October 10: What I am Learning
Oh my goodness everyone,
I am so sorry for neglecting the blog! I've been RESTING up and healing this past week. A quick update: On Tuesday I had my post-op check up and MRI. Everything looks excellent and I was able to wash my hair! Bobby and I also took a SHORT trip to Trader Joe's for some snacks on Wednesday and were able to have brunch at a small cafe this morning. I also got the results of my neuropsych work up (pre-surgery) and thankfully the restricted blood flow did not affect my cognitive functioning at all! My blood pressure continues to get more steady and I am weaned off almost all the post-surgery meds; I have just one more to wean off of and I will be back to just 2 pills a day (which I will take for the rest of my life)! Finally, the stitches will come out first thing Monday morning and we get to come home on Tuesday!
Wow....God is good isn't He? And through all of this He has been teaching me a few things that I wanted to share with you. As most of you know, in the past 7 years I have dealt with 2 strokes, Brain surgery, and open heart surgery. Each of those situations challenged me but ultimately God used them to teach me to trust in Him and used them for GOOD!
But recently, right before all this happened, God made it pretty clear to me that I had a CONTROL problem. I know, you're thinking ... Dana? Control issues? No...LOL! Who are we kidding I have HUGE control issues! Although, in those crazy medical situations I was able to let go of control and trust God's plans, in my everyday life I had a problem. The giant lie that Satan was whispering in my ear was that I could and SHOULD be able to do it all on my own. God was there to help me out with those BIG problems...the everyday problems were on me. I always felt like I had to keep everything organized and moving in the right direction... I had a plan and God was sort of along for the ride. And to be honest, most days things went pretty well and in my pride I attributed it to how organized I was or how hard I was working. And on the days where things weren't going well, the stress and pressure I put on myself was just ridiculous. But, God had started to point these things out to me and I started studying my bible more and talking about these things with our small group and some close friends. And all of that really prepared me for this latest round of medical craziness. This all happened so fast that I almost didn't have time to register the enormity of it all. From medical procedures, to travel and lodging, lost income and the worry about the boys God really pushed me not only to trust in HIM for all our needs, but to also ask for and accept help when I needed it. In the past, so many of you had reached out to me to offer help and I never accepted it. I don't know why, but somehow, I felt like God had already blessed us with so many good things that it was selfish to ask and accept your help. But this time, when I let myself stop and think about everything, it was overwhelming. I couldn't figure out how we would make everything work out. And that's when God stepped in. He really used my quiet times, my boss, my friends Jo & Stacie, and my sister Lori to speak to my heart. They told me that it was ok to ask for help, that God had a plan and I finally realized that HIS plan is always better and more amazing than my own. And once I got out of His way, God met us at every step. And HE has truly provided for ALL our needs! From housing and a car, Bobby's friend Rob flying up to sit with him on the day of surgery, help with the boys and meals for dad & the boys at home, & meals for Bobby & I here in California...people we don't even know have reached out to help us. People have not only donated time and meals, but many people have blessed us financially as well. All of this has allowed me to fully focus on healing and Bobby to focus on taking care of me (which isn't easy because I'm not a great patient!). There is no way any of this could have happened without the Lord putting all the pieces in place. We give ALL the glory to God and are just soooo thankful.
I want to take a minute to thank each and every one of you who have come here to read about my journey and to check up on how I am doing. God is so good and the blessings He has showered us with are honestly so humbling. Thank you for your prayers that have held us up through this whole process. Thank you for your support and love! Oh my gosh, you all have just been the best support system a girl could ask for. It will take me awhile to thank all of you personally, but thank you all for loving me. I will never be able to thank you enough for everything you all have done. But, I will continue to pass it forward and help others when and where I can.
I am so sorry for neglecting the blog! I've been RESTING up and healing this past week. A quick update: On Tuesday I had my post-op check up and MRI. Everything looks excellent and I was able to wash my hair! Bobby and I also took a SHORT trip to Trader Joe's for some snacks on Wednesday and were able to have brunch at a small cafe this morning. I also got the results of my neuropsych work up (pre-surgery) and thankfully the restricted blood flow did not affect my cognitive functioning at all! My blood pressure continues to get more steady and I am weaned off almost all the post-surgery meds; I have just one more to wean off of and I will be back to just 2 pills a day (which I will take for the rest of my life)! Finally, the stitches will come out first thing Monday morning and we get to come home on Tuesday!
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| Clean Hair! |
Wow....God is good isn't He? And through all of this He has been teaching me a few things that I wanted to share with you. As most of you know, in the past 7 years I have dealt with 2 strokes, Brain surgery, and open heart surgery. Each of those situations challenged me but ultimately God used them to teach me to trust in Him and used them for GOOD!
But recently, right before all this happened, God made it pretty clear to me that I had a CONTROL problem. I know, you're thinking ... Dana? Control issues? No...LOL! Who are we kidding I have HUGE control issues! Although, in those crazy medical situations I was able to let go of control and trust God's plans, in my everyday life I had a problem. The giant lie that Satan was whispering in my ear was that I could and SHOULD be able to do it all on my own. God was there to help me out with those BIG problems...the everyday problems were on me. I always felt like I had to keep everything organized and moving in the right direction... I had a plan and God was sort of along for the ride. And to be honest, most days things went pretty well and in my pride I attributed it to how organized I was or how hard I was working. And on the days where things weren't going well, the stress and pressure I put on myself was just ridiculous. But, God had started to point these things out to me and I started studying my bible more and talking about these things with our small group and some close friends. And all of that really prepared me for this latest round of medical craziness. This all happened so fast that I almost didn't have time to register the enormity of it all. From medical procedures, to travel and lodging, lost income and the worry about the boys God really pushed me not only to trust in HIM for all our needs, but to also ask for and accept help when I needed it. In the past, so many of you had reached out to me to offer help and I never accepted it. I don't know why, but somehow, I felt like God had already blessed us with so many good things that it was selfish to ask and accept your help. But this time, when I let myself stop and think about everything, it was overwhelming. I couldn't figure out how we would make everything work out. And that's when God stepped in. He really used my quiet times, my boss, my friends Jo & Stacie, and my sister Lori to speak to my heart. They told me that it was ok to ask for help, that God had a plan and I finally realized that HIS plan is always better and more amazing than my own. And once I got out of His way, God met us at every step. And HE has truly provided for ALL our needs! From housing and a car, Bobby's friend Rob flying up to sit with him on the day of surgery, help with the boys and meals for dad & the boys at home, & meals for Bobby & I here in California...people we don't even know have reached out to help us. People have not only donated time and meals, but many people have blessed us financially as well. All of this has allowed me to fully focus on healing and Bobby to focus on taking care of me (which isn't easy because I'm not a great patient!). There is no way any of this could have happened without the Lord putting all the pieces in place. We give ALL the glory to God and are just soooo thankful.
 |
| My boys...Thank you everyone for supporting them through this |
I want to take a minute to thank each and every one of you who have come here to read about my journey and to check up on how I am doing. God is so good and the blessings He has showered us with are honestly so humbling. Thank you for your prayers that have held us up through this whole process. Thank you for your support and love! Oh my gosh, you all have just been the best support system a girl could ask for. It will take me awhile to thank all of you personally, but thank you all for loving me. I will never be able to thank you enough for everything you all have done. But, I will continue to pass it forward and help others when and where I can.
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