We are now living in what the doctors told us would be the "long haul" part of our journey. It has been 10 weeks since Carl's motorcycle accident. Life has settled into a new normal for us and we are focusing on doing what is necessary for Carl's legs to get better. But there is nothing quick or easy about it, just lots of hard work on Carl's part and patience on mine.
Following is a paragraph from Streams in the Desert. P.140.
“Glorify the Lord in the fires.” Is. 24:15 “Notice the word “in”... we are to honor the Lord in the trial-in the very thing that afflicts us. Sometimes God did not allow His saints to even feel the fire but usually the fire causes pain. It is precisely there, in the heat of the fire, we are to glorify Him. We do this by exercising perfect faith in His goodness and love that has permitted this trial to come upon us. Even more, we are to believe that out of the fire will arise something more worthy of praise to Him than had we never experienced it.” –Margaret Bottome
Quite honestly, this is easier said than done! But it IS what faith is all about: "the confident assurance that something you want is going to happen, the certainty that what you hope for is waiting for you, even though you do not see it."
Friday, October 17, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Sunday Morning Service
After 10 weeks out, it was wonderful to be back at church this morning!The worship time was meaningful and the sermon was especially timely-- (Pastor Sam spoke on the verse from the Beatitudes, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted"), but even aside from that, there's just something nice about the customary, the predictable, the habit of spending time each week with other people who share faith and belief in a God who is bigger than the complexities of life.Carl is able to sit for longer periods of time now and being in a crowded setting for several hours didn't seem to make him tired.
Big week ahead of us!
Monday is therapy, Tuesday is the nerve study on Carl's right foot, Wednesday and Thursday is therapy and Friday he gets fitted with the bone stimulator.
Big week ahead of us!
Monday is therapy, Tuesday is the nerve study on Carl's right foot, Wednesday and Thursday is therapy and Friday he gets fitted with the bone stimulator.
Friday, October 10, 2008
therapy
Carl's physical therapy is scheduled for 3 times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11:00-12:30 at Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, Oregon Pike. We will be making that trip for the next several months, at least through the beginning of next year. Please pray for strength, stamina and endurance as we enter this new phase of Carl's recovery.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
10/8 doctor visit
There is always news to report after a visit with Carl's orthopedic surgeon.It's what makes those doctor visits both exciting and scary...
*Outpatient therapy starts on Friday. After 4 weeks of physical therapy here at the house through the Visiting Nurses Association, we will now be traveling in to Lancaster 3 times a week for Carl's therapy. It will be more aggressive and steamlined for Carl's specific needs. I will post the therapy schedule after we know more details.
*The doctor is quite pleased with the range of motion in Carl's left leg: he made it to 90 degrees yesterday--yeah! (This means that when he is sitting, his leg can bend at the knee so that his foot rests on the floor.) Although he will continue to try to loosen that leg, it is considered functional at 90 degrees. Only 4 more weeks till that leg can bear weight! Carl is so excited for the prospect of crutches instead of a wheelchair.
*Next week Carl is scheduled for an evaluation of the peroneal nerve injury in his right foot. Basically it will be a nerve conduction study where they will now be able to see what kind of damage actually occured in that foot due to lack of blood flow in the hours after the accident.The doctor is also becoming more open to giving Carl some type of medication to still the constant prickling, tingling, stinging sensation in that foot. Possibly we can start that next week. (His only concern is that this medication has been known to slow bone re-growth and we sure don't want that!)
*The bones in Carl's right leg need to fuse better so the doctor ordered a device to stimulate bone growth. It is something Carl will wear 24 hours a day for 6 weeks before they can tell if it is effective. That's all I know about this for now--I'll update when I learn more.
I can hardly believe that tomorrow it is 9 weeks since the accident happened. Because we can get him in and out of the van with no problem, Carl is anxious to move forward to this next step in his recovery. Thank you for being so faithful in praying for his TOTAL and COMPLETE healing!
*Outpatient therapy starts on Friday. After 4 weeks of physical therapy here at the house through the Visiting Nurses Association, we will now be traveling in to Lancaster 3 times a week for Carl's therapy. It will be more aggressive and steamlined for Carl's specific needs. I will post the therapy schedule after we know more details.
*The doctor is quite pleased with the range of motion in Carl's left leg: he made it to 90 degrees yesterday--yeah! (This means that when he is sitting, his leg can bend at the knee so that his foot rests on the floor.) Although he will continue to try to loosen that leg, it is considered functional at 90 degrees. Only 4 more weeks till that leg can bear weight! Carl is so excited for the prospect of crutches instead of a wheelchair.
*Next week Carl is scheduled for an evaluation of the peroneal nerve injury in his right foot. Basically it will be a nerve conduction study where they will now be able to see what kind of damage actually occured in that foot due to lack of blood flow in the hours after the accident.The doctor is also becoming more open to giving Carl some type of medication to still the constant prickling, tingling, stinging sensation in that foot. Possibly we can start that next week. (His only concern is that this medication has been known to slow bone re-growth and we sure don't want that!)
*The bones in Carl's right leg need to fuse better so the doctor ordered a device to stimulate bone growth. It is something Carl will wear 24 hours a day for 6 weeks before they can tell if it is effective. That's all I know about this for now--I'll update when I learn more.
I can hardly believe that tomorrow it is 9 weeks since the accident happened. Because we can get him in and out of the van with no problem, Carl is anxious to move forward to this next step in his recovery. Thank you for being so faithful in praying for his TOTAL and COMPLETE healing!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Thoughts about Courage
Courage is reclaiming your life after a devastating event robs you of your confidence and self-esteem. It is facing tomorrow with a firm resolve to reach deep within yourself to find another strength, another talent...It is taking yourself to another level of your own existence where you are once again whole, productive, special...--Catherine Britton
If our vocabulary did not contain the words trouble, adversity, calamity and grief, it could not contain the words, bravery, patience and self-sacrifice. Those who know no hardships will know no hardihood. Those who face no calamity will need no courage. Mysterious though it is, the human characteristics we admire most grow in a soil with a strong mixture of trouble.--Dale Turner
Courage: contrary to popular belief, it is not the absence of fear. Courage is the wisdom to act in spite of fear.--John-Roger and Peter McWilliams
If our vocabulary did not contain the words trouble, adversity, calamity and grief, it could not contain the words, bravery, patience and self-sacrifice. Those who know no hardships will know no hardihood. Those who face no calamity will need no courage. Mysterious though it is, the human characteristics we admire most grow in a soil with a strong mixture of trouble.--Dale Turner
Courage: contrary to popular belief, it is not the absence of fear. Courage is the wisdom to act in spite of fear.--John-Roger and Peter McWilliams
Friday, October 3, 2008
Homecoming 2008
Carl figured out a way to get into our mini-van today and we took him around the corner to Pequea Valley High School Homecoming tonight. Our Tessa was honored to be chosen as one of the six girls on the Homecoming Court. (By the way, she has been fighting mono the past few weeks and as late as yesterday, her face and lymph glands were very swollen and she felt pretty miserable. The Lord was gracious to allow her to feel SO much better today so she could enjoy the experience.)Once again, we are reminded of the little things that matter most: like Tessa having her dad there to celebrate life's special events. Every day I thank God for sparing his life.
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