Thanksgiving

Monday night was dramatic. I woke up around 1:30 to a strange sounding cough. I went in to Bridger's room to feed him and could tell that he had become very congested. Within a minute it registered how bad it was; his breathing was extremely labored and his cough, though bad, was very weak because he wasn't able to take in enough air to put any real force behind it. With every breath he was gulping air and making a horrible sound in his throat known as stridor. Yup -- the croup had hit. I remembered a nurse warning me when Brooke had croup that if a baby develops that stridor sound it needs to be taken to the ER right away, so off we all went to the closest hospital.

After breathing treatments of two medications, his airways cleared enough for him to doze off. Our dear friend Leslie came to get Brooke from the ER at 3:00. Bridger was transferred in an ambulance to the children's hospital while I drove behind. He was monitored there until 7:00 this morning when we were released.
He's been much better since we came home and we had a great night last night. I have him set up in the corner of our room by our bed, next to a humidifier and a Vicks vapor nightlight. Sleeping in his carseat keeps him upright and helps his congestion. Note the pink sleep sack leftover from Brooke's baby days. Of course there wasn't time to change him into something more manly, so everyone thought he was a girl last night. Maybe Santa can find him a blue one.... :)

It's a strange experience driving behind an ambulance in the middle of the night, knowing your baby is in there. It was dark and they had the lights on, so I was watching what was happening inside. Fortunately, they were all calm and I knew that everything was going okay. As I drove, I was praying for him. A few thoughts occured to me then and have been striking me since this all began. This has helped me appreciate how many blessings we have. I'd like to share a few.

I thank God for:
* His sovereignty in all things
* healthy children
* living in the age of modern medicine and a country with advanced technology
* living so close to a hospital and a specialty children's hospital
* grandparents who regularly keep Brooke so that she is not phased by spending nights away from home
* a reliable vehicle, clear roads and a full tank of gas
* competent doctors, nurses and EMTs
* medicine that worked
* insurance and money to pay the copays and premiums
* family willing to come in the middle of the night and take off from work if needed
* friends nearby who heard the phone ringing downstairs and came to get Brooke and watch her -- and even considered it an honor to be called
* being tracked down and reached at the hospital when Steve returned my call
* a babysitter who could watch Brooke at Leslie's house yesterday morning while I tried to rest
* the exact amount of money in my pocket to pay the babysitter
* Bridger's milk in the fridge, ready to go
* good naps yesterday afternoon and an invitation back over to Leslie's house for dinner
* Brooke's extreme love of "Baby Grace" and her family
* a great night's sleep last night
* Brooke's preschool this morning
* that I don't have work and can focus on taking care of our kids
* the reminder that God's word promises me that I will not be tempted beyond what I can bear, so whatever comes my way, God will give me the grace and strength to endure.


Crazy as it seems, this experience has been a wonderful blessing because it has reminded me of God's faithfulness and provision. While I don't thank God that my baby is sick, I do thank Him that He is our good father who cares for and provides for all of our needs, no matter what happens.

Praying for Jacobsen

We are praying for our baby cousin, Jacobsen, and ask that you please join with us. Jacobsen has just been diagnosed with a neuro-muscular disease, possibly spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a degenerative genetic condition that is life threatening. He was hospitalized Monday night and has undergone tests and monitoring. We are waiting for more information from DNA testing, which will take 7-10 days.

Personally, this rips my heart out. Jacobsen was born one day before Bridger. I know so well how much love I have for our seven-week old baby boy. The compassion that I feel for Jacobsen, his parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and all of the lives whom he has already touched takes me to the Lord on their behalf. As emotional and awful as this is, I know that God has a plan, and that even though this is part of it, it is still a good plan. We only have a small piece of the big picture. Even with that knowledge, though, a tremendous amount of pain and grief accompanies such news.

Please join us in praying:
For God to be glorified in every aspect of this situation.
For Jacobsen's healing.
For an accurate diagnosis and perfect plans of action and care.
That God's Holy Spirit will comfort and bring peace and understanding to all involved, and show us how to bless, encourage, and love one another.


In the face of news like this, there are so many questions. There are so many needs and hurts and desires. It seems there is so much to pray for.

Here is a verse God is putting on my heart:

"...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:26-28

We'll keep you posted. Thanks for your prayers and support.