February 7 – “Blood drive thanks”

 

 

I went over to the blood drive at Fire station 5 yesterday that was put on in honor of April.  Those who donated were given a voucher that will allow Nathan and April to take $20 off the costs of blood products when they get their hospital bill.  I don't know how much the blood part will be, but that hospital bill promises to be enormous.  She was in intensive care for six days, had emergency surgery, and was on a ventilator for two or three days after that.  Not to mention all the specialists that came in to check out her case.  Or the myriad of lab fees.  Or the multiple X-rays and MRI's and CAT scans.  Or the emergency room charges.  Or the medications.  And we can't forget the little plastic pitcher and vomit basin they issue in each room.  I don't know all the details of their insurance, but twenty percent of any of that would be a handful for anybody.  Thank you so much to everybody who has donated blood in April's name and to those who have so far donated to the special account at Texas First Bank in her name.  Every little bit really helps.

 

While I was there yesterday a few of the firefighters noticed something that really struck them as funny.  The mobile blood bank (a renovated bus) was parked in the street right in front if the station.  It was a great place to be seen and made for a really good picture, in fact.  Except for one tiny detail.  It was parked right next to a fire hydrant.  Anyone else see the irony there?  I guess one of the guys said it best, "If we need to use that particular hydrant, we have a lot more trouble to worry about than just where that bus is parked." 

 

Meals have started to arrive for Nathan and April and Cailyn.  I never cease to be amazed by the power of technology.  There is a website that allowed a signup list to be placed online for those who wanted to bring in food each day.  Who thought that one up?  Or more significant, who knew that it was even there?  If only all we needed to diagnose April's ailment was technology.  She'd be well on her way to specific treatment long before now.  As it is, we still wait.

 

Isaiah 59:19 says, "From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.  For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along."

 

Father, breathe some of that breath down here in Galveston so more will see the glory they must one day revere.  Amen.

February 6 – “Commercial frenzy”

 

 

Everybody was abuzz about the big super bowl game yesterday.  I knew the Yankees were playing the Red Sox, but I was more interested in the commercials, myself.  I've always been a sucker for good imagination.  So we hosted a super bowl commercial party.  Twenty-five people came over for good food and great fellowship.  Nobody claimed to be particularly in favor of one side or the other in the football game.  But during the last few plays of the game, I must say a certain group of girls (with a not-so-secret connection to New York, I might add) showed their true colors.  When the Hail Mary passes went into the air, the noise level coming out of their mouths got exponentially greater.  The screams did get everyone's attention.  We all thought another commercial was coming on.

 

It proved impossible this year to come up with a clear cut favorite in the commercial judging.  The Audi car headlight that vaporized the vampire gathering was an early hit.  At least they didn't just sparkle.  We got a chuckle out of the race between a cheetah and a Hyundai.  That was when the cheetah turned on the guy who let it out of the cage.  The naked M&M's proved to be an interesting concept.  Never thought if it that way before.  Now I'll be forced to try to disrobe the next one I try instead of just chomping down.  Of the two Bridgestone tire attempts, the curving football one was by far better.  Now my personal favorites were by Doritos.  The first one was a Great Dane who had been involved in the disappearance of a cat (always a good story line).  He used Doritos to bribe the man who discovered his misdeed into keeping silent.  Then they came up with the granny sling-shotting the baby to take the bag away from the taunting bully.  That was a win.  The kid who thought he got a car for graduation was funny, but I had seen it on You Tube, so it lost some of its effectiveness for me.  The VW fat dog that went into a training regimen so he could fit through the doggie door was a good one.  And Darth Vader doing the Heimlich was an unexpected random touch.  The Chevy Sonic doing crazy stunts like bungee jumping was kind of fun, but the Sketchers bulldog wearing little sneakers who comes from behind to win the race against greyhounds was hilarious.  Especially when he turned around and moon-walked over the finish line.  The e-trade baby going speed dating at the hospital nursery got a brief rise, as did the BMW that read emails out loud.  Just as he drives up to the house, the guy hears that his mother-in-law is visiting.  He tries to back away, but the next email says, "Where are you going?"  Cute.  Oh, and the Chevy end of the world apocalypse, slam on Ford was OK.  I liked the newspaper that mentioned the Mayan calendar.  Of course I had seen that one on YouTube as well.

