Things that make you go hmmmmm....

Ok, Ok, Ok...I've been a blog slacker this month.  Sorry!  I'm at a point again of perlexion (is that a word?? Yep, I say it is) so I've been a bit tongue tied lately (or maybe I should say thought-tied). Let me start with praises.  There are some, right?
*Abigail's volleyball team won their first game two weeks ago, and she scored the winning point with her serve!  Yes, her SERVE!  How cool it was for our family to celebrate God choosing to allow my Abigail to be in the right place at the right time and at the right rotation.  All those months of prayers for us just asking God to help her get a server over the net and He sees fit to reward her with the winning serve...the only game the team won all season long!
*I'm breathing...
*Abigail is feeling some better.
*My parents have been here since Friday and have helped me tremendously.
*I'm breathing ;-)
*David has a job.
*The girls are doing great in school.
*I've been encouraged tremendously via on-line sermons this month (I think I've listened to probably 40+!)
*Guest bathroom is almost complete (had it in enough working order while mom and dad have been here!)
*Finally got to meet a neighbor the girls and I've been praying for for several months.
*Did I mention that I can breathe?
*My itching has subsided thanks to a recommendation from my retired pharmaceutical sales dad!

Okay, so here I am.  My CPK has surged back up to a whopping 2996....uggh.  No wonder I can't pull the covers over me in bed or get up and down with ease from a chair anymore.  I'm back to having David getting me out of the tub, the girls helping me with my hair and dressing, and not having enough strength to lift my dinner plate.  Humbling.

Due to my doctor now thinking my issues are environmental she suggested a mold evaluation be done of our home. Two companies came out...one didn't know what they were doing and the other is starting a remediation of our basement today.  Dr. M says I do have some classic signs of being highly sensitive to mold.  I told her, "But I didn't get sick here in the states."  Well, then I told her come to think of it Vietnam was way more humid than where I live now, and we could even see mold on our walls there."  Thankfully, the mold here is contained in the basement (well, visibly...of course, nothing is ever totally contained.  but the visible mold is only in the basement).  This makes some sense to me.  It was when David cracked into our guest bath for remodel that I started itching so severely, and my other symptoms began to increase.  Hmmmm.  Sometimes I feel like we're chasing rabbits, but then at other times I have to continue to acknowledge that I've had quicker progress with Dr. M's treatment than any other.

I still know that my God could heal me in the blink of an eye but is choosing not to for some reason- there's got to be a greater purpose.  His timing is definitely not my timing as far as this goes...just sayin'.  I'll be honest.  If you've been a regular reader, you've seen my oh-so-ups-and-downs of emotions in this.  I'm weary.  I have to fight HARD to keep my emotions in check.  I feel guilt at times.  I'm mad at times.  I'm peaceful at times.  I'm thankful at times.  I'm frustrated and want to punch out a window at times (and, ummmm, yes, I've thrown a couple of remote controls in the last two years but don't tell anyone!). I'm content at times.  I doubt at times.  I've got great hope at times.  I'm a total schizoid at times...ask anyone in my family!  There are so many things in which I'm thankful so I feel guilty when I'm down and out...but I can't hide it...I'm down and out right now.  It will get better.  My prayer right now that God will just restore joy and peace in my heart right now so I can deal with life.  Complete healing on this side of heaven may not be in the plan so I've got to come to a point of contentment on this roller coaster ride of health.

My little punkins...

Mom and I at Audrey Ans' GA brunch at church

My dad power washed our driveway and sidewalks on Saturday, mopped my floors, cleaned all our bathrooms, emptied/loaded my dishwahser everyday, took Abigail on a date while mom and I were at the brunch with AA.  What a guy!  So thankful for helpful parents!!

Busy Beavers

Thank you to all who remembered Audrey An in your prayers last week.  She had a GREAT first week in her new class with what seems to have been a pretty flawless transition!  God really did go before her and protect her heart.  The principal and teachers were really great and welcomed her with open arms.  She says she still misses her second grade friends, but I think she sees them fairly often in the hallway and coming and going from lunch- she can grab some hugs then!  She even told me last Monday night (nite before she started her new class) that she thought God had answered her prayers because her heart was better about it all!

First time skating as a family (well, minus mom)...isn't that a nifty contraption for new skaters!

The girls and I got to spend a long weekend during Fall Break with Kristina...the kids filled their time with swimming, going to the zoo, playing spies and school!

Abigail's first time to sing with the "youth" of our church...second to top row on end left.

David was in town for one of Ab's volleyball games and was a line judge.  Abs is at the net. 

