Wednesday, July 13, 2016

New Update 7/13/16


Andrew went back to the neurologist on Monday.  We explained his two episodes from last week and in February (he was dizzy and could not stand or use his legs).  After pondering just a minute, Dr. Crittendon said he thought it was drug toxicity.  Andrew takes so many meds that sometimes they can just take over, I guess.  So we will make sure he drinks plenty in order to help not have that happen again.  We just got labs back today that say one drug level is a little bit high, what Dr. Crittendon suspected and Carla confirmed.  But we are not changing anything.  If we don’t count those episodes as seizures, he has had a good run without seizures.  And we want to keep it that way!

This was the year to miss The Bear.  The wind was gusting over 70 mph on top of the mountain, so they had to move the finish to the parking lot below the swinging bridge.  It was chaotic (per people who were there), but it was a good option.  And the race officials are the best.  Andrew and I helped at the Grandfather Mountain marathon on Saturday.  One finisher said the shortened Bear was his PR.  If he added the 3-4 minutes it would have taken him (at least) to get all the way to the top, he would have run his worst time.  So he told Andrew he was keeping 2016 as his PR!  I was sad that Andrew said that afternoon that he wished he could run, but we knew there was just no way after the Wednesday he had.  On the bright side, his knee feels much better; and he is out running on the roads again.  And we were both SO happy to leave the neurologist thinking he did not have seizures those times.  That is a HUGE deal, and we praise God for that.  We did not expect “good” news – how awful of me!  I know God can heal anything – no matter how long, how bad, how unlikely.  He can do anything.

Sam loves his Language Camp.  He was quiet the first 10 minutes Monday and then was totally comfortable.  Yesterday, they went up to the track; and he got to hurdle, high jump, and use the starting blocks.  He said Coach Weaver was there and told him he set a new record doing the high jump in sandals.  He had on sandals, because his school tennis shoes have become a chew toy for one of our dogs, not mentioning any names.  I have been looking for new shoes for him since before school was out, but it’s hard to find his size here.  Since Andrew and I go to Charlotte on Monday to the immunologist, maybe we can find some there!  And then we’ll have to hide them on top of the fridge!  Anyway, this camp is for children with learning difficulties, and it is the only camp some of them go to or can go to.  So they make it extra fun.  And he is having a great time while he is learning.  I am so thankful for those who invest their time in children who have a hard time, for whatever reason.  I don’t know if most summer camps would take Sam and his diabetes, and I have never felt comfortable enough to ask.  So I am thankful he gets to do this.  That is a big deal too, that God totally worked out.

~ “ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus

Philippians 4:19 ~

Everyone else is just busy getting things done this summer.  We started Country Church at our church on Saturday nights at 6:00.  Bethel Baptist is really doing it and using our church.  They have bands and then preaching, by Charlie Martin from Bethel.  Pete is so excited to be part of that.  He has wanted to do something on Saturday nights for a long time, and Charlie asked him to help at a different location.  When that location fell through, Pete offered our church which is only five minutes from town on the way to Blowing Rock. 

Peter and Will continue to work every day.  Andrew is Sam’s main person, and he is invaluable.  They even go to get groceries at Walmart together and have a movie planned for Saturday.  Pete has gotten a lot done on the bathroom, and we are excited for the next phase and then to finish!  We are still working on getting more “stuff” out of our house and will probably have to make a few trips to the dump and have another yard sale and donate a ton of stuff before we get to where I would like things to be.  Less is more.  That is trying to be our new motto!  For things on this earth.  My uncle and aunt sent a Christmas letter about getting rid of 75% (?) of their possessions before moving and how it affected them.  Andrew asked if we could do that, and it sounded wonderful.  We cannot hit 75 right now, but we are shooting for something reasonable by summer’s end.  I love to watch organizational shows on Netflix and now like to see how the Tiny House people do it!

We are so blessed.  I think I sometimes have to look back in order to move forward.  I tend to get bogged down.  I have been seeing things that God has worked out that I have already started taking for granted.  That affects my perspective moving forward, and I want it to affect my perspective in the best way.  So I have been looking for all of those blessings I may have missed and concentrating on being thankful for those I remember.  To run into someone or hear from someone at the perfect time is a blessing.  To look up and see two of your children coming to sit by you in church on a Wednesday night is a huge blessing.  To see your children help each other without even thinking about it.  AND, to have grease stains on the fridge handles and pretty white kitchen cabinet doors – now, that is a real blessing (that I could easily miss).  Even those mounds of laundry some days (even though the boys usually do their own) are blessings. 

~ “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.2 Corinthians 12:10

In my devotional, Jesus Calling, I am constantly reminded that the trials on this earth are blessings when they make us more dependent on Him.  I pray I will remember that often.

Thanks for reading this.  We hope you all have a safe and happy summer filled with blessings from God and reminders to you that He is always there and loves you more than you can imagine.

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