Life happens...

Hello all. It's been a while. Feels like a lot more than 2 days. It's been a L.O.N.G 2 days. Just a few hours after that last post began the fun. The throwing-up fun. Some of my childcare kids had been sick this week, and we got the bug. Bethany has had the brunt of it. She began throwing up Thursday evening, and continued to this morning. During the night Thursday, she couldn't even take a sip of water without it coming back. She was so miserable. Every time she was throwing up, I would hold the "puke bucket" and she would try to push it away saying "I don't want to puke!" Poor baby. She wouldn't even have any warning. Finally around 10 Friday morning she was able to hold down some water, so we tried toast. She ate most of the toast, but it took her a good 3 hours. She at a few bites of cereal for supper, and that was all. this morning about 6:00 she was super thirsty. So we came out to the kitchen to get a drink, she drank a cup of water, and we went back to my bed to snuggle. About 30 seconds later, she lost the water all over me, herself, and my bed. ICKY! Later she wanted pancakes. I (being the WONDERFUL mom I am) made them. She was walking to the table with a plate of pancakes in one hand and her puke bucket in the other...and puked. Poor baby was so hungry! She was finally able to hold down a pancake.
Andrew has a terrible cough. His asthma has acted up pretty bad this week and I even had to take his inhaler to school twice this week. He coughs so hard that I think he's pulled muscles in his stomach...I used to do this when I was a kid. He keeps saying his tummy hurts, I'm trying to figure out if he has the tummy bug like Bethany, or if it's the muscles...I'm hoping for muscles!
Abbigail seems to be healthy at this point, just bored with being home. We were supposed to have a baby-sitter last night...which would have given her something special to do. Plus, we were supposed to go to town today for a little shopping/eating out. Of course all of that was put on hold.
My dad spilt a cup of coffee on himself this week and has blisters on his chest, stomach, and legs. He cannot get into the pool until these heal. The doctors are giving him a tentative date for going home!!! Feb. 1!! This will be wonderful. Mom and dad ordered a lift to go in their garage to make getting in and out of the house easier. Also, the doors to the bedroom and office will be widened to allow his wheelchair to go through.
Yesterday was my mom's birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! My brother and his family made a cake and took it up to the hospital. They all enjoyed a nice dinner together. I miss being there and being able to be a part of these special, and yet day-to-day things.

I'm sorry for the downer post, but this is where I am right now. I am sad, tired, frustrated, and yet so thankful. Bethany is now holding down food. Dad is healing and getting so much stronger. Andrew's cough will get better. Other date nights can be planned. There are so many people going through so much harder things. Some bloggers that I have been reading and praying for are Nate and Ayla's family. Nate is a young husband of a woman with cystic fibrosis. They became pregnant and made the difficult and brave decision to continue the pregnancy. She could not take many of her medications while pregnant for the safety of the baby. This week she was ventilated and delivered the baby via c-section. Gwyneth Rose was born at 25 weeks and weighs 1 pound 6 oz. They are in an amazing battle for their lives. Nate is such a huge inspiration, in the face of possibly loosing his wife and daughter he still sees the hand of God and has faith and hope.
Ayla is a little girl adopted from China by a family here in the USA. She has had difficulty with an eye and has had many surgeries. A surgery just days before Christmas revealed cancer. She is now undergoing tests and chemo will start next week. This family is also a testament to faith. They don't know why this is happening to their precious little girl, but they know that God will see them through.
When I start feeling sorry for myself, I remind myself that others are going through much worse...and I thank God for taking care of us. I pray that God continues to take care of those families going through such difficulties, comforts them, protects them, and heals them. Even if this is not God's will, I pray that God brings hope and sees the families through their trials.