Encouragement in hard times

I am sure I have written about my hopes for one day having children.  I love them...all of them...well, most of them.  Rick and I have quite a few kids who we have "adopted" as nieces and nephews and try very hard to spoil them rotten.  We always said we would "one day have kids" whenever we felt ready.
Well, we "felt ready" almost a year and a half ago...
I have been a little apprehensive about writing about this on such a public forum, but I know most of my readers are friends and family.  I also realize that a stranger might be lead to this blog and may find support or comfort by what I have to say.
Rick and I have been going through the awful, sometimes lonely, sometimes painful, annoying, life of infertility...I really hate that word...it is not a good word.  The good thing is, our doctor has high hopes for us.  The even better news is that our GOD has even higher hopes for us and I believe that one day he will bless us with a child.
Through this whole experience, I have been so uplifted by our friends and family.  I had mentioned that at times, infertility can be a very lonely process.  I am so thankful for my close friends and family who have stood by us in prayer and support.  I don't think I could go through this without all of them.
Rick, especially has been a strong point in my life.  He has strong faith that I am so inspired by and pray daily for.
I heard this song on the radio the other day and wept...I love the message it gives.  The song, "I'm with you", performed by Nichole Nordeman and Amy Grant, is the story of Naomi and Ruth...a story that illustrates the triumph of courage and ingenuity over adverse circumstances.  One woman helping another promising that "until your heart finds a home, I won't let you feel alone, I'm with you. "
When I hear this song, I think of all of our loved ones who are holding us up in prayer and standing by us...I know we are not alone...

Mom and Grandpa Update #5

Best news ever!!! Grandpa is home!!!
I just got off the phone with grandpa. He sounds very tired (as he should be), but he is so happy to be home! Mitch drove him out this afternoon and Bill and Jill are going to stay out there with him until he is fully recovered. Grandpa was so excited to see his dog! I am sure there were a few tears. ;) He will need to take it easy for a while. He is so grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers!
Mom went to a consult appointment with the hand surgeon today. He was able to check out her hands and scheduled surgery for sometime this friday. She is very happy to have that scheduled.
Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers!

Mom and Grandpa Update #4

Quick Update:
Grandpa was moved out of Trauma Intensive Care Unit and transferred to intermediate care where they can continue monitoring him. My uncle Mitch was with him this morning and reports that he is doing well. He may be released in the next couple of days.

Mom is doing well, but has some swelling in her eyes. She is visiting her doctor today to make sure everything is okay. Her surgery for her hand will be sometime later this week. My Grandma Marlys is taking good care of her today :).

Mom and Grandpa Update #3

I went to visit Grandpa this morning around 10. He was sitting up in a chair talking with my Uncle Bill and Aunt Jill when I walked in. His hand is in a sling and needs to be elevated due to his fractured hand, but the swelling in his face is going down. I was so happy to see him up and out of his bed! He is eating soft foods and drinking liquids. The nurses are keeping a close eye on his blood sugar levels as they are pretty high. Thankfully, his heart rate and blood pressure levels are good. Grandpa constantly is asking for his dog. I know he misses him terribly! Tonight, my dad printed out a picture of his dog and brought it over to him...Grandpa was very happy for that. I am sure he will be showing everyone who walks into the room!

Mom is continuing to rest at home. She has an appointment to get her hand checked out tomorrow. She is happy to know that Grandpa is getting better. My dad went out to the accident site yesterday and then to the tow yard to look at the car. He took pictures of the damage. I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like it. They are sure lucky to be alive!

Thanks again for continuing to pray for my mom and grandpa.

Update on Mom and Grandpa #2

Mom is doing well. We had a good night tonight. My mom's brother, Bill and her sister, Jill came over for dinner along with Bill's two children. We had some good food to eat thanks to some good friends and family. It has been a tiring couple of days for all of us, so having a night to relax and hang out was very much needed...they say that "laughter is the greatest medicine." I think that saying is very true and it was nice to see my mom smiling!

Grandpa is still in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. There are rumors that he will be discharged from intensive care possibly tomorrow. Most likely he will move up to a less restrictive ward where they will continue to monitor him. His left hand has a few fractures and is VERY swollen. My Uncle Bill reported the nurses have his hand elevated in a sling in hopes that the swelling goes down. He was a little groggy tonight, but I am sure that is due to the medications he is on. The nurses in the ICU are amazing! Thankfully, they are strong and can handle my Grandfather's stubbornness...in some ways, I think that attribute is the reason he is recovering so well. :)
Thank you all for your continued prayers! Our family is so grateful!

-Lena

Please Pray

On Thursday afternoon, my mother (Susie) was driving her father (Walter) home from the hospital after suffering a heart attack earlier in the week. All went well and he got through it with flying colors. On the way home, mom and Grandpa were driving in the Julian area on highway 79 when an oncoming car hit a large deer throwing the deer into their car, through their windshield and ended up in the front seat. Grandpa Walter was life-flighted to Palomar and mom went to Grossmont Hospital by ambulance. Mom got home about 4:00 the next morning. She has a concussion, a few cuts and bruises, and will need surgery soon to repair a torn tendon in her thumb. Please pray for her as she is thinking a lot about the accident and is worried about her dad.
Grandpa is in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Palomar Hospital. He has extensive lacerations to his face and a CT scan showed a subdural hematoma (bleeding between his skull and brain). Thankfully, it appears that the blood is slowly beginning to reabsorb back into his blood stream. He responds well to the nurses, recognizes all the family members, and is talking about the past, present, and continues to talk about going to the Grand Canyon in the future. The doctors also reported that Grandpa has a fractured left hand. The medical staff have stated that he is doing very well for what happened to him. We are praying that the collected blood continues to reabsorb and that his other injuries heal quickly.

UPDATE:
I just spoke with my Uncle Bill who has faithfully been by my grandfathers side. He reported that the nurses have him sitting up!!!

Thank you all who are praying for my family. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I will update this blog daily.

Prayers for Grandpa

Early this morning my mom got a call that my Grandfather (her father) had a heart attack at 1:30 this morning. He supposedly has been having chest pains all week, but no with no other symptoms he didn't really think anything of it. This morning, his chest pains increased and luckily my aunt and uncle were there to call an ambulance. They picked him up, took him to a small hospital in his area and then ultimately air transported him to UCSD to give him better care.

My mom and I rushed to UCSD picking two of my uncles up on the way. When we got to the cardiac ward, a WONDERFUL nurse informed us that he arrived an hour before and was rushed to the Cath Lab because he was still having chest pains. We waited around for an hour making calls to family throughout California and IOWA. We all were worried and hungry so we ran to a nearby cafe to eat and by the time we got back he was in his room awake and alert! Praise God!!!
During the Catherization procedure, a blockage was found in the main artery of his heart. They were able to place a stint to repair the blockage rather than perform a bypass surgery.

The medical staff kept commenting on how healthy my grandfather was. He is at a great weight, has good blood pressure, and good heart rate...I know this is from his healthy lifestyle. He eats VERY well and hikes daily...I think his lifestyle is what saved him!


Please, please, please, pray for continued healing for my grandfather. He still has so many aspirations, in fact, he was already planning a family hike through the Grand Canyon when he gets out! Ha!!!

Thanks for your prayers. God Bless!

These pictures are repeats from a past blog entry, but I wanted to include them in this post again. Doesn't my Grandpa look amazing for 69 years!!!