Why?

So I was sitting in the living room this evening playing with Annie, when Peter observed, "It's like she's an infant now, right, Mom?"
"Yeah," I said with not a little sarcasm, "it's great, isn't it?"
"But she's getting better, and she's better than before, right?" Jack asked.
"Yes, she is getting better," I said, "but the thing the bugs me the most about this is that I know God could heal her suddenly and completely today, but for some reason He hasn't."

You know when you have those inane conversations that never lead anywhere? They usually happen toward the end of February when your body is so depleted of Vitamin D and seratonin that even a venti triple quad with an extra shot doesn't do squat.

Well, Peter's answer to my whining was typically blunt: "God has a plan and it's better than yours." And, not to be outdone, Jack chimed in, "God puts you in the place where you can benefit others."

Darn kids.

Okay--I submit. Again. "Jesus--Annie is Your kid, she's not mine. Thank You for what You have done, thank You for what You are doing now, and thank You what You are going to do in the future. Help me not to whine. Amen."

Jean

I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. Job 42:2

Flower Girl

We walked around the Pacific Northwest Flower and Garden Show this sunny afternoon with Miss Andrea, my garden buddy since my other garden buddy moved to Iowa, where flowers don't bloom until May 15th, and are promptly sucked up by tornados a week later. I guess virtual gardening will have to do for all of us who live far and wide...but it just isn't the same as digging in the dirt together, huh? Maybe alot easier on our backs, though.

Annie-banana patiently endured most of the landscaping displays, but after about an hour or so, she let it be known to everyone within earshot that she was done looking. I just can't wait until her preferred method of communication moves beyond her finger and her throat.

Speaking of her throat, she seems to be adjusting well to the VNS thing going off every 5 minutes for 30 seconds each time. Sometimes she'll cough a little, but it doesn't seem to bother her. Of course, the cough may be from the cold she's had for the last few days--hard to say which is which.

Don't forget to check out the link to yesterday's Bothell Reporter story about the auction Jenn Lund organized for Annie. What a great blessing that was. Huge. I can't wait until I can tell you to check out the link to the video of Annie walking. It'll happen!

Jean

When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful. Romans 12:12

Captain, we have power!

The neuro-nurse turned on Annie's VNS on Tuesday, and so far, no weird side effects--praise the Lord! The nurse said I should notice Annie looking brighter--as in mood, not wattage--the first week. And I do, so that's a nice side benefit. She still is averaging 5-6 seizures a day, but remember that the VNS works over time. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE.

Okay, I'm better now.

Jean

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11

I see the moon and the moon sees me...

This evening I was washing my hands at the kitchen sink where the window looks out on the garden in my backyard. Above the trees the moon had just appeared, and I thought of how Annie used to like to look up at the moon and stars at night. Hmmm...maybe someday she'll do that again, I thought.

Things take time--that's something I've learned over and over since Annie got sick. The first year I was so driven to maximize all of her waking moments because, after all, the experts said whatever recovery she made in 12 months was all she'd achieve. Then I read 2 years--2 years is the outside time limit for any meaningful recovery from brain injury.

But tonight when I tucked Annie in to bed, she reached for her pink blankie and brought it up to her nose to smell the soft, familiar scent. Hmmm, that's new, I thought. And those sounds she made today while I was singing to her were new, too. Little, almost imperceptable changes, still happening 2 years post-injury.

Her schoolteacher, Amanda, asked me last week if I could come in for a meeting to update Annie's IEP. She said Annie's made some big changes since Christmas, and has met most of her goals, so it's time to make new ones. Like maybe looking up into the night sky at the moon and the stars?

Jean

Look up toward the sky.
Who created everything you see?
The Lord causes the stars to come out at night one by one.
He gives each one of them a name.
His power and strength are great.
So none of the stars is missing. Isaiah 40:26

VNS Post-op

We went in for the post-op appointment today to check Annie's incision sites...they're all healing fine, and we go back next week (the 10th) to turn her battery on. So--real answers to prayer that everything has gone so well.

Please pray that she have good results quickly; she's having about 5 seizures a day, and there's usually one that takes her awhile to come back from. Also please pray that she doesn't have annoying side effects from the VNS that keep her up at night or that bother her.

Thanks!

Jean

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies. Psalm 36:5

Groundhog Day

Have I mentioned that I was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania? So the tradition of Groundhog Day is something I grew up with. And, today, February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so that means 6 more weeks of winter. What a great tradition...kinda reminds me of another Pennsylvania tradition--Steelers winning yet another Superbowl. Yep, 6 more weeks of winter, and 6 Superbowl wins.

Have a great day.

Jean