Why I Hate Mondays

We have a 2003 Ford Windstar. Yesterday we were on our way to Wal-Mart to buy groceries when all of a sudden the RPM's went up and the van would not go. We pulled off the side of the road, and then it started going again. Apparently it will go as long as you keep the speed below 40 mph.

Stanley called his dad and asked him if he would sell us his 2003 Taurus and let us pay for it with income taxes next year, otherwise we would be without a vehicle and I would have no way to school. We are still plan on fixing the van, as it has a great motor, it doesn't use a drop of oil, but times are hard right now and we do not have the funds to put another transmission in.

We stopped by his parents house to get the car, and I went in to check on my mother-in-law. She had a stroke two weeks ago and her blood pressure has been running high. I checked mine to be able to gage how accurate her monitor was. My BP usually runs 100-110/60-70 so when it said mine was 110/78 I knew it was pretty accurate. She checked hers and it was 201/100, I immediately told her how dangerous it was for her BP to be that high. She said it had been higher than that and nothing happened ... my father-in-law had tried to get her to go to the hospital over the weekend and she wouldn't go.

I told her she was a ticking time bomb waiting for something to happen, and she needed to call her doctor or go to the hospital, I pleaded with her. I called her doctors answering service and they said to go to the emergency room, so my father-in-law took her, and she is still there this morning, but she may get to come home today. They got her BP down to 170 over something, that's better, but it is still way too high.

Please pray for my MIL, pray that God will direct her doctors to make some good changes to her BP meds and it will start keeping her in a normal range, otherwise she could have another stroke, or even a heart attack.

Hip Hip Hooray!

Austen's insulin pump was delivered via UPS today ... PRAISE THE LORD! Talk about an answer to prayer, and a 5 year prayer at that. It just goes to show you that it is all in HIS time and not ours.

The box was huge and contained everything we could possible need for a while. It even has a device that inserts the IV cannula into his belly fast so that he doesn't have to do it manually. AND it came with a blood sugar monitor that sends the readings to the pump, is that cool or what?

They calculate that he will use 20% less insulin with the pump, and he will definitely get better control. We just have to be diligent about keeping snacks on hand and a Glucagon kit in case he goes too low. But WOW! After 5 years, he finally has the pump!!!! I'm so EXCITED!!!! We just have to wait to use it until we go to the dietitian and get taught how to use it and she has to set it up for him.

I'm amazed at God's mercy and grace, His love is awesome!

Counting It Down

We have two exams left in the next week of nursing school, and then we are out for the summer. Medical micro will continue thanks to our lovely professor who always changes things on us. Our last lab exam is now on May 11th ... PFFFT!

The pump people called yesterday and they are shipping out Austen's insulin pump. It sure took them long enough!!! It should be here in a few days and then we have to go see the dietitian for her to set it up.

Now ... it's my bedtime, I have worked out for a total of 2 hours and 50 minutes and I'm dog tired :) Have a blessed sleep!

Busy Couple Of Weeks Ahead

The next couiple of weeks are going to be crazy. I have set up mobile blogging so that I can do it from my phone, but I'm not sure how much time I will have. This is what the next couple of weeks looks like for me. Your prayers would be appreciated, THANKS!!!

Monday April 20, 3009

Medical Microbiology @ 7:45-9:30
Nursing Exam #5 @ 3:30

Wednesday April 22, 2009

Medical Microbiology Lab Exam @ 7:45-9:30
Comprehensive Pharmacology Quiz @ 3:30-4:30

Friday April 24, 2009

All Meds Publishing Campus Labs are Due

Monday April 27, 2009

Disaster Lab

Tuesday April 28, 2009

Nursing Exam #6 @ 2:15-4:00 Anderson Technical Building

Wednesday April 29, 2009

OFF FOR STUDY DAY

Thursday April 30, 2009

HESI Nursing FINAL EXAM @ 2:15-5:15 Anderson Technical Building

Friday May 1, 2009

HESI SCORE REVIEW
Class Potluck

May 4, 2009

Medical Microbiology Final Exam @ 10:00 Waller Hall (LAST DAY OF CLASS)

UPDATES

Stanley's mom is doing better. I stayed the night with her last night so that my father-in-law could get some sleep. I slept pretty good, and so did Lura, but Stanley can't sleep without me at home, so he didn't sleep well at all.

Her right carotid artery is stopped up and so they did a CT angiogram this morning to see how bad it was. They don't know the results as of yet, but I think surgery is in her near future.

Austen's insulin pump should be here in the next week or two! A lot of bad stuff is going on, but God continues to show us His presence and that He is still working in our lives! Going to Pathway again on Sunday.

