Well, the official planning and coordinating of the auction we are to have to raise money for this new addition to our home is underway. There is excitement in the air in not only our home, but also the community. I cannot begin to describe to you the feeling when I got the first response of someone willing to bake a good to sell at the auction or the first response of someone willing to attend our event. You have experienced it before. It is that feeling where you realize that "this is really happening." It would be similar to the first kick of your baby moving inside you. It would be that first time you get on the elevator to go to your office at your first official job. Perhaps when you receive the acceptance of your offer on your first home. Maybe those can match this feeling, but yet each are there own unique absorbtion of emotion.
Tonight was consumed with brainstorming and list making and delegating. My friend, Becky and I spent the evening listing themes, ideas, vendors, and more and though it was overwhelming at times, it was also a rush of adrenaline. My eyes were widened to further opportunities and my heart was encouraged by possibilities of involving the generosity and compassion of people even beyond our immediate community. How I long to already be there locking eyes for the first time with our new little one. The progression of this great event and the increasing support gives me such hope that this day is well on it's way.
Blessings to you all! If you wish to assist the Powells in their adventure to grow their family, you can also contribute through paypal which will directly deposit into our savings fund strictly for the adoption process.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Watch
As we are consumed by the flow of every day life, many of us are unaware of the very peril that is dancing outside the city's walls. We are in the days of pre-9/11 that gave us this arrogance that we were invincible and no matter what struggle may come our way, we will overcome such. There is a level of trust and a level of naivity that must be dealt with concerning our state of the union. However, if we are to be honest with ourselves, it will not be dealt with according to great wisdom and discernment. No, dear friends, we are witnessing right now the very fact that our people are oblivious to history. Our people are unwilling to make the very clear comparison between previous great empires and nations and our very own.
We want, want, want and we really don't care how it is acquired. We just want to have it. Give me more money to hold in my hand. Give me more entitlement without my efforts or energy. Give me more recognition despite my choices and conflict. Give me what he has because it is only fair that I am able to take from his portion because I cannot (will not) achieve his status. Give me what you don't have because it is your fault that I have my own disrepair. Create for me a perfect society at the cost of those who are exerting all their energy to be personally successful and sufficient. Protect me from enemies who seek to kill and destroy, but do so in a way that does not intefere with my freedom. Create for me equal shelter, equal wealth, equal health, and equal opportunity so that nobody is aware of my lack of contribution to the greater good. I deserve it. I was born this way. It is my parent's fault. It is my teacher's fault. It's my ancestor's fault. It's my boyfriend's fault. It's my pastor's fault. It's my community's fault. It's the government's fault. Not mine.
Have we not WATCHED people lose jobs because of obsession with self? Have we not WATCHED families self-destruct as they have been unable to own their responsibilities to one another? Have we not WATCHED families lose their homes because of overwhelming debt caused by overspending? Have we NOT WATCHED our leaders lose the ability to lead with strength and dignity because they are unable to own their mistakes and avoid them with maturity?
But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Galatians 5:15
We are always wanting it to be someone else's fault. We want to blame the government for the demise of our nation. WE PUT THESE PEOPLE IN OFFICE. WE WERE GIVEN THIS FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHO SHOULD BEST REPRESENT US AND MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS FOR US. WE CONTINUALLY RE-ELECT THEM. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MISTAKES BECAUSE WE GAVE THEM THE REIGNS. We want it to be there fault, but my dear friend, it is our fault. We are about to witness America lose it's home because they are unable to pay the bills that WE have created under OUR WATCH. We have requested them to spend beyond the budget and to overprint the dollar and to protect every cause known to man as we sit back and watch tv and play on our iProduct and shop in our designer stores. We point at each other with jealousy like small children who want the same ice cream cone their sibling has. And you know what? Like a parent who is unable to teach their child about true fairness and responsiblity and hard work, the government has given us what our sibling has so that we don't feel lesser or unequal or unfortunate or just sad. We have bitten and devoured one another and the ultimate consumption is upon us.
Watch and pray. We are about the experience the fruits of our labor.
We want, want, want and we really don't care how it is acquired. We just want to have it. Give me more money to hold in my hand. Give me more entitlement without my efforts or energy. Give me more recognition despite my choices and conflict. Give me what he has because it is only fair that I am able to take from his portion because I cannot (will not) achieve his status. Give me what you don't have because it is your fault that I have my own disrepair. Create for me a perfect society at the cost of those who are exerting all their energy to be personally successful and sufficient. Protect me from enemies who seek to kill and destroy, but do so in a way that does not intefere with my freedom. Create for me equal shelter, equal wealth, equal health, and equal opportunity so that nobody is aware of my lack of contribution to the greater good. I deserve it. I was born this way. It is my parent's fault. It is my teacher's fault. It's my ancestor's fault. It's my boyfriend's fault. It's my pastor's fault. It's my community's fault. It's the government's fault. Not mine.
Have we not WATCHED people lose jobs because of obsession with self? Have we not WATCHED families self-destruct as they have been unable to own their responsibilities to one another? Have we not WATCHED families lose their homes because of overwhelming debt caused by overspending? Have we NOT WATCHED our leaders lose the ability to lead with strength and dignity because they are unable to own their mistakes and avoid them with maturity?
But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Galatians 5:15
We are always wanting it to be someone else's fault. We want to blame the government for the demise of our nation. WE PUT THESE PEOPLE IN OFFICE. WE WERE GIVEN THIS FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHO SHOULD BEST REPRESENT US AND MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS FOR US. WE CONTINUALLY RE-ELECT THEM. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MISTAKES BECAUSE WE GAVE THEM THE REIGNS. We want it to be there fault, but my dear friend, it is our fault. We are about to witness America lose it's home because they are unable to pay the bills that WE have created under OUR WATCH. We have requested them to spend beyond the budget and to overprint the dollar and to protect every cause known to man as we sit back and watch tv and play on our iProduct and shop in our designer stores. We point at each other with jealousy like small children who want the same ice cream cone their sibling has. And you know what? Like a parent who is unable to teach their child about true fairness and responsiblity and hard work, the government has given us what our sibling has so that we don't feel lesser or unequal or unfortunate or just sad. We have bitten and devoured one another and the ultimate consumption is upon us.