Guest bath remodel is coming along.  Floors, drywall, tub and potty are in (after purchasing and installing THREE toilets!).  This project has proven to be probably the most frustrating for David to date, bless his heart. I hope it's finished by the time my parents come for a visit in a few weeks!!!!

Medical updates:
Abigail- We had her follow up appointment last Friday and received all her test results back.  I don't know if you remember, but last summer she was pretty sick and diagnosed with mono.  When we moved back her pediatrician (and now Dr. M) did not agree with that diagnosis.  Her tests came back as low in certain vitamins and high in three other tests (one that is congruent with a parasite and others that show a high count in white blood cells).  Poor baby!  No wonder she's very fatigued and hasn't felt well.  Now she's being treated for all of it and hopefully we'll see an improvement soon.

Me-  can we say ITCH!?!?!  That's what's been happening to me for about 6 weeks now and I really think I'm going to crawl out of my skin!  I can't find anything to relieve it...benadryl, claritin, Rx, baths in apple cider vinegar and even coat my skin in castor oil!

Praises!
*The first Sunday of  the month those in our Sunday School class who want to come early pray before class starts.  We take our girls and have been for about 5-6 years now.  Neither one has ever prayed out loud in front of the group (mostly adults), but it's something we've encouraged (not pushed) them to do.  After all, lots of adults feel uncomfortable praying out loud (myself included at times).  If God can teach them at a young age that it's about just talking to Him and not pleasing anyone else they'll be a lot better off!  On the way to church yesterday Audrey An says from the back seat of the car, "You know what?  God encouraged me last night that I should pray this morning out loud with our group." Well, indeed she did, AND her big sister went right after her! Wow...so awesome!

*Last night the girls and I read a devotional together and it was about a little boy who received Christ during Vacation Bible School then went home and told his parents and then they received Christ.  Audrey An didn't even let me finish my sentence and said, "Mommy!  Wouldn't it be SO COOL if we went back to China one day and I could tell MY family about Jesus!"  Awwww...I love her love for the Lord, her passion and compassion and how God is working in her little life!

Prayer requests:
*Please pray for total health restoration for Abigail and myself.  Pray that I can keep my eyes focused on things above and not let discouragement drag me down.  Pray for wisdom for Dr. M, David and myself as we work together to find answers/root cause to this yucky illness (specifically this week that I can find relief from the itching!).

Hard Choices

Uggh!  David and I had to make a very difficult decision this past week and are asking for prayers for our little girl.  We decided to place Audrey An back into first grade.  Honestly, we thought we had made the right decision by placing her into second grade, but she's just really struggling.  It's just going to get more difficult for her, and she simply hasn't "caught up" yet. Geeeez Louise, she's only been with us a little over three years and has done AMAZINGLY well.  Goodness, anyone who knows her knows she can talk your ear off, but her reading skills just need a little more time to develop in order to really excel in school.

I broke the news to her last night, and she was NOT a happy camper-oh my!  I truly have not seen her this upset since the day we received her in China!  She was weeping, bless her heart.  I could hardly stand it.  No, I could not stand it.  It ripped my heart out!  This is one of those choices we had to make knowing that it's going to be painful for her short term, but it's going to be the right choice long term.  It was a hard choice because her best little buddy is in her class, and we love her second grade teacher.  I could really kick myself for adding to her grief and causing yet another change in her life.  All along I felt in my heart she would need to repeat kindergarten or first grade, but she did "ok" on her testing when we returned from Vietnam so David and I thought she'd be okay.  Well, lesson learned.  Go with your gut...that's the Holy Spirit prompting (if you've prayed about it).  I shard with her teacher last week that when we first got AA she sleep walked a few times.  She started doing that again recently.  I don't know much about sleep walking, but what little I've read one of the causes can be stress.  It only makes sense in her case- especially given the timeframe/situation she was each time.  A little one doesn't need to struggle like she is with school when we can do something about it.  Praise the Lord we are in a school who is supports our decision and is working with us to set her up for success.

Thankfully, Audrey An is an amazingly resilient little girl.  She's had a LOT of change in her 7 1/2 years of living...and a lot of that has taken place in the past 3 years since she came into our family.  Please pray that God would just swoop her up into His arms and give her a peace with this transition.  Pray that she'll make a new friend quickly this week (she starts her new class tomorrow) and her new teacher will be the perfect match for the remainder of this school year.  Pray that this placement will help her solidify all these basic skills (especially reading) and she will know success in these areas.  Pray that she will see God work POWERFULLY in her life and through this situation!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

On a lighter note... I am happy to report that Abigail scored SIX points (all from her serves!) in her last volleyball game!  I love it when  our girls see very tangible answers to their prayers, and I am expecting the same greatness and faithfulness this week with Audrey An!