The Sunday Evening Post

Today has been a day a lot of little thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for more wiggles and less red face, for more fluid removed by dialysis and for less times that any monitor alarms went off. It has been a generally uneventful day, and yet we find ourselves exhausted. Tomorrow is John's birthday, something that last Monday we could not see. My son's gift to me for his birthday is the appreciation of now. Now is the time to rejoice, even if grief does come at some other time, now is the time to hold close those we love, even if tomorrow comes and we must let them go. Gina's Facebook updates follow.

7:30am We have thought for years now that John's confirmation verse would be 'I was glad when they said to me let us go to the house of the Lord' so it seems just a little out of sorts to not be taking him to his favorite place on Sunday. We are thankful that he had a quiet night, his weight is down and his urine output is up and all looks the same or a bit better than last night.

9am John's face is a smidge less red today and all things remain the same or are just a bit better, Mark is reading Narnia to John now and as the day goes we might even finish The Horse and His Boy. More dialysis today, everyone is encouraged that he eventually won't need it.

6pm Dialysis went well, they were able to take 1136ml of fluid off of him and we can see a difference in how much pressure the vent is using to move air into his lungs. He did so well, it was amazing to watch. Pastor Schmitt came to visit and do Matins with us and off and on during it John would open his eyes and look around. He spoke of having patience to wait on God, I'm pretty sure that every ounce of patience I have right now is rained down from heaven because I have none of my own.

9:30pm Gina was too tired to post a last update and so I am glad to tell you that John is tolerating more adjustments to his positions and they are starting him on a medication through the ventilator that should help, with the dialysis he has had, move more of the fluid away from and out of his lungs which should help make it possible to wean him off the ventilator. This too will take the time it takes.

We have been blessed by wonderful Pastoral Care today as well as the encouragement and prayers of friends that are shared here.

Ps. 118:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Eph. 3:16-19 That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ps. 103:4, 13-14, 17 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children.