When It Rains It Pours

Please pray for Stanley's mom. She had a stroke in her sleep Tuesday night, woke up Wednesday morning not feeling well, had a headache and blurred vision, but did not let anyone know. Stanley's dad came home from work Wednesday afternoon and noticed her acting funny, checked her blood pressure and it was very high, so they took her to Western Baptist. She is now on the 5th floor awaiting tests to see why she had the stroke. (probably the high blood pressure).

The stroke was in the back of the brain in the area that controls vision. She still is having vision problems, and has a hard time thinking about things. She does know who she is, where she is, and what happened though, so that is good. Praise God it isn't any worse than it is.

If you have a stroke, you have a 3 hour window in which to reverse the damage. She was well past that window, so God must have been looking out for her.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Well we took Tanner to see Dr. Swain in Murray. He said that the lump was not anything serious. It is a hormonal thing, like male boobs, that should go away on it's own, but he is still going to monitor it to be safe. He said that he could remove it if it became bothersome or embarrassing for Tanner, but that it was harmless. I am so very thankful for this news because the radiologist made it sound like it was really bad. I know many of our friends at our old church have been praying for him, the family has been praying, and a lot of my school friends, so I am so thankful that God heard these prayers and everything is fine. God is so good!

Thank you God for hearing the many prayers on Tanner's behalf. Thank you for protecting him and thank you for the peace you gave me last week ... I knew it was going to be a good outcome, and it was all because of YOU! You are a great and glorious God and I don't deserve the favor you have shown to me and my family. THANK YOU! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

On This Day ...

On this day 17 years ago, Stanley and I got married. We did not get married in a church either time we got married. (we divorced in 1997 and lived together and then we remarried in 2003) We have been talking about renewing our vowels this fall in the church. My original plan was to have the pastor that saved (meaning, walked me to the Lord) and then baptized me and baptized all of our kids, to perform the service. I don't know what we will do now. But I really think it is important for us to renew our vowels in a church, since we both rededicated our lives to Christ after we got married the second time, and since we never had that church wedding.

It would be nice to have pictures and family and friends there ... It saddens me how my plans have been shot down. Yeah I'm feeling sorry for myself. You picture your kids getting married in the church you have known most of your life, and BAM, it ain't going to happen, and it upsets me!

Happy original Anniversary Stanley ... I love you more now than I did then, you are an amazing husband, friend, lover, and father. I am so happy God kept us together!

Catching Up

Last night I was texting my BFF, and she was worried that I was going to be worrying all weekend about Tanner's lump since we don't see the surgeon until Monday. I told her that it is what it is and me worrying isn't going to change that. I think he will be fine. I did not know that at church last night that the kids in TeamKid prayed for him. It could be the reason why I am feeling better about things. I'm sure of it actually because I know that God answers prayer, especially when more than one person is praying for the same thing while believing the prayer will be answered. God is so good!

We have 3 1/2 weeks of school left for this semester ... I can't believe it!!! It seems like I just started the first semester and now I have just a little over a semester left! December will come fast after school starts back in the fall. Especially since we will only have class for two months and then our Preceptor the following two months. Then I will take my Boards sometime in January and I could be working as an official RN sometime after that! My dream is almost a reality, and I can only thank God for it ... and my husband of course, for doing most of the chores to allow me to study.

I have a paper to write today for school, two actually, but one is due on Friday. I also have some studying to do and some note cards to write for medical micro. I am so happy that our micro professor changed the date of our final exam. We have our last unit exam in nursing on the 28th, then we were supposed to have our micro final on the 29th, and then our nursing final on the 30th. He felt sorry for us and moved the micro final to the 4th ... THANK GOD! That was too much! The last two weeks of nursing and micro are bad enough as we have 6 tests! Can we say OVERLOAD? Thank God summer break is almost here, and I can study at my own pace with no pressure to stay on top of everything for my comprehensive nursing final in the fall that covers everything we have learned so far from every semester.

Well I am off to study and do some laundry. have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Surgical Consult

We have a surgical consult about Tanner's lump on Monday at 3:00 PM with Dr. Swain in Murray. Your continued prayers over this scary situation will be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Prayer Request

I finally got the call from the doctors office this morning. Tanner's lump is 1.8cm and is oval in shape with undefined edges (not good), and they said it was an inflammatory lesion and it needed to come out. So they are setting us up with a surgical consult. I am so worried, but he hasn't had this lump for very long, so hopefully whatever it is, it will be ok once we get it out.

Our insurance has changed so we will be paying for this surgery out of our own pockets pretty much, but we got to do what we got to do. Please pray that this is nothing serious!

My Feelings Set To Music

I heard this song and it touched me. It totally describes what I'm feeling right now.

The Climb by Miley Cyrus

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah)

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah yeah ea ea)

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

If you want to hear the song or watch the video, you can right HERE.

