As the saying goes, No news is good news. This is not always accurate, but in my case, it absolutely is. To my loyal readers, I have not abandoned you I promise! It has been several weeks since I have been able to update my blog. However, I am trying to get back on track! So, Buckle up readers!
Lots is happening in the Walsh Household, so here we go...
Let me just start with how amazing my Mom is doing. Her continued progress leaves me speechless, and the miraculous works God has proven in her life astounds me everyday. She is still battling cancer, but she is fighting hard. She completed another round of chemotherapy last week and she is doing GREAT. She is weak at times, but mostly doing very well. She is maintaining her daily routine complete with cooking, reading, exercise, and such. We continue to pray for her continued progress, and for now the Doctors are very pleased with the results. Praise the Lord!
In other news, Jonathan graduated from La Tech! Woohoo!! Let me just tell you... we have been waiting for this day for a long time, and it was quite an event! Being a college student never was a strong priority for him. He has always provided for me as his family and worked so extremely hard, in which case I am very thankful for. After being a student on and off for several years (technically he took off for 5 years) he is finally a college graduate. I am so very proud of him! He has worked really hard at building his career as a soccer coach, and now with a college degree, his dream will become more real. He will continue to coach Ruston High soccer, as well as maintain his role as Director of Coaching for Northeast Louisiana Soccer Association (NELSA). He absolutely LOVES his job and I adore being able to see the passion in his work.
Oh and one more thing... I'M PREGNANT! Yes, folks, it is true. Jonathan and I are expecting a baby in October!
We are SO excited! This has been an extremely hard time for my family over the past few months, and God chose to give us the best gift! I think we all needed some good news around here! Telling my Mom was probably the best feeling. She screamed with excitement, cried tears of joy, and hugged me so hard. I love to see her happy. I am praying to the good Lord, that my Mom will be around for many, many years to watch our child grow up and to have a relationship.
I have heard of the kind of love that is instantaneous between a mother and a child. It's nothing less than true. I love this child so much already. My constant prayer is for a healthy child, and for us as parents to provide the very best home and Godly example. Parenthood is a bit intimidating to me, but luckily Jonathan and I have been very blessed to be surrounded by sets of parents, within our own parents and siblings, that have been outstanding examples of how to raise a family.
I am 12 weeks and feeling it. Some days I feel like I'm showing (just a tiny bump) but mostly I just look like I've gained 5 pounds. I am very fortunate to have not had any morning sickness that most pregnant women dread. I feel queezy in the evenings and feel uncontrollably tired at times, but other than that I feel great! As long as I don't let myself get too hungry, I am golden! I feel like I eat All. The. Time. Which is fine, I'm eating for 2, right?! I have done alot of research and reading (perhaps even too much) but seriously, In the first trimester, your body is working so hard to make room and prepare for a baby it is equivalent to climbing up a mountain! All. Day. Long. Well, people, I have been climbing that mountain - one nap at a time! I am not a napper, seriously, I don't like to burn daylight. However, if I can find time in my day, I was all about taking full advantage of a power nap!
So, part of my everyday routine is to go to Mama and Daddy's house for coffee. Things haven't changed, except my mom is super strict on making sure I have PLENTY of breakfast, and no artificial sweetener in my DECAF coffee. OH lord, anyone who knows me knows how much I love coffee. Seriously I drink it all day long. Well, this has been the biggest challenge thus far. At the beginning I was limiting myself to half a cup in the morning, and MAYBE another half in the afternoon. It's funny how your body adapts and changes habits, turns out I don't even drink coffee most days and I'm making it just fine! Jonathan has been so sweet and catering to my every need. He doesn't exactly always know what to do with my "attitude adjustments" but he is certainly hanging in there and is handling me well. He is already such a great husband, I just know he is going to be a great father. I can hardly wait to see him in action.
So you should be all caught up now! Lots of new conversations and so much love to go around. Jonathan and I are thrilled to start a family and to share this news. It has been a hard-kept secret, but baby is healthy and growing!
Until next time!
MB
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Committed.
I am 100% committed to three things. God, my family, and my community. Whereas, it has been an extremely trying time for me over the past few months, I have received endless blessings and affirmation that I am right where I need to be. My hope is that these three things are evident in my daily life, and anyone who knows me will be able to see my commitments.
God has proven his endless love for my family. Although we aren't quite ready to share the explicit details of what the doctor visits have entailed , we are so very grateful and appreciative of your prayers and support. It has been an extremely difficult time for us, and yet we continue to see God's mercy and grace in every situation. In the Bible, John teaches us that miracles are granted to us so that we may see the significance of something greater. Miracles are signs that point us to what really matters. I believe that the miraculous works God has granted in my mom's life have taught my entire family lessons of love, patience, and perseverance. Not only have these miracles affected our lives, but other's lives who may not even know her. She has such a graceful, amazing story. And although she is very reserved in how the public knows her story, I am privileged to tell it. And when there's not so good news, God is still holding my hand and teaching me how to receive Peace and understanding.
Through all of this, I have been very blessed to join Heritage Realty Group as a Real Estate Agent. I have been able to focus my extra "energy" on selling Real Estate, and so far it has been such a rewarding experience. Robyn Brown is not only my broker, but the best mentor I could ask for. She has been such an inspiration to me. Her support, through personal and business matters, has been an extreme comfort though all of this. In a nutshell, for those of you who don't know, I began my Real Estate education and training this past summer. After many, many hours (147 to be exact) I received my Real Estate license in November. A few days later, I joined Robyn in Orlando, Florida for the National Real Estate Convention. WOW what an awesome experience!! To be surrounded by professionalism, success, and innovative individuals was truly motivating. I came back with a new-found motivation that would help me fulfill my purpose in my community. Whereas I am still working for Tech, I am also involved with Heritage Realty. I'm not sure where either of these opportunities will take me, but I am certainly willing to find out. I have been employed at Tech for 5 years participating in recruiting, counseling, and coordinating transfer student enrollment. It is such a personally rewarding job in helping students, whether they are from another Country or born and raised in Ruston, to find their place at our University. Louisiana Tech REALLY is such a great place to be, and I love to share my experience and knowledge with new people on a daily basis. I also use these skills and experience to transfer into the Housing Market, as I am continually meeting new people. Because I am from Ruston, I was just so sure that I knew every single person in my hometown. Well, I am here to tell you... I was wrong! Turns out, I meet someone new almost every day! I enjoy creating new relationships, and It's pretty awesome to be able to help impact the Ruston community. Promoting our great town, along with the foundation of Louisiana Tech has been culmination of greatness for me.
I have found myself with an inner struggle of emotions. I am happier in my life than I have ever been, but how can this be? I have exerted every ounce of sadness and heartbreak at the same time. God is teaching me how to balance my emotions and to let it be. I am far from being able to perfect the balance, but I am certainly trying. I used to think I struggled with patience, and while in some cases I still do, the more I struggle, the more I learn in the end. I am forever learning. Trusting the Lord with everything has been my stronghold. Although I will strive to be the perfect wife, and the perfect daughter, and the perfect business woman, I know that as long as I trust in God and his will for my life, I'm gonna be okay.
