Good news!!!! Toes actually ate a little on his own today!!!!!! THANK YOU GOD!!! More good news... his bilirubin level is down to 1.2 (normal is 1.0) this is down from 10 just last week!!!!... his liver enzymes have improved... he's not vomiting the food he's getting with the feeding tube, and he's receiving up to 40ml at a time- about 5 tbsp my vet tells me.... This is all such great news! God is hearing our prayers!!
The only bad news, and unfortunately it's significant- but treatable, is that the upper respiratory infection is still raging. They've changed his antibiotic and are hoping this one will work. The other issue-- and this one is huge, is that the site around his feeding tube has gotten infected. They're treating it, topically as well as with the oral antibiotic. Please pray that this clears up quickly!!! If we can get him to eat enough on his own, the feeding tube should be able to be removed- but not until he's eating enough to maintain a good nutritional balance.
I was supposed to bring him home today, and maintain the feeding tube on my own. But with the tube being infected, we decided it's best to keep him there and in isolation away from any other sources of infection. I'm disappointed, but trusting.
All in all, things seem to be improving. Thanks for the prayers--- please keep them coming!!!!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
In Memory of Mom
http://youtube.com/watch?v=umAuekSF4BY
Usually about this time of year, I start to feel sad-- really missing my Mom. Her birthday is next week, November 3rd. She would have been 88 this year!!! For some reason, as much as I miss her beyond words, this year I just feel joy! Joy that she's free from the pain and suffering that she dealt with during the seven years she fought her battle with Alzheimer's. Joy that she is with Jesus and has been reunited with her parents,her brother and sister, the two children she lost in miscarriage, and so many others. Joy that she is in her true home in Heaven. I still weep... I still long to hug her, to hear her voice- to just be close. But I know in Christ there is no good-bye... she still lives in my heart.
Above, there is link for a video I made tonight (you may need to copy and paste it into your browser)... hope you enjoy it.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Pastor Appreciation Month
Have you hugged your pastor today?
I love October!!! Yes, it's the most beautiful time of the year- with the splendor of the trees changing color. Yes, it's finally cooling off, and the crisp Autumn days are so refreshing. Yes, the apples are at their best-- YUM!! AND..., it's also Pastor Appreciation Month!!!.... How many of us really knew that?
I love my pastors... both of them. Pastor David (my Latham church) and Fr Nigel (my Greenwich church) are the two most Christian men I've ever had the honor of knowing!! I consider both of them to be my spiritual role-models, and would consider myself blessed beyond belief, if I could be half the person(s) that they are. They exude compassion, gentleness, strength, generosity... the list goes on and on! But, the one thing I see the most in both of them, when I look into their gentle eyes- is the incredible presence and love of Christ!! God works so powerfully through both of them-- whether in their preaching, leadership, counseling,teaching,or the many, many other things they do to build the faith of so many-- God's presence in their lives and hearts is clear!!!
I thank God each and every day for the gift of these wonderful teachers in my life. I pray for God to continue blessing them-- strengthening their ministry, their gifts, their lives for His Glory!
I'll be taking some time this week to thank each of them personally.... for listening to me when I'm hurting, for leading me when I'm lost, for encouraging me when I'm feeling unworthy, for believing in me as I accept my calling, for being the person(s) I look up to in my quest to be a better Christian!
How do you thank someone for changing your life?
Yes.... I'll be hugging my pastor(s) this week!!!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Patience
Ok, so waiting is not my thing...
My cat, Toes is very sick right now. He has Hepatic Lipidosis.... in layman's terms, fatty liver or liver disease. He got it when he decided to stop eating a couple weeks ago when I changed cat food. Apparently it wasn't up to his princely standards--and I can't say I blame him. I just feel awful that he's now really uncomfortable because of a choice I made. (In the future, I'll have to bring him shopping with me!) Anyway-- he's been in the hospital for a week, and we expect him to be there for at least another week or so. He's hooked up to IV's and receiving a ton of medications. He's still refusing to eat, which is really messing with his bilirubin level- in other words he's a not-so-lovely shade of yellow right now. BUT-- he's doing better little by little. The key to the healing of this disease is PATIENCE! My veterinarian tells me that we're looking at a recovery time of SEVERAL months. Yah... ok, so waiting is not my thing.
At the insistence of my veterinarian, I've been going to visit Toes every day. I sit on the floor with him for a few hours and encourage him to eat.... tuna, hamburger, baby food, hot dogs-- ANYTHING! Some days he'll make me happy and eat a bite or so-- but other days (like today), he'll turn his back on me and curl up in the corner. All I can do is pet him and let him know that he's loved and I'm there.
Today, (not Toe's best day) I had an interesting conversation with my veterinarian. My veterinarian is wonderful. I know without doubt he saved Toes life. He's knowledgeable and caring (Toes loves him!). He's also a Christian. As he was leaving the exam room this afternoon, I quickly, almost as an afterthought, asked him if he's been praying for Toes. His reply was immediate and affirmative. He and I have had conversations about God and faith before, and he's prayed for my other fur babies during their various medical crisis' Today, he could see that I was starting to loose faith. I've been praying with all my heart and all my faith for Toes' healing. But the last couple days, I just haven't felt that God has been hearing me. When I shared that with my veterinarian, he reminded me that not all prayer is answered quickly-- but it is ALWAYS heard. He also reminded me that sometimes God uses a situation or problem to teach us something. My response was one of frustration... "Ok... so what is God trying to teach me here?" He shrugged and lovingly told me I needed to pray and figure that one out myself.
