December 25, 2016: Day+36

Christmas Day

The day began with two sweet whispering voices telling me that Santa had come and that we needed to get up.  Is there anything sweeter than that? I treasure these moments more than anything.  I feel so blessed to have the most darling grandsons here this week.  Graham is 8 and Eddie is 6.  I quickly got out of bed, grabbed my robe and slippers and joined them at the Christmas tree.  They were so excited but in a quiet ah struck way.

After opening presents here we went to my daughter Angie and her husband Tom's house.  My sister Kate, and her daughter Taylor were already there.  Angie and Tom had brunch ready for everyone. We spend the day opening the rest of the presents and playing games.  It was fun to have all the grand kids together and to enjoy them.

Around 4:00 Dan, Nikki and I got ready to go to the hospital for a couple of hours.  This is the first day in 17 days that I did not spent the day and the evening at the hospital.  I have had very little time with my grandchildren and I felt that today it was important to celebrate Christmas with our family. I felt it was important to find some normalcy in our day.  It was a hard choice to make.

On the way to the hospital I had a text from Fr. David. He had spent a good part of the early afternoon with Doug and he said that a couple of women from Grace Episcopal in Nampa had come by to wish Doug a Merry Christmas.  One of our favorite nurses, Shantel, who was there the first day Doug came into the hospital was his nurse today.  I felt very confident that Doug would be well cared for emotionally and professionally.

Upon arrival Shantel told me that Doug had a good day.  His blood pressure, heart rate and temperature were all stable.  His blood pressure is still running high, however they are keeping it from becoming dangerously high with medication.  His kidneys are doing better.  They were able to give him more Lasiks to help take the additional fluid off of him.  His lungs are getting stronger. They are even talking about potentially being able to do a breathing trial.  They would have considered taking the tube out with typical patients, however they are being more careful with Doug, because of his MS and know that his lungs may be more weak.  They want to be sure that he can maintain his own breathing without the ventilator before removing it.  This is all very good news. This may not be a Christmas miracle, however it is better news than what we have had for a long time and dear reader please remember there are 12 days of Christmas and so we still have time for that Christmas miracle.

Thank you everyone who sent us warm Christmas wishes and your prayers.  I appreciate them so much.  Emotionally, today was tricky.  I am bouncing the miracle of celebrating Christmas, with love come into the world, and having my family and grand kids here to celebrate with and having Doug so sick in the hospital.  My little grandson was concerned for me and his Grampa.  He asked about Grampa and I told him that I have a sad part in my heart about Grampa and the fact that he cannot be with us and at the same time I am so happy to be celebrating Christmas.   It is a tight rope we are walking.

I pray that all who are reading this blog, had a wonderful Christmas celebration, full of love and hope for the future.

I pray:

Jesus, Light of the world.  You came to us in the simplest of stables, born of a young innocent girl. The angels told young Mary to "Fear Not".  Help us to rest in our vulnerability.  Teach us not to fear even when circumstances seem overwhelming and difficult. Help us to continue to believe in the unseen, to wait with radical expectation of the life that is to come. And Jesus, Light of the World, shine on Doug and help him to see the path before him clearly and dear Jesus please heal Doug  so that he might share the light you have given him with others.  Amen