God has proven his endless love for my family. Although we aren't quite ready to share the explicit details of what the doctor visits have entailed , we are so very grateful and appreciative of your prayers and support. It has been an extremely difficult time for us, and yet we continue to see God's mercy and grace in every situation. In the Bible, John teaches us that miracles are granted to us so that we may see the significance of something greater. Miracles are signs that point us to what really matters. I believe that the miraculous works God has granted in my mom's life have taught my entire family lessons of love, patience, and perseverance. Not only have these miracles affected our lives, but other's lives who may not even know her. She has such a graceful, amazing story. And although she is very reserved in how the public knows her story, I am privileged to tell it. And when there's not so good news, God is still holding my hand and teaching me how to receive Peace and understanding.
Through all of this, I have been very blessed to join Heritage Realty Group as a Real Estate Agent. I have been able to focus my extra "energy" on selling Real Estate, and so far it has been such a rewarding experience. Robyn Brown is not only my broker, but the best mentor I could ask for. She has been such an inspiration to me. Her support, through personal and business matters, has been an extreme comfort though all of this. In a nutshell, for those of you who don't know, I began my Real Estate education and training this past summer. After many, many hours (147 to be exact) I received my Real Estate license in November. A few days later, I joined Robyn in Orlando, Florida for the National Real Estate Convention. WOW what an awesome experience!! To be surrounded by professionalism, success, and innovative individuals was truly motivating. I came back with a new-found motivation that would help me fulfill my purpose in my community. Whereas I am still working for Tech, I am also involved with Heritage Realty. I'm not sure where either of these opportunities will take me, but I am certainly willing to find out. I have been employed at Tech for 5 years participating in recruiting, counseling, and coordinating transfer student enrollment. It is such a personally rewarding job in helping students, whether they are from another Country or born and raised in Ruston, to find their place at our University. Louisiana Tech REALLY is such a great place to be, and I love to share my experience and knowledge with new people on a daily basis. I also use these skills and experience to transfer into the Housing Market, as I am continually meeting new people. Because I am from Ruston, I was just so sure that I knew every single person in my hometown. Well, I am here to tell you... I was wrong! Turns out, I meet someone new almost every day! I enjoy creating new relationships, and It's pretty awesome to be able to help impact the Ruston community. Promoting our great town, along with the foundation of Louisiana Tech has been culmination of greatness for me.
I have found myself with an inner struggle of emotions. I am happier in my life than I have ever been, but how can this be? I have exerted every ounce of sadness and heartbreak at the same time. God is teaching me how to balance my emotions and to let it be. I am far from being able to perfect the balance, but I am certainly trying. I used to think I struggled with patience, and while in some cases I still do, the more I struggle, the more I learn in the end. I am forever learning. Trusting the Lord with everything has been my stronghold. Although I will strive to be the perfect wife, and the perfect daughter, and the perfect business woman, I know that as long as I trust in God and his will for my life, I'm gonna be okay.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
My miracle mom
Although I am not skilled to understand why or how certain events happen, I do know that this is all part of God's special plan. I find comfort in believing God's plan, but it certainly does not make it easy to experience it. One of the reasons I began blogging was to have an outlet so that I can channel my emotional roller coaster of a life. Well, let me just say the roller coaster isn't stopping anytime soon. I honestly try to see the good in every situation. While my mom has made extreme improvements in her physical and mental health, She is still forced to battle the original challenge, Cancer. I hate cancer. Yall, I really really hate it. Mama has suffered through so many obstacles, and she is nothing less than a walking miracle. She amazes me everyday. Three whole months ago she was in a coma, struggling to live. Today, she is cooking Sunday dinner, and if it is even possible, i'm pretty sure her cooking is back better than ever! and so the Sunday dinner ritual continues!
Because she no longer needs healthcare assistance, we are over the moon excited that she is HOME! We pray that she continues to progress as she falls back into her everyday way of life. Because she had many other health issues to control, cancer and chemotherapy treatments were kind of on the back burner. Well, now that she's well, Daddy took her to her oncologists last week and we received bad news. In October we received good news that her tumor had shrunk by 30%, well now it is getting larger. We don't know how much larger. I mean seriously, how much bad news can one woman take? I truly can't imagine how she feels, but I all know to do is just love her as hard as I can. My heart hurts. so bad. She is on my mind every minute of the day, and I feel so helpless. My daddy is still her stronghold and is there for her every step of the way. Because chemo is no longer an option, it appears the only other option is to remove the tumor. Originally when she was diagnosed, she thought surgery was the worse case scenario. Now, she believes chemo is almost worst than cancer itself. She doesn't really talk about it much, and I can see how terrified she is when we do talk about it. And the truth is, I am scared too. I have faith in God's Will for our lives, but I am truly scared that she won't be pleased with the outcome. And so the saying goes, "when Mama aint happy, nobody's happy." As her family, we will be there for her no matter what. Prayer is such a powerful thing, and I do not take it lightly. However, sometimes I feel as though I'm praying for the wrong miracle. I just want her to be happy, I want her to know just how much she is loved by her family, friends, and community. I know that Mama has an abundance of prayer warriors out there. Please continue to lift her up in prayer. And also my Dad. He's such a strong man, but he needs a little lovin' too. :)
It's true, I have the greatest parents in the world who have taught me endless life lessons on how to love, live, and be a positive influence. I am so very blessed.
Because she no longer needs healthcare assistance, we are over the moon excited that she is HOME! We pray that she continues to progress as she falls back into her everyday way of life. Because she had many other health issues to control, cancer and chemotherapy treatments were kind of on the back burner. Well, now that she's well, Daddy took her to her oncologists last week and we received bad news. In October we received good news that her tumor had shrunk by 30%, well now it is getting larger. We don't know how much larger. I mean seriously, how much bad news can one woman take? I truly can't imagine how she feels, but I all know to do is just love her as hard as I can. My heart hurts. so bad. She is on my mind every minute of the day, and I feel so helpless. My daddy is still her stronghold and is there for her every step of the way. Because chemo is no longer an option, it appears the only other option is to remove the tumor. Originally when she was diagnosed, she thought surgery was the worse case scenario. Now, she believes chemo is almost worst than cancer itself. She doesn't really talk about it much, and I can see how terrified she is when we do talk about it. And the truth is, I am scared too. I have faith in God's Will for our lives, but I am truly scared that she won't be pleased with the outcome. And so the saying goes, "when Mama aint happy, nobody's happy." As her family, we will be there for her no matter what. Prayer is such a powerful thing, and I do not take it lightly. However, sometimes I feel as though I'm praying for the wrong miracle. I just want her to be happy, I want her to know just how much she is loved by her family, friends, and community. I know that Mama has an abundance of prayer warriors out there. Please continue to lift her up in prayer. And also my Dad. He's such a strong man, but he needs a little lovin' too. :)
It's true, I have the greatest parents in the world who have taught me endless life lessons on how to love, live, and be a positive influence. I am so very blessed.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
a merry little Christmas
Christmas festivities kicked off in full force. Just like every year, the week before Christmas just sneaks up on me and all the sudden I have three parties to attend (all in the same night), outfits to buy, presents to wrap and just not enough time to do it all in! Because this year was supposed to be a stress-free year, I made an extra effort to take a deep breathe and not overdo myself with my obligations.
