Just a little news about Tabitha's next medical adventure. On October 11th and 12th Heath will be taking her to Cincinnati for a bunch of urology tests. The plan is that she will have surgery on the 16th. However, if these tests show that she needs a bigger surgery instead of the one planned, she'll come back home, and we'll schedule that for another time. If the tests show that the current planned surgery will be enough, she'll have that done on the 16th and be in the hospital for 4-7 days.
The purpose of the surgery is to fix her kidney reflux. In other words, to make her ureters into one-way streets instead of two-way. They're supposed to be "exit-only," but hers allow reversing from the bladder back into the kidneys. And the kidneys really don't appreciate that! So this surgery should stop that from happening.
The doctors will also be giving her a "Malone." This is a small hole in the belly button that will be used to do her enemas. It will make that daily ritual much less of a hassle, and give her the potential to do the enemas herself instead of having a parent do it for her. (Hallelujah for when that day comes!)
Prayer requests are many: that she could have the smaller surgery and not need the bigger one, that everything heals quickly and without complications, that her kidneys would suffer no further damage and wouldn't cause her problems later in life, that the Malone is in fact as good as it's supposed to be, that the enemas would work 100% so that she could be clean every day and get out of diapers. And of course we'd love to have a miracle where she wouldn't need enemas or catheters anymore. Medically that's very unlikely, but we know a Great Physician who can do it if He so chooses.
Things to be thankful for are also numerous: excellent medical insurance, having the best doctors in the world for Tabitha's needs, the ability to travel to/from Cincinnati without too much hardship, supportive family and friends, and a God who is not only in control but also knows the "why" for all our wondering, the answers to all our questions, and who holds the future in His hands.
Thanks for praying with us.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Another Kid Joins the Club!
Tabitha never likes to be left out of anything her brothers are doing. So today, just two weeks after Jesse, she decided to lose HER first tooth too!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Twelve Years!
Today makes 12 years that Heath and I have been married. It's gone so fast! Our anniversary get-away this year was quite different than anything we'd done before. Refusing to believe that we're not kids anymore, we spent the weekend being quite adventurous! For the first time ever, we went camping together! We borrowed a tent and used our very own campground (aka our empty land that will one day--we hope--have our house on it). A completely free trip! Even though it had been a hot and humid day the night was almost perfect . . . cooler temperatures, full moon, and the sound of millions of crickets and cicadas. :)
On Saturday we went to Harpers Ferry, not for any historical or educational purpose, but for another thing we've never done . . . an aerial adventure course, which is a big obstacle course up in the trees! Focusing mainly on the zip line parts we'd read about, we weren't completely prepared for the work involved! It was fine for Heath (who has more arm strength than I could ever imagine having), but I had a few difficulties even on the easier courses. At one point, early in our climb, was a tight rope walk. Sounds fun, huh? There was a "thing" to hold onto, and of course you're connected to the cables so you won't die if you fall. But let me tell you, it was extremely difficult, it was a gazillion feet up in the air, and it was pretty much the scariest and most difficult physical feat I've ever attempted! Heath just scampered across as if he were a cat on a roof, but I had some issues: mainly terror and the inability to move. I did make it across without falling, much to my own surprise and relief. And nothing else on the course was quite that hard (or horrifying). There were a lot of different things to climb or precariously balance your way across. But the best part were the zip lines. No work, just fun! The whole thing was exciting though, and definitely a good work out! I'd love to do it again someday . . . minus the tight rope part!
So today, as I think back on the last dozen years, there have been good times, bad times, mediocre times, great times. But no matter what kind of "times" we've had, we've had them together. I am so thankful for the husband God has given me, and all the times we've shared. Happy Anniversary, Heath. I love you!
On Saturday we went to Harpers Ferry, not for any historical or educational purpose, but for another thing we've never done . . . an aerial adventure course, which is a big obstacle course up in the trees! Focusing mainly on the zip line parts we'd read about, we weren't completely prepared for the work involved! It was fine for Heath (who has more arm strength than I could ever imagine having), but I had a few difficulties even on the easier courses. At one point, early in our climb, was a tight rope walk. Sounds fun, huh? There was a "thing" to hold onto, and of course you're connected to the cables so you won't die if you fall. But let me tell you, it was extremely difficult, it was a gazillion feet up in the air, and it was pretty much the scariest and most difficult physical feat I've ever attempted! Heath just scampered across as if he were a cat on a roof, but I had some issues: mainly terror and the inability to move. I did make it across without falling, much to my own surprise and relief. And nothing else on the course was quite that hard (or horrifying). There were a lot of different things to climb or precariously balance your way across. But the best part were the zip lines. No work, just fun! The whole thing was exciting though, and definitely a good work out! I'd love to do it again someday . . . minus the tight rope part!
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