fight for peace

fight for peace

Yesterday we arrived home with the news that Noah is still not in remission, the blasts are still present.  So we keep up weekly blood tests and wait.  Statistics interrupt my thoughts.

I’m impatient for my lesson in patience to end.

Ann Voskamp’s blog yesterday was about storms.   She said this:

“They can tell you that doctors or debt magicians or some psycho-powder or miracle pill can neatly neutralize your storm, but yeah, we aren’t buying it: All storms only still to the sound of One Voice.”

and

“Storms can be a stage for epic light.”

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/06/how-to-keep-going-when-storms-keep-coming-that-might-rend-you-in-two/

One Voice.  The voice who spoke all things into being, also calms my fears with His Word.   His Word helps me remember He is the source of peace, comfort, patience.  I can trust Him when the clouds seem dark.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3  

This verse makes trust seem so simple.  Just stay my mind on Him.  Stay my mind on Him instead of the worries and the “what ifs.”  Easier said than done.

And this is how to fight for peace.

Noah will be 4 months old tomorrow.  He otherwise is sweet, chubby, and stinkin cute!

 

wonderful things

wonderful things

O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.  Isaiah 25:1

After spending 3 days at the hospital, Noah would not perform his seizure trick, and even started moving his right hand normally again!  The doctor thought he probably had a stroke.  Thankfully, the MRI was clear, and the EEG showed only normal activity.  His brain is perfect!  His doctor is now saying they don’t know what was causing the seizures, but if they come back, we will go back and try to catch them on an EEG and talk medication.  For now, we are thankful they are gone!!!   “wonderful things.”

AND

After horrible blood draw at the hospital.  I asked the nurse what the result was, and she said she couldn’t find the blast percentage.  I called Hem/Onc office, and the doctor called back saying the blasts were GONE!!

0%.

We go back in 2 weeks to see if he has reached remission!  Big scary Leukemia looks like it is going away all on it’s own!

Whew!

You who have been praying, know that our healer God hears you!

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  Eph 3:20-21

Covenant Baptism and Glue

Covenant Baptism and Glue

If you have been praying for Noah these last months, you have grown in our hearts and are family!  We want you to join us for his Covenant Baptism and worship at Christ Church this Sunday at 11am.  Our church meets at Word of Life Church 20013 Stoltzman Rd, Mankato.

Now here’s an update:

Yesterday was my birthday, and since I can’t eat dairy or soy for Noah’s tummy, birthday cake is not an an option.  Dave saved the day with birthday sushi yesterday.  He makes my heart go pit-a-pat.  I had a chunk of time with mr. incredible yesterday- fantastic birthday!  I am now thirty….something.  If Dave is thirty-ahem, I must be thirty-ahem minus 2 or 3.  The years all run together now.

We are going on day 2 at the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at St. Mary’s. Noah has had no activity, and they want to keep him here one more day to see if this pattern of not having seizures continues.  It’s bizarre being under surveillance.  The nurse today said as she was watching, she was envious of my snuggly baby as her baby is 1 and not snuggly.  The perk of getting to be here is plenty of snuggles!

Based on descriptions, the video, and his blood work, the Neurologist thinks this might be focal seizures caused by a small stroke. The stroke could have occurred any time when his platelets were so low, but just manifested itself in the last weeks.  Noah will have an MRI tomorrow morning, and they are going to try un-sedated, well-fed, and swaddled.  Typically they would use general anesthesia, but because of Noah’s oxygen requirement, it’s more risky for him to be put under.  If he doesn’t cooperate, they will just scrap it, and get an MRI when he gets bigger (and under general anesthesia).  It would be awesome to get that information now rather than later.  Pray for a sleepy baby around 8am tomorrow!!

He is fairly miserable, but is enjoying exclusive mom and the fun mobile they set him up with.

Looking forward to washing off all the nasty glue on his head.  There has to be a baptism washing analogy comparing it to washing off glue, but nobody sleeps at the hospital.  Someone with a fresh mind think of something poetic and meaningful;)

noah awake eeg

 

fight for peace

Peace That Guards

Visited with the Neurologist yesterday, and after explaining every little thing about Noah, she really didn’t have much feedback for what this could be.  Naturally the one hour EEG from Thursday didn’t show anything, as Noah didn’t shake at all during that time.  He did, however, perform for the resident while she was taking the initial history!  So thankful someone saw it!  The Neurologist set up a 24 hour EEG next week Weds at St. Mary’s.  I am so thankful they are following up with this so closely!