So it all began when Jonathan and I got a hint of Christmas Spirit and set up our tree and decorated our house with white lights. We always decorate a little bit, perhaps some garland around the front door, but this year we went all out. Complete with two Christmas trees on each side of the house (for symmetrical purposes) and lights on the porch. Only one confession, neither of my tress are actually decorated. BUT the lights sure look great from the road! :) This house has never seen so much light, and I love it! Pictures never really give credit to the beauty of Christmas lights, but we can try, right?
And then the Christmas parties began. Between Jonathan and I, we were booked with Party invites. We weren't able to attend all of them, but we certainly tried! Unfortunately, I only have pictures from one, and it just so happens to be a tacky sweater party. The party was at our friends John and Jenny Juneau's house. And boy, was it tacky! Just to enlighten you, Nathan wore green tights. Enough said. Such a fun party with great company, food and laughs! (and maybe even a little egg nog) :)
Not only is the week before Christmas crazy busy, but it's also Jonathan's birthday!! And let's just be real honest, yall know I love a birthday! December 22nd is the big day for J-Man and I try and go all out for him. He never asks me to, and he never wants to make a big deal for celebrating his day of birth, but because it is so close to Christmas I want to set aside that day to not be in the mix of the holiday bustle. Jonathan is such a warm, loving and inspiring person. I am so very glad he was born. I thank God everyday for our marriage and friendship and the love we share. I plan on sharing many many more birthdays with this man, so Jonathan buckle up (if you haven't already in the past 9 years, you are about feel the birthday love!!)
This year for his birthday we were able to go to the Cowboys vs. Saints game in Dallas! WHAT AN AWESOME TIME!!! Most people that have ever had a conversation with Jonathan knows three things about him from the get-go. He plays soccer, he has a huge heart, and he is a die-hard cowboys fan. He grew up rooting for the cowboys, and the man knows more about that franchise than should be possible. He isn't always the greatest sport when the Cowboys are in play, but he is the definition of a true fan in any circumstances. We made the trip to Dallas early Sunday morning with our good friends Betsy and Becca. We were so anxious to get there, we arrived at 9:00 am for the noon game! I can't tell yall how much fun we had! Even though our Cowboys didn't pull out the win, the game was such a great one to experience! It was the perfect day to celebrate Jonathan's birthday!
and then just like that it was Christmas Eve! Whaattt?? We stayed in Shreveport Sunday night at Jonathan's Dad's house. I woke up early the next morning (feeling the extra weight from gameday food) and attempted to run. Well, I ended up running 8 miles! Whoa! Especially since I haven't run more than 4 miles in months!! But it was Exhilarating and such a beautiful day! Later that day, Jonathan and I went to his Mom's house to celebrate Christmas. We had a great time catching up, re-living our Dallas trip, and opening gifts! We jetted back to Ruston just in time to make the Christmas Eve service at The Bridge. It was a beautiful candlelight service, and the perfect kick-off to celebrate Jesus' birthday. We then head to Uncle Glenn's house for a family gathering. In my previous post i mentioned my childhood memories of attending Aunt Ann's Christmas Eve party. In the past few years, this has migrated to Uncle Glenn's house, and just as fun as ever! This is a big deal because this is also Mama's first social outing. and she did Awesome!! I was so very glad she was able to spend these moments with us. She was socializing, laughing, holding babies, just like normal! Praise God for her healing progress!
So Christmas Day was quite the dreary day, but it didn't hold us back any! Jonathan and I were extra lazy (normally I don't condone this type of behavior, ;) but man I was tired from the previous week!) Robin and Stacy and their families were in Ruston by 2:00 that afternoon. And just like that, everyone was together feelin' the Christmas love. After some snacks and socializing... the games broke out and things got serious. Let's just say I have a ..umm...a competitive family. I am usually the one that is losing, and I get my feelings hurt, blah blah... BUT this day was different. Anyone ever played Cranium?? let's just take a moment to appreciate that Jonathan and I won. probably the first time ever! I will hold these reigns until the next time I sorely lose :)
After our massive and AMAZING dinner, we gathered around and listened to the kids read the bible. There is something special about children reading the Christmas story that is very touching. Then Daddy orchestrated that each adult take turns and talk about your favorite childhood Christmas memories. This is something new for our family, because let's face it, we just want to cut straight to opening presents! But like I explained in a previous post, things were going to be different this year. Our focus was on family, and celebrating Jesus, rather than the abundance of left over wrapping paper. And we accomplished just that. We probably sat around for 2 hours discussing our favorite memories. And let me tell you, things got emotional up in the Scriber household. We laughed and cried, and truly enjoyed each other. No cell phones, no television, just us. I just love my family so much. Many of you know how much our family has had to overcome, but with God's love and the love we have for each other, I am blessed. I can literally FEEL the love we have in the room. My favorite part of the day was when we gave Mama her gift. Robin organized for us to make her a personalized quilt. Each of us, including the kids, designed a quilt square and then we had it made into a blanket for her to take where-ever she goes. She was so very touched when she opened it. I don't think I have ever seen her this full of emotion and happiness. Each square was a personal touch to what she meant to us. Also, giving her hope and inspiration to believe that God still has her in our lives for a reason. Although she is the most courageous and loving person I know, I also believe she finds it difficult for her to believe it sometimes. Our prayer is that she never gives up, and knows that we are always here for her. And now, with our handmade quilt, she can literally feel us around her at any time.
I pray that one day I will look back and be able to tell the Christmas memory of 2012 and what a perfect, beautiful day is was.
So it all began when Jonathan and I got a hint of Christmas Spirit and set up our tree and decorated our house with white lights. We always decorate a little bit, perhaps some garland around the front door, but this year we went all out. Complete with two Christmas trees on each side of the house (for symmetrical purposes) and lights on the porch. Only one confession, neither of my tress are actually decorated. BUT the lights sure look great from the road! :) This house has never seen so much light, and I love it! Pictures never really give credit to the beauty of Christmas lights, but we can try, right?
