Simple Acts = Big Impact

Now that it seems Kevin is truly on the mend I have some mental space to get some thoughts out... I'm too tired to sleep... Too much in my head.

Kev and I have been "plugging in" at FRC as much as we can. I felt like I was meeting some really cool people who I felt strong connections to but I truly didn't think I had done enough yet to cultivate a "real" friendship. I may not have done enough to cultivate it.. but this week... when I needed it.. it was there, over and over again for me. People I jdidn't expect to be there for me... just WERE.. I didn't ask... they just showed up for me in a big way.

I don't know if they'd want it broadcasted with their names so I'm just gonna use a first initial. "J" went through a few obstacles to get in touch with Kevin and I.... but she didn't give up... she hunted down my correct phone number and I got the nicest message... it was real.. heartfelt and GOD did I need it in that moment. She closed the message by saying "love ya friend." After the day I had, worrying about Kevin, not knowing... This unexpected gift came my way and it was like a giant hug that made me feel warm and fuzzy all over... I felt so cared for... so blessed just hearing her words. She has been a source of daily strength for me. So considerate... so sincere. Last night, when Kevin and I were both just fried and felt like we were back at square one... we so thought he was going to end up in surgery this morning... I talked to "J" she calmed me. Then later in the evening I got a text message from her.. I had been having a hard time getting to sleep and then I read her words

"I DON'T KNOW YET WHY GOD PUT U IN MY LIFE... BUT I'M SO GLAD HE DID"

WOW... Let me just tell you... that is something so amazing to hear... I will be keeping that message and re-reading it when I need a little lift. The irony is her words EXACTLY described what I was feeling about HER! I just can't tell you how thankful I am to have her in my life!

She is not the only one that has made my load lighter... "M" she is such a tower of strength... I sit with her for a moment and I know I am going to be okay... she is so inspirational... and she too reached out to Kev and I without being asked. She came to the hospital and had to search basically the whole thing for Kev. She finally found us and sat with us for a long time and talked... before she left, she prayed with us.... We were both so comforted by her. She has remained there for us both through all of it. I am blessed to have her in my life and am eager to pull closer to her in friendship.

"A" stepped up for us too... tracking Kev down himself. He so had an excuse for not being here... actually we'd never met him before... he just knew we were here and knew we belonged to that great big wonderful FRC family.... and so he was here. WOW!

There were group prayers held for us and people we didn't even know praying for Kevin's recovery... You know what? There really is no scientific explanation for Kevin's pain yesterday... they are baffled... and to have that kind of pain... they were pretty sure the CT Scan from last night was going to show some BAD stuff... but to the contrary... it is totally clear.... no sign of anything... You wanna tell me how that happened???? The power of prayer.. I can't thank God and everyone enough for coming through for us.

These are just a few stories, others also stepped up in equally big ways. (C, P, M, F & C THANK YOU!) They have not wavered in their support. I am amazed and overwhelmed. Looking back now I see... what all of these people did were little things... simple acts of kindness that had an ENORMOUS impact on Kevin and I. We now know why Pastor Troy is so adamant about "doing life together." We are both going to be on the lookout for ways to pay forward the kindness and love we experienced through this all.

All of my life I have searched for the kind of friendship I found this week. I just was not ever able to REALLY find it outside of my family. Because of that I isolated myself somewhat... put barriers up.. kept to myself really... Then because of God's nudging at my heart and Pastor Troy's guidance I started putting myself out there again... but this time doing it with Christians... What I found... When you do life with other people that are doing their best every day to walk with God... they are looking for ways to serve others... looking for ways to make a "kingdom difference." So when you are in need... they notice... when God nudges their heart to be there for you... they listen... and MAN does that MATTER! Makes me sorry I didn't start on this path with God sooner. But I am so glad I am on it now... and I feel so blessed to have FRC and good people in my life right now to help me along my way.

Kevin is AWAKE and doing GREAT!

Kevin is up... the Gastro has been in and things are going great this morning. Kevin is feeling much better... no pain meds... His body is beginning to get back to normal! His CT Scan from last night showed everything has cleared up. No sign of infection or inflammation.. no fluid in his abdomen. They really still don't understand why he was in so much pain yesterday but think it was due to the infection.

The Gastro is wondering if the pain he was having is due in some part to his hernia. He may have to have surgery on it in the near future. But the current thought is that he will wait until the infection fully clears and he heals (a week or so) and see if he is still sore or tender there. If that is the case he will have to have surgery to take care of it. We'll just have to wait and see.

He is back on food and is chowing down on some hospital french toast.. He isn't thrilled with it (hospital food) but his tastebuds are happy about the maple syrup. He has been craving something sweet since the day before yesterday.

If nothing unexpected pops up again today it looks like he will be discharged and coming home! I am so thrilled! It'll be nice to have my hubby in bed next to me again.

Thank you for the prayers and kindness.

AM Kevin Update

It's way early on Sunday morning and Kevin and I are usually getting ready to head to FRC (greatest church we have ever known). I so wish that is what we were doing. It always fills us up and helps us get through our week, keeping our focus on God. But this weekend I think we will be watching it on FRC Live... we started watching it yesterday and then got interrupted by hospital stuff.. hopefully we will catch a full service today.