 

The second half wasn't quite as full as the first.  The Oikos yogurt probably got the strongest reaction.  The guy teased the girl by offering her a spoonful over and over until she just head-butted him and finished it off.  Ouch.  The H.E.B. alien invasion guy who just wanted to go shopping in that goofy garb was a plus.  Jack-in-the-Box got some reactions with the guy who marries a piece of bacon.  The pastor tells him he can now eat the bride.  Rather odd.  MetLife had one with a collection of old cartoon characters that was kind of fun.  I would actually like to see that one three or four more times to see if I can name all the little dude for my childhood.  KIA's clumsy sandman who trips and spills a bucketful of dreams into that guy's head was one of the most well-done of them all, I thought.  And the ugly little dog named Wego that fetched a beer every time someone said "Here we go," did have its rooters.

 

By far this year was much better than last year's crop.  We couldn't come to a consensus on a winner, so we gave the award to the imagination of the ad companies.  Thanks for the fun, guys.

 

Isaiah 59:15-17 says, "Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.  The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.   He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.  He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak."

 

Father, thank you for the interlude of fun last night.  Sometimes we need just that.  Amen.

February 5 – “Understanding competition”

 

 

On the San Antonio front, we got to have a FaceTime chat with Caleb and Zakary the other day.  They were on their way to sign Caleb up to play soccer.  Wait.  He's three years old.  He's really old enough to play soccer?  Yet there he was, all decked out in a real soccer shirt and holding up a real soccer ball.  We figured he would do great at the running around and kicking a ball part, but we wondered if he could understand the whole competition thing.  That concern was put to rest during the conversation.  Out of the blue, as he kicked his ball around and showed off his soccer t-shirt, Caleb declared, "Zak gonna lose.  I gonna win."  There it is. 

 

They do grow up.  Speaking of growing up.  One of the Cailyn-isms we heard the other day was priceless as well.  She was engaged in a deep conversation with Chris about cooking, I think.  She loves to crawl up onto the counter and help out.  By herself, mind you.  None of this lifting her up any more.  "I do it myself," is her mantra.  She drags her cow chair over to the cabinets and climbs it like stairs.  And once up there she helps with pouring and mixing and cracking eggs and tasting.  If she learns to be as good a cook as Chris, some guy is going to be in heaven one of these days.  That is, if her Daddy ever lets her have a first date.  Anyway, back to the deep discussion.  The part that stuck with, since I have no idea when it comes to cooking, was the brief bit of philosophy I heard.  "Nani," Cailyn said, letting out one of those big sighs, "when I grow up, I gonna be bigger."  Profound. 

 

One of our good Seasiders from church brought us a frozen homemade chicken pot pie.  We couldn't hog something like that, so we took over some supper to Nathan and April on Friday.  It was just what they needed, I guess.  April ate a little bit.  Her appetite is slowly returning.  Cailyn kind of waved at it one time as she ran around the house in circles.  She was busy.  Nathan had four huge helpings, though.  The boy hasn't eaten very well for the last ten days.  Having your wife at death's door just doesn't do wonders for the appetite. 

 

Isaiah 59:1 says, "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear."

 

Father, thank you for that listening ear and that strong arm.  We have sure needed both lately.  Amen.

February 4 – “Mommy’s Home”

 

 

We got the preliminary results from the investigation into April's spleen yesterday.  The spleen now lives at Methodist hospital in Houston with the top specialist in the world on that sort of thing.  Sounds like it is some kind of autoimmune disease disorder.  A.D.D.  Hmm.  Isn't that one of those labels they give kids when they are crazy wild?  Maybe not.  In this one the white blood cells are attacking the red blood cells.  Some kids just can't play nice.  If the diagnosis is confirmed, they said it really shouldn't be all that life-altering for April.  The one thing she remembers them saying is that she might develop arthritis.  OK.  So might anybody who lives to be older than ten or eleven.  They also said this disease was probably the cause of the initial blood clot she had back when she was eighteen.  Interesting.  It is better to know something, though, than just to live as the "Mystery Ailment Girl." 