So what is it He's trying to teach me? Patience perhaps? Trust? Endurance? A reminder to lean on His love? Ok, Lord- message received!! But why do you need to make my kitty sick to teach me these things?
...I didn't make your kitty sick-- but I can use this to teach you. I can use this to draw you closer to me!... Trust in me- lean on me- hold fast to my mighty hand!... Believe without doubt for Toes' healing!
Thank you, Lord! I needed that reminder.
Barring a miracle (please God!), on Monday, Toes is likely to have surgery to insert a feeding tube. My veterinarian tells me that this is the best way to progress in the healing process. I'm not at all thrilled with the prospect of him having surgery-- but I'm TRUSTING my veterinarian and God.
I'm also believing that somehow in the midst of all of this turmoil and stress that I will find myself a stronger and more trusting Christian.
Please, please say a prayer for my sweet Toesy kitty!!! Please believe for his full and absolute healing!
10/15/07 UPDATE: Just heard from Toes' doctor. The surgery to insert the feeding tube went very well and he tolerated the anesthesia very well, which was a concern because of his weak condition. He's in ICU right now, and will remain there for several days. He'll receive his first tube feeding later this afternoon. We're expecting that this will be the key to reversing this nasty disease!! Thanks for the prayers for Toes-- please keep them up.... God is obviously hearing us!!
My cat, Toes is very sick right now. He has Hepatic Lipidosis.... in layman's terms, fatty liver or liver disease. He got it when he decided to stop eating a couple weeks ago when I changed cat food. Apparently it wasn't up to his princely standards--and I can't say I blame him. I just feel awful that he's now really uncomfortable because of a choice I made. (In the future, I'll have to bring him shopping with me!) Anyway-- he's been in the hospital for a week, and we expect him to be there for at least another week or so. He's hooked up to IV's and receiving a ton of medications. He's still refusing to eat, which is really messing with his bilirubin level- in other words he's a not-so-lovely shade of yellow right now. BUT-- he's doing better little by little. The key to the healing of this disease is PATIENCE! My veterinarian tells me that we're looking at a recovery time of SEVERAL months. Yah... ok, so waiting is not my thing.
At the insistence of my veterinarian, I've been going to visit Toes every day. I sit on the floor with him for a few hours and encourage him to eat.... tuna, hamburger, baby food, hot dogs-- ANYTHING! Some days he'll make me happy and eat a bite or so-- but other days (like today), he'll turn his back on me and curl up in the corner. All I can do is pet him and let him know that he's loved and I'm there.
Today, (not Toe's best day) I had an interesting conversation with my veterinarian. My veterinarian is wonderful. I know without doubt he saved Toes life. He's knowledgeable and caring (Toes loves him!). He's also a Christian. As he was leaving the exam room this afternoon, I quickly, almost as an afterthought, asked him if he's been praying for Toes. His reply was immediate and affirmative. He and I have had conversations about God and faith before, and he's prayed for my other fur babies during their various medical crisis' Today, he could see that I was starting to loose faith. I've been praying with all my heart and all my faith for Toes' healing. But the last couple days, I just haven't felt that God has been hearing me. When I shared that with my veterinarian, he reminded me that not all prayer is answered quickly-- but it is ALWAYS heard. He also reminded me that sometimes God uses a situation or problem to teach us something. My response was one of frustration... "Ok... so what is God trying to teach me here?" He shrugged and lovingly told me I needed to pray and figure that one out myself.
So what is it He's trying to teach me? Patience perhaps? Trust? Endurance? A reminder to lean on His love? Ok, Lord- message received!! But why do you need to make my kitty sick to teach me these things?
...I didn't make your kitty sick-- but I can use this to teach you. I can use this to draw you closer to me!... Trust in me- lean on me- hold fast to my mighty hand!... Believe without doubt for Toes' healing!
Thank you, Lord! I needed that reminder.
Barring a miracle (please God!), on Monday, Toes is likely to have surgery to insert a feeding tube. My veterinarian tells me that this is the best way to progress in the healing process. I'm not at all thrilled with the prospect of him having surgery-- but I'm TRUSTING my veterinarian and God.
I'm also believing that somehow in the midst of all of this turmoil and stress that I will find myself a stronger and more trusting Christian.
Please, please say a prayer for my sweet Toesy kitty!!! Please believe for his full and absolute healing!
10/15/07 UPDATE: Just heard from Toes' doctor. The surgery to insert the feeding tube went very well and he tolerated the anesthesia very well, which was a concern because of his weak condition. He's in ICU right now, and will remain there for several days. He'll receive his first tube feeding later this afternoon. We're expecting that this will be the key to reversing this nasty disease!! Thanks for the prayers for Toes-- please keep them up.... God is obviously hearing us!!
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