Watch and pray. We are about the experience the fruits of our labor.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Overwhelmingly Burdened
This trip was dramatically impacting in so many ways. Though I try to remain calloused to the great emotional implications that are associated with attending a very challenging mission trip WITH my husband, AND WITH my eldest daughter, AND WITH my father…all whom have significant impact upon the building of my faith here at home, I cannot transpose to you the gravity of this experience. I will try to quickly surmise the impressions permanently left upon my soul from each of them, and the heavy of the overall trip has left me processing.
First of all, I have always known that Jeremy is an excellent leader, but this trip made the clarification of such characteristic all the more prominent. We orchestrated so many different and yet impacting missions within one trip with such fluidity, it is obvious that the Lord had His hand on the vision that Jeremy was casting. I am thankful that he listens and allows the Lord to push us even when things seem impossible. Not only did I have fellow FBC-ers give kudos to your pastor, but the interpreters ALL shared with me how they enjoyed working with him and felt his leadership was exceptional. We were told that they enjoyed doing trips with our team because it was “real” mission work, where we get our hands dirty and make deliberate relationships with the people. And if anybody made relationships this trip, it would be Jeremy as he poured out theological training into Nestor, our young believer in Sarahuasi.
Second of all, I must tell you how God allowed me to watch my father grow. For all my life, my father has led by unspoken faith. By that I mean, I saw him pour into preparation for his Sunday School lessons week after week. I saw him help my mother with each and every musical, cantata, practice, and production through construction of props, stages and serving as a sound technician. I have seen him serve at countless church work days painting, building, cleaning, moving, sorting, and serving. However, I have never been a witness to my father in a cultural challenging environment that would awaken all of the stereotypical assumptions within his media slanted experience. Not only did Dad become more aware of the wounded and lost, his spiritual gifts of service was exercised and blessed as he led a crew up a very challenging hike – twice – orchestrated the construction of a roof in under a 48 hour window, including having to build a ladder after he fell off the one provided by the villagers, and camped away from any form of communication in an even more remote location. I am proud to call you dad and so very thankful that God allowed us to experience this together.
My daughter is different. She is not 8. I don’t think we really know her age. There is an insight and maturity within her that is often greater than my own. We knew when Emma began asking to go that she was ready…the delay was more of as to whether Jeremy and I were ready as parents. Emma flourished in the villages. Her fear that prevented her from going any further was not of the people, but simply of the language barrier. She wanted to play with the children and to experience their life. When we asked her what she thought of the experience mid-trip, she very simply said, “these people are far more loving than we are.” To see their love comes from within, not with great wealth in possession, not with great knowledge of the world, just genuine affection is great intuition. We were blessed as parents to watch Emma leave from under our wings and serve with others on the team, which also added great growth in Emma’s confidence and faith. She cooked with the cooking team. She painted nails with Ms. Brenda. She prepared a devotion with Mrs. Patsy. She helped children color and draw with me during VBS. She hiked a 5 hour hike with her father and myself and she shopped in the market for her sister first, before herself. She blesses me every day and I am thankful to have served with her.
My burden that I am left with from this trip is this; We had an inside joke that La Fiesta Follows the Gringos because I don’t think we slept an entire night the whole trip as a party was happening outside our window no matter where we were…literally. These parties broke my heart though as I watched thousands of people behaving in a way that gave no glory to the Creator and it made me all the more aware of a world that is saturated with people living in a way that does not acknowledge the giver of life. We are just impacting a small fraction of the lost and dying world and the urgency to reach these people and awaken them to their fate gave me such sadness. So I ask that as you pray for future mission trips, pray that everywhere we walk, people are made aware of the difference of Christ and the difference causes a ripple effect that will reach the world.
First of all, I have always known that Jeremy is an excellent leader, but this trip made the clarification of such characteristic all the more prominent. We orchestrated so many different and yet impacting missions within one trip with such fluidity, it is obvious that the Lord had His hand on the vision that Jeremy was casting. I am thankful that he listens and allows the Lord to push us even when things seem impossible. Not only did I have fellow FBC-ers give kudos to your pastor, but the interpreters ALL shared with me how they enjoyed working with him and felt his leadership was exceptional. We were told that they enjoyed doing trips with our team because it was “real” mission work, where we get our hands dirty and make deliberate relationships with the people. And if anybody made relationships this trip, it would be Jeremy as he poured out theological training into Nestor, our young believer in Sarahuasi.
Second of all, I must tell you how God allowed me to watch my father grow. For all my life, my father has led by unspoken faith. By that I mean, I saw him pour into preparation for his Sunday School lessons week after week. I saw him help my mother with each and every musical, cantata, practice, and production through construction of props, stages and serving as a sound technician. I have seen him serve at countless church work days painting, building, cleaning, moving, sorting, and serving. However, I have never been a witness to my father in a cultural challenging environment that would awaken all of the stereotypical assumptions within his media slanted experience. Not only did Dad become more aware of the wounded and lost, his spiritual gifts of service was exercised and blessed as he led a crew up a very challenging hike – twice – orchestrated the construction of a roof in under a 48 hour window, including having to build a ladder after he fell off the one provided by the villagers, and camped away from any form of communication in an even more remote location. I am proud to call you dad and so very thankful that God allowed us to experience this together.
My daughter is different. She is not 8. I don’t think we really know her age. There is an insight and maturity within her that is often greater than my own. We knew when Emma began asking to go that she was ready…the delay was more of as to whether Jeremy and I were ready as parents. Emma flourished in the villages. Her fear that prevented her from going any further was not of the people, but simply of the language barrier. She wanted to play with the children and to experience their life. When we asked her what she thought of the experience mid-trip, she very simply said, “these people are far more loving than we are.” To see their love comes from within, not with great wealth in possession, not with great knowledge of the world, just genuine affection is great intuition. We were blessed as parents to watch Emma leave from under our wings and serve with others on the team, which also added great growth in Emma’s confidence and faith. She cooked with the cooking team. She painted nails with Ms. Brenda. She prepared a devotion with Mrs. Patsy. She helped children color and draw with me during VBS. She hiked a 5 hour hike with her father and myself and she shopped in the market for her sister first, before herself. She blesses me every day and I am thankful to have served with her.
