Quick Update

Well Regan is still not better...her is a recap of the last few days. So we went on an antibiotic for UTI...she also has E-coli in her gut...not the kind that kills you but it is a serious infection. This infection has also caused pulmonary issues. So she is working really hard to take every breathe. This is very difficult to watch...down right scary at times. We aren't for sure if it is officially pneumonia because our primary care physician has not called us back from the X ray we took YESTERDAY at noon! BUT either way the antibiotic she is one will handle all three of these issues. As of noon today she has been fever free for 24 hours for the first time in five days. We are hoping she will start to improve. We are giving her breathing treatments every two hours around the clock so pray for our strength because we are not getting a lot of sleep at one time. Mostly pray for her. I will update more on Wednesday.

Down, Down, Down...

Well, yesterday I took Regan for some tests to be run. Today my Mom and I took her in to the doctor to get the test results...she has a urinary tract infection. So she is on an antibiotic to cure that and the fever has been up and DOWN but mostly down. I thank you all for praying. I am sure that as the prayers went up the healing flowed DOWN.

The rain came DOWN all day today. I must have had a brain fart because I straitened my hair today...which means it didn't stay strait. ARRRRR.

My Mom and Dad headed back DOWN to Oklahoma today. We are so glad they were here. Above is a picture of Regan and my Mom. Aren't they pretty. I know my Mom looks so good! I claim those genes in Jesus name. Below is a picture of the head board and pillows we made. The details are hard to see in this picture but you can get the general idea. They are such a blessing to me. Mr Albert in Mary Poppins in right when he says "leaving is the saddest thing I ever heard."
Ryder had his first school dance tonight so he had fun getting DOWN with all his friends. He said it was typical most of the boys were "too cool" to dance but he wasn't. He fast danced and slow danced with all his friends. No body tried to kiss him so that was a great relief to me.

While Ryder and Brian were gone tonight the girls and I snuggled down on the couch and watched my favorite movie Mary Poppins. Rylee and I each took turns holding Regan while we held each others hand. Sweet times....Rylee and I decided when we breathe in Regan it just calms us DOWN!

Pretty in Pink (and brown)

This picture was taken last week...Rylee and Kim Terashita so I thought I would post it....Regan looks so sweet in her brown and pink!

My folks are here this week. We having been making Halloween costumes....Luke for Ryder, Leia for Rylee, and Yoda for Regan. I am sure you will see pictures of this next week. We also made pillows and a headboard for my bed. Papa made stew to put in the freezer for the kids to have this winter for lunch. So we have been busy. It is great to have them here. Their presence is a blessing.
Yesterday my mom and I took Regan to the doctor in Springfield so here is the update. She has lost a pound. This is frustrating because I thought she was gaining. We are increasing her calories again so hopefully that will help.
She still has a pretty large kidney stone in one kidney but otherwise better than three months ago. We are just watching to see what she does in regards to this.
The biggest news and prayer point for today is that last night she started fevering. This is never good because kids with Regan's disorder don't need to be stressed out by a fever. So, right now I am waiting to hear back from the doctor to see what she wants to do. Could you please pray? I know you do....but today I want to ask for God to show us what is wrong with Regan to cause a fever and that He would make it better. We are hoping for a urine test and finger stick to check her blood counts to see if there is an infection in her body. Ultimately the LORD knows her full well...He makes her well. So would you pray a prayer in faith for Him to do just that. I'll update more when I have more.

"And the prayer offered in faith will make a sick person well; the Lord will raise him up." James 5:15

An Autum Ramble

The last few days I have really enjoyed listening to the wind blow in the trees. The sound of my dog barking at the squirrels that are working so hard to prepare for the winter freeze. I hear them while I am in the kitchen as they run on my neighbors garage roof. I hear the acorns drop to the ground. My days are quiet. The sounds of Fall make a harmony to the steady sounds of Regan's breathing and the rotation of her feeding pump. This is the sound track of my day. I love people and all the life they bring but I find with age I also love silence. The peace of knowing I am hearing only what God wants me to hear. That somehow HE is teaching me something IN what I hear. It is almost as if the trees say "shhhhh listen." Often my early mornings are crazy because of getting the kids off to school and my afternoon's and evening even louder and busier because with the return of the children comes noise. I love their noises but sometimes I need peace. Fall has been one of the joys of living in Illinois. Dallas didn't have the same beauty as Fall in the north has.

As I listen to the wind it reminds me that change is coming. I am a fan of Summer because of the the joy of that season but I feel most at home in Fall.