And then the Christmas parties began. Between Jonathan and I, we were booked with Party invites. We weren't able to attend all of them, but we certainly tried! Unfortunately, I only have pictures from one, and it just so happens to be a tacky sweater party. The party was at our friends John and Jenny Juneau's house. And boy, was it tacky! Just to enlighten you, Nathan wore green tights. Enough said. Such a fun party with great company, food and laughs! (and maybe even a little egg nog) :)
Not only is the week before Christmas crazy busy, but it's also Jonathan's birthday!! And let's just be real honest, yall know I love a birthday! December 22nd is the big day for J-Man and I try and go all out for him. He never asks me to, and he never wants to make a big deal for celebrating his day of birth, but because it is so close to Christmas I want to set aside that day to not be in the mix of the holiday bustle. Jonathan is such a warm, loving and inspiring person. I am so very glad he was born. I thank God everyday for our marriage and friendship and the love we share. I plan on sharing many many more birthdays with this man, so Jonathan buckle up (if you haven't already in the past 9 years, you are about feel the birthday love!!)
This year for his birthday we were able to go to the Cowboys vs. Saints game in Dallas! WHAT AN AWESOME TIME!!! Most people that have ever had a conversation with Jonathan knows three things about him from the get-go. He plays soccer, he has a huge heart, and he is a die-hard cowboys fan. He grew up rooting for the cowboys, and the man knows more about that franchise than should be possible. He isn't always the greatest sport when the Cowboys are in play, but he is the definition of a true fan in any circumstances. We made the trip to Dallas early Sunday morning with our good friends Betsy and Becca. We were so anxious to get there, we arrived at 9:00 am for the noon game! I can't tell yall how much fun we had! Even though our Cowboys didn't pull out the win, the game was such a great one to experience! It was the perfect day to celebrate Jonathan's birthday!
So Christmas Day was quite the dreary day, but it didn't hold us back any! Jonathan and I were extra lazy (normally I don't condone this type of behavior, ;) but man I was tired from the previous week!) Robin and Stacy and their families were in Ruston by 2:00 that afternoon. And just like that, everyone was together feelin' the Christmas love. After some snacks and socializing... the games broke out and things got serious. Let's just say I have a ..umm...a competitive family. I am usually the one that is losing, and I get my feelings hurt, blah blah... BUT this day was different. Anyone ever played Cranium?? let's just take a moment to appreciate that Jonathan and I won. probably the first time ever! I will hold these reigns until the next time I sorely lose :)
After our massive and AMAZING dinner, we gathered around and listened to the kids read the bible. There is something special about children reading the Christmas story that is very touching. Then Daddy orchestrated that each adult take turns and talk about your favorite childhood Christmas memories. This is something new for our family, because let's face it, we just want to cut straight to opening presents! But like I explained in a previous post, things were going to be different this year. Our focus was on family, and celebrating Jesus, rather than the abundance of left over wrapping paper. And we accomplished just that. We probably sat around for 2 hours discussing our favorite memories. And let me tell you, things got emotional up in the Scriber household. We laughed and cried, and truly enjoyed each other. No cell phones, no television, just us. I just love my family so much. Many of you know how much our family has had to overcome, but with God's love and the love we have for each other, I am blessed. I can literally FEEL the love we have in the room. My favorite part of the day was when we gave Mama her gift. Robin organized for us to make her a personalized quilt. Each of us, including the kids, designed a quilt square and then we had it made into a blanket for her to take where-ever she goes. She was so very touched when she opened it. I don't think I have ever seen her this full of emotion and happiness. Each square was a personal touch to what she meant to us. Also, giving her hope and inspiration to believe that God still has her in our lives for a reason. Although she is the most courageous and loving person I know, I also believe she finds it difficult for her to believe it sometimes. Our prayer is that she never gives up, and knows that we are always here for her. And now, with our handmade quilt, she can literally feel us around her at any time.
I pray that one day I will look back and be able to tell the Christmas memory of 2012 and what a perfect, beautiful day is was.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Tis the Season
Well folks, it's here. Whether we are ready or not! just in case, you weren't already counting down the days until the magical morning of December 25th. Christmas is always a fun time for my family to all get together. We cook, and EAT and sing our little hearts out. For those of you who aren't familiar, the Scriber's hold a strong musical gene. Some are more...(how do i put this)... talented than others, but we can all pretty much carry a tune! Some of my greatest memories are having Christmas Eve at Aunt Ann's house. We would sing Christmas carols for what seemed like hours. Daddy would bring his guitar, along with sheet music for everyone to follow, complete with the direction of myself and cousin Erin. And cue, "it's a marshmallow world in the winter..."
I had originally planned on posting pictures of these proclaimed events, and then I took a good look at myself as an awkward 8 year old with glasses and braces, and decided to retract that thought. You're welcome.
So Christmas will be a little different this year, but we will all feel the love just as we do every year. Because my Mom is so thoughtful and loves shopping for us, she usually is completely finished with shopping by now. She has not been able to do that this year, so the ball is now in Daddy's court. Daddy is actually a great gift-giver, he just needs to step outside the box sometimes. ;) This year we made a family decision to make it just about Jesus, our family, and our time together. The kids will receive gifts, but as for the adults we are taking it down a notch. *Confession: I enjoy giving gifts, I really do. Especially when you are just casually shopping, not even looking for anyone in particular and you see THE perfect gift, and you just can't wait to see their face when they open it!! Well.... i'm just gonna be real honest, this scenario doesn't happen to me very often. And when it does, I snap into the Christmas Spirit, and move on to the next person on my Christmas list. So, then i'm back at square one. And Seriously, WHAT do you give a Dad who already has everything, and if he doesn't... well, he just goes and buys it himself.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love a gift. In fact, I REALLY love a gift. Perhaps it's my maturity, perhaps it's my overwhelming realization that really, I have everything I need. But either way, As long as Jonathan and I spend every minute possible with each of our family members, my heart will be smiling.
Oh yea, one more thing.... MAMA IS COMING HOME!!! Wednesday is the day! (hopefully) It will definitely be before Christmas, and I can't think of a greater blessing! Daddy has been bringing her home on Saturdays and Sundays just for the day. We visit, eat, take naps, just like any other weekend. Saturday she was walking by herself (whoa!) just like any other day at the house. Thank you, Jesus! Our great Physician has prevailed once again!
We usually spend Christmas Eve with my family, and do Christmas morning at Mama and Daddy's, then head on over to the great city of Shreveport for Jonathan's family. However, we are heading to Shreveport early this year, spending a couple of days in Shreveport before Christmas, and then making our way back to Ruston Christmas Day. I've never been to Christmas Midnight Mass. I am pretty excited about this! I may be thinking differently when it's 1:00 in the morning and can barely keep my eyes open, but none the less, I am thrilled! I love that Jonathan's family has many different traditions than mine. These are reasons that we are always doing something new and fun. Whereas, our families are very different, they are also alike in the way that there is just so much love!
Merry Christmas from the Walsh's! May we not be caught up in the stress of Christmas. May we truly value our time with our families. May we be overwhelmed with Jesus' love, and his promise. For this, is the reason for the season.
