Just wanted to update everyone on Alli. We just got home from the hospital.
To help those of you who weren't around before understand our panic better, two years ago (Oct.9), as Lisa said, Alli fell from our 2nd story balcony while our home was still under construction. However, she did not have a concussion. What she had was a skull fracture that went from her temple down the right side of her head to the base of her neck that caved in above her right ear. She also had a hematoma above the right ear and fractured ribs. Alli developed seizures following that, and we were in and out of the hospital for about 6 months. The doctor's felt surgery would be inniment because her fractures began to separate. God saw differently though and intervened, healing her head to the point that they could not even trace the area on the scans (not even a scar). The neurosurgeon was so awestruck that he drew a line through her paperwork, handed it to me, and said, "Mam, I can't charge you for this 'cause I'm not the One who did it."
So needless to say, we are very sensitive towards Alli and any booboos. Today, of course, I nearly paniced. We were at the King's and the kids were out front in the grassy area in front. There's a volleyball net like the ones they had back in school where they put the big metal poles in the tires. Well, surprisingly, it tipped over and landed right on the crown of Alli's head. At first, we didn't know what had happened, and as Alli was explaining mid blubber, Kirby alerted me that her head was bleeding. Amazing how God puts people together. Next thing I knew we were arriving at Lakelands covered in blood but treated like royalty. It was amazing the care they all took with us. From there we went to ER to meet up with a PA that used to work at Lakelands, who took excellent care of us. Her scans looked beautiful and God gave me yet another opportunity to share with someone what God had done in our lives as I explained to them why I couldn't help but cry at the beauty of her head scans. God as been so merciful to us.
Please continue to lift us up as the past two weeks have been exciting enough with hubby's motorcycle accident and Bek's recent health concerns. We haven't heard back on Bek's testing yet, but all this is really affecting her. She eventually fell apart crying, asking why God keeps doing things to us. Then later she asked if it was sin to be mad at God. I couldn't help but cry with her. But then I remembered our dear previous K5 teacher Mrs. Judy, and the words she said to me two years ago when I was in a crumbled moment after Alli's accident. She said," Ya know Tammy, God's got big shoulders. He can handle it. He knows your heart, and ya know, He has an even bigger heart."
So I don't know why God allows things to happen sometimes, and ya know, I don't need to know. I serve the Creator of it all, and His ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are not my thoughts. And if it takes continued trials and tribulations to keep me in His will, then let the rain fall. I know God will provide the shelter. For though great storms may rage against me, I am safe in the shelter of His arms.

For He carries me when I have not the strength to walk,
tcw

Celebrate, Jesus, Celebrate!

Praise God, Alli is celebrating her 4th birthday! Join me:
Praise God from whom all Blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above the heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, A-----men.

Don't know if anybody other than Baptists do that one, but it's a regular around the southern baptist churches. And that song rings in my heart tonight as I think about the journey that has brought us to where we are now- celebrating Alli's 4th birthday. As anyone who's followed this blog knows, we almost lost the opportunity to ever celebrate another birthday with Alli when she fell from our 2nd story balcony October 9, 2008. We went through 6 months of treatment and recovery, and ultimately received an amazing Holy touch from the Master's Hand upon her little body. Alli has been healed through the fervent prayers of God's people by the loving, merciful touch of my Savior's Hand. I know that He is the ONLY reason we are able to celebrate this precious birthday. I know that without Him, I would have lost my baby girl the night of that tragic accident. I know that it is no coincidence that Alli became fully conscious & alert for the first time on a Sunday morning, just a few minutes after 11, when churches from New York to Florida were united in prayer for her provision. And I know that every hurdle we climbed from that night through the next 6 months, were Victories in Jesus. And I know that I know that I know that He carried me through a time in which I could not walk...
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and Is, and Is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything, and I will adore you...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLI!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Grace, Grace, God's Grace...

God uses our struggles so many times to "wake us up" and show us His splendor that was right under our nose all along. Through our struggle with Alli's accident, as well as my own physical trials & now Mimi's, I have seen God's mighty Hand right there in our midst time and time again, from the very moment that it all happened. And I'm sure you have as well in this season in your life if you just look around and think of where you've been...
I've told others that for whatever reason God has allowed our trials this past year to be of the physical nature, and sometimes I've just wanted to scream out, "My name is not Job!" And sometimes I've even thought we should trace the family tree just to be sure we're not direct descendants!

But after the laughter, I know that I have never felt the presence of my Jesus more strongly than through this storm of life. And if that's what it takes to keep me close, then bring on the rains...His grace is truly sufficient.

Mimi's testing

So first round of allergy testing on Mimi is over. How ya like this list so far!

Skin prick testing

Defined reactions:
cucumber
cabbage
grape
lima bean
tomato
strawberry
banana
Borderline reactions:
almond
pineapple
mustard
Environmental reactions confirmed:
Alternaria- mold from decaying vegetation (means no composting or gardening for her. Also have to keep closer ck on my house plants)
Northern pasture grass- orchard grass, fescue (typical pasture grasses)

The foods will be further tested the with patch testing to confirm those above and to also check for some others more closely that prick testing could have missed. The doctor said,"So far chicken is in the clear, we'll keep routing!" For now, we're not supposed to eliminate any foods yet. They want to complete her testing first. They'll do more in depth testing on her than most because you can't use the food elimination diet as a test on EE patients. Eosinophilic Esophagitis doesn't always react to allergic foods instantly. Sometimes it's not until it's digested and in the blood stream, showing up a day or two later. That makes it harder to trace. So the pricking, patching, bloodwork, and other in-office tests will be the way to go for her.
Continuing in His Faith,
tcw