Anyways, I am back at the hospital.... Kevin is still sleeping... haven't spoken to him yet. I checked with his nurse... he had a good night from her perspective. Took pain meds once as he was going to sleep and didn't need any more earlier this morning when she checked on him. They finally came to get him for his 6PM CT Scan at around 10PM. Tough night at the hospital, I guess... many sick people. We have grown pretty used to hearing the announcements over the PA system calling out the number of beds they are waiting on. His entire stay here they have been looking for no less than 24 beds I think. Yesterday I think they hit 45. So they are BUSY!

I am here this early because the Docs thought (and they can't be sure because of the nature of their jobs) that they would be back to read the CT Scan early this morning. So I tried to wait the storm out as much as I could. I had the dogs out 2 times attempting a walk and lightining lit up the sky. I am SO not a runner.. but one time I was about a block from the house when it started and BOOM.... the whole sky lit.... big BIG lightning.... it was gorgeous.. but terrifying! So there I was two big dogs (german shephard and chocolate labrador) also scared of storms running back home as fast as we could go... or as fast as my husbands flip flops would allow! I have to go back home and walk them later when the storms stop... I am saying major prayers hoping that when I do that I don't miss the Docs. Kevin is really pretty passive with Docs... I am an information girl... I need all the stats to feel that I know what is going on with him.

So as soon as I know more information I will post it here.

Hey Heredes! Thanks for the blogworld welcome!

Today's KEVIN Update

I left Kevin late last night thinking I was pretty sure he was coming home some time today... Now I'm not so sure... He slept well and was happy about that but this morning when our daughter, Amanda, and I arrived to visit with him he just didn't look himself. He is on solid food so that is a good thing. He enjoyed his breakfast... FOR SURE! After breakfast though he was not feeling so great. We aren't sure exactly what that means... I think the doctors did expect him to feel a little worse after eating but I'm not sure just how much. He wasn't looking good. Pain was pretty bad and I left him to take Amanda to her Grandmother's so I could get back to him alone. Amanda is not really fond of hospital rooms, not that I am... but you know how kids can make things when they aren't happy. She was not really keen on the idea of sitting by Dad's bedside today. I can't blame her... it wasn't on my top 10 list either. But life happens and ya just gotta trudge through sometimes even if it isn't fun.

So with Manda at Grandma's for a bit, I am back at the hospital with Kevin... waiting for the Docs to show. He has had "real food" again for lunch and felt pretty good for about 30 minutes or so and then started having yucky pain and chills. He is covered up to his ears right now and the room really isn't cold. I'm not sure what the Docs will think or say... maybe more testing... who knows at this point. We'll just have to wait and see.

I'm TIRED! I really need to hear what Pastor Troy has to say this weekend. Thank goodness for FRC Live! I feel like I have run a marathon these last few days.. Running here.. running there... taking care of Manda and Kevin... the dogs... the laundry.... it's all starting to run together. But I have felt God's hand at work in my life through it all. Every day I wake up not knowing how I will push through the day.. be there for Kev... keep Amanda out of the hospital all day... and every day God has put someone in my path to help me out. She has been having play dates like mad... spent the night with a close friend last night and has been invited to spend the night with her best friend tonight. That has made this so much easier. I have been supported through this probably better than I have ever been in my entire life... people are literally pouring out offers to help... and you know what? They really REALLY mean it. My heart is happy that I have such wonderful people in my life right now to help get us through this.

Kevin Update

There really isn't a whole lot to update... Kevin is still at good ole' Memorial West trying to get better. They are guessing he picked up some sort of infection that has gone to his small intestine and that is the source of his problems. They are pumping him with antibiotics and he is making progress. He was feeling pretty good this morning... not in so much pain.. he even managed to stay off pain meds from midnight to about 9:30 this morning. But after the surgeon came in to check on him and poked and prodded his tummy (as I know they MUST do) he started to feel the pain again. Not nearly as bad as yesterday.. but not fun either... so he is back on the pain meds. We are sitting in his room watching Pastor Troy and the gang on http://www.mynakedpastor.com/.

The best news to share, or certainly the best from Kevin's perspective, he is still technically on a liquid diet. But to his surprise his lunch tray had some heartier items than his breakfast this morning and dinner last night. He got to enjoy some pudding and even some sherbert! He is WAYYYYYY happy right now about that.

We are waiting on his Gastroenterologist, Dr. David Weiss... an AWESOME Gastro by the way if you ever need one. He should be here sometime today and give us some new info and a better idea of how long Kevin may be in the hospital.

Thank you for the prayers and friendship. I'll post more later.... but man... we felt the love yesterday coming our way from our friends at Flamingo Road Church.

Pastor Troy -- LOOK -- I'm a blogger now!

Okay .... so my wonderfully inspiring "Naked Pastor " Troy Gramling of Flamingo Road Church has been encouraging us to start blogging. I don't quite know what to expect from myself in this... but I am giving it a go. Hopefully I can keep it interesting and AUTHENTIC!