Thanks for all your sweet comments.  Sure perked me up!  And thank you especially for your prayers!  I didn't expect that and I have to tell you what God did ...

Nearly 2 weeks ago, (it seems like longer) Todd was running a fever, starting on Sunday.  He saw the dr. on Tues. and they sent him home untreated, couldn't find anything wrong.  Fever continued.  By Thurs. evening, Todd was having symptoms similar to last June, when he had a viral illness that affected his heart.  I was in a panic.  I had prayed all that day and I blogged my last post that night.  He saw the dr. Friday a.m. and I was praying the dr. would at least give him an antibiotic, due to his past med. history (I don't believe in overmedicating but that's what helped him before).  No, dr. sent him home, said to wait it out.  I went outside and started stomping on milk bottles (to be recycled) I was so upset.  I felt like the dr. didn't care that it was causing Todd more injury.  Todd came out and calmly said not to worry.  I was freaking out because I knew the fever was causing more damage to Todd's heart, like before.  I just knew it.  Todd calmed me down and said not to worry. 

Well, by that afternoon, he was watching a video and I asked him how he was feeling.  He said he was fine.  What?  No fever?  No.  No body aches.  No.  You can breathe o.k?  Yeah.  I was floored.  It just went away.  Like that.  And that night, I went to my blog and there were your prayers.  I nearly cried.  God heard your prayers (and mine).  Thank you, thank you!  Todd went to work the next day.  Thank you so much for praying for him - we really appreciate it. 

My dh has what is called constrictive pericarditis which means the sac (pericardium) over his heart has thickened.  And when he has an illness with a fever, it can cause inflammation of the sac which is why he develops difficulty breathing.  He saw a cardiologist last Wed and will be getting an MRI of his heart this month.  It's possible to live with this for a long time but his symptoms will only get worse (he is showing symptoms of this that come and go).  The ONLY cure is surgery.  That is what I've had to get used to this past month or so.  Surgery ... again.  It's the same feeling I had when he faced surgery (twice) for melanoma, before our oldest was born.  It's also the same feeling of dread I carried for 4 months, after my middle son, Alec, was born with a partial cleft lip.  I HATE this feeling.  Someone I love has to undergo the knife.  You have to trust so many people for this loved one's life.  You can't do anything for them.  They HAVE to do this or die or suffer in some other way.  Of course, I'm not the only one dealing with this but I just wish surgery wasn't the only option here.  Dang it!  With all the medications in the world, why can't there be one to help this? 

I am thankful that surgery IS an option, that there is hope for a cure.  5-10% mortality rate is about average - gee, that's a comfort.  I need to look for the positive here, or I'll just crawl under a rock.  I think the best way for me is to not think about it except for certain, selected times and I'll use that time to educate myself, research this issue.  Keep my sense of humor. 

So there it is.  I don't want to blog about this much, it's not the only thing going on with us.  It's just a horrible thorn in our sides that we'll just have to get used to until it's dealt with. 

I took the kids to the beach last Wed and I was actually so relaxed, I fell asleep!  That just doesn't happen!  It wasn't all that warm, it hasn't been all summer, but they were happily digging in the sand behind me and we were up near a dune, so they were safe.  I had a hat over my face to keep the blowing sand (darn that wind) off and I just dozed off.  It felt so wonderful.  It made me think that I need to look for those moments that God gives me to de-stress and just rest.  He'll provide them if I look for them.  When I get off the computer, after writing a post or leaving comments, I usually feel rested, like I've taken a break from reality.  I miss it if I don't have any computer time for a few days.  My kids and I have also been consistent with our Sunday Bible time and that's been a great thing for all of us. 

One more thing (as usual, I'm bouncing all around here, topic-wise) my mom has a boyfriend!  I've been praying for the Lord to send a friend to her.  Since my stepfather died last year, mom's been so lonely.  Her new friend lives 2 doors down and spends time with her nearly every day.  Her voice is much happier on the phone, I'm so pleased for her.  From what she has told me, he feels that she's an answer to prayer as well.  Pretty cool!