Okay, I know it has been a really long time since I have written anything on the blog. I'm so sorry for all of you who keep checking. Right after Kevin, Cannon, and Grace came back from Kansas, Grace had about 8 more days that she felt REALLY good! And we took FULL advantage. I think we crammed ALL of our summer activities into that short span. We were so busy during the day that I didn't even stop to think about writing something on the blog. Their cousin, Brett, (my only brother's only child) came to visit for a week and we had a such a wonderful time with him. We went to a water park where Grace road waterslides for the first time in her life, we visited several museums and the zoo, and we finally celebrated Cannon's bday with some friends at Six Flags. I think we all had begun to think that maybe Grace's medical issues were behind her.
Sadly, this pain free existence was very short- lived and Grace cratered quickly. Unfortunately for me, these were the hardest weeks I have ever experienced in my 36 year walk with Christ. For the first time in Grace's life, I began to be really mad at God and I questioned why he would stand by and allow her to have so much pain her life. I kept pleading with Him to either take her to Heaven, where there is no pain or if He planned to keep her here to make her well...I knew He could. Why wouldn't He answer me? As I began spiraling downward, Grace's pain continued to worsen, she was up more at night, and to make matters worse Cannon broke his arm. Two weeks ago, both kids started school, Cannon began 7th grade and Grace started 3rd grade and I came home and cried. I knew in my heart that she was sick and it was heartbreaking having to watch her try to make it at school when I knew she felt so bad. I so badly wanted my little girl to be like every other little girl in her class with out a care in the world. Why was she brought into this world to have to suffer so much?
Thankfully, when I didn't think I could fall any lower, God began to speak to me through loved ones, His Word, and through remarkable ways and He began showing me that He loves Grace more than I will ever know. He showed me that His ways are better than mine and that He is in control even when it doesn't look that way. Slowly, he began to pick me back up and I knew that regardless of what happened, we would be okay.
That takes us to about a week ago. Grace had a pretty rough weekend, was battling side and back pain and by the time she went to bed she had a fever and it was climbing. She woke up last Monday morning with a fever and even with Motrin and Tylenol it kept climbing. We headed to the pediatrician's office and by then it was 106.7. Grace was admitted to Children's Medical Center and continued having high fevers, side and back pain, and urinary issues for several days. The drs and nurses did an incredible job of sorting through her extensive medical history, ruled out some really scary things, and ended up treating her for 6 days with IV antiobiotics and pain meds. Grace ended up having a kidney infection that penetrated her upper right quadrant of her left kidney.
God spoke to us in mighty ways throughout the week while we were there. First, He provided sleep and rest for Kevin and me the Saturday night before Grace was admitted. My parents invited Grace and Cannon to stay with them for 24 hours while Kevin and I slept, went to dinner with friends, and rested. God was preparing us for the battle ahead. Next, He provided an incredible hospital, caring and wise doctors, and the most loving and compassionate nurses to care for Grace while she was hospitalized. He sent His people to surround us with prayer, have our physical needs met, and to love us when we were weak. He gave us His Word to strengthen us for the battle and to remind us that He is still with us and loves us. He is still the God of miracles because we watched Him perform miracles in her room everyday. Grace was able to withstand pain that isn't humanly possible. He showered us each with a measure of grace and patience that could only be from the Lord. He answered our prayers and brought us home where Grace can continue to rest and recover. The Lord provided in incredible ways throughout the week and showed us over and over again that He is right beside us.
Grace wasn't healed and will continue to have medical issues, more than likely throughout her life. It is still unclear when she will be healthy enough to go back to school. She will continue to have to have her kidneys checked for a long time. We have been home for 24 hours and she already has begun the pain again and had a slight fever this evening. What I have learned through this is my little girl was wired for this. God gave her something that He didn't give me....she is a warrior and she will fight to the bitter end, she is full of grace and strength from the Lord. Praise God for that! I pray that as He continues to mold me into the person that He wants me to be, that I trust in His plan, and that I quit trying to tell Him what to do.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Thank you for your continued prayers for our family.
Love,
Carrie
Grace having PICC line placed
Kevin in PICC room- gotta love the hat!
Going Home!!!
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