A 24 hour EEG is the only way to get the information they need to determine if  these are seizures and whether to medicate him.  24 hours of poking owies all over my baby’s head and body, and they want him to be lying in the crib for as much time as possible so they can get a good reading.  My tiny veined baby may also need some blood drawn and possibly an IV.  I hate having to be brave for him.

Yesterday he had several “events” last night he had 2 within a 5 minute period.  Pray they are not getting worse!  (except for during the testing on Weds)

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Dave is in full campaign swing, and all of this Noah drama has been extremely disruptive.  He has not had the time to get on the phone and make those important volunteer contacts.  So, if you have a couple hours in the next months you can give up, he sure could use you!

2 big boys are taking turns door to door campaigning with daddy this morning.  The boys have been boys; getting dirty, playing with frogs, pretending about monster truck policemen with metal brains and blazer guns that shoot green fire (Josiah).  Calvin is nearly potty trained all by himself!  Dry diapers in the morning for a long time  I am so thankful to not be potty training through all this chaos!

I am starting school with Solomon 3 days next week.

With all the constant supervision of Noah and appointments you can imagine, the house has been a mess.  When we arrived home yesterday, Solomon walked me downstairs, and Grandma with the “help” of my boys did a super cleaning job!  Sheets were even washed!  She’s the BEST!

Phil 4:4-7   Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

There are lots of unknowns.  Will this affect his long term development?  Will he have multiple, complex long term problems that just won’t resolve, ever?

Praying, and letting God’s peace guard my heart and mind.

 

The Lord is at hand!

The Lord is at hand!

The last 2 days have been spent with regular appointments with Noah’s specialists in Rochester.  He had a sleep study overnight to check up on his oxygen requirement.  Noah hated it.  They wrote all over his head, and superglued and taped 31 leads to his head and a few on his body, Then they expect a baby to sleep by himself in a crib.  There was little sleep going on last night.  Taking the leads off was torture!  The tech told me to turn away because the fumes from the acetone is not good to breathe (apparently ok for my baby?!) Then I asked him to take a break from the stinky stuff.
Half hour of the “A” team stabbing my baby produced no blood.  Noah screamed himself to sleep, he has bruises all over his arms, and both left teary.  We came back after appointments, and they got blood the first try without tears!
Saw a new doctor in Hem/Onc, because Noah’s doctor was not available.  We chatted about his previous numbers, but mostly about his little spasms.  He wanted Neurology to see him sooner and said he would email the doctor about him.  On the way home, he called with lab results.  This is the BEST news!  His blasts were down from 36% to 6%!!!
He said it looked like Noah was heading toward remission!!!  Remission!!!
Another count was down, however, and he said if Noah got even a low fever he should immediately be seen.  Pray he stays healthy!
The pulmonologist reported that his desaturations had improved a little, but not enough to get rid of oxygen.  She asked about the little “events” and after I described them at length, she called the neurologist and got him in for an EEG in the afternoon and an appointment tomorrow!  The Neurologist agreed he should not wait 2 weeks.  Tears.  Relieved!!  I have been uncomfortable turning my back on him for any amount of time.
He had an “event” right there in the waiting room before the EEG, and I was able to record the last 5 seconds of it!  Unfortunately he didn’t perform for the EEG, but now I have proof for the appointment tomorrow!!  So thankful!  The EEG was much easier than the sleep study.  He wore a cute little cap full of suction cups and leads built in.  Afterward he looked like he had been playing with an octopus.  I wish I had taken a picture!     

Meanwhile, we chose these 2 days to have the boys join us.  It was eventful.  We did get to go swimming at a hotel, eat fast food, and Daddy took them to Bounce World today.  Vacation!  Super Dad patiently took many trips to the potty, spent hours in the cold pool, and handled a multi child tantrum a long way from the car..  To their credit, what was scheduled to be finished by 10:30, finished at 4pm.  Tomorrow we will be taking only Noah.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Lots of rejoicing and requests, but knowing God is at hand gives peace.

Keep praying!  God listens!