Roll with it

This last week has been quite a roller coaster.  Wednesday the doctors and therapists all came in excited that they had good evidence of progress. They were united on the request they were sending to the insurance company: 3-4 more weeks in inpatient rehab!  With such evidence, how could they say no?  On Thursday they did.

As the initial disappointment began to wear off, I remembered praying the previous evening for a solution for the separation of our family and its effects on our other boys.  One thing I have learned for certain over the course of the last few months is the value of both parents parenting side by side.  I know there are those that do it very well other ways, and I'm sure the Lord is able to raise them to the demands of their individual situations - but me and my queen are best together, there's no doubt about it.  Could this be an answer to prayer?

Our initial decisions about inpatient rehab were made with the intent of getting Christi the most help possible, recovering as much of her functioning as possible, before heading back home.  At home, outpatient rehab will require 4 1/2 - 5 hours a day (including travel), 3 days a week in a setting much less tailored to her needs.  Juggling those realities makes the transition home seem daunting.  How will we be able to find those extra hours?  How will our other kids' needs be met?  Then Christi started having more trouble with her feeds, she started throwing up more.  

Foot IV went bad so we got to get up in the stander again

Once or twice a day she would just loose it all over her bed.  She would moan, cough and sputter...then smile, giggle, and laugh -- all in the same few minutes.  I don't think I have ever seen a more inspiring example of dealing with adversity cheerfully - especially not from someone so young.  Other times she will break out in rolls of laughter in the midst of an absolutely quiet room.  Is she playing with angels I just can't see? I'm reassured constantly of the help that a loving Heavenly Father is giving His sweet little girl here!

Cheerful through it all

Well, the doctors and therapists went to bat to keep Christi here longer.  They wrote more notes about therapy sessions detailing each bit of progress.  They got on the phone with the insurance company's medical director and appealed the decision.  At last word, Christi has until Wednesday July 9th.  There is a chance she could be renewed again at that point, but more than likely it means we are coming home.  

Christi holding her vibrating spoon in her mouth (with help) while up in her stander.

So here's what I know:  God heals people.  He does so with and through others often, and always at His own pace.  Seeking His will and patiently pursuing His purposes in His time brings peace.  He IS mighty to save. 

God's way is the best possible way.  Because of His infinite foreknowledge and His endless love for His children, there is not a single thing that He asks or requires of them that could be any better for them in any way.  That is a big deal. It inspires total trust.

Family is central to God's plan for His children.  It seems to be at the heart of everything that He teaches and requires of us.  It is the lens through which all other things seem most clear.  What an incredible school home is!

God speaks.  He answers sincere prayers, and sometimes even prayers that have yet to be offered.  He expects parents to lead in the home and to consider carefully the welfare of their children.  This has weighed on me more than perhaps ever before during this time.  Revelation to parents is real and constant.  I don't think most parents even recognize the vast majority of it.  I suspect each parent will have an Oliver Cowdery like moment of realization when the Lord says, "without my guidance you never would have come to where you are."  He was their parent first (pre-mortally), and just because I have come on the scene to help out doesn't mean that He is punching out.  Parenting is a partnership not only husband and wife, but with God.

So this next week will certainly be an exciting one.

Oh, Christi started to roll over a little this week too.  It's just starting to emerge, but it is definite progress. Who knows, maybe I can learn to "roll with it" a little better too.  I'll learn from my smiling sweetheart :)