Praises

Hebrews 13:15
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

~ A sign of wellness when Miss Mary declares, "May I have more of that yummy oatmeal? Yummy, yummy for my tummy!" Thank you, Lord, for her wellness, and for the precious week I concentrated on knowing her heart better. Middle children can easily be forgotten, especially when the oldest and youngest are special needs. Mary and Paul need special attention. Her illness was His way of meeting her heart needs. I can't notice every heart need myself, but I can pray that my mothering honors him and hurts no one. He is faithful to parent through us.

~  A sweet little girl brushing Teddy Bear's teeth, covering him up, and adding a pillow.

~ Ordering used Sonlight American History novels/books and having my kids amuse themselves the whole while. We have plenty on hand for World History, but needed more selections for American History. Buying used is a time-consuming headache. Usually the kids interrupt every five minutes, sending me into a nervous frenzy as I try to concentrate on what website I just visited and what books they listed and what I already purchased. But this last time, His grace reigned.

~ A husband who understands how hard daily mothering is. "Honey, you have more daily stress and pressures than most mothers; just handling Peter can be frighteningly difficult." Being understood makes all the difference. Both of us have bodily signs of stress and we know it's time to come up with a multi-faceted battle plan, by His grace and wisdom.

~ Mary picked up the stomach virus from AWANA Cubbies about two weeks ago (her Wednesday night preschool church class). The incubation period is about 5 days and so far, the rest of us seem to have escaped The 2012 Stomach Virus From Hades! Praise God! We haven't seen the likes of it around here since April, 2006, when I was 3 months pregnant with Mary. I remember that month well. Three days after the boys, ages 2 and 4, were fully recovered, we went on a family outing and had to get McDonald's hamburgers because we'd missed dinner. A few hours later both boys threw up from the grease in the french fries. I learned my lesson then and will give Mary no fatty/greasy foods for a full five days.

~ Beautiful women writing beautiful words to inspire me, awe me, and send me to my knees in prayer.

~ The van now has a working driver's-side door handle and a working ignition keyhole. And a radiator that doesn't continually need fluid.

~ Sunshine and a winter mild enough to get the kids outside regularly

~ Paul getting one side all green on his Rubik's Cube

~ A green crayon made its way into the dryer, staining many garments in the 80-minute cycle. Thanks to a Good Housekeeping tip advising me to wash the whole load again in hot water and soap and a cup of baking soda, all is well.

~ Valentine kits from Walmart that resulted in beautiful Valentines for the kids to give out at AWANA. And enough chocolate left over for the Momma and Poppa here. Now that's something to smile about.

~ When my husband hugs me long, I can feel the tension release. One thing we definitely need is more hugging time. Husbands are such a grace!


~ I ordered and received a Compassion Sunday packet to present at my church. I'm praying for the courage  to speak before a couple hundred people.

~ A letter from India. Divya has a quilt to share with her family and a new dress. Praise God!


~ I don't have anything to share for Caldecott Medal Monday. Nothing's really captured me in that category lately. The committee seems to choose illustrations they like, rather than what kids might like. Here are a few we've loved lately, for both the paintings or photos, and the storylines. One Magical Day;  The Handiest Things In the World:  How Big is The World?

Her Smile

Deuteronomy 7:9 
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

 Her smile is back!

Learning His Ways

The timer beeps every ten minutes and I give 2 teaspoons of liquid. When she sips an ounce serving from a cup, she vomits. So we live slow.


"Life is so hard," my mind whines, as I rinse out the medicine dropper yet again. Day six and another incident of vomiting again this morning. And Mary? She's my hero. Anyone else would come unglued by now--no food, no energy, no fun. And wondering if it will ever end. When will life be normal again? I remember the depression of illness. The personal, bodily lows teach us to give thanks for the gift of today, for the gift of wellness.


She endures with nary a complaint. "She's like you", my husband remarks, when I tell him what a strong daughter we have. "Stubborn like you, too", he chuckles.


Yes, I see the resemblance. Stubborn people have strength. We're both prone to anxiety, yet have steady endurance that surprises everyone.


Husband and I sometimes feel like Job. Often, so many things go wrong at once. We wait for the downhill after the long uphill, but it never comes. What is the purpose, I wonder? What are we to learn? I always seek the meaning of the lesson...to get it over with quickly, I suppose.  


~ When life is lived in ten-minute intervals, I learn how easy time runs away. 


~ When I must recite Psalm 23 many times a day to control my body's response to stress, I learn to access His power. The power of the Word.


~ When I watch my daughter grow stronger as she gets weaker, I learn who she is on a deeper level. I appreciate the wonder of her. I see the beauty and strength God gifted her with.


~ While the laundry piles high and the folding piles grow even higher, I stop to hug my daughter and pray strength into her. To kiss her beautiful cheek. The moments matter. Each act of kindness, each act of love, of discipleship, makes the most of the life God gives. He wants life lived in the moments. Not the hours, or the days, or the weeks, or the years, or the seasons. Live love now. 


Nothing happens by accident. Not for the Christian. Every incident begs us to learn. Yet, we feel like throwing our hands up at God, complaining "What's next, God?"


Instead, He wants the opposite. Be my disciple. Matthew 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Learn to bow low and serve. Give thanks and praise in all things.


And in each hard day? There are always blessings. Always. I'm thankful for Miss Beth sitting on my knee as I kneel to wipe the floor. She hugs tight and tells me, "You're my best friend, Mommy."


I'm thankful for my husband, who passes me in the hall as we both serve. "Let me stop to hug you at least," he whispers. And we squeeze strength into one another, gather it from one another.