 

Oh.  And did I mention that they let her go home last night?  They pumped her full of immunizations for just about everything they could think of and wheeled her out the door.  She still has quite the road to recovery, but she was pretty happy to get out of the hospital.  Not to mention the evident happiness in her husband.  Nathan spent the night before her release at home so he could get the house cleaned and a bedroom set up on the first floor so she wouldn't have to climb the stairs just yet.  And he followed the occupational therapist's directions to a Tee – lamp by the side of the bed, plenty of room to maneuver.  He even got fresh batteries for the TV remote.  Now that's thinking like a man.  And Cailyn was positively giddy.  Mommy and Daddy did a FaceBook video chat with her in the morning to tell her they were coming home.  She was in a dither the rest of the day.  Of course with all the paperwork and stops at the pharmacy they didn't get home until the afternoon, so she was very worked up when we finally loaded up her stuff.  Some of April's friends "decorated" the yard with streamers in the trees and a sign on the house.  So when we drove up Cailyn shouted, "It's a party at my house."  Party indeed.  Mommy's home.

 

Isaiah 58:9-11 says, "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.  The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

 

Father, thank you for walking with April through this ordeal.  I know it's not over yet, but being home makes a big difference.  Amen.

February 3 – “Poompbaff and Set Market”

 

 

It was another good day yesterday.  April felt much better.  She walked more and even took a shower, which really made her feel refreshed.  Her pain is still there, but it seems to be more related to the surgery now.  The actual cause is still much the mystery.  Everyone is waiting with bated breath for the toxicology report to come back on her spleen.  Sounds like every test known to man is being run ion that tiny sliver of tissue.  Our trip to the hospital with Cailyn was after naptime, so she was in much better spirits as well.  It was great to see the little family of three holding hands as they took Mommy for a walk around the halls of the unit. 

 

The surgeons are totally pleased with her surgery recovery.  I don't know if it is completely up to them, but Nathan seems to think they would release her to go home any day.  Loads of follow-ups are in the future of course, from hematology to cardiology to infectious disease.  Nathan was talking in terms of spending the night at home so he could get the house cleaned up and set up for the homecoming, whenever that might be.  He was even thinking ahead to little things like how he was going to replace his phone.  He said he has virtually worn his out with all the texting he has done over the past week trying to keep everyone appraised of April's condition and answering well-wishes. 

                                        

Meanwhile Cailyn has continued to amaze us with her imagination and with her general knack of handling this whole situation.  The other day she suddenly picked up a toy phone and answered it.  After a brief conversation of which I only heard one side, of course, she said good bye.  I asked who she was talking to.  Her answer?  "Oh, that was Poompbaff."  Of course it was.

 

She and Nathan entertained us at the hospital.  The newly renovated rooms at UTMB are very nice and quite large.  The two of them were sitting in a wheelchair.  I totally understand the unbelievable temptation involved with that.  It didn't take long for Nathan to ask if she wanted to go for a ride.  Back and forth across the room they flew.  And at each end Cailyn would say, "Do it again, Daddy."  The she added, "Do One to the Money."  I knew what that one meant.  At the house she likes to climb into my desk chair and have me spin her around in circles.  Before I let go with the spin I say the old ditty, "one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go."  That was fine for a time or two, but she and her Daddy have their own language as well, and that took precedence before long.  Almost breathless in her giggling, she began to cry out, "Do Set Market, Daddy."  Took me a few times before I actually heard what Nathan was saying.  "On your mark.  Get set.  Go."  Hence, "Set Market."  Of course.

 

Isaiah 58:6-9 says, "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?  Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."

 

Father, we are stupefied by April's mysterious malady.  Yet we are in awe of you as well.  We acknowledge that you have brought her through this.  It was no accident that Sunday was the day everything seemed to turn around, and even Nathan experienced peace.  Keep walking with us.  We still really need you.

February 2 – “Groundhog Day”

 

 

We went to the hospital yesterday.  April was finally back in a regular room, and she had not run fever all night.  She was still extremely tired, though.  Her appointed task from the docs was to sleep and get rested up.  Most importantly, she had the clearance to receive a certain little three-year-old visitor.  We didn't tell her where we were going, but when we stopped at the light in front of the hospital, Cailyn grinned from ear to ear and said, "I going to see Mommy."  As far as I know she'd only been there that one time before, the last time we went to see Mommy just before she went into ICU.  Smart kid.

 

While being in a regular room was a huge step forward, and being without fever was certainly a milestone, we still don't have any idea what caused the problem in the first place.  There are still numerous tests out that the infectious disease docs ran, so maybe one of them will give us a clue.  The spleen they removed was also sent to be cut up and inspected with a fine tooth comb.  Surely it will hold some evidence.