I love pumpkin in all forms. I love to look at them, eat there meat, hold them in my hands, eat their seeds...what a hardly veggie a pumpkin is. So amazing. My parents always visit in October so it is one of my happiest weeks because I love to be with them. I love who they are. I want to be who they raised me to be. I love the anticipation of Holiday's and Fall if full of that. I love to wear vests...I have a navy one that was probably made in the 1970's. It is the kind you picture on a farmer; slick and puffy. Not as glamorous as the modern day puffy vest. I bought it last year at the Mission Mart here in town. I have a story in my mind that my Grandpa LR would have worn a vest like this. I picture him in my mind when I put it on. I see him driving in his teal farming truck toodling down the dusty road that ran in front of my Grandparents farm house. And in my mind he is wearing this vest. It has a tear on the pocket and I think it happened while working He was working on a fence. (remember this story is completely made up but I do these things to keep myself entertained) When I wear it I think of him. I miss him since he lives with Jesus now. I also love soup. Sometime we can eat it three times a week in the Fall. So warm, so filling, so practical because it is all in one bowl. I love the pace of Fall...I feel my heart want to slow down..anticipating winter's hibernation. Yet there is the work of harvest time too....just plain ole practical work that must be done...the play of summer is really over...Fall is here..time to get ready. My heart is full of praise to the ONE who spoke this into being....He made it up...I wonder if it was a story in His divine Mind before he spoke into being. All of this that we know wasn't and then He made it to be.

"I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare all Your wonderful works. I will rejoice and boast about You; I will sing about Your name Most High." Ps 9:1-2

Friendship with Jesus

Do you ever have seasons in your life where you feel a distance from God but you can't figure out why.....I think I am in one of those. I have been meditating on what it is to be a friend of God. I must admit I have always wanted to be "a friend." I've always wanted to be on the inside track...I like to be liked by most people. I love my friends a lot and I love to BE a good friend. So I've been focusing my thoughts lately about how I want to be a friend of God's....not just a Christ follower but a friend like in John 15:14 where Jesus says "You are my friend if you do what I command."

It sorta sounds like second grade girls on the playground doesn't it? "I won't be your friend if you don't jump rope with me." A little like Nellie Olsen from Little House (which is a bit of an addiction; Ma is one of my hero/mentor's...sad but true...sad but true). So scripture tells us that not all followers of Jesus are his friends. So my human nature comes in line with the Christ in me and I want to be counted among the friends. I heard it said recently (maybe Beth Moore or maybe JK Jones or maybe both in different ways ) sat that "When you adopt the interest of God you are a friend of God." Of course obedience isn't enough because a slave can do what is said but we are not slaves but chosen for relationship. This is deeper than what Nellie was striving for...she just wanted to control....Jesus isn't dysfunctional in anyway. He seems to want us to remain IN Him...remain in His Love...produce fruit from His love. (John 15)

I liken this to a marriage relationship...this deep friendship where I take on the interest of Brian because I love him...so I love what He loves....his job...his friends...his shows...his family....his stresses...his worries....his passions.....his wounds....his joys.....I adopt his interests because I love him. That is how I remain in him...remain in love with him...all of this is a product of our love...a sweet friendship.

This effort and friendship bridges the gap of distance, busyness, fatigue, stress, sin.....just like an excellent friend married or not you haven't talked to in a while...you pick right up. Because you have a history that is deep. I am thankful for friends like these....I'm thankful that Jesus is willing to call me friend....I am so glad that He took on my interest at the cross. What a wonderful Saviour we have in Him. "No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:11) This is friendship.....I'm so glad he walks His talk...makes he way less Nellie like doesn't it. Be blessed today!

Just a few quick updates.......ryder is in romeo and Juliet this weekend...exciting. Our dear friends the Terashita's are coming to watch...exciting... My parents come next week...exciting...we are entering the holiday season....which is very exciting....
Regan is doing better...please pray for her seizures which are very strong and long right now....oh and this is NOT exciting.

So Blessed!

Well, Rylee did turn 9 with Style!
We love this picture of her!. She and I wore our Twinkie shirt dresses! We love to plan and have parties. She wants to thank everyone for their sweet comments...oh so fun...so so good to be built up in the Lord!

I wanted to send an update on Regan....she is more alert than she has been. She is on an antibiotic so it seems to be helping. Thanks for your prayers about here. I know that the Holy Spirit is always informing us and prompting us to pray in certain ways.

Before I posted the email about Regan last week I got three different calls or emails wondering how she was and feeling the burden to pray....Praise God that the Holy Spirit doesn't need a blog update to bring His people to pray. As I write tears come to my eyes as I reflect on how God uses His body to minister to each other in so many ways. I am so glad that He has taken us into Himself, Blessed us in Christ, and then brakes us to be given to the world as a blessing....I thank God each time of think of this truth and each time I think of you.