Saturday, September 24, 2011

Right Hand

Brian can't use his right hand for another 10 days due to the angiogram.  Don't think we EVER realized how much we use our dominant hand.

Brian is healing.  The doctors are still searching for answers.  While the evil one believes this will bring us down, cause us to doubt - God WINS.  He will get the glory. 

We can't to see how He works in the doctors to determine what is wrong, how He meets all of our financial needs, how He brings us closer to Him.

God is good!!!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

24 Crazy Hours

For about two months now Brian's blood pressure and pulse have been way out of wack.  When we were in Colorado his Spiritual Dad and Mom convinced him to call the doctor (yep, my words to call the doctor had gone in one ear and out the other....)

So, he goes to the doctor, who sends him to the cardiologist after writing a note that his work must not be strenuous...  guess that puts him on short term disability for a while.  The cardiologist starts a series of tests, everything coming back healthy and positive but the symptoms are all there....

On Monday there is the stress test.  Brian didn't do well - the test had to be stopped.  The folks told him if he didn't feel better to head to the ER.  He comes home, dinner is ready and he is starving (that six hour fast was brutal!).  Being the ever loving wife - I told him he looked terrible.  His reply - "Let's eat, I'm hungry". 

After dinner I asked him which hospital he wanted to go to.....  he didn't argue.  We headed to West Valley as that is closest to his doctors.  When he told the admitting folks he had chest pain they whisked him into a room.  In the five minutes it took me to answer all the questions - they had him IV'd, hooked up and blood drawn!!

The initial "results" said renal failure.  That made some sense because the kidneys control so much.  But how?  His plant physical in April was fine.  The doctor did a CBC two weeks before - did something horrible happen?  So he was admitted.  About midnight I headed home.

In the mail there was a letter, the idiots at Sedgewick Claims (the third party administrator of short term for APS) denied his short term since there is no diagnosis code.   Yes, I wanted to scream. 

So now, not only am I worried is my husband (best friend, awesome Dad, godly man and all around nice guy) is going to die but I get to worry about him not getting paid!!!!

This morning I head to the hospital early.  Brian had a rough night but he is being monitored.  My next challenge is dealing with the idiots.  After several calls, because they kept "cutting me off" I was able to talk with a supervisor who agreed the claim should be reopened.  She will confirm that on Wednesday, otherwise we get to appeal.

The cardiologist came in - an angiogram is on the slate today.  At first it was scheduled for 11:00am, then it got moved to 4:00.  The one thing I will never understand is "hospital time".   And the positive results on the "renal failure" - according the doctor it was an error in testing - we are choosing to believe God healed.

So many phone calls, so many prayers.  All answered.  The angiogram came out perfect - arteries are all clear, heart is beating strong.  That leaves us with the question - what is going on?  His blood pressure and pulse remain high.

Either the doctors will figure out what is going on or it will go away.  Either way - all the glory and honor belong to God.  I believe God has some amazing things left for Brian to do - the enemy is after him.  BUT - God wins.  God is so good.

Monday, September 12, 2011

The Rim and Children

The Rim has to be one of our favorite places.  Last weekend David, Brian and myself did a day trip to scout for turkey. 

This past weekend Brian and I went camping.

In a couple of weeks we will be bagging two turkeys.

It gives me such a warm fuzzy feeling to watch Brian and David together as they are planning their strategies. 

We raise our children, then sometimes, we are blessed to have those children turn into our friends.  I haven't quite figured if it is personality or
chance or shared faith.

We raised all of our children to love Jesus.  But now they are adults - they chose the relationship they have with us and with Abba Father.  We have done our best.  The rest is up to God.

God is good.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Health

Brian is off work.  The doctor put him out last week because his heart is doing odd things - the blood pressure is erratic and his pulse is extremely rapid.
Yesterday he had an echocardiogram.  Yes, he has a heart!!  He met with our regular doctor today to get paperwork filled out.

So ironic - the plant sent him home due to the doctor's note limiting physical activity.  He fills out the paperwork for short term, the folks there want to know what the diagnosis is.  So do we!!  They seem to have trouble understanding that at this point the doctors do NOT know what is going on.

Not quite sure if we should feel good because the doctors are baffled or to be worried.  Bottom line - God is in control.  He is the Great Physician and He has Brian right in the palm of His hand.

Now we rest in the palm of Abba Father's hand.  He loves us.  God is good. 

Monday, September 5, 2011

Bittersweet

Jay has moved out (again).  It is bittersweet.  He is almost 21 and really needs to be on his own - becoming a man rather than living off of us. 

Because of the poor decisions he has made there has been a lot of tension in our home over the past few weeks.  It will be good when we get his room cleaned out and prayed over.  

God is in control - He loves Jay much more than we ever could.  We claim the Scripture - "Raise up a child in the ways of God, and when they are old they will not depart from it". 

Jay will return both to his family and to the Lord someday.  God's timing is rarely ours.  So this is where we trust and wait, knowing God's way is ALWAYS the best.

God is good.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Colorado

Last week we had the opportunity to spend time up in Colorado with Brian's spiritual parents.  (Rex and Joyce have provided lots of love and guidance over the years.)

We flew into Denver, then drove to Cedaredge.  What a beautiful drive - we found a some old mining towns.  We decided not to go past the "NO TRESPASSING" sign....this time!

Brian, David and Rex had a wonderful afternoon of shooting and playing with guns.  In fact, the next morning David shot the pesky squirrel who was invading the garden!!

We went antiquing - good thing we flew, otherwise the car would have been packed!!

We stopped to visit some friends who invited David over to ride horses on Sunday - boy was he in his element.  It is so much fun to watch him have fun.

It was a relaxing time, full of love and friendship.  We are blessed to have amazing family and good friends.

God is so very good.