MaryBeth
I had originally planned on posting pictures of these proclaimed events, and then I took a good look at myself as an awkward 8 year old with glasses and braces, and decided to retract that thought. You're welcome.
So Christmas will be a little different this year, but we will all feel the love just as we do every year. Because my Mom is so thoughtful and loves shopping for us, she usually is completely finished with shopping by now. She has not been able to do that this year, so the ball is now in Daddy's court. Daddy is actually a great gift-giver, he just needs to step outside the box sometimes. ;) This year we made a family decision to make it just about Jesus, our family, and our time together. The kids will receive gifts, but as for the adults we are taking it down a notch. *Confession: I enjoy giving gifts, I really do. Especially when you are just casually shopping, not even looking for anyone in particular and you see THE perfect gift, and you just can't wait to see their face when they open it!! Well.... i'm just gonna be real honest, this scenario doesn't happen to me very often. And when it does, I snap into the Christmas Spirit, and move on to the next person on my Christmas list. So, then i'm back at square one. And Seriously, WHAT do you give a Dad who already has everything, and if he doesn't... well, he just goes and buys it himself.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love a gift. In fact, I REALLY love a gift. Perhaps it's my maturity, perhaps it's my overwhelming realization that really, I have everything I need. But either way, As long as Jonathan and I spend every minute possible with each of our family members, my heart will be smiling.
Oh yea, one more thing.... MAMA IS COMING HOME!!! Wednesday is the day! (hopefully) It will definitely be before Christmas, and I can't think of a greater blessing! Daddy has been bringing her home on Saturdays and Sundays just for the day. We visit, eat, take naps, just like any other weekend. Saturday she was walking by herself (whoa!) just like any other day at the house. Thank you, Jesus! Our great Physician has prevailed once again!
We usually spend Christmas Eve with my family, and do Christmas morning at Mama and Daddy's, then head on over to the great city of Shreveport for Jonathan's family. However, we are heading to Shreveport early this year, spending a couple of days in Shreveport before Christmas, and then making our way back to Ruston Christmas Day. I've never been to Christmas Midnight Mass. I am pretty excited about this! I may be thinking differently when it's 1:00 in the morning and can barely keep my eyes open, but none the less, I am thrilled! I love that Jonathan's family has many different traditions than mine. These are reasons that we are always doing something new and fun. Whereas, our families are very different, they are also alike in the way that there is just so much love!
Merry Christmas from the Walsh's! May we not be caught up in the stress of Christmas. May we truly value our time with our families. May we be overwhelmed with Jesus' love, and his promise. For this, is the reason for the season.
MaryBeth
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Joy in the Journey
I will begin my post with a bible verse that has been huge component in my life lately.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that by the
power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in
hope." Romans 15:13
I have hope. I have never lost faith in God, who gives me hope and joy to live this life for Him. Just when I think I might be losing sight of what really matters, he pulls me up right where I need to be. Although my mother has been through such undeserving circumstances, I truly believe that we can find joy through this experience.
Because I have had an ABUNDANCE of feedback from my previous posts, the updates are high in demand. So, here you have it folks... an update. Sorry it only took me a month! I'm sure you all understand, since my life has been nothing less than a whirlwind. But still we push through it. My family and I have been extremely grateful to be able to witness the miraculous works of God in my mom's life. This week it is 8 weeks since "the accident" and WOW have we come a long way?!
Since my last post, Mama was still at LSU-Shreveport hospital and had woken up from a 5-day coma. Well, she has experienced leaps and bounds since then. She was moved to Ruston October 27th. And what a beautiful day that was. We were so very thrilled to have her "home" in good ole Ruston, LA. I remember driving away from the hospital thinking, anytime we return to LSU will be WAY to soon. The hours, tears, and coffee we have participated in that hospital were far too many to want to enjoy. Daddy and I drove away and the song "Remember When" by Alan Jackson (cheesy, i know) came on the radio. Tears were streaming down my face. Remembering the good times, and how far we have come in this situation overcame my heart with joy. Life is full of making memories and it hit me in that very moment to attempt to find absolute Joy in life God has so graciously granted us.
So we arrive in Ruston at LifeCare, and Mama gets settled in. The trip over wore her out and she remained very tired the rest of the day. The next two days were probably the most discouraged and sad I had felt thus far. Watching her make small improvements each day was very encouraging and then all of the sudden she regressed. She wasn't able to communicate with us. Although I still remained hopeful, it seemed as though she was giving up. I don't want to discredit her faith, because we had no way of knowing what she was thinking or feeling. But I was sad. very sad. After everything happened so fast, and witnessing such miraculous works, I was sure moving her to Ruston would be even better. I know that being sad is part of watching a parent hurt, but sad is kind of an understatement. My heart hurts. My heart hurts for her, because I can see her frustration when she tries to speak and nothing comes out. With the doctors prognosis, we were finally able to see progress again. And just like that we were back on track.
She remained at LifeCare for another few days, and she was then moved to Alpine in Ruston. Hold your horses, this isn't a nursing home. When I first heard that she was being moved to Alpine, I was like ummmmmm no Nursing home for my mama just yet! But we are pleasantly surprised with the wellness facility. Here she receives the necessary and close attention from the nursing staff, with very aggressive physical, occupational and speech therapy. All the nurses LOVE her. which is no surprise! They all talk about how sweet and blessed she is. Well of course we already know that, but it's nice to hear her caretakers have the same opinions. Not to mention Daddy makes sure they don't skip a beat, if you can believe that (ha!) They may be a little intimidated, but that's just the way it goes when Dr. Scriber's in the house! :)
Between Daddy, me, and my sisters, there is always someone there to visit with her so that she remains comfortable. She still isn't up for too many visitors, except for our extended family. Lord help us, Alpine has never seen so much traffic in the halls! But we wouldn't have it any other way.
SO Thanksgiving day was quite different this year to say the least. We were able to bring Mama HOME for the day. And what a great day it was! She was up and ready when Daddy went to pick her up, she was more than ready to see outside of the hospital walls. My entire family was at home to great her when she arrived. She was a little overwhelmed and not real sure how to react but she eventually livened up. Robin and I took her "shopping" in her closet and got her dressed up for the day. and that was a special moment. Daddy smoked the turkey, Robin and Stacy made the dressing and all the fixings, and I vastly enjoyed all of it!! (JUST kidding, I contributed with my corn casserole :)) so mama was able to enjoy her first real meal in 6 weeks. She was even able to enjoy a cup of afternoon coffee. That's how we know she is almost herself again. The woman loves her some coffee.
The next day was her birthday. This again was a very special day. My sisters and I organized a birthday party. It was the real deal complete with a cake, presents, decorations, and smiles. We were so thankful to be able to spend another birthday with her.
