Monday, May 10, 2010

Mother's Day Report

Chrissie had a "calm" Mother's Day.  So sad to think her first Mother's Day with her forever mommy was one that she'll never recall, but I pray that next year's Mother's Day will be one that she'll be celebrating at Forgotten Saw Ranch!  Chrissie wanted a mommy more than anything, and I praise God for blessing Chrissie with her God-chosen forever mommy.  I feel very unworthy of being called Mom by our warrior princess, but I am honored beyond expression that God chose ME of all people to become Chrissie's forever mom.  I will say that I love this precious girl with all of my heart, and I feel like she was knit in my womb and has been with us her entire 4.6 months of life.  It's seems unfathomable that Chrissie has only been with us for six months.  It's been six of the best months of our lives (for everyone in our family), and for that, we are most grateful to have been chosen as Chrissie's forever family. 

My mom came to the hospital at 10:30AM on Mother's Day to spend her special day by Chrissie's side so that I could go spend more time with our other kiddos.  (Mom, I never even told you Happy Mother's Day!!!  I came out of Chrissie's room after the kids visited with her this evening so I could hug you and wish you a Happy Mother's Day and thank you and tell you that I love you, but you had already left.  I'm so sorry I didn't get to say these words to you in person, but please know how grateful I am that you are selfless and gracious and loving and kind.  Thank you for choosing to spend your Mother's Day in the hospital with a very sick girl, and doing it all with joy and a smile.  I am so blessed that God gave me you as my mom, a Nana who loves all of her grandkids equally, whether they're from our tummies or from half-way around the world.  You are a blessing, Mom.  Thank you and I love you.)

Matt and the kids picked  me up at the hospital at 11AM, and they had planned to take me to Outback Steakhouse.  I, unfortunately, did not want to go to a nice restaurant as I was still in the previous day's clothing with no shower and hadn't even brushed my teeth.  I was exhausted since I only got 2 hour of sleep Friday night and then 3 hours of sleep Saturday night.  I very much wanted to spend the day with my kids, but sitting in a nice restaurant (with my stinky body and bed head) with a one hour wait was not my idea of a good Mother's Day.  (Plus, I had already eaten the McDonald's "Big Breakfast"...well, I ordered it, but only took about 3 bites because my appetite isn't so hot these days.)  Anyway, I had the kids choose a fast-food restaurant, so they choose Taco Cabana, which I love.  So, we celebrated Mother's Day on Formica tables of guacamole green and terra cotta orange, and it was a lovely celebration indeed.  The kids made me the sweetest cards with words that blessed my heart more than they'll ever know.  There's nothing better than having your child pour their heart out in a card.  What a blessing.  They were excited to give me their gifts, and I LOVED them!  They chose the cutest dress with a coordinating necklace, earrings, and shoes.  They did a FANTASTIC job picking out gifts that I would love.  They know me well. :-)  Then, the next best gift came when they all expressed their desire to take a nap...HALLELUJAH!!!  I took an hour and a half long nap in a REAL bed, which was heavenly!  Then I took the kids shopping and then swimming and then we headed back to the hospital together as a family.  We ate at Pizza Hut for dinner, where Kiefer entertained everyone with his silly personality and dancing (jiving to the "oldies" playing in this 1970's Pizza Hut!).  All of the kids got to come visit Chrissie, and even though she was paralyzed and asleep (sedated), I know she heard the sweet voices, prayers, and words of encouragement from her siblings. 

Chrissie's sats and stats are all looking good right now, but she's having more ventilator support than before so that her lungs can work less and have more opportunity to heal.  We're waiting for the culture results so they can hopefully identify the bacteria causing the infection so they can treat it with the correct antibiotics.  Keep praying for Chrissie's lungs to heal.  I should know more about the plan once I visit with Dr. Porisch and Dr. Kupferschmid later this morning (Monday).  I'm SOOOO thrilled that Dr. Porisch is back.  Praise the Lord!  Keep praying for her to be able to transition home easily as Dr. Porisch will need to recover from the time difference and sheer exhaustion from all of their mission efforts, heart caths, screenings, etc.

On another note, many of you have been asking about sending things to Chrissie at the hospital. One sweet reader sent a package, only to have it returned to her.  Chrissie is under the patient name "Barbara Patterson", so you'll need to make sure you write "Barbara" on the package.  (Barbara is Chrissie's Serbian name, which we legally changed in Texas, but our insurance company had already pre-certified Chrissie for surgery under the name "Barbara Patterson", so we didn't want to mess with changing it with the insurance company and hospital because we didn't want it to create any confusion or reason for denying the claim.

Thank you for praying.  Chrissie still has a long road ahead of her.  Grateful for the prayers!!!

5 comments:

Susan said...

Just wanted to pass this along.

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy." God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?" God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

Who will protect me?" God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore." God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, "You will simply call her, "Mom.

Wendi Taylor said...

I'm glad you had a chance to spend time with the rest of your children for mothers' day. I can't imagine how hard it is for you being separated the way you are right now. Please know that you are in my thoughts & prayers constantly.

On another note - I hadn't even *thought* about insurance issues... and I am amazed that your company is covering Chrissie's surgery. That is no small miracle in and of itself in today's health-care world!

Jodi said...

Thinking of you all, praying for sweet Chrissie...

The Browning Family said...

I read, and cry. It was September of last year that our little Justus underwent heart surgery at four months old. He encountered many bumps at which I found myself questioning God. Through our prolonged stay in ICU I was given the opportunity to witness to two nurses. One of the last bumps almost took my son's life, with an unexplained fever. That night was my birthday and I had just visited with my five other children, I came out of his room as they did an emergency vent to allow his lungs some rest - just weeping, a mess I was as I rushed into waiting room and collapsed in a ball, praying and crying and not caring who saw me. Next to me was a group of Russian ladies. Without my knowledge they started praying with me - not knowing what I was praying for. Upon lifting my eyes and meeting them, I listened as one of the red-eyed ladies told me that her son was on the heart transplant list. He needed a heart. I thought my son was going to be the sacrifice for that - but I was wrong. My son survived, and she and I became very close. Her husband was away doing mission work in their homeland. We bent our knees and begged God for her son with every plummet of sat level or sign of infection. Well, three months after our stay there I sat on my couch with a healthy baby - as she said her final goodbyes to her beautiful David.
I will never forget my time there at the hospital, and I know that there was purpose in every little bump. I know that there is a purpose for your being there, maybe even bigger than fixing and repairing Chrissie's heart. My prayers are with you and with that little boy next door to you.

free_to_dream said...

God WILL heal your Chrissie! I was praying last night and I got an answer back: "Ani Adonai", "I am the LORD." Keep on hoping and praying and never lose faith!

Sarah

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