Grace is doing so well!!

Thank you all for your prayer and encouragement these past few weeks. Grace is doing so wonderfully! She is almost back to her old self, almost. She is still very needy and mommy obsessed, but I guess I should take advantage of that as soon she will move on and not want anything to do with me like the older ones. She is back to fake burping and saying "cuse me" and when she hears loud trucks, banging her fists, saying "boom, boom, boom, bye bye" So adorable.

I am enjoying the boys being home, but looking forward to school starting. Three boys are fun and challenging. They are rambuncious and full of life. The are constantly into something or planning their next adventure. Zachary is having trouble sleeping, so he is a little more challenging, but I'll take it. I loved my kids so very much and could not imagine life without any of them.

My hubby is amazing. He is so loving and caring. We celebrated 6 years on Friday and I look forward to 100 more, ok not that many, but you get the picture :)

Finally, church this morning was just awesome. The worship was so full of the Holy Spirit. You could just feel everyone lifting up the name of our Father and praising Him, surrendering to Him. The sermon was about God's will and God really spoke to me. It really laid out the three types of God's will. The moral will of God, the providental will of God and the personal will of God. My prayer for you all is the you let the light of God eliminate your darkness.

Love you all!

So much better

Grace is doing so much better. She was back in the ER on Sunday for fluids and came home with an IV because we were afraid she would need to be put inpatient on Monday. God had other plans and by Monday midday she was eating and drinking some. Today, she is normal Grace, ok needier and less trusting, but eating and drinking like normal Grace. We went to the park and went to the pool, it was so much fun! It was great to have Grace back. To hear her laughing and talking. Unfortunatley, Joshua started running a 102 fever, so please pray that she doesn't get whatever he has because I am afraid that will send her back.

God is awesome! Truly and completley AWESOME.

Love you all!

Sorry for the lack of updates!

I am so sorry for the lack of updates. Things have been crazy to say the least. Tuesday we decided to go to DC because we were staying in the area until Grace's followup on Wed anyway. It was really fun. It was nice for the kids to get to do something special and get Grace's mind off of everything.

Unfortunatley, we ended up in the ER on Wed evening following our appt with the ENT. Grace was obviously dehydrated and in much pain. She would do nothing all day but cry and sit in my arms. After 4 attempts they were able to get an IV in and gave her lots of fluids. They let me have the decision to keep her or to let us drive home. I decided to come home, praying she would start drinking once she was in her normal element. Not the case. She has had one wet diaper in 24 hrs and that was not very wet. So, we are going to the Children's ER today, more than likely to be admitted again. Another holiday away from family.

Please pray for Grace. She is just miserable. Yesterday she slept most of the day and when she was awake she was crying in pain and wanting to be held. She really wants to eat and drink, or she did, she really won't even try much anymore. The previous days, she would stick things in her mouth and cry because she was so hungry, yet the pain was so bad she couldn't swallow anything. There were times that I just cried along with her.

Also, yesterday Devon woke up throwing up and was sick all day, last night, Zachary woke up throwing up at 2:30am he was covered in puke as he calls it.

Guys, I won't lie, I am weary. With all this medical stuff and now the flu, I feel sometimes we can't get a break. Then I think of other families who have kids that have terminal illnesses and am reminded that while we have a lot on our plate, that it is not even close to what these families are experiencing. Please pray that I remember those that are less fortunate and remember that God has been faithful, therefore I must be too. There is some other stuff that I could really use prayers for that don't belong here (for those that know me personally, no it's NOT my marriage)

Thank you all for your prayers, I know that God hears every one of them and I trust that HE is in control.

Love you all!

Grace is home~~

Grace is home!! OK really she is at the hotel, but she was released yesterday. She stated running a fever, it went away and is now back. She is a lot of pain, even with Tylenol 3. She mostly sits in mommy's arms and moans. It is really sad to see her like this. She also won't eat today or drink. Please pray that she start drinking and eating so she is not readmitted! I will update more later, but I typing in the dark and the kids are waking from the noise.

Love you all!

Until Journey's End

This is an AMAZING organiztion that helps families with kids that are sick and have to travel away from home. They are an absolutley wonderful group and we are humbled at the love they have shown us. Please if you have a moment visit the website, visit some of the other kids blogs and if you can donate to help a organization that is more amazing then I could begin to explain.

www.untiljourneysend.org

Saturday Update-God is AWESOME!

Grace is now on the regular ped floor. She did great during the night. She was in quite a bit of pain, and poor daddy sleep poorly with Grace, but she had no major respiratory problems and was drinking some this am and then by this evening is eating small amounts of soft food! Praise the LORD! She is still in quite a bit of pain but daddy is being sure that they are staying on top of the meds so it isn't that bad. She also took a walk this evening and went to the playroom. WOW~ My heart is full. God never ceases to amaze me.

Please continue to pray that she heals and that the pain lessens. God has been so faithful.

Love you all!

God had planned every step...

Ok, so where do I even start? I guess instead of trying to do things in a chrnological order I will bullet the amazing things that God has done.

• 2 or 3 months ago I started following a blog about a heart baby names Stellan. On this blog, was referenced a non profit organization called "Until Journeys End" Grace got scheduled for surgery and we had no money for the trip. My sister remembered Until Journeys End and contacted them for us. They immediatley contacted us and got us a hotel for our whole stay. Oh, and did I mention the Ronald McDonald House was full and we would have no place to stay?
• We had a babysitter planned out for the time we were at UVA, then two days before they closed on their house and the kids had to come! If we had been at the RMH, we would not have all fit, God knew that.
• A few months ago the founder of UJE came to visit her husband, a JAG lawyer, that was in training in Charlottesville. She went to a local church and made friends with some of the people there. Well, since we had to bring the kids, we were afraid that we would not be able to be together the day of surgery, Tiffany, from UJE, called her new friends from the Charlottesville area and God provided a babysitter. God had worked this out before we even knew Grace was having surgery.
• God put different people in our path with money for food. One sweet lady from choir was opening her birthday card while reading an email from me. She felt God move her to give us that money. Another lady was a teacher for one of our sons many years ago and gave us money and was talking to a coworker who gave as well. Then there was our choir director and our lifegroup. Each step we were unsure we would have enough, God provided.
• On the day we were leaving, we were filling our tires and there was a family in front of us that obviously had little money. I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit on my heart and knew that although we had little that they needed $20. I had James put it on the front seat of their car. James had no sooner walked to the car that I got a call from my sister saying that someone had walked up to her and said that they knew we needed a $20 bill and gave it to my sister. God had immediatley given us the 20 back. WOW!

There are more awesome God stories and I will tell you them as I have time. I pray that you have some awesome God stories and I truly praise the Father of Heaven and Earth.

Maryanna