So here we are a week after thanksgiving and the hustle and bustle of Christmas has begun. It might be another unique holiday for us, but we are praying hard that she will be completely moved home by then. She is making immense progress in her therapy. Today, I witnessed her walk to the kitchen (95% on her own) and helped me make brownies to go with our afternoon coffee. considering she was in a coma 7 weeks ago, this is a BIG DEAL!! She remains the strongest person I know, and her abilities amaze me everyday. Praise the Good Lord!
And as for the rest of us, we are very proud of our mom. And whereas it is an extremely busy time of year between school, work, family, etc. we take the time to be there for her.
Daddy is still the most amazing man I know. He is so encouraging and loves, and I mean LOVES his wife! What a Godly example of what a marriage should be.
A special thanks to all of those who have prayed, sent cards and supported me and my family through this time. Cook Baptist Church, well they are just an awesome reminder of prayer warriors. The church body has always been there for my family, especially when Mama underwent her first battle with Cancer 24 years ago. THANK YOU CBC!!!
It doesn't stop here though, The Bridge Community Church has also been a tremendous channel of love and encouragement. We feel overwhelmed with just how caring and kind this church is. I have had many conversations with people, even those I do not know, who are praying for my mom. I just can't say thank you enough!
Also a big thanks to my Tech Family. You guys are AWESOME and I thank allllll of you for making my days at work just a little bit easier.
To ALL of our family and friends, you know who you are, and of course THANK YOU for always beings there. For some of you, this has been hard for you too because she is your friend, your sister in law, your aunt or whatever the case. I may be a bit selfish when it comes to sympathy, but even when I don't want to talk, or even when I just need a hug, I can count on you. God has placed each and everyone of you in my life and for that I am extremely grateful.
Once again, I am so sorry about my long blog posts. This is why I should blog more often!! I promise I will try to find the time to update more frequently.
In conclusion, This journey is far from over, but as I mentioned earlier, I have attempted to find joy through it all. By definition, Joy means a state of happiness. Happiness can be further defined several different ways, but we all know what makes us happy and how to respond to happiness. So my challenge to you is to find JOY in every step you take. The Joy of the LORD is my strength, and this my friends is my anthem. The Lord has given me the strength I didn't even know I had. And I am forever thankful to serve a God who continues to love me, help me, and hold my hand through this journey of life.
That's a wrap, folks! Until next time!
Much Love,
MaryBeth
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that by the
power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in
hope." Romans 15:13
I have hope. I have never lost faith in God, who gives me hope and joy to live this life for Him. Just when I think I might be losing sight of what really matters, he pulls me up right where I need to be. Although my mother has been through such undeserving circumstances, I truly believe that we can find joy through this experience.
Because I have had an ABUNDANCE of feedback from my previous posts, the updates are high in demand. So, here you have it folks... an update. Sorry it only took me a month! I'm sure you all understand, since my life has been nothing less than a whirlwind. But still we push through it. My family and I have been extremely grateful to be able to witness the miraculous works of God in my mom's life. This week it is 8 weeks since "the accident" and WOW have we come a long way?!
Since my last post, Mama was still at LSU-Shreveport hospital and had woken up from a 5-day coma. Well, she has experienced leaps and bounds since then. She was moved to Ruston October 27th. And what a beautiful day that was. We were so very thrilled to have her "home" in good ole Ruston, LA. I remember driving away from the hospital thinking, anytime we return to LSU will be WAY to soon. The hours, tears, and coffee we have participated in that hospital were far too many to want to enjoy. Daddy and I drove away and the song "Remember When" by Alan Jackson (cheesy, i know) came on the radio. Tears were streaming down my face. Remembering the good times, and how far we have come in this situation overcame my heart with joy. Life is full of making memories and it hit me in that very moment to attempt to find absolute Joy in life God has so graciously granted us.
So we arrive in Ruston at LifeCare, and Mama gets settled in. The trip over wore her out and she remained very tired the rest of the day. The next two days were probably the most discouraged and sad I had felt thus far. Watching her make small improvements each day was very encouraging and then all of the sudden she regressed. She wasn't able to communicate with us. Although I still remained hopeful, it seemed as though she was giving up. I don't want to discredit her faith, because we had no way of knowing what she was thinking or feeling. But I was sad. very sad. After everything happened so fast, and witnessing such miraculous works, I was sure moving her to Ruston would be even better. I know that being sad is part of watching a parent hurt, but sad is kind of an understatement. My heart hurts. My heart hurts for her, because I can see her frustration when she tries to speak and nothing comes out. With the doctors prognosis, we were finally able to see progress again. And just like that we were back on track.
She remained at LifeCare for another few days, and she was then moved to Alpine in Ruston. Hold your horses, this isn't a nursing home. When I first heard that she was being moved to Alpine, I was like ummmmmm no Nursing home for my mama just yet! But we are pleasantly surprised with the wellness facility. Here she receives the necessary and close attention from the nursing staff, with very aggressive physical, occupational and speech therapy. All the nurses LOVE her. which is no surprise! They all talk about how sweet and blessed she is. Well of course we already know that, but it's nice to hear her caretakers have the same opinions. Not to mention Daddy makes sure they don't skip a beat, if you can believe that (ha!) They may be a little intimidated, but that's just the way it goes when Dr. Scriber's in the house! :)
Between Daddy, me, and my sisters, there is always someone there to visit with her so that she remains comfortable. She still isn't up for too many visitors, except for our extended family. Lord help us, Alpine has never seen so much traffic in the halls! But we wouldn't have it any other way.
SO Thanksgiving day was quite different this year to say the least. We were able to bring Mama HOME for the day. And what a great day it was! She was up and ready when Daddy went to pick her up, she was more than ready to see outside of the hospital walls. My entire family was at home to great her when she arrived. She was a little overwhelmed and not real sure how to react but she eventually livened up. Robin and I took her "shopping" in her closet and got her dressed up for the day. and that was a special moment. Daddy smoked the turkey, Robin and Stacy made the dressing and all the fixings, and I vastly enjoyed all of it!! (JUST kidding, I contributed with my corn casserole :)) so mama was able to enjoy her first real meal in 6 weeks. She was even able to enjoy a cup of afternoon coffee. That's how we know she is almost herself again. The woman loves her some coffee.
The next day was her birthday. This again was a very special day. My sisters and I organized a birthday party. It was the real deal complete with a cake, presents, decorations, and smiles. We were so thankful to be able to spend another birthday with her.
So here we are a week after thanksgiving and the hustle and bustle of Christmas has begun. It might be another unique holiday for us, but we are praying hard that she will be completely moved home by then. She is making immense progress in her therapy. Today, I witnessed her walk to the kitchen (95% on her own) and helped me make brownies to go with our afternoon coffee. considering she was in a coma 7 weeks ago, this is a BIG DEAL!! She remains the strongest person I know, and her abilities amaze me everyday. Praise the Good Lord!
And as for the rest of us, we are very proud of our mom. And whereas it is an extremely busy time of year between school, work, family, etc. we take the time to be there for her.
