Posted in Noah Updates
Long-time blog readers probably remember my writing about the waffle makers I got Jeff for our anniversary this year. HE had the sneaky flash of brilliance to write and ask all of you for gift ideas for me, and he put together a wonderful, romantic, and surprising anniversary celebration. Practical old me got him waffle makers. Actually, I ORDERED waffle makers, but they didn't come in time for my planned anniversary breakfast waffle feast. They didn't come, and didn't come . . . until right after Noah was admitted to the hospital. Ugh. I kept telling Jeff that he was welcome to try them out without me, but he said they wouldn't taste good if I wasn't there.  Well, tonight we had waffles for dinner. I made mountains and mountains of waffles - enough for breakfast tomorrow. They were great, and most importantly, Jeff loved them. Those pesky waffles have been a weight on my shoulders for all of this time, and I can't tell you how glad I was to finally just bless Jeff with his favorite treat. The dc were thrilled too - these are the industrial style waffle makers that flip over for even cooking, complete with steam and lights and all sorts of child-enticing features. I had quite an appreciative audience and no shortage of volunteers to turn the handles or set the timers LOL. I felt kinda like a cooking show diva.  I am loving being home . . . most of the time. We were gone a long time - over six weeks - and of course life went on without me. Sometimes I feel just a teeny bit like a stranger here, because things changed and I wasn't here to see them change. I keep needing to check with Jeff and the older dc to find out how things are done "now." Jeff improved on some of my routines and procedures, and I don't want to gum up the works so to speak. I'm also a bit of a stranger in my kitchen. You might remember that we had a broken pipe that resulted in our insurance paying for almost a complete kitchen remodel. Most of the cabinets were torn out and replaced, and the rest were refinished with new hardware. I ended up with new counters, floors, and some new appliances. I'm NOT complaining - I was thrilled - but I hadn't even finished putting things away when Noah was admitted. Jeff actually put in the new tile floor while Noah was in the hospital. Jeff and Hannah did a terrific job of putting the kitchen back together, but since the new cabinets are in a different configuration than the old ones, I keep wandering around staring in cupboards until I've forgotten what I was looking for. (Is Pregnant Brain a good enough excuse here??) Noah is holding on, but not doing too terribly well. I think that being home is a fairly big stress on him, and he may actually miss the security provided by the fairly predictable hospital routine. About every alternate day we debate taking him to the doctor or the ER - he gets so pale, and has such big purple circles under his red-rimmed eyes. He has been playing around with a fever, which would land him right back in the hospital. If his temp hits 100.4, he needs to go to the Greenville ER as soon as possible, and if it hits 101.5 we need to rush him to the ER no matter what else is going on. He has been pinging around the 99's, which is a little high for him. He usually runs in the 97's. Just when we think his temp is going to cross the line, it goes back down a little. He is seeing our doctor on Monday at any rate. The TPN is going well. I am getting more proficient at taking care of it, and less overwhelmed. I love having him be pump free from about noon to about 8 PM. I don't know that it makes a difference to Noah. He doesn't like having to have his line flushed when we hook him up and disconnect him, so he doesn't really like getting his "free time," but it really does make life easier not to have to carry two pumps with him for part of the day. Jeff and I looked at used cars today. I don't know if we ever actually mentioned that the Big Red Van has gone away for good. We got a "new" used van just a couple of days before Noah was admitted. That left Jeff with his two cars. They take turns being driven and being worked on, but are both hitting the point where the needed repairs will cost more than it would be wise to spend. These are 10 year old cars and The Big Farewell is approaching for both of them. They are both on life support right now, so we drove a couple of different types of vehicles today. Please pray for wisdom for Jeff as he makes a decision both on car selection and on timing. It is looking like it might be best to move ahead on a replacement car now rather than spend the money to get either car back up and going. Quick thankful list, then little Mr. Noah needs to go to bed. 1. Walmart. I never, ever, ever thought I would say this. I generally hate going to Stuff-Mart, but it was so fun to go with Jeff the other day - it was just so normal. 2. Noah's home health nurse. I have to admit to some trepidation about having someone coming in to help care for Noah, but she is sweet and kind and very competent. Plus Noah likes her, which is so important! 3. My own bed!!!! Honestly, I'm not sleeping very well, because Noah isn't sleeping well, but I am really and truly thankful that at least I'm in my own bed not sleeping well instead of a hospital cot not sleeping well. We have the best bed ever and it is so comfy. I love waking up with no aches and pains at all. Plus, if Noah is going to be a bed hog and take over waaay to much room in the bed, at least I end up squished between Noah and Jeff instead of between Noah and the wall. (Feel free to really pray that Noah will re-learn the fact that his crib is a happy place and that he will go back to sleeping there very soon. His hospital crib was an understandably scary place for him, and I think he just needs a little time and prayers to get back into the swing of things.) 4. Jeff says to say he is thankful for waffles LOL. 5. David says he is thankful for his light-up art table. He loves to draw and is very gifted in that area. 6. Timothy says he is thankful because he got some new shoes today. He says he can bounce higher in them. :-) 7. Sarah says she is thankful for potatoes. (I don't have any idea where THAT came from.) 8. Matthew is thankful for his mom and dad. He's also thankful for his Webkinz. He was sick today and got to kick back with a laptop and play Webkinz - a big huge rare treat for him!! 9. William is thankful that we are having a new baby, and that his birthday which is Saturday, and that Jesus died for his sins. 10. Hannah says everyone else took most of her ideas, but that she is also thankful for Snickers (sound familiar? snort.) and for her little siblings. She is also thankful for the Dare To Be A Daniel program that the youth in our church are doing. This program teaches the young people how to share the gospel effectively. I haven't had much time to look at it (Jeff did, of course) but I know she and William are excited and memorizing lots of Scripture. 11. One more for Kate - I'm just tickled pink that I could gather around with everyone else for a joint thankful list!! How fun is that?? Love, Kate |
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