Yep! That was me! When I left school yesterday, I had to go and see about getting the shirts printed up for my school programs. That is always mildly stressful because, I really am not an artist…I do a fairly good job of pretending, but it is work. So, when designing shirts that a whole school will wear and another for all the Moms, I want it to be just right. I always know in my head exactly how I want things to look, but I can not always get it transferred to the paper. One of the teachers at school, Courtney, is always ready to help me. She should be doing the whole thing actually, because, she is a real artist. Thanks for the help, Courtney! And, my dear friend and director at school Bonnie, has so graciously gotten me some help this year 2 days a week. Probably because she knew I was going to have a total meltdown and scare all the kiddies. But, now I have sweet Andi coming to help me and she is a dear! She is a mom to 3 boys and a real bundle of energy. And so opposite from me. Thank goodness! I am just so scattered , but Andi has got me or-gan-ized! WOW! She has gotten all my programs run off, put in folders, labelled, given out, parts run off, highlighted, given out,…she’s the best. And, she spent 2 days last week coloring flip-flops for me because I could not ever decide I liked the colors. So, she colored, and colored, and colored. She wants it perfect…I want it good. She wants it lined up in order, even numbers…I want it askew, and odd numbered. We make a perfect team! Thanks Andi! And, thanks Bonnie for being the most understanding boss anyone could ever have, always full of grace and mercy, ad kindness!
All that is not even what I was going to blog about. While I was there, Don called and said he was at the new house and I needed to come out there…now. So I did!
He was very concerned that Alex’s suite was not going to be big enough. That we had made it too small. And the more he talked, the more he convinced me. And by the time I left, I was in tears. Why had I not paid attention and made sure it was big enough? How did I let this happen? Now, I really do have complete faith in our architect. He is terrific and knows how important it is to us that Alex have a wonderful place to live. No one believes me, but I really do want this house as much for Alex as I do for myself! Anyway, how could Bill have drawn the plans too small? He knew what all Alex needed. I was in a high level of distress. Don called Alex and told him I left there upset and asked was I home? So, that got Alex upset. He does not want anything bothering his mama. I just drove. Turned off my phone and drove…for about 30 minutes, then headed home. Don called as soon as I got in and said we were to be back at the house to meet with Bill at 4:00. He would pick me up. I was not in any state of mind to go anywhere. But, when he blew the horn, I got in the truck. And off we went.
Bill was waiting for us. Don told him our concerns…well, he made me tell him our concerns. Then Bill patiently explained to us exactly how large the space really was, and just how he had designed it so everything would fit in just perfect. Alex will have a den, bedroom, kitchen and bath, and closet. A built-in bed and bookcase wall unit with lights and speakers. He will have a couch and 2 chairs, a desk and TV and table and chairs in the den. He will have a full size bathroom…all handicap accessible, so that if need be, he can use a wheel chair in every area.
All is well. It is turning out just like Bill designed it. It is Don and I who are freaking out! Actually, I think it is more Don than me, but don’t tell him I said that.
Finally made it home. Explained it all to Alex..and I went to bed. Alex had a very rough night and we were up several times. He was in terrific pain and could not get comfortable at all. I called in and did not go to work today because I was up so much last night. Say a prayer for Alex if you will…he really needs it.

I’m just saying.

After we got settled into a room, Beth and Don left to find a motel nearby. Don was so sick…throwing up and such. I really didn’t want him to be around Adam in case he was contagious. They immediately began working on Adam…more x-rays, blood work, scans, another 24 hour urine collection. The plans were for Mom and Pop and Don’s Mom to come up the next day. The surgery was scheduled for 6:00 AM. They were planning to be there by then. I met with the surgeon and liked him a lot. Adam was still sick from his ear infection and cold, and during the night, he spiked a fever of 103. After this, the DR. came back and said he would put the surgery off til the next day due to his high temp. So, I called Don and told him to just sleep in the next morning and called the family to tell them not to rush to get to the hospital.

As I sat there in that room, I prayed so hard. What was going on? Is this real? Am I dreaming? All I wanted to do was run…fast and far. I remember asking God to take control of this situation. I had my Bible and kind of clung to it like a life preserver. I would open it and read, and pray, and read…and wait. I asked God to tell me what to do…to let me know He was there…to save us from this nightmare. I wanted to hear His booming voice saying it was all taken care of. But, I didn’t hear that. I didn’t hear anything. I wondered what was to come…I wondered if God even heard what I was saying. I was not nearly as strong in my faith at that time as I am now, and this was a sure test of that faith. Finally, I dropped off to sleep, and at about 6:00, the surgeon came in. “Mrs. Owens”, he said, “I have a feeling that I need to operate on your boy…now! I never operate on a child with fever like this, but my gut tells me to get in there now. Will you give your permission.” Well, what a way to wake up! “I have spent the greater part of the night praying”, I said,”so if you feel that strongly, then I feel like the Lord is leading you.” So, I gave permission, and he picked up my little boy in his arms and off they went…down the hall, onto the elevator…and away. Just like that. I had no time to call Don, or family, or God. I had to make a decision right then and there and pray it was the right one. What a feeling it was to be there and know my baby was in a fight for his life. They had told us the night before that his type of cancer…ganglioneuroblastoma…was usually discovered during the first year of life…the later it was discovered, the greater the likelihood that it had spread. They said we would be lucky to have him for a year. A lifetime can not be crammed into a year.