Daddy is still the most amazing man I know. He is so encouraging and loves, and I mean LOVES his wife! What a Godly example of what a marriage should be.
A special thanks to all of those who have prayed, sent cards and supported me and my family through this time. Cook Baptist Church, well they are just an awesome reminder of prayer warriors. The church body has always been there for my family, especially when Mama underwent her first battle with Cancer 24 years ago. THANK YOU CBC!!!
It doesn't stop here though, The Bridge Community Church has also been a tremendous channel of love and encouragement. We feel overwhelmed with just how caring and kind this church is. I have had many conversations with people, even those I do not know, who are praying for my mom. I just can't say thank you enough!
Also a big thanks to my Tech Family. You guys are AWESOME and I thank allllll of you for making my days at work just a little bit easier.
To ALL of our family and friends, you know who you are, and of course THANK YOU for always beings there. For some of you, this has been hard for you too because she is your friend, your sister in law, your aunt or whatever the case. I may be a bit selfish when it comes to sympathy, but even when I don't want to talk, or even when I just need a hug, I can count on you. God has placed each and everyone of you in my life and for that I am extremely grateful.
Once again, I am so sorry about my long blog posts. This is why I should blog more often!! I promise I will try to find the time to update more frequently.
In conclusion, This journey is far from over, but as I mentioned earlier, I have attempted to find joy through it all. By definition, Joy means a state of happiness. Happiness can be further defined several different ways, but we all know what makes us happy and how to respond to happiness. So my challenge to you is to find JOY in every step you take. The Joy of the LORD is my strength, and this my friends is my anthem. The Lord has given me the strength I didn't even know I had. And I am forever thankful to serve a God who continues to love me, help me, and hold my hand through this journey of life.
That's a wrap, folks! Until next time!
Much Love,
MaryBeth
Monday, October 22, 2012
My mom is my hero
I suppose it's time for a little update. And by a "little" update, I mean a Big update. The past 10 days have been such a whirlwind of emotions that i'm not so sure where to start. October 11th, I wrote a blog titled "Birthday Blues." Yall, birthday blues are a thing. I promise. I was going on about how I was absolutely not excited about being one year older. For what ever reason, The big 28 terrified me. I did not actually post the blog, it was saved as a draft because I wanted to add some pictures of what turned out to be a really great day! Little did I know what would happen a few short hours later would drastically change my view on life. The gift of life. So that afternoon. my sister, Stacy, and I were invited to "Wiggin' Out." (Super fun event, by the way!) My sister's BFF, Beth, picked us up for a night out on the town celebrating the life of cancer survivors and remembering those we have lost to cancer. I had an uneasy feeling at first, because here we are "having a good ole' time" while our mother was at home very sick from her previous Chemo treatment. It is a fantastic cause, none the less, and I was happy to be a part of it.
So, I got the call. Daddy called me to let us know Mama had a traumatic fall, and hit her head. "It's pretty serious, you girls need to get here soon." Beth came to the rescue and drove me and Stacy (probably going 100 mph... shhhhh!) directly to the hospital. Beth is such a Godsend. She was very calming through the whole situation and was there for my family the entire time. Thank you, Beth Davis, I'm not real sure what we would have done without you!!
*Disclaimer: The following information will prove my ignorance in medical terminology. Please forgive :)
So, the waiting began. and we were all an emotional wreck. Daddy was very worried, which worried me even more. Mama was airlifted to LSU- Shreveport. Not only are her doctors in Shreveport, but LSU has the best trauma and critical care doctors. And only the best for Mama!! We met with the doctors once we arrived to the hospital, and learned that she had an internal bleeding brain hemophilia. She needed surgery immediately to relieve the pressure of the blood to the brain, but because of her chemo, her body would not be able to handle surgery at the time. The doctor agreed that we would wait until the morning to conduct surgery in hopes for better results.
Her surgery was Friday October 12th. Her white blood count was extremely low, her platelets were also extremely low; surgery was absolutely necessary, but it was unknown if she would survive undergoing brain surgery. We witnessed our first miracle, She made it through a successful surgery!!! The doctor was pleased. Praise God, for He is our ultimate miracle worker!
I think the most difficult part was not knowing if Mama was going to live or not. The fact that she made it through surgery gave us hope. I could not imagine my life without her. She was finally in a good place, her cancer was shrinking, and she only had one treatment left! Nowhere on my radar was the concept of her not being able to communicate with us because of a brain injury. So having to adjust my emotions from one sickness to another, and realizing everything Mama was experiencing was extremely heartbreaking.
And So we pray, and wait, and pray some more to wait and see if she will wake up. I have never prayed so much in my entire life. God was, and still is, with us every single step of the way. I found comfort is knowing how many people were praying for her, whether they knew her or not. Mama is one of the most Godly women I know, and he understands her pain. Except she wasn't in pain. and I thank the good Lord that she wasn't able to be in pain. I literally pictured God holding her hand while she laid there resting her eyes, in preparation for her body to heal. She is now in a coma caused from her head trauma. I think this was the hardest part, watching our precious mom "resting" and begging her to open her eyes. Just once. I just wanted to see her again. I missed her so much, and I felt helpless. Over the next 5 days, she rested, with very little progress. The doctors were not very encouraging. Emotional does not even describe the situation. We cried tears many tears. Tears of sadness, and fear, and hope. Not only did we feel helpless, because she was in Neuro ICU, we were only able to see her 3 times a day, for 30 minute sessions. With the LARGE and Ultra supportive family we have, we never felt alone. The Scriber and Thomas family came through for us once again. It was such an overwhelming feeling to know just how MANY people love her.
Wednesday October 17th she woke up!!! PRAISE THE LORD! She opened her eyes! The moment she squeezed my hand, I knew God was not finished with her yet. The Great Physician has created another miracle! Tears of absolute JOY this time!! She would not take her eyes off of Daddy. Probably the sweetest thing I've ever seen. When we had to leave visitation, she motioned Daddy to come back, she did NOT want him to leave her side. And that right there, is what you call Love.
Over the next 4 days, she continued to make small improvements. Robin, Stacy, Daddy and I were mostly there the entire time. Talking to her every minute we could, reading her scripture, trying to make her laugh. Research proves that coma patients hear everything. So we made sure to let her know we were not going anywhere. We would keep her updated on our daily lives, as if she were right there living it with us. Every single visitor that came to see her, we made sure to let her know how many people are praying for her to recover.
Jonathan and I spent the entire day at the hospital on Friday. Daddy didn't want to miss a minute, but he needed to get to the house and take care of some things. Each time we went to her room, I saw major progress. She was extubated (removed her breathing tube) and is now able to breathe completely on her own. And it's official, Mama likes Jonathan more than me! Well of course that's not true ;), but she definitely gazed at him the whole time! (probably wondering why he shaved his beard, but that's a different conversation, haha! ) I never knew how much I loved holding her hand until I couldn't do it anymore. My most precious moments are of her looking at my eyes, and squeezing my hand. This is how I know she's going to be Okay. She is going to beat this, just like she defeated cancer, just like she's going to defeat cancer again. She is THE most courageous person and such a fighter. She will never give up, until the Lord allows her.
