually pretty poor by today standards, and cannot afford to do any major work to make the place look nice - all the trailers out here need a lot of cosmetic work. They are taking letters of recommendation from people who know them and pictures of their home - because there is not time right now for a home visit. We are assuming she will come home with my parents if they do get custody.

We are praying for God's protection over her and for whatever will be the best thing for her and her parents.

In 6 months to a year, there will be a second hearing to see if she will be returned to them.

Her daddy is quite stubborn and thinks he can talk his way out of anything - usually he can. We love him - but he's a snake charmer, and has chosen to live the way he has - he's dug his own holes - and turned his back on God. Our hearts ache for him. We think he really does love his daughter.

Her Mommy was raised in the system - and is very insecure. I don't think she really understands or knows how to take care of her baby or their home - even though she loves Marriana with her whole heart. She does her best - but overlooks so much.

So here we sit between a rock and a hard place. And little Marriana caught in the middle.

Pray for God's will for her life and her parents.
And for God's protection over all of us involved.

The Lockwood Family: Final update before we leave

The Lockwood Family: Final update before we leave: "Saturday, December 13, 2008Final update before we leave Again, I just want to thank you all so much for praying. I wish I had the time to share how the Lord is so clearly leading thus far. When I get overwhelmed with the countless details that lie ahead, He so gently reminds me how He's cared for us so far...every little detail. I am reminded of how He's taken us through trial after trial...and oh how much He loves us! I just need to trust and rest in Him.This is just a quick update before I unplug and pack up the computer. Tomorrow will be a busy day as we pack up, hold our special Christmas service/fellowship meal, and then immediately leave to take me to the airport. I will not have the computer with me as I cannot lift very much. I'm bringing my purse and Noah lent me his backpack so I could bring my Bible and a change of clothes to tie me over until Daniel arrives with the children and the rest of our luggage."


More information on their blog....

Please keep this family in your prayers.

Prayer Request: The Lockwood Family: The Lord's hand seen through more complications

The Lockwood Family: The Lord's hand seen through more complications: "Friday, December 12, 2008The Lord's hand seen through more complications Change in plans...While Daniel was out of town today, I had another bad bleed. I was praying it would slow down as I did not want to go to the hospital myself, and the Lord answered. When Daniel got home, he took me right to the doctor. The doctor said the baby is still doing good, but I'm needing to get to better care. He wanted to hospitalize me, but the hospital here can't do much and would most likely send me to the capitol. So I'll be flying to the USA on Sunday. Daniel, Daniel's brother who is here and the children will be coming up right behind me in the van. A highly recommended doctor in our hometown has said he would see me next week and we'll take it from there. So we covet your prayers again in the week ahead.Due to having to go to the doctor, we decided to hand out the boxes tomorrow instead of this afternoon. Sadly, I won't be able to go, but my brother in law said he will take my camera and take lots of pictures for me :) And I will just be here at home, resting and praying for the Lord to open the hearts of these sweet children and their families to Him. Posted by Lockwoods at 7:50 PM"

Prayer Request

Please keep the Lockwood family in your prayers.
http://lockwoodfamily.blogspot.com/2008/11/pray-for-our-little-baby.html

Miscarriage and even a difficult pregnancy are topics that always make my heart ache. I consider myself very blessed to have my 3 children. After suffering 4 years of infertility, we finally had Kendra. A miscarriage and Vannan followed soon after. In 2002, we had two more miscarriages 5 months apart, and finally in 2005 we had Joel. My heart is still missing the 2 babies I've recently lost. One would have been 7-8 months old, and the other newborn. Now at 40, I don't have much hope for more.

So this little Lockwood baby has been on my thoughts a lot the last few weeks. Please pray for them.