My burden that I am left with from this trip is this; We had an inside joke that La Fiesta Follows the Gringos because I don’t think we slept an entire night the whole trip as a party was happening outside our window no matter where we were…literally. These parties broke my heart though as I watched thousands of people behaving in a way that gave no glory to the Creator and it made me all the more aware of a world that is saturated with people living in a way that does not acknowledge the giver of life. We are just impacting a small fraction of the lost and dying world and the urgency to reach these people and awaken them to their fate gave me such sadness. So I ask that as you pray for future mission trips, pray that everywhere we walk, people are made aware of the difference of Christ and the difference causes a ripple effect that will reach the world.
Friday, July 05, 2013
Immediately
From the time of my entrance into this world until the present air I inhale, I have been a people watcher. I love to go to the mall and sit on a bench and just take it all in. To see a new mother in deep conversation with her newborn or to watch teenage boys and girls as they nonchalantly pass by one another or to observe the seasoned love of a couple that is in the twilight of their life is entertaining and enchanting. It is these moments where I realize how small I am; for everyone has a story. Each story is unique and precious to the person experiencing it. It is these moments where I ponder how often I have been the object of a people watcher and how exactly did I present myself.
There are numerous occupations that one can choose that subjects them to constant observation - professional athlete, news broadcaster, performer of any art, politician. I often find myself talking to them through the television when there is an outward expression of protest because of this subjection. "You asked for this when you chose your occupation! Why do you complain? You wanted the fame and fortune." I think we have all found ourselves thinking these thoughts even if we did not vocalize them to an inaudible object. Though these characters are plastered across media in various fashions - sometimes without their blessing - they are really just a fragment of the people that you "watch" in your life.
Though you might not participate in the extracurricular activity of people watching, you do perform the task. You are keenly aware of the behaviors of your in-laws. Your heart is attune to the antics of your spouse and children. Your mind is processing coworkers’ motives and performance. Your spirit struggles with the matter of judgment you subconsciously place on those who are of great importance in your life. When you are in a crowd, you want to point out the situations or people who are not like you or are perplexing in your perspective. Likewise, people are watching you in the same way. Ooo, that just struck a sense of paranoia for you. When we are judged, one of our first instincts is to defend ourselves and attempt to give our backstory. The people making accusations of our behavior do not know our intentions or from where we are coming. They do not know what has happened in prior encounters of similar circumstances or who in our past has left us more complicated.
This same defense should be considered as we people watch. In Mark 5:24-34, we find a large crowd following a celebrity in which they all had similar interest. He was this new teacher that had come to challenge the uppity people of the church, so the lesser man was a fan and wanted to know this new guy. It was rumored he could heal the lame and sick, so to watch him might me you could get a glimpse of a miracle...an uncommon occurrence. I can imagine it would be similar to any situation in present day where a celebrity entered an area and everyone is trying to be near him, to get an autograph, to catch his eye, to touch him. During times like this, people tend to begin to view each other in a derogatory manner - shoving and pushing and snide remarks were most likely being exchanged. In the midst of this crowd was a woman who was like all of others, yet because of an illness she was marked. Judgment had been placed upon her. Yet she made her own observation of the celebrity. He was not just any rock star. She was not simply hoping he could remedy her status so she could be in the midst of the crowd again. He was the answer to over a decade of torture she had experienced both in physical lack of comfort and emotional and mental anguish that coincided with her outcast status. She knew by simply making contact with His elements - His clothing, not even His actual body - she would be changed and freed from her imprisonment.
He knew she was different. He knew why. Verse 29-30 states, "Immediately, her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, 'who touched my clothes?'" He knew who had done so. Yet he wanted the people to watch her. He wanted the people to take their attention off of Him and place it on the one they snubbed their noses. They were to watch the faith of the unlikely one and to ponder how their perception of Him might differ. She might see Him for more than just a passing star. She might see Him for who He truly was. IMMEDIATELY, their lives were changed forever.
So next time you are participating in your own version of people watching, remember there is an entirely different lifestory being written right before your eyes. The moment you are witnessing could change your life and/or their life immediately and forever.
There are numerous occupations that one can choose that subjects them to constant observation - professional athlete, news broadcaster, performer of any art, politician. I often find myself talking to them through the television when there is an outward expression of protest because of this subjection. "You asked for this when you chose your occupation! Why do you complain? You wanted the fame and fortune." I think we have all found ourselves thinking these thoughts even if we did not vocalize them to an inaudible object. Though these characters are plastered across media in various fashions - sometimes without their blessing - they are really just a fragment of the people that you "watch" in your life.
Though you might not participate in the extracurricular activity of people watching, you do perform the task. You are keenly aware of the behaviors of your in-laws. Your heart is attune to the antics of your spouse and children. Your mind is processing coworkers’ motives and performance. Your spirit struggles with the matter of judgment you subconsciously place on those who are of great importance in your life. When you are in a crowd, you want to point out the situations or people who are not like you or are perplexing in your perspective. Likewise, people are watching you in the same way. Ooo, that just struck a sense of paranoia for you. When we are judged, one of our first instincts is to defend ourselves and attempt to give our backstory. The people making accusations of our behavior do not know our intentions or from where we are coming. They do not know what has happened in prior encounters of similar circumstances or who in our past has left us more complicated.
This same defense should be considered as we people watch. In Mark 5:24-34, we find a large crowd following a celebrity in which they all had similar interest. He was this new teacher that had come to challenge the uppity people of the church, so the lesser man was a fan and wanted to know this new guy. It was rumored he could heal the lame and sick, so to watch him might me you could get a glimpse of a miracle...an uncommon occurrence. I can imagine it would be similar to any situation in present day where a celebrity entered an area and everyone is trying to be near him, to get an autograph, to catch his eye, to touch him. During times like this, people tend to begin to view each other in a derogatory manner - shoving and pushing and snide remarks were most likely being exchanged. In the midst of this crowd was a woman who was like all of others, yet because of an illness she was marked. Judgment had been placed upon her. Yet she made her own observation of the celebrity. He was not just any rock star. She was not simply hoping he could remedy her status so she could be in the midst of the crowd again. He was the answer to over a decade of torture she had experienced both in physical lack of comfort and emotional and mental anguish that coincided with her outcast status. She knew by simply making contact with His elements - His clothing, not even His actual body - she would be changed and freed from her imprisonment.