Sunday October 21st, she was moved from ICU to her own private room!!! HALLELUJAH!! She is steadily making more and more progress. Now moving both sides of her body. Even trying to talk to us! It's actually funny how quickly she has rebounded to some of her old habits, hand motions and such. I can tell she gets frustrated at times because she seems a bit confused, but we are patiently helping her work through it all. She is doing SO well, and her progress continues to amaze me. There is a very long road of recovery ahead, but we pray for continued improvement as she regains her strength and cognitive abilities. Thanks be to God, the ultimate Healer. I have witnessed miracles, and for that I am ever thankful to our Gracious Lord.
So, there's the story. I left out LOTS of details, but there is no way I could have relived some of those memories. THANK YOU to those who have prayed and continued to pray for her healing and progress. I can't even begin to express just how thankful my family and I are for all the love and support. Whether it is those who have visited the waiting room, brought us meals, sent encouragement, the list goes on and on.
We are unbelievably touched by your kindness.
Psalms 62:8
"Trust in Him at all times, you people: pour out your hearts to God, for he is our refuge."
Welcome to the good life, people! Life is too precious to not enjoy it.
MB
So, I got the call. Daddy called me to let us know Mama had a traumatic fall, and hit her head. "It's pretty serious, you girls need to get here soon." Beth came to the rescue and drove me and Stacy (probably going 100 mph... shhhhh!) directly to the hospital. Beth is such a Godsend. She was very calming through the whole situation and was there for my family the entire time. Thank you, Beth Davis, I'm not real sure what we would have done without you!!
*Disclaimer: The following information will prove my ignorance in medical terminology. Please forgive :)
So, the waiting began. and we were all an emotional wreck. Daddy was very worried, which worried me even more. Mama was airlifted to LSU- Shreveport. Not only are her doctors in Shreveport, but LSU has the best trauma and critical care doctors. And only the best for Mama!! We met with the doctors once we arrived to the hospital, and learned that she had an internal bleeding brain hemophilia. She needed surgery immediately to relieve the pressure of the blood to the brain, but because of her chemo, her body would not be able to handle surgery at the time. The doctor agreed that we would wait until the morning to conduct surgery in hopes for better results.
Her surgery was Friday October 12th. Her white blood count was extremely low, her platelets were also extremely low; surgery was absolutely necessary, but it was unknown if she would survive undergoing brain surgery. We witnessed our first miracle, She made it through a successful surgery!!! The doctor was pleased. Praise God, for He is our ultimate miracle worker!
I think the most difficult part was not knowing if Mama was going to live or not. The fact that she made it through surgery gave us hope. I could not imagine my life without her. She was finally in a good place, her cancer was shrinking, and she only had one treatment left! Nowhere on my radar was the concept of her not being able to communicate with us because of a brain injury. So having to adjust my emotions from one sickness to another, and realizing everything Mama was experiencing was extremely heartbreaking.
And So we pray, and wait, and pray some more to wait and see if she will wake up. I have never prayed so much in my entire life. God was, and still is, with us every single step of the way. I found comfort is knowing how many people were praying for her, whether they knew her or not. Mama is one of the most Godly women I know, and he understands her pain. Except she wasn't in pain. and I thank the good Lord that she wasn't able to be in pain. I literally pictured God holding her hand while she laid there resting her eyes, in preparation for her body to heal. She is now in a coma caused from her head trauma. I think this was the hardest part, watching our precious mom "resting" and begging her to open her eyes. Just once. I just wanted to see her again. I missed her so much, and I felt helpless. Over the next 5 days, she rested, with very little progress. The doctors were not very encouraging. Emotional does not even describe the situation. We cried tears many tears. Tears of sadness, and fear, and hope. Not only did we feel helpless, because she was in Neuro ICU, we were only able to see her 3 times a day, for 30 minute sessions. With the LARGE and Ultra supportive family we have, we never felt alone. The Scriber and Thomas family came through for us once again. It was such an overwhelming feeling to know just how MANY people love her.
Wednesday October 17th she woke up!!! PRAISE THE LORD! She opened her eyes! The moment she squeezed my hand, I knew God was not finished with her yet. The Great Physician has created another miracle! Tears of absolute JOY this time!! She would not take her eyes off of Daddy. Probably the sweetest thing I've ever seen. When we had to leave visitation, she motioned Daddy to come back, she did NOT want him to leave her side. And that right there, is what you call Love.
Over the next 4 days, she continued to make small improvements. Robin, Stacy, Daddy and I were mostly there the entire time. Talking to her every minute we could, reading her scripture, trying to make her laugh. Research proves that coma patients hear everything. So we made sure to let her know we were not going anywhere. We would keep her updated on our daily lives, as if she were right there living it with us. Every single visitor that came to see her, we made sure to let her know how many people are praying for her to recover.
Jonathan and I spent the entire day at the hospital on Friday. Daddy didn't want to miss a minute, but he needed to get to the house and take care of some things. Each time we went to her room, I saw major progress. She was extubated (removed her breathing tube) and is now able to breathe completely on her own. And it's official, Mama likes Jonathan more than me! Well of course that's not true ;), but she definitely gazed at him the whole time! (probably wondering why he shaved his beard, but that's a different conversation, haha! ) I never knew how much I loved holding her hand until I couldn't do it anymore. My most precious moments are of her looking at my eyes, and squeezing my hand. This is how I know she's going to be Okay. She is going to beat this, just like she defeated cancer, just like she's going to defeat cancer again. She is THE most courageous person and such a fighter. She will never give up, until the Lord allows her.
Sunday October 21st, she was moved from ICU to her own private room!!! HALLELUJAH!! She is steadily making more and more progress. Now moving both sides of her body. Even trying to talk to us! It's actually funny how quickly she has rebounded to some of her old habits, hand motions and such. I can tell she gets frustrated at times because she seems a bit confused, but we are patiently helping her work through it all. She is doing SO well, and her progress continues to amaze me. There is a very long road of recovery ahead, but we pray for continued improvement as she regains her strength and cognitive abilities. Thanks be to God, the ultimate Healer. I have witnessed miracles, and for that I am ever thankful to our Gracious Lord.
So, there's the story. I left out LOTS of details, but there is no way I could have relived some of those memories. THANK YOU to those who have prayed and continued to pray for her healing and progress. I can't even begin to express just how thankful my family and I are for all the love and support. Whether it is those who have visited the waiting room, brought us meals, sent encouragement, the list goes on and on.
We are unbelievably touched by your kindness.
Psalms 62:8
"Trust in Him at all times, you people: pour out your hearts to God, for he is our refuge."
Welcome to the good life, people! Life is too precious to not enjoy it.
MB
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