I was reminded I haven't told you all how Mimi's testing/endoscopy results came back. She is 100% cancer free, praise God! What they discovered Mimi actually has was not GERD, but eosinophillic esophagitis (food allergy causing constant reflux). Untreated, it could have eventually developed into cancer just like any untreated acid reflux could over enough time period. She still has sores in her esophagus after 5 years of treatment. They said eosinophil levels of 20 are a food allergy that needs to be tracked down for safety. Mimi's are 60! So whatever it is, is a very normal part of our diet (oh joy). So next is to begin allergy testing. She'll have 3 allergy testing appts, then go back for the nutrition counseling, then a month later have another scope (endoscopy) to see if she's improving.
As many of you know, Mimi didn't feel well and was very weepy for days after the scope. The day the GI called with the results, Mimi confessed to me that she had overheard the medical staff talking of cancer biopsies while she was in the OR (mind you, I had tried very hard to keep her from knowing that part of things). She just looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Momma, I really thought I had it." My heart just broke, along with my composure, as I realized she had been walking around for days thinking she had cancer and that I didn't know it. I could have been talking with her, praying with her and encouraging her if I had only known. I guess, just as I was trying to protect her, she was doing the same for us. I say next time, we just be upfront and cry together!
Thanks you guys for all your prayers. I seem to be saying that a lot this school year...You know, everyone has trials of some sort, whether financial, marital, family, friends, some easy to see, some never seen on the surface. And for whatever reason, God has allowed our struggles to be that of the physical nature. I know one thing. I've never felt closer than during these physical trials. And if that's what it takes for us to stay close to Him and remain in His will, then I'm all in.
So don't ever feel sorry for us, though sometimes I may need one of you to shake me in a temporary moment of insanity where I feel sorry for myself. God knows where we are. Hmm, He knew before the foundations of the earth of the horrific struggle that would befall us last October with Alli's accident. And I promise you, He was there. He carried me when I could not walk. And I assure you, I am nothing without Him.
So as before, He walks with me. And He's answered prayer once again. And He'll walk us down this new journey of food allergies with Mimi. I just had to laugh when the doctor and I were on the phone that day as she referred me to one of my high allergy student's doctor! I said, A year ago my boss put every allergy child in our age group in my room, and I must confess, I was a little frustrated. Reading labels constantly, epipen training...And now I know God was preparing me for the road that lie ahead. Because of my place in LE's ministry, I can embarq on this course without fear, with knowledge of food labels, the FAAN network, proper epipen procedures, and a circle of support from fellow parents dealing with this. If I would quit being so stubborn, wow, what God could do in me!
I love all of you guys dearly. Get ready to read labels with me. We hope it's not chicken! (remember, my hubby)
Only through Him am I,
tcw

Update on our clan

Okay, finally the update many have been waiting on.
Alli's testing all came back beautifully and she's been given the "all clear" from The Children's Hospital. Her little issues now have been determined as post traumatic stress that should work itself out over time.
MeMe's checkup with her Gastro intestinal doc wasn't quite as pleasant. It seems she has become PPI dependant (can't get off of reflux meds) and also struggles terribly with allergies. Because at her last endoscopy she had esophagitis and white cells hanging out in her esophagus, they want to do another endoscopy on Monday (Apr. 6), check her stomach, do some esophageal biopsies (checking those white cell counts), and check for eosinophilic esophagitis (to see if her reflux was caused by allergies). She's pretty nervous and I must say this wasn't how I planned on spending my birthday either. But rest assured, God has not left us, and will see us through this too.
I've often joked saying, "No, my name is not Job", but seriously, God has been amazing to us. For whatever reason God has allowed the twists and turns on our path to be that of physical issues. I don't know why, but He does. And He has used these medical issues our family has had to gather people in His Name, to cause folks to pray in unity from NY to FL, to draw our families and friends closer, to open doors to new people in our lives, to have others witness to and encourage us in our time of need, to allow our walk to be a testimony of Him for others to see.
So now with each bump in the road, I don't cry out "woe is me" or "what are we gonna do". Instead I feel butterflies of excitement anticipating, "God is about to show up on the scene!"
I promise you I have experienced the presence of the Almighty. I have felt the Hand of the Comforter. I have seen the work of The Great Physician. I truly know now what it means to feel peace in the valley, in that place where you don't even ask for miracles because you finally realize that every moment you have lived has been just that- a miracle. That place where you feel so blessed to be, that you can't imagine asking for more.
I told you before, and many don't understand this, but I never asked God to "fix" Alli (though I know many of you were face to floor begging for complete restoration and I thank you). But all I asked that horrific night was that He let her stay with me a while longer, just to please give me more time to be with her and love on her, no matter the condition. Her own neurosurgeon said himself that most doctors believed this would have required surgery, but bless be to God, we were surrounded by Christian doctors who joined us in prayer, confident that God had a plan for her. And as you all know, He has given exceedingly far more abundant than I could have ever asked. My sweet little girl is a walking, breathing, fully functioning beam of sunshine today because of the personal touch of the Savior. And she'll tell you that herself. The doctors themselves said, "This just doesn't happen on its own."
How could anyone doubt that He lives? How could anyone question His existance? If only everyone could feel the powerful presence of God that we felt in those days surrounding her accident, though I pray you never have to go through such a traumatic time.
But truly,
I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His Hand od mercy, I hear His Voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him, He's always near

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!

message for papaw

Scroll through the songs (click the left arrow) and there are some different ones i found.
To everyone else: I'll update on how our dr visists went soon. I hurt my back Friday and am out of comission. Soon as I can, I'll put on the update, but we're okay. Don't worry. If this doesn't make sense, it's the meds talking!