recap

Oh man.
I am exhausted.

Here's a quick little recap of what has happened since my last blog:

First we did this --

Flora went to stay with Aunt Sara Thursday through Sunday (Sept 13-16).  While she was gone I worked and worked and worked and worked on her new "girly room."  It was exhausting but I am so happy with the results.  She loves it, I love it, it's awesome.  But it was a lot of work.

Then we did this --

Sunday night after we picked up Flora I noticed Timber was running a low fever.  On Tuesday I took him to see his pediatrician.  He had all kinds of things going on but the most concerning was a swollen area on the right side of his neck.  He wouldn't turn his head to the right at all and screamed in pain at the slightest touch to his neck.  I knew something was really wrong but didn't feel that overwhelming urge to take him to the ER immediately.  So we saw his pediatrician and she recommended we go to the Children's Mercy Hospital ER because she thought he definitely needed a CT scan on his neck.

I KNEW we would be going to the hospital that day.  And I KNEW Timber and I would be staying overnight at the hospital.  Chris never forgets his cell phone but he forgot to take it to work that day.  I was  SO SURE we would be going to the hospital that before we went to the doctor's office I looked up the phone number to the church he's working at so I could call him from the doctor's office.  I also had a list made of what to take to the hospital with us.  I didn't actually pack the bag, but when we left our pediatrician's office I was able to run home and throw everything on my list into the bag quickly.  God has a way of preparing you for things like this.  I wasn't terrified or freaked out when the doctor told us to go to the hospital because I already knew it was going to happen.  It's pretty sweet to have an all-knowing God in my corner.   

Sure enough, we checked into the ER (Chris met us at the hospital and took Scout back home with him -- Flora was in preschool) and after a CT scan and bloodwork they decided to admit Timber.  It was so nice to have everything I needed already with me!  True, I was carrying my purse, my overnight bag, and Timber around the ER all day but it was worth it.

The rest of our hospital stay was pretty uneventful.  Timber was on IV antibiotics from Tuesday to Friday and we were released Saturday morning.  Every night the ENT (Ear/Nose/Throat) doctors came to examine his neck and every night they said, "We may have to do surgery tomorrow," but every morning they said, "It's a little bit better.  Let's see if the antibiotics can get rid of it without surgery."  And that's what happened.

Timber really amused the doctors and nurses in the hospital because he would turn his face away and shut his eyes tight when they came in the room.  It was like he thought they couldn't see him (and do all their annoying, uncomfortable poking and prodding) if he couldn't see them.  As unhappy as he was to see them come in, he was always very happy to smile and wave goodbye to them when they left the room.  He was obviously very happy to see them go!  

Oh, and he also celebrated his 2-yr birthday in the hospital.

 

We came home with some really nasty tasting oral antibiotics that Timber had to take 3 times a day for three days.  On doctor's orders, I gave him a spoonful of Hershey's chocolate syrup before and after each dose.  Why doesn't MY doctor ever suggest anything like that???

Timber is 100% better now.  He is laughing and playing and being his silly little self.  God is good.

But what if he wasn't better?  What if the doctors had told us that he would never get better?  What if we had to watch our little boy struggle with constant pain or had him taken from us?  God is good.

It's hard to understand how God can be good when bad things happen.  I've never experienced anything truly tragic in my family but I KNOW that God is good in ALL situations.  I don't need healing or prosperity or happiness to know that He is good.  I KNOW that God is good.  And because of that knowledge I can live my life without fear of the unknown.  I honestly don't see how people live without knowing God.  Is "religion" a crutch?  You betcha!  Jesus is my crutch, my wheelchair, my stretcher, and my life support. 

So, in conclusion --

Flora finally has her "girly room."
Timber was sick but now he's all better.
God is good.
And I am tired.

truck man

Timber is Truck Man.  Every day at naptime and every night at bedtime he says, "Nigh-nigh, Ruck Man!" to himself in the mirror.  Then we walk into his bedroom and he says, "Ruck Man shut door," "Ruck Man ligh off," "Good dob, Ruck Man!"  It's an appropriate name for a little boy who can drive cars and trucks in the dirt for hours.

Also, someone called me a "warrior" on my walk this morning.  My battle axe and bronze-plated shield were safely hidden out of sight so I assume she was referring to the fact that I was pushing three kiddos uphill in a stroller. 
I smiled and said something like, "Ha-ugh," in response because 1) what am I supposed to say to that? and 2) I was pushing three kiddos uphill and didn't have much breath leftover for chitchat.  But it was nice to be appreciated.  All the kids ever say is, "Mommy, can you run so we can go faster?"