June 20 – “Not that the view mattered”

Ah, them Astros.  I had a really good time at the game last night.  Great day-before-Father's Day treat.  And that was in spite of them taking out the pitcher in the sixth inning while he was pitching a one-hitter.  Of course the one hit was a two-run home run.  And the Astros only hit up to that point was an infield single that could just as easily have been called an error.  They were also playing the Rangers, one of the best teams in baseball right now.  May be they'll get 'em tomorrow.  Besides, the best part of the whole experience was wrestling with my grandsons in an incredibly confined space.  Our seats were in the highest level of the park, but we were right behind home plate.  Perfect view.  Not that the view mattered that much to Jachin and Micah.  We had tickling matches and hugging fits and giggling explosions that certainly rivaled the crying and whining of the other kids around us, and absolutely bested the cheers of the Astros faithful.  Our only problem was keeping little feet out of the hair (literally) of the people in front of us.   Chris called her Mom while I was at the game.  She said it sounded like her lungs were already filling up with fluid again.  Most definitely not a good sign.  They have already done it twice in one week, and they aren't even attempting the right lung any more.  So this afternoon right after church we headed up to Houston to check on her.  Chris went packed and ready to stay if necessary.  When we arrived, her Mom was sitting up in a chair.  She was still on oxygen, but she greeted us and said the doctor told her she needed to get up and start doing some walking.  OK, I'm not a medical genius.  But this roller coaster is driving me nuttier than I already am.  So it must be tearing Chris up.  They started her Mom on lasix after she started wheezing this time.  That's a drug designed to remove fluid through "normal channels."  It was effective enough to make it easier to breathe, hopefully until they have a chance to get rid of the infection and set up the surgery to insert the chest tubes.  They have to be careful, though, because too much or too long on the lasix will cause her to dehydrate, which brings up all sorts of other problems.  Chris described it as a symphony.  Every individual part has to work together or the whole thing sounds like a bunch of noise.   Psalms 59:9 says, "O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress"   Father, we need you to be our fortress over the next few days.  Or weeks.  Or however long Chris' Mom is with us.  Amen.