Tough day...again

Today has been tough, and I am glad it’s almost time for Shark Tank!  It is rainy here and dreary, but that gives me a sense of peace tonight.  I am tired and weary.  I am frustrated and disappointed.  But most of all, I am thankful; and I have to let those feelings win.  Because even though it was tough, there were so many people helping and so many blessings.

Andrew woke up a little out of it.  He said he had trouble going to sleep and did not sleep well.  But he fell asleep two times on the way to take Sam and then for me to drop him off.  We had worked out our schedules so I could leave to go to “The Lodge” today with the girls.  Hence, the disappointment that I could not go after what happened.  I know I needed the break and the girl time and the sister time.  But I know that the bigger picture is the bigger picture.  And my sweet girls have already made some plans a little later for us, so it immediately gives me something fun to look to.

Anyway, I try not to bug Andrew, but I told him to call me if he felt bad or weird.  He had a paper to turn in, and he had a presentation.  He seemed worn out, but I decided not to worry but to watch my phone closely in case he called.  He did call.  He was talking slowly and with much effort.  He said he was feeling weird, almost like a drunk person looks.  He said that he had some double vision and could not read words off his computer.  Then he said it was weird, but his legs were not working very well.  He thought he would just take a nap before class.  I told him I would be right there.  By the time I got to him, he was not slurring his words but almost.  He was walking like Frankenstein, very jerky and trying very hard, too hard.  I hurried him right to the doctor’s office.  My sweet nurse friends took him up to the office in a wheelchair where his talking became stuttering.  They were assessing him while rolling him in, and I had run to park my car.

In the office, his blood pressure was high.  He could barely walk, and his double vision would come and go.  But he was still being a pleasant patient and smiling and talking, even joking a little, with the nurses.  So his mood was great even though he had a lot going on.

After labs and his blood pressure coming down on its own, Dr. Adams determined that he could leave.  His walking was improving at that point too.  Dr. Adams told Andrew he may have been trying to have a seizure when everything went into slow motion and confusion and his legs would not work.  But he said if it was that, it was good that it did not turn all the way into one.  And we have to look at any positive we can get!
We went to campus and printed his paper and turned it in and went to his presentation.  I was, of course, staying in the background.  At that point, I could barely keep up with him; and he was getting a little bit grumpy.  He was determined to go help at the track meet, but I told him he would not like it if something happened.  So he agreed to come home and rest.  He was worn out by then anyway.  The turnaround, though, had been amazing to watch.

His neurologist is out of town, but the one on call told Dr. Adams to tell us to watch him and call if anything else happened.  We are praying nothing does!

I know what made a huge difference today was what surrounded me.  There were so many friends who were encouraging and concerned and helpful.  They just kind of took over and quietly helped.  It made things so much easier.  And the calls and texts I got from the girls helped a lot too.  I knew people were praying for him.

We had dinner here last night, and we had six college guys and two high school guys eating.  When all of the college guys disappeared, we found them in Sam's room looking at his Legos.  Sam cannot wait for them to come back and see his Playmobil people too.  It was so nice to have them here, and we will start doing it more often.  Andrew had a good night with friends, and I am glad it was last night and not messed up by today.

Sam came home from school over 400 even though he had good numbers throughout the day.  I think he is back to a good place now.  I just always worry that strep has crept in when those numbers pop up unexpectedly!

Please pray for Andrew as he studies for exams.  He has worked so hard this semester, and he needs his brain to cooperate.  We keep praying these seizures go away and stay away.
And I am going to focus on being thankful.  I still think it’s a good idea to watch my sad movies that make me cry – just so the tears don’t come out as meanness later on!   And I know that God knows all about my fears and frustrations.  I came across this verse again this week.  Mrs. Thrasher gave it to me years ago:

“You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book.”  Psalm 56:8

He knows how I feel, and He cares.  He collects all my tears, and this is important to Him because He loves us.

Thanks for praying.