I quickly called Don and Beth and the parents, and they spread the word. They all began to make their way to the hospital. I had to give up our room and go to the intensive care waiting room to wait. All our belongings packed up, and moved with me, into a little room that came to be a “hell on earth” to me. This was in 1978, so the smoking rules were non existent. This dungeon like room was dark and had chairs all along the outer walls and a row down the middle. There was very little room to walk. Some of the people had been staying there for weeks, so they had little homesteads set up. People asleep on the floor, in chairs…and more than half of them smoking. No windows in this room….just a coffee machine, 2 televisions, about 30 people, 1 pay telephone, and enough cigarettes to circle the globe. I have never been so miserable in all my life. And, there was no other place to wait unless you sat on the floor in the hall. When they would go get food the odors of the food would float on the smoke and stay there for hours. Hell-on- earth. But, this was the only place we could stay for the next 4 days. So we did. These people were in the same position I was. They were hurting, too. Their children were fighting for life just like mine. Being so young myself, there was much I didn’t know about human nature. Things like desperately ill children can bring out the worst in people and families…or it can cause you to cling together and draw strength from each other. It causes some to lose every bit of dignity they have. Some lose all restraint, and don’t care what they say or do…or who is nearby. What I observed those days sitting in that waiting room taught me much about people…a real lesson in life.

Don got to the hospital while Adam was still in surgery, so he was there when the dr. came out to tell us the news. He said, “When I opened Adam up, I could see the tumor. It was on the adrenal gland. It was visibly bulging and could have burst at any moment. I think we got it out still encapsulated. But, if we had waited another hour or two, it would have been too late. He could have died from the tumor bursting, and if not it would have sent the cancer all over his body. We did the right thing.” Friends, I hugged Don, I hugged the Dr., and I sent a hug right up to God! It was so evident to me that I had just seen God at work. This was the first of many, many lessons I would learn about letting God be God and following His will. The first of many.

Adam went straight to ICU, and when we went to see him, he looked so pitiful…my heart was torn in two. He had no clothes on and was crying for someone to put his diaper on. He was not completely potty trained and still wore a diaper at night. He had 2 drains coming from his abdomen, a tube down his nose and IV in both arms. Now, he was and had always been a thumb sucker. He arms were restrained and he was unable to get to his thumb. All he would say was ,”Put on my diaper or give me my thumb.” I got the nurse to give me a diaper and I laid it open on top of his bottom. They could not put it on him because of the incision. But that satisfied him. Then they let me hold him and while I held him, he could suck his thumb. What a comfort for him. When they found out that I was a nurse, and was not going to freak out , they moved him into a little side room sort of by itself, so that I could stay with him more. When the Dr. came in, a few hours later, Adam said, “please give me my thumb.” The Dr. looked to me and I asked Adam if he would promise not to pull at the tube in his nose. I told him if he did we would have to tie his hands back down. “I pwomise, Mommy”, he said. We untied his hands, and he never once tried to pull it out. Boy that was the best medicine in the world for him at that moment. He was able to sleep and rested quieter for the rest of the time. We spent the next 4 days there…parents, family, friends…pulling together for the life and well being of this little boy. Watching God work,,,feeling the strength only He possesses…knowing the peace that only He can give.

I do not know where this is or anything about it at all. I just think it is a beautiful way to incorporate a window. Very unusual, don’t you think?
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Jesus said,”In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:2-3

The new drug I reported about on 4/4, totally works. I was more than happy to test it for everyone, so you could feel safer using it. And, it is amazing! I am clear headed, and feeling rested and relaxed! Wow! What if I had bought 2 pairs? Here they are…$19.99 at Goody’s…Union Bay Brand.

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More crazies coming out of the woodwork. Lynne in GA. confesses to the ‘list crazies’, too. I feel better now, don’t you, Crazy Jean?
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The builders finished pouring the foundation on the house. And it has rained ever since! Come on now, weather people, lets get some sunshine down here in the ‘sunny south’.
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Mom has had a rough week. It seems she picked up a stomach virus this week(probably when we spent the day in the ER last week). So, she has been battling that, as well as recovering from her surgery and bronchitis. But yesterday she said she was feeling stronger. Mom is not one who likes to lounge around and take it easy…which is what she is having to do. Hang in, Mom. Every day is one step closer to recovery! Then we’ll celebrate! I love you!
Pop, who is 82, has been treating a very bad burn on his leg. He got it riding his dirt bike in the woods…when he fell…and the motorcycle fell on top of him! And you wonder where I got the ‘CRAZY’ DNA? He didn’t tell us about it for a while, but when he showed it to me, I was appalled. Friends, he had been walking around with a third degree burn on his leg for over a week! About the size of a credit card. I insisted he go to the Dr. and he did and they sent him to another Dr. who thought they may have to do skin grafts! But, thank God, it is healing, and will not require the grafts. Pop, be careful…I love you!
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I recieved this award this week from my dear friend, Kat. How sweet of you to think of me. Kat is one of my long-time blogging buddies and also a charter member in the “B” Club. She is just as precious in person as she is on her blog!

And, I choose to pass it on to:
Too Wonderful For Me
and
Scattered Fruits