Hello everyone. Our continued thanks for such love and care. I must have 150 get well cards here at home! Kristen hung them all along the mantle in my "recovery room" and the string is FULL - we have to start another string! So many people have told me that they have their Bible Study or entire churches all over the US as well as folks in many other countries praying for me. It is so omforting to be upheld in the hands of so many people this way.
I have continued to feel better each day - skipped my nap two days this week! The visiting nurse came on Thursday and when I told her I could reach my right foot I got a little lecture about stretching the incision too much, continuing to rest and take it slow etc.... so I am trying to be good!!!!
I do have one special prayer request. I am not in pain anymore and rarely need advil or tylenol. Doctors want me to avoid advil if I can as it can be hard on my remaining kidney. So, although I am not in pain I am always a little uncomfortable from the incision and rib removal. I am still most comfortable in the recliner and can't sleep in our bed yet. I have not been sleeping through the night ever since surgery. I wake up between 2 and 4 am and it's hard to fall back asleep sometimes. Yesterday I asked one friend to pray that I would sleep through the night and I DID! It was a wonderful feeling to wake up and realize it wasn't 4 am! So if you could pray specifically that I would be able to sleep through the night, and that soon I would be able to sleep in my own bed, I would really appreciate that.
All the help with rides and playdates for the kids, and the meals for all of us have been a huge blessing. We had meals scheduled into AUGUST already!!! They were coming 3 days a week which was great while I was in the hospital but I realized this week that we were juggling a bit to pull together something on the other days, since Charles has had to return to work full time (it's FLAG season and he is working short staffed as it is). I also have at least 2 doctors appts a week right now that Charles has to take off work to go to, and we have the Fox Chase trips to do soon. It is just a really busy time!! Plus, with my teenagers are out everyday w/ VBS and several nights a week have to be places at 6:00 or 6:30 -----so I realized all this the other day (DUH) and I asked that a few of the late July or August meals be switched to now, when we need it most and I really am useless! :-P After all, I plan to be almost all better by August! :-) Within HOURS the schedule was adjusted and folks jumped right into the need and we have meals lined up 5 days a week for the next 2 weeks at least, while we need it most. What a blessing!
Next week Tuesday is my long day - I have a chest xray, then appt with the lung surgeon, then have to work on getting my pathology data copied onto CD at the hospital so that I can take it to Fox Chase, and then we have an appt with the Dr Zeger, in the Oncology Dept at Lankenau. I started the process to get the second opinion at Fox Chase and am waiting for them to receive the written pathology reports and then schedule my appts there too. Please pray for that process to go smoothly as the phone calls and followups to my messages are about all I have the brainpower and energy to do right now.
Lastly, I have to write a letter this weekend which we will send on Monday to notify the school district that our homeschool documentation will not be in by the June 30th deadline. I do not expect any trouble from the school district under the circumstances, but if you could pray that they are gracious about the extension that would be a help too. Thanks so much.
I continue to feel in the Lord's hands, although I admit that I have had a few waves of fear this week as reality sets in. So, if you could pray that the Lord would continue to give myself, Charles and our whole family grace and courage to face the days ahead with JOY and PEACE in our spirit, that would be great. I want to LIVE to see my kids grow up :-) And I intend to do so. Please pray that our gracious God grants me that privilege. I really need to learn to live one day at a time through this experience. Those of you who know me well know that this will be a hard lesson for me to learn.
Have a wonderful weekend - it is absolutely FANTASTIC weather here in PA - hope it is for you too.
Love,
Karen
7 comments:
Dear Karen,
I am praying that you will sleep through the night, that the upcoming Dr. visits and paperwork will go well and smoothly, that God will give you and your family continued peace, faith, and courage, and that you will see your children grow up and your children's children! Thanks for the update.
love, Dana
Hi Karen, the weather is fabulous here in RI, also. The kids have ben out all day! Sleep through the night. Sounds easy but I know how awful it can be not to be able to sleep. So...we willpray that you sleep all night tonight, the next night, the next night..... We will be thinking of you as you visit your various doctors and praying as well.
Blessings,
Carol
Dear Karen,
We have been so blessed reading about your progress and being updated regularly, even by you!!
Praise God for all the answers to prayer. He is SO faithful! We will be praying for you to be able to sleep all through the night - - I know that is SO important. We will continue to ask the Lord to give you continued courage, peace and faith as you continue your healing and also many Dr's visits, decisions and choices. We pray He will guide your every step. We also remember your dear children - this has to be tough on them also and even a concern. We just have to praise God for everything and put our complete trust in Him.
Karen, your Charles is a precious blessing, not only to you and your family but to all who know him. Your entire family is an example of Christian love - - they all seem to have the joy of the Lord bubbling out of them. Karen, continue to take one day at a time, do now overdo and I am looking forward someday soon to pop in and visit you. Just remember our prayers are constantly with you - - your today's report already went to Llanerch Chapel so they can pray for you in their S.S. classes and I have printed out your latest blog to give to the older ones who do not have computers - - every week they are extremely interested in an update. They all are praying for you. . . . . yes, all over the world. Praise God!!
Take care, dear and keep the good news a comin!!
Love you,
Aunt Bonnie
Karen, I haven't been on for awhile, but I'm excited to hear how everything is going. I've been busy getting Creation food. Anyway, I am lifting your specific requests up in prayer and praising God for how everything has gone so far. Getting in touch with Drs. and their offices is such a pain. We'll pray that goes well. I love seeing your kids at church. I always try to say hi and give hugs. Whenever their is a need for a meal - even in August, I want to sign up. When I asked before, they were up through August, but now that you moved some of those up, I'll plan when their's a gap. We love you and we'll pray that God continues to give you peace. Satan always gets me on that in the middle of the night. When you wake and worry, just start praying for all the requests you can think of for everyone you can think of. Then you fall back to sleep. I love to fall back to sleep in Jesus' arms.
Lots of love,
Yvonne and the rest of the Miller family!
Dear Karen and Charles-
I have been up nights with a nasty case of poison ivy for the past two weeks and use that time to pray around the world. The 2-4 AM slot will be well covered as we pray you through the night with so many others that post here and that we have asked to pray. We will continue to pray for peace in your thoughts and spirit. It is now as your mind has more free time that it can wander into restlessness and fear- we will all pray that you will have the armor of God to protect against those thoughts.
Glad you adjusted the meals- that is such a huge help. I was on the receiving end of so much care after Matt's accident- until you receive that type of love and care it is hard to understand how much a ride for the kids and a meal means. It is a privilege to be in the family of God. Don't hesitate to say yes to help with laundry and cleaning either!!
Charles- we're praying for you too!! There are flags all around that remind me to pray for you- especially when I see my battered garden flag! On our next visit, I will stop by to get a new one at the store!!
Love and prayers for all-
Matt and Sharon, Kelsey and Jared
Karen:
Thank you for the blog link. We have been praying daily for you and your family. I only wish there was something more we could do all the way from Idaho. Hum, I'll have to think on that one.
Love you and miss you
Chuck & Christina, Stas & Sergei Ethridge
Karen, Thank you for sharing your progress with all of us who are praying for you!
Your faith and courage are a true inspiration.
Deborah and Francis McCarthy
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