Thoughts Of The Day 3-26-09

My Sunday School teacher always gives me a Bible verse that is fitting for any given situation. This morning I was looking at one of my favorite websites, God's Yellow Pages, and found some really good verses that seem to fit with my life right now.

Under the heading of COURAGE:

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Under the heading ANXIOUS:

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Under the heading NEEDING GUIDANCE:

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Under the heading SICK-IN PAIN:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Under the heading PRAYERFUL:

1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

And finally ... Under the heading FORGIVENESS:

Mark 11:25-26
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Forgiveness is a hard thing sometimes, but we must learn to forgive in order to be forgiven ... I'm really trying.

I am definitely in prayer about a lot of things. I know I need God to do some work on me, and I know I need God to get me through some things that are going on. I just have to learn to be patient, which is the hardest part.

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Confused

I really don't know what to do this Sunday about Church. I love the people at my Church and would really like to go there, but at the same time I want to see if maybe another Church is better suited for us. I guess I just have to continue to pray about it.

We missed last Sunday because Stanley said he had a hard time going to our Church, and then I missed because I didn't get up in time. (my best friend and I had stayed up and painted Friday night and slept from 8AM to 1PM and then we started painting again, and I went to bed Saturday night after midnight, so I was exhausted).

Stanley and I want to go, but we think some things need to be settled first. It is hard to worship God in a place where things are going on, and people are treating you different or wrong. I know God wants it settled, but I don't know how to do that when decisions are still up in the air, feelings are hurt, and NO ONE wants to admit they are wrong.

I am also confused as to why people have to leave anonymous comments on my blog, and continue to look at comments on another post, but use something to block the ISP they are using. I am so sick of deceit, really I am. I am glad that I am an honest person who doesn't care what others think. Sneaking around looking for trouble isn't my thing. I mean the way I see it is this ... if you think I am wrong, or don't like what I have to say, then you shouldn't be on my blog. Seems to me that continuing to come back is just as bad as you think or say that I am.

I don't care for anyone reading my blog, I am an open book, really. Have a question? Just ask. But when I have increased traffic on one post, and then when we bust them out and then I start seeing "Unknown" on my blog stats, but they are still looking at the same post ... HELLO ... I might be blonde, but I assure you, I am not stupid. Why would you keep coming back? Are you wanting me to say something? If not, please go away.

Update On Pump

Austen has to go to the hospital in the morning to have more bloodwork drawn. He has to have a C- Peptide, which tells the doctor if his pancreas produces any insulin at all. The insurance company is requesting it, as well as 60 days worth of blood sugar logs (that we can pull off the monitor). But from the way I understand it, they are going to pay most, if not all of the cost of the pump (if they agree). The insurance company still has not decided if he can have one yet, that is why we have to do all of this. The doctor and pump company are all on board, but the insurance company is the final say, but I can understand that because those supplies for the pump are extremely expensive.

But I have faith that he will get the insulin pump ... God has protected him thus far, and the pump will ensure he stays healthy for a lot longer. Some people think that if he did everything just perfectly that he would be fine without it, but I don't know anybody who does everything just perfect ... except for Jesus of course :-)

TGIF

This has been the longest week to me. I guess because I had two clinicals this week and because of that, had to miss Church Wednesday. I am so happy it is Friday, even though this weekend looks pretty busy too, since ...

I need to unwind, sleep in, and finish painting the trim in the living room.
I need to do more research on local Churches.
I need to spend time and cuddle up with my husband.
I need to get into God's word.

Next week I also have two clinicals, both of which are on Tuesday, but at least I get my usual Thursday off next week. Not having a day off when you have papers to write, quizzes to take, and research to do is CRAZY!

Tuesday I have Management of Care Day @ Western Baptist & Angel's Clinic. I am looking forward to the first one, but not so much the last one. But just a few more clinicals left, and three more tests and this semester is O-V-E-R! Then summer break ... I can't wait!

Also, please pray for us (or continue) as we have many decisions to make in the near future and we want to make the right ones. Thanks so much and have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Just So You Know

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck ... it's a duck. I'm just saying.

Thought Of The Day 3-18-09

Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Great Day

Today I was with Hospice for my clinical. A great experience, I truly admire the work they do. I had the privilege of working with them when I took care of a very sweet lady who had cancer. I would actually love to work with Hospice, but I have to have 3 years experience first.

Tonight my baby girl is singing at school. She is in the "Talent Spotlight", she does it every year. She is going to sing Beautiful by Christina Aguilera ... I haven't heard her sing it yet, so I am going to be pleasantly surprised. I cannot wait!

Now I think I am off to take a nap. I want to be well rested to hear my baby girl sing. She sings like an angel, and uses it for God's glory ... God will do amazing things through her.

Thought Of The Day 3-17-09

2 Timothy 4:16-18

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.