I'm thankful for 8-year-old Paul, who has a servant's heart. He makes toast. He's the first to pick up around here, and not because he cares about neatness. He has an acts-of-service love language. I learn this in the hard days here, and I make a mental note to serve him more. To fill his tank this way.


I'm thankful for what's happening between Mary and God. The other day Miss Mary vomited after a 12-hour reprieve. To my bent head and more of my desperate prayers, she responds quiet: "It's like God isn't even listening." At the time this crushed me, but I know God has a plan for Mary's faith. 


Sometimes, life is very hard and we endure and we believe and we love and we do the next thing. Steady. Faithful. Thankful. If you love God, He will teach you this. She is young yet, but He thinks she's ready for the hard lessons of faith. That's what 6 days of nausea, followed by slowly gaining strength, followed by living with sheer joy for the wonder of it all, teaches. 


Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.


Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Time for Everything

1There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

2a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Scripture source

Still Battling

Please pray for Mary and for the mommy and daddy here? She went a day and a half without vomiting, then vomited again tonight. We're worried about her and so very frustrated. We gave her only bland foods, and in small amounts, 24 hours after the last vomiting. We followed all the advice.

The ER doctor, whom I called for further advice, warned that it could last 5 to 7 days. I told her Mary now has a fear of vomiting, and she said to avoid pushing her to eat. Just push fluids, I'm told. When she feels well enough to truly eat, she'll ask for food, regardless of her fears.

How thin will she be, then, after 5 to 7 days? I'm worried for her, and for her tiny little sister, who can't afford to lose an ounce. No one else has it yet, but Beth got a hold of a cup today that Mary had used. God, please intervene here?

Please pray that Mary drinks the fluids offered her, and that God takes away her fear of vomiting? And that little sister won't get it? Thank you, friends.


Correction from the other day: Stomach viruses spread feces-hand-to-mouth and also through saliva. I neglected to mention the saliva, but I'm sure you already knew that info.. Someone asked about apple juice. Here is an article that discusses juices:
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/childhood-illnesses/vomiting

Vomiting in Older Children: Care Guide

Mary is resting comfortably today, but last night at 8:30 PM she needed an IV for dehydration and low blood sugar. There's a right and wrong way to care for children suffering from stomach viruses. Since I found so much conflicting information out there, I want to put out some good information to help exhausted moms.

Thankfully, no one else is sick (yet).

After Vomiting

~ Wait 2 hours after vomiting, then give 1 tsp. of Gatorade (for older children), every 20 minutes. I tried a pediatric rehydrating solution (generic pedialyte), but since she didn't like it, it didn't work well. Older children prefer Gatorade, but it is second choice as it has too few electrolytes and a little too much sugar, especially for babies and toddlers. ER nurses say it's better to give Gatorade and give up on Pedialyte if you have to, to avoid a 5-hour ER visit for rehydration. The calories in the Gatorade do help if a child is sick for several days and must go without eating.

~If you don't have Gatorade, here is a recipe. Water by itself won't work well; they need sugary liquid, but not too sugary. Don't try homemade sports drinks containing orange juice.

~ Nothing acidic; and of course, no dairy.

~ Avoid apple juices and cherry juices.

If vomiting doesn't return after giving the teaspoons of Gatorade:


~ Slowly rehydrate by giving 1 - 2 ounce of Gatorade every 1 to 2 hours while awake (drinking slowly).

~ If vomiting returns, wait another 2 hours before trying 1 teaspoon of Gatorade, every 20 minutes.

Wait 24 hours after last vomiting to introduce solid foods - The most common mistake is to add solid foods too soon.

Rules for adding solid foods:
~ No dairy for 3 days
~ No fatty foods for 4-5 days
~ Nothing too sugary
~ Small amounts to start
~ Bland foods first, like saltine crackers, Cheerios, plain toast (Goldfish, Ritz, and other flavored crackers are too fatty and rich)

Signs of Dehydration
~ rapid heart rate
~ decreased urine output (no urination for 6 to 8 hours)
~ difficulty waking
~ dry tongue and dryness inside the mouth
~ no tears
~ can't keep eyes open or seems too lethargic
~ not wanting to talk

What To Expect At The Hospital

~ They will check for signs of dehydration and listen to your history of the illness.

~ Next, they'll take a small blood sample, while at the same time starting IV fluids, with an anti-nausea medication included.

~ If the blood test comes back with a low blood sugar reading, they'll add extra sugar through the IV.

~ After administering all the fluids, they'll give an ounce of Gatorade and wait to see if your child tolerates it. If no vomiting, they'll try another ounce of Gatorade and wait. If no vomiting and your child seems more alert, you will be discharged, possibly with a script for anti-nausea meds to get you through one day.

There's a 12-hour stomach virus, and a 72-hour stomach virus. Dehydration is more likely when vomiting lasts longer than 24 hours.

I've slept very little in 3 days, so my next piece of advice? Call in reinforcements, if you have them!

Avoiding Stomach Viruses

Transmission is always feces-hand-to-mouth, or through saliva, with stomach viruses.

~ Avoid sharing towels.

~ Try showers only until everyone is well.

~ Disinfect bathmat often, and especially after illness begins.

~ Never stop training them to wash hands after using the bathroom and before eating.

~ Wash hands when coming in the house from an outing, before preparing food, and after touching laundry or changing diapers.

~ Use hand sanitizer (alcohol-based) in the car after picking them up from school or events. Anti-bacterial hand gel/soap doesn't kill viruses.