He knew she was different. He knew why. Verse 29-30 states, "Immediately, her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, 'who touched my clothes?'" He knew who had done so. Yet he wanted the people to watch her. He wanted the people to take their attention off of Him and place it on the one they snubbed their noses. They were to watch the faith of the unlikely one and to ponder how their perception of Him might differ. She might see Him for more than just a passing star. She might see Him for who He truly was. IMMEDIATELY, their lives were changed forever.
So next time you are participating in your own version of people watching, remember there is an entirely different lifestory being written right before your eyes. The moment you are witnessing could change your life and/or their life immediately and forever.
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
An Idea
There are ideas that run through my head constantly of activities and adventures that would be exciting for our family, or just myself to experience. Then there are the ideas that are not just a fleeting moment. They permeate my being and resurface consistently as if they will not be satisfied until I make the idea a reality. You and I both know those types of creative thoughts that are almost what you would call a dream that you one day hope to fulfill...an item on your bucket list, so to speak. But the item, the idea, of which I am referring has a different kind of grasp upon me. It doesn't just flit about in my head from time to time as something that gets me giddy, like paying off a loan, or traveling to Ireland. It robs me of sleep. It robs me of productivity at times. It is in my conversations, my choices, my motives for my actions.
An idea of this caliber is not of me. We both know that. It is a leading of the Holy Spirit. When the Lord impresses upon your heart "an idea," it is not something that He wishes for you to simply think about. There is action and responding that the Almighty is expecting. What is even more compelling is when you find that this idea that has been within your soul since childhood is shared by someone with whom you are closest. Coincidental? No, rather Divine Interventional. God has a plan for each of us before we gasp for that first breath of life. This plan is not just to exist on this earth for a set amount of time and then one day be united with Him again. There are purposeful interactions and relationships He places in our pathway with a great desire to see us glorify Him with these encounters. The people that are in your life are largely of your choosing - you choose your peer group, you choose your job (therefore, coworkers), you choose your mate (therefore, inlaws). However, the way in which you develop your relationships and utilize your interaction with these people is crucial. Your time with them is limited in the greater picture, so God yearns for you to do everything you can to point these people to Him. Even if they already have a relationship with the Creator of the Universe, you are to spur them on to a better relationship and cautiously monitor as to whether they are growing and you are growing in His Word.
When I expressed my idea with the closest person in my life, one with whom I chose to spend my earthly forever, I was moved by my Heavenly Father. For this person with whom I spend the majority of my days, with whom I share many responsibilities, with whom I share many similar relationships, with whom I share Spiritual growth and accountability...this person shared my idea! God placed upon both of our hearts the same "idea". God placed upon our hearts the same calling! God placed upon our hearts the same desire. Oh if that doesn't make your heart smile, I don't know what can. You see, to hear from the Lord is a moving experience in and of itself. To know that the Lord over all wants to speak to you personally brings me to my knees. Yet to know that He not only has a job for me to do, He is going to provide me someone to go about accomplishing this task with me is even more humbling.
Over 25 years ago, God impressed upon me that I will grow a family providing refuge for those who struggle to find it for themselves. I knew that one day this would become more concrete for me as I developed my career and family in adulthood. For a decade now I have committed myself to love my students - ALL OF THEM - as if they were my own and it can be easily justified that this is what the Lord was meaning by my mothering being extended to those of all walks of life. I am a fairly decent teacher and an even better counselor who loves to be real with my students demonstrating God's grace and love to them. I praise God daily that He has equipped me with these abilities. Yet this is not the extent of the calling of which I received.
Over 15 years ago, I met my husband. During our courtship, during the very time we were seeking to understand each other and decipher as to whether we were compatible, I discovered the whisper that I was hearing was also being heard by him! Talk about a time of truly crawling up in God's lap and begging clarity! I didn't want to say He is the one because of this shared desire, but truthfully, God had confirmed that to me long before this conversation. So after 12 years of marriage, Jeremy Powell and I are now committed to fulfilling this calling upon our hearts that was placed upon us individually before we even met. And now we wish to share it with you so that you will join us in prayer and fundraising as we seek to accomplish this calling.
After being blessed with two beautiful princesses who have each already joined not only our earthly family, but also our spiritual eternal family, we are moving forward with the very clear calling of our Lord to add to our family through adoption. We have known this time would come, it is just a matter of when. We are currently in the very beginning phase of this process simply trying to save and raise money to accomplish this calling. We have kept this to ourselves for long enough and it is now time to ask you to join us in the very important task of expanding our family so that one more can be exposed to God's love in and through our home. We are in agreement for international adoption and are excited about the opportunity that this will bring. However, we are paralyzed by the great expense this will present. I still do not understand why it is so expensive to take a child away from the financial burden of a government facility and place that child in my home under my financial responsibility. I mean really, I am doing that government a favor by giving them one less mouth to feed. Nevertheless, it is costly.
So I am sharing this with you to pray with us as we seek to shorten the days until we can bring this little one home. Pray with us as we are already praying for the mother that is carrying this child and having to decide to surrender custody. Pray that she is safe and able to provide herself with proper nutrients so that our child is healthy. Pray for the orphanage that will house our child prior to our blessed union. Pray for the facilities to provide warmth and shelter and proper nutrients. Pray for the caregivers to be loving and patient and competent. Pray for our girls as they are preparing to add another person to our home. Pray for us as we take into account one more to feed, one more to involve in extracurricular activities, one more to pay for college. Pray for God to reveal to us proper fundraising ideas. Pray for Jeremy's health to remain more than excellent as we progress through this very challenging experience. Pray for our adoption agency as they guide us and advise us.
I have developed a few fundraisers that I will be posting in the next few days, so if you will check back on the blog in a few days you can seek ways to help us. If you simply want to help by an encouraging word or a financial donation for our little one, than you can send us a note to:
Jeremy & Jodi Powell
P.O. Box 221
Hayden, AL 35079
Thank you in advance for praying for us and our "idea". We are excited about the little one that God is going to place in our hearts and I will share with you a secret. I have already seen this baby's face! I can't wait to meet them face-to-face! Isn't that neat! God is good!
