When it rains, It pours!

This is how Gavin and I have felt all week!

This was actually a picture of Gavin about 2 weeks ago, while we were at one of Jacob's basketball games. Gavin has decided he hates basketball.....or at least he hates the whistle blowing and the buzzer going off! Poor boy!

But, I decided to post this picture today, because I felt this picture pretty much sums up what the feelings have been around here lately.

Joel's mom had to have emergency abdominal surgery early Saturday morning. She had been in the hospital after a routine surgery from the week before, that went really wrong! She is still in the hospital very weak and with a whole lot of changes to get used to...and hoping to be home by Christmas, but that isn't looking promising. She is normally such an active and healthy person, so it's very difficult seeing her so weak and in pain. Please pray that she continues to heal and that there are no lasting complications and that she can return home very soon!

Then, Nolan came down with the stomach flu and passed it on to Caleb....who threw up right during the church service Sunday night! (Can you say embarrassing?!) I wasn't there...thankfully for me, because I was home with Gavin who was getting sick as well!

Joel decided to go spend the night at the hospital with his mom that night, even though Caleb and Gavin were so sick, and I got to spend an extremely fun night at home with my sick boys! (Can you sense the sarcasm?!) I spent about 4 hours going from one boy's bed to the next, cleaning up vomit and diarrhea, changing sheets, doing laundry, emptying puke buckets, and pretty much wanting to cry my eyes out! Finally I called Joel and told him that he needed to "come home now!", because I was only one person and I seriously couldn't keep up with taking care of both boys on my own any longer! Of course, once he came home it became more bearable and he slept the rest of the night while I stayed on Momma duty cleaning up more messes! (Can you sense the resentment here?!) Anyway, it was one long night and it left Gavin doing horribly!

He is still sick, but hanging in there. On Monday he was so pale and limp that I thought for sure I would have to take him into the hospital. He is normally very stiff, secondary to having high tone from the stroke he had, but on Monday he was as limp as a rag! And, it was quite scary! Thankfully he has a g-tube, and with lots of Pedialite going into it, we have been able to keep him at home! This is such a blessing!

Of course, Joel ended up getting sick as well! So far, this is where it has stopped. Jacob and I have remained healthy so far.....and I am praying that it stays that way! I have been washing my hands until they are raw, and praying that all the care that I have given to the family is all I will have to endure!

Please pray that Gavin continues to get better. He is still having diarrhea and sleeping most of the time. When he is awake, he is sad and grinds his teeth so loudly that I am about to go nuts! That noise is one of the worst noises ever! I haven't seen a smile from him in days, and this is so abnormal for my smiley boy! It's breaking my heart!

There have also been so many friends, family, and school family & church family members going through so much lately! It is really bringing me down! I have been praying like crazy and hoping that we will all see a rainbow after all of this rain!

One thing is for sure, there is always someone else who is suffering worse off than we are! I know that God's grace is sufficient though! And, I also know that all of this has made me more thankful for the reason for this season! So much of what we all focus on at this time of year is just so unimportant! For this reminder, I am thankful!


"For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God." Hebrews 6:7