 

Meanwhile, back at the house, Cailyn locked the bathroom door.  With all of us on the outside.  Oh, she came into my office and fessed up, "I did it, DadDad.  I locked door.  But I get it."  Before I could even respond, she opened the appropriate drawer and took out a pen.  Grasping it with both of her little hands, she unscrewed it and pulled it apart.  Tirelessly, she then left the casing, took the innards, and skipped happily away.  Of course I was intrigued, so I followed, stopping briefly to pick up the little key that comes with those locking inside doors – the screwdriver-looking thing that fits into that little hole in the doorknob.  When I caught up to her she was already at work.  The innards of the ball point pen were just the right size to fit into the hole.  She was poking it through the little hole, doing her best to get it to open.  I watched her for a while, not interfering.  She did finally ask me for help, so I accepted her offer of the pen innards, twisted my body a bit to hide my actions just long enough to switch out the pen with the actual key, and quickly popped the lock.  She perkily said, "Thank you, DadDad," like breaking into locked doors was a common, every-day experience.  Now where did she see that one?  Frightening.

 

Isaiah 57:15 says, "For this is what the high and lofty One says — he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"

 

Father, it has been amazing to watch the expressions of concern and offers of care that have come forth since April has been in the hospital.  It's even more amazing that you have walked with her – and us – through this confusing and frustrating ordeal.  She seems better.  But you know that, don't you?  Thank you.  Amen.

February 1 – “A Big Step Forward”

 

 

Our first word on April yesterday was that she had to have another unit of blood.  Her hemoglobin dropped below what it should be, and the docs were concerned that she would become too anemic.  Second word, though, was that she was waking up and doing her best to communicate by writing notes.  By late morning April was fully awake and had obviously proven herself to the docs, so they removed the breathing tube – a major step forward after surgery.  She moved from sitting in a chair to a brief stint at walking. 

 

She is still running that low-grade fever, though, so the virus or disease or whatever-it-is is still to be dealt with.  She's not out of the woods yet.  My cousin is married to the guy who is the head of infectious disease research on the national level.  His comment was that the biggest problem in dealing with infectious diseases is that it takes so long to get results back.  Boy, does he ever have that one right.  Of course when the sick one is your loved one, anything over, oh, ten minutes or so is too long. 

 

We did our daily picture for mommy and daddy with Cailyn.  We either take a picture of something she is doing, or she sits with me at the computer and chooses one of the ones we have on there.  We print it out and she colors a picture on the side, kind of her signature.  Yesterday she was all ready.  "I make mommy happy."  The first one she chose was taken when she went on an outing with her cousins.  She is sitting on the lap of the Chick-fil-A cow guy in a costume.  (Yes, there really is such a thing).  She drew a picture of mommy to the side.  Big circle.  Two eyes.  Nose.  Then she said, "I want mommy have smiley face on her."  So she drew it.  It was not located inside the circle, but it was there.  Then she stepped back to check out her work.  We anxiously anticipated her comment, but she surprised us and said "I don't like it.  That not look like my mommy."  She wouldn't let us take it.  We let her select an alternate, but we secreted that first one away.  That's one they will love.

 

Late last night Nathan texted us that April was being moved out of ICU to a regular floor.  I'm sure they assured him she would still be watched closely, or he would have balked.  Then around ten o'clock, the time Nathan usually calls Cailyn to tell her good night, he texted Chris, "Have Dad log in to FaceBook."  I did, and we discovered that there is a video chat option.  I never knew it existed, but then I'm an old guy.  Why would I?  Come to find out, April had to tell Nathan about it.  Anyway, Cailyn was able to spend a few minutes chatting with her mommy and Daddy and actually seeing them.  The sound wasn't so great, so Nathan called her on the phone.  That took care of that.  Great to see all three of their faces. 

 

The Team April group put out a flyer with details on the benefit party for the family.  It will be Saturday, February 25^th, starting at 2 p.m., at the Fire fighters Local 571 Union Hall.  7401 Heards Lane in Galveston.  The cost will be $10 presale or $15 at the door.  Catfish or chicken plates will be served.  A silent auction will take place as well.  For more details or to offer items for the auction, email TeamApril2012@gmail.com or check the FaceBook page under TeamApril.

 

Isaiah 57:13b says, "But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain."

 

Father, thank you for small steps.  They add up to giant leaps.  Amen.