An idea of this caliber is not of me. We both know that. It is a leading of the Holy Spirit. When the Lord impresses upon your heart "an idea," it is not something that He wishes for you to simply think about. There is action and responding that the Almighty is expecting. What is even more compelling is when you find that this idea that has been within your soul since childhood is shared by someone with whom you are closest. Coincidental? No, rather Divine Interventional. God has a plan for each of us before we gasp for that first breath of life. This plan is not just to exist on this earth for a set amount of time and then one day be united with Him again. There are purposeful interactions and relationships He places in our pathway with a great desire to see us glorify Him with these encounters. The people that are in your life are largely of your choosing - you choose your peer group, you choose your job (therefore, coworkers), you choose your mate (therefore, inlaws). However, the way in which you develop your relationships and utilize your interaction with these people is crucial. Your time with them is limited in the greater picture, so God yearns for you to do everything you can to point these people to Him. Even if they already have a relationship with the Creator of the Universe, you are to spur them on to a better relationship and cautiously monitor as to whether they are growing and you are growing in His Word.
When I expressed my idea with the closest person in my life, one with whom I chose to spend my earthly forever, I was moved by my Heavenly Father. For this person with whom I spend the majority of my days, with whom I share many responsibilities, with whom I share many similar relationships, with whom I share Spiritual growth and accountability...this person shared my idea! God placed upon both of our hearts the same "idea". God placed upon our hearts the same calling! God placed upon our hearts the same desire. Oh if that doesn't make your heart smile, I don't know what can. You see, to hear from the Lord is a moving experience in and of itself. To know that the Lord over all wants to speak to you personally brings me to my knees. Yet to know that He not only has a job for me to do, He is going to provide me someone to go about accomplishing this task with me is even more humbling.
Over 25 years ago, God impressed upon me that I will grow a family providing refuge for those who struggle to find it for themselves. I knew that one day this would become more concrete for me as I developed my career and family in adulthood. For a decade now I have committed myself to love my students - ALL OF THEM - as if they were my own and it can be easily justified that this is what the Lord was meaning by my mothering being extended to those of all walks of life. I am a fairly decent teacher and an even better counselor who loves to be real with my students demonstrating God's grace and love to them. I praise God daily that He has equipped me with these abilities. Yet this is not the extent of the calling of which I received.
Over 15 years ago, I met my husband. During our courtship, during the very time we were seeking to understand each other and decipher as to whether we were compatible, I discovered the whisper that I was hearing was also being heard by him! Talk about a time of truly crawling up in God's lap and begging clarity! I didn't want to say He is the one because of this shared desire, but truthfully, God had confirmed that to me long before this conversation. So after 12 years of marriage, Jeremy Powell and I are now committed to fulfilling this calling upon our hearts that was placed upon us individually before we even met. And now we wish to share it with you so that you will join us in prayer and fundraising as we seek to accomplish this calling.
After being blessed with two beautiful princesses who have each already joined not only our earthly family, but also our spiritual eternal family, we are moving forward with the very clear calling of our Lord to add to our family through adoption. We have known this time would come, it is just a matter of when. We are currently in the very beginning phase of this process simply trying to save and raise money to accomplish this calling. We have kept this to ourselves for long enough and it is now time to ask you to join us in the very important task of expanding our family so that one more can be exposed to God's love in and through our home. We are in agreement for international adoption and are excited about the opportunity that this will bring. However, we are paralyzed by the great expense this will present. I still do not understand why it is so expensive to take a child away from the financial burden of a government facility and place that child in my home under my financial responsibility. I mean really, I am doing that government a favor by giving them one less mouth to feed. Nevertheless, it is costly.
So I am sharing this with you to pray with us as we seek to shorten the days until we can bring this little one home. Pray with us as we are already praying for the mother that is carrying this child and having to decide to surrender custody. Pray that she is safe and able to provide herself with proper nutrients so that our child is healthy. Pray for the orphanage that will house our child prior to our blessed union. Pray for the facilities to provide warmth and shelter and proper nutrients. Pray for the caregivers to be loving and patient and competent. Pray for our girls as they are preparing to add another person to our home. Pray for us as we take into account one more to feed, one more to involve in extracurricular activities, one more to pay for college. Pray for God to reveal to us proper fundraising ideas. Pray for Jeremy's health to remain more than excellent as we progress through this very challenging experience. Pray for our adoption agency as they guide us and advise us.
I have developed a few fundraisers that I will be posting in the next few days, so if you will check back on the blog in a few days you can seek ways to help us. If you simply want to help by an encouraging word or a financial donation for our little one, than you can send us a note to:
Jeremy & Jodi Powell
P.O. Box 221
Hayden, AL 35079
Thank you in advance for praying for us and our "idea". We are excited about the little one that God is going to place in our hearts and I will share with you a secret. I have already seen this baby's face! I can't wait to meet them face-to-face! Isn't that neat! God is good!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
My 9-11 (2012)
As an educator in the public school system, I feel compelled to inform, inspire, and challenge students to think and rethink the situations they are faced with in life...the situations we are all faced with in life. My day started out with the obvious calling that I must relive 11 years ago in my Texas apartment where I found myself numb with shock and horror as I watched what seemed to be a motion picture playing out on the morning newscast. My students were just toddling at that time in my history. There concept of memory is desolate as most of them were still formulating words. So it is a great opportunity to apply the ironic statement, "we learn history so that it will not repeat itself." Irony is placed upon the idea that we learn from our mistakes and that we make note of damage. Yet, if I were to survey the majority of my fellow citizens, this horrific event is only remembered on the anniversary or in passing conversation.
My morning began with sending my husband off to school as he was beginning his first semester in seminary in Fort Worth, TX. We were 800 miles away from our nearest relative and beginning a new life together in our little temporary, but perfect home. I would begin a new job in 2 days and was enjoying the finality of my leisure mornings. As I sat in the bed watching the morning news, I remember the image playing vividly in my memory. I found myself paralyzed as I watched the picture unfold and I kept hoping that it was a mistake and the camera had somehow merged a new piece of cinematography and the actual news together. But yet, I knew the image was real and the imminent danger our nation was about to experience in mass proportion. Someone caught us not watching. Someone got past our barrier of protection. Someone intended to devastate our entire emotional and physical well being.
The phone calls began..first to my husband. I needed to hear his voice. No such luck. Then my parents and his parents. We were all trying to figure out as to even if we wanted to try to get to each other so that we could be together if we were under attack. Where would be next? Was the military already in response. What happens next?
Uncertainty is something with which we as humans struggle. Will I have this chance again? How long do I have to complete this task? to experience this moment? to attempt this challenge? When will the bell ring?
After an emotional day of recounting September 11, I was brought to a pause in my own life once more as my body began to inform me that my time to complete the current task I have been give was being challenged. You see, God had blessed my family with the introduction of another family member through pregnancy. If all calendars are correct, my term would be in the close of week 9. My alert that I received from my body was just a warning flag, and normally, I would ignore the warning. I tend to play through the pain and refuse the interruption to my game. However, this warning involved my child...who will always take precedence over me.
After arranging my other children to be exchanged into the safe hands of their father, I journeyed home to begin my duration of "staying off my feet." Nurses were notified and we were advised just to continue with hydrating and staying off my feet. As the evening progressed, so did my warning signs.
On the morning of September 12, 2012, God determined it was not safe for my third child to maintain the journey to enter this world and brought him home to be with my mother, my granddaddy, Jeremy's grandfathers and grandmother in the great place of wholeness and completion. My day began with irreplaceable quiet time as I sat in the lap of my Father who allowed me to experience His gentle hug and comforting words while the most remarkable sun rose over the lake in my view.
The sun reminded me that each day is a gift. EACH DAY! I have been given far more than many people, including my child. Yet, I have been given many days with my child that are a blessing I would not trade. My running buddy and I will see each other face to face one day and it will be so emotionally filling. For now, my running buddy is being doted on and loved by his Nona and Grandpa as they battle for time and spoiler rights.
Am I angry at my Creator? Absolutely not. Do I trust his good and perfect will? Absolutely. Will I grieve the loss of a loved one? Often and much. This is the uncertain and unknown. It is and always be just that. In order to face it, we must first trust that there is one who does know and is certain about His plans for tomorrow. How we play into those plans are up to him. We can choose to embrace it or we can choose to wrestle with it. One makes life more durable and pleasurable. I cannot begin to hang the sun in the sky that shone so perfectly on my face this morning, but I can praise the One who did. My time with this child was short, but God knows what is best and I trust His loving kindness. Thank you God for this new day and my time of which I have been blessed.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
It's Been a While
Today I was reflecting on the idea of writing and toying with it as I have been for over a year now. I recognize that I write in the midst of trial and tribulation and fail to share my reflection in the time of peace and tranquility. However, I feel that peace and tranquility are but a blip on the radar in my household - the storm continues as we battle new enemies. Yet, I want to be more diligent about praising and sharing with those whom feel encouraged or just entertained by my transferring of thought to ink. If any read this today, be of good heart to know that our God is the Everlasting God and He promises that He will be there REGARDLESS. He sees your worth and considers it priceless. You are irreplaceable to Him and the value that is seen by others in you cannot even begin to compare to He WHO CREATED YOU. Know that You will not have it easy, but in the end, WE WILL FIND REST. He does promise that. He does indeed promise that.
Be fearsome today!
Be fearsome today!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
My Abbi and her puff
No sooner than I can blink and she is already developing 2 teeth in her little mouth and the little gummy smile that makes my heart skip a beat is beginning to disappear. I believe this is the actual stage for all moms that makes us ache the most. When they roll over, we cheer. When they sit up by themselves, we cheer. When they find their hands and feet, we giggle. When they copy our noises, we rejoice. When they wave bye-bye, we are in awe. But when those little teeth start to appear, oh the obvious change that occurs and our hearts begin to break because we know, oh how we painfully know that our baby is beginning to grow up. If you do not have one, you do not fully understand. The grin and drool that covers a baby's face is so unbelievably captivating. I could work for hours with peek-a-boo and mouth popping noises just to continue to get that same result. She has THE BEST SMILE EVER and yes she is my second child. Emma has a beautiful smile, but there is something to be said for that little round face with NO TEETH and little hair. She just warms my heart.
You know what I'm talking about. The one that she has when you walk into her room first thing in the morning and you meet eyes - it COVERS HER FACE and she begins dancing in her bed because you are there. My heart is getting butterflies as I describe it. Oh, I love her smile. The little teeth, on the bottom to be exact, are slowly creeping into sight. Therefore, my time of toothless grins is drawing to a close.
Yet, I am amazed by her in other ways and I know that is a gift from above. For just as I begin to grieve this loss, I am made aware of another accomplishment for her. We recently introduced her to big girl seating at the table and she quickly informed us that she has been awaiting this opportunity and we are the ones who have been holding back.
So today, we decided to dine on Puffs as we wait on Mommy to prepare our meal. She immediately knew what to do with it. She took the small star-shaped cereal puff and placed it in her little mouth. The first few times she would get it in the front of her mouth and lean forward trying to pull it farther into her mouth - like a baby would do with a bottle being pulled away from them. It was quite funny. However, at about Puff #3 she gets it. She puts it in the side of her mouth and begins chewing on it with her gums like you and I chew our food at each meal. I was so amazed. Then she won my heart further - she smiled at me because she was SO PROUD of herself. She knew. She knew that was what she was to do with that strange thing and she did it. Do you hear the crazy Dora song - "We did it! We did it! We did it! Yeah!"
I will miss the gummy grin, but I am loving my Puff Princess.
You know what I'm talking about. The one that she has when you walk into her room first thing in the morning and you meet eyes - it COVERS HER FACE and she begins dancing in her bed because you are there. My heart is getting butterflies as I describe it. Oh, I love her smile. The little teeth, on the bottom to be exact, are slowly creeping into sight. Therefore, my time of toothless grins is drawing to a close.
Yet, I am amazed by her in other ways and I know that is a gift from above. For just as I begin to grieve this loss, I am made aware of another accomplishment for her. We recently introduced her to big girl seating at the table and she quickly informed us that she has been awaiting this opportunity and we are the ones who have been holding back.
So today, we decided to dine on Puffs as we wait on Mommy to prepare our meal. She immediately knew what to do with it. She took the small star-shaped cereal puff and placed it in her little mouth. The first few times she would get it in the front of her mouth and lean forward trying to pull it farther into her mouth - like a baby would do with a bottle being pulled away from them. It was quite funny. However, at about Puff #3 she gets it. She puts it in the side of her mouth and begins chewing on it with her gums like you and I chew our food at each meal. I was so amazed. Then she won my heart further - she smiled at me because she was SO PROUD of herself. She knew. She knew that was what she was to do with that strange thing and she did it. Do you hear the crazy Dora song - "We did it! We did it! We did it! Yeah!"
I will miss the gummy grin, but I am loving my Puff Princess.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Polka Dot Bottom
Friday morning of last week, we encountered our regular routine here at the Powell house. I arose and went to run off the candy I ate the day before while Jer and the girls dreamed of their own candy. Usually while I am away for the small time in the morning, the rest of my clan also begins to stir. More often than not, it is Emma awakening and meandering into our bedroom to awaken her Daddy. However, this time, he got out of bed and began preparing for his day before hearing from her.
When he got out of the shower though, he heard a faint little cry coming from another part of the house.
"Help. Help me! Help me!" she cried.
Jeremy goes racing out of the bathroom trying to find her. In his haste, he blazes past her only to hear her redirect him. "I'm in here!"
He turns around and goes back down the hall to her bathroom to find her at the potty. -side note: we have returned the potty training chair to the bathroom because of her recent bout with accidents due to her illness. So she can go to the bathroom on her own. She just can't dispose of it on her own. - Jeremy finds her in the bathroom, pants down around her ankles. Her pull-up that she was wearing for the night is off and DRY. She has gone potty in the potty chair; wiped herself appropriately; and was now trying to attempt to put medicine on her bottom.
You see, Emma thinks that if you poop, you must apply some sort of ointment afterwards. So we keep some Balmex in a basket on the back of the toilet to sooth her 3 year old mind. This means that she went poop and waddled like a penguin over to the big potty to get this tube of Balmex and now, because of an inability to see her backside, yet a strong desire to "do-it-herself", had created an adorable polka-dot pattern of salve on her two butt cheeks trying to apply medicine.
Even Emma laughs about this one.
When he got out of the shower though, he heard a faint little cry coming from another part of the house.
"Help. Help me! Help me!" she cried.
Jeremy goes racing out of the bathroom trying to find her. In his haste, he blazes past her only to hear her redirect him. "I'm in here!"
He turns around and goes back down the hall to her bathroom to find her at the potty. -side note: we have returned the potty training chair to the bathroom because of her recent bout with accidents due to her illness. So she can go to the bathroom on her own. She just can't dispose of it on her own. - Jeremy finds her in the bathroom, pants down around her ankles. Her pull-up that she was wearing for the night is off and DRY. She has gone potty in the potty chair; wiped herself appropriately; and was now trying to attempt to put medicine on her bottom.
You see, Emma thinks that if you poop, you must apply some sort of ointment afterwards. So we keep some Balmex in a basket on the back of the toilet to sooth her 3 year old mind. This means that she went poop and waddled like a penguin over to the big potty to get this tube of Balmex and now, because of an inability to see her backside, yet a strong desire to "do-it-herself", had created an adorable polka-dot pattern of salve on her two butt cheeks trying to apply medicine.
Even Emma laughs about this one.
Friday, May 09, 2008
coming soon...
I have loaded pictures of my girls - yes, even Abbi. They will be appearing at a blogsite near you. I was reminded with my recent trip to Texas that I am falling down on the job of keeping you all posted on the progress of my little ones. ABBI IS 6 MONTHS OLD! WOW! She is too much fun now. She laughs and giggles and yesterday Emma spent the afternoon entertaining Abbi by playing peek-a-boo and dancing around like a mad woman. Abbi would just cackle and laugh hysterically. It was such a blessing to my day. I know many of you know this small pleasure. I really see them being the best of friends. Yes, I might appear naive, but I am praying for it now and I know God will protect this desire of my heart.
Also, today we are getting DirectTV. We are emerging from the 20th century to the 21st century in a minor way. Recently, our church had 14 or so pine trees cut from our property. When we first arrived here, we attempted to have Direct and Dish come and install. Both said, "no, go" because of the trees. With this amount gone, we thought for sure, one would be able to do so. Dish says no for the second time and Direct says yes on the SECOND OPINION. So, to touch back on the trees and to give you an idea of how many are still on the property, I still have turned on our air conditioning. We are just running ceiling fans and we are having highs in the 80s here. We love it though.
One last thing, if you take a moment today, my brother is celebrating his birthday and it would be grand if you commented on his blog with a hearty cheerful greeting. He is no longer jaceonline.com, but has reconfigured his comments to thecynicalchristian.com.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON!!
Also, today we are getting DirectTV. We are emerging from the 20th century to the 21st century in a minor way. Recently, our church had 14 or so pine trees cut from our property. When we first arrived here, we attempted to have Direct and Dish come and install. Both said, "no, go" because of the trees. With this amount gone, we thought for sure, one would be able to do so. Dish says no for the second time and Direct says yes on the SECOND OPINION. So, to touch back on the trees and to give you an idea of how many are still on the property, I still have turned on our air conditioning. We are just running ceiling fans and we are having highs in the 80s here. We love it though.
One last thing, if you take a moment today, my brother is celebrating his birthday and it would be grand if you commented on his blog with a hearty cheerful greeting. He is no longer jaceonline.com, but has reconfigured his comments to thecynicalchristian.com.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON!!
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Emma and the Bush
One Thursday before Christmas, Emma, Abbi, and I went on a playdate with our friends the Burttrams - better known to many of you as the "other Emma". Emma's mommy, brother and Emma joined the Powells for an afternoon of outside play at one of the parks in a nearby town. A lady that I had attended church with at my home church informed me of this new park that existed in this new subsection of town that was designated simply for athletic fields and playgrounds. I thought that would be great because it would be newer playground equipment and something neither of us had done before. Many of the local parks are great, but they have playground equipment from when I was little, so some of it isn't as safe as one would like. Well, let's just be honest, you have to supervise more than on the newer parks and therefore more is required of the parent. I know, I am lazy.
So we go to this new park. All but one gate was locked and we snuck in that one gate. Nobody - I mean nobody was there. However, the gate was open and I had been told it was for everyone. So we parked and went up to one of the small playground areas that butted up against a ball field. The girls had fun and the babies slept or just enjoyed the breeze. Then it happened.
You see, both Emmas are potty training. Emma B. announces that she needs to potty and my Emma is adament that she does not. Well, Emma B's mom, being the resourceful and responsible person that she was, decides to take them both because we knew if one did, the other would need to go soon as well. The potty room was locked. Panic follows now. If we load them into the car, then we pretty much kiss the playtime goodbye. We also risk an accident in a carseat on the way to a nearby potty. There were some restaurants just down the road, but please take into account the amount of time it takes to load a toddler and a baby and to drive while missing bumps and then unload a toddler and a baby and find a bathroom that is suitable.
I do have a rather large paranoia for public bathrooms, but it is heightened all the more with a 2 1/2 year old who can (and will) touch everything. I just winced. So you also must take into account the time it takes to rationalize in my mind which bathroom will require the least amount of sanitation in the process and which bathroom do I not mind sitting my carrier down in. I am now sweatting with the cringing and stiffening of my muscles. Ugh!
So, again my very wise friend decides that we cannot dilly dally. We must find a place to relieve the girls at the park. So they did. They found a secluded area and Emma B was able to go potty. Then my Emma realizes that she too needs to go potty. She looks at me with that panic and I know we are very short on time. We go and try the bathrooms once more because someone had driven by and stopped at the concession area. NO such luck.
I then tell her that if she will go in the bushes, she will get some ice cream. I've lost my mind, I know, but she is now motivated. We high step into the shrubbery arrangement - yes, an arrangement meaning not something secluded to the side of the park. It was an arrangement of bushes in the middle of a walkway between two ball fields. Understand, I was under desperate measures. I had to do it. I had to I tell you. It was life or death. So we walk out into the middle of these bushes that were no taller than Emma (2' maybe) and she drops trow. Then she did it! I was so proud of her. She was strongly opposed to going potty outside before and then with the help of our friend Emma and ice cream, she was able to go potty in the bush.
Here is the problem. My child had trajectory output and voided on her pants anyway. She didn't soak them, but enough that new pants were needed. I didn't care. I was just so proud that we could overcome such a dilema. Isn't it sad that I will gladly let my child urinate in a bush, but I cringe at the thought of a public bathroom. I am psycho, I know.
So I change her and we go, where else, but to Dairy Queen. Both Emma's get milkshakes and as we leave the restaurant, my Emma squeels, "let's go pee in the bush, Momma." It was so much fun, that she now desires to make it a regular activity. Oh my little Alabama girl...
So we go to this new park. All but one gate was locked and we snuck in that one gate. Nobody - I mean nobody was there. However, the gate was open and I had been told it was for everyone. So we parked and went up to one of the small playground areas that butted up against a ball field. The girls had fun and the babies slept or just enjoyed the breeze. Then it happened.
You see, both Emmas are potty training. Emma B. announces that she needs to potty and my Emma is adament that she does not. Well, Emma B's mom, being the resourceful and responsible person that she was, decides to take them both because we knew if one did, the other would need to go soon as well. The potty room was locked. Panic follows now. If we load them into the car, then we pretty much kiss the playtime goodbye. We also risk an accident in a carseat on the way to a nearby potty. There were some restaurants just down the road, but please take into account the amount of time it takes to load a toddler and a baby and to drive while missing bumps and then unload a toddler and a baby and find a bathroom that is suitable.
I do have a rather large paranoia for public bathrooms, but it is heightened all the more with a 2 1/2 year old who can (and will) touch everything. I just winced. So you also must take into account the time it takes to rationalize in my mind which bathroom will require the least amount of sanitation in the process and which bathroom do I not mind sitting my carrier down in. I am now sweatting with the cringing and stiffening of my muscles. Ugh!
So, again my very wise friend decides that we cannot dilly dally. We must find a place to relieve the girls at the park. So they did. They found a secluded area and Emma B was able to go potty. Then my Emma realizes that she too needs to go potty. She looks at me with that panic and I know we are very short on time. We go and try the bathrooms once more because someone had driven by and stopped at the concession area. NO such luck.
I then tell her that if she will go in the bushes, she will get some ice cream. I've lost my mind, I know, but she is now motivated. We high step into the shrubbery arrangement - yes, an arrangement meaning not something secluded to the side of the park. It was an arrangement of bushes in the middle of a walkway between two ball fields. Understand, I was under desperate measures. I had to do it. I had to I tell you. It was life or death. So we walk out into the middle of these bushes that were no taller than Emma (2' maybe) and she drops trow. Then she did it! I was so proud of her. She was strongly opposed to going potty outside before and then with the help of our friend Emma and ice cream, she was able to go potty in the bush.
Here is the problem. My child had trajectory output and voided on her pants anyway. She didn't soak them, but enough that new pants were needed. I didn't care. I was just so proud that we could overcome such a dilema. Isn't it sad that I will gladly let my child urinate in a bush, but I cringe at the thought of a public bathroom. I am psycho, I know.
So I change her and we go, where else, but to Dairy Queen. Both Emma's get milkshakes and as we leave the restaurant, my Emma squeels, "let's go pee in the bush, Momma." It was so much fun, that she now desires to make it a regular activity. Oh my little Alabama girl...
Monday, December 10, 2007
Couch Phone
I have so many new stories to share and pictures to post. I plan to get one a week maybe as the year comes to an end. I will not be more ambitious than that, but I have some sweet moments to share and some hilarities as well. We are the Powells, you know? I will begin by my absentmindedness that occurred the other day. As most of you know, I am now learning to balance two children. Please know that I will continue to commend those of you who have multiple children and work and deal with all of the other extras in life. I have 2 small ones and neither are playing soccer or softball and I am just now getting into somewhat of a groove. Whew!
Last week I was packing my things to go to my father's house for the evening and this is the event that occurred. I find that if I get Emma ready first, life is somewhat easier because she is contained (somewhat) and is also in "helper-mode" if needed for little sister. She is come along so well with the adjustment of a sibling. At first, we had your normal drama of everything being so devastating and tragic and magnified, but now she is getting into the swing of things. As I was preparing the girls and myself to leave, I loaded them strategically. I first took Emma out to the car and got her secure with a toy and closed the door. I told her that I was going to get her sister and would be back.
I ended up coming back to the car with bags and odds and ends probably 4 times, before I brought Abbi out and each time Emma would ask, "now are you going to get my sister?" I felt like a dolt, but I kept forgetting something and I would remember just as I would enter the house to get Abbi. The last time I went back into the house, it was the ever needed cell phone that I remembered I needed. We had been unable to find it earlier that day and I thought we had called it and it didn't ring. I had suspected that it was dead and I would find it eventually in a diaper bag.
With one last attempt to find it so that Jeremy could get a hold of me, I called my cell phone from the house phone one more time. The trio of Pattie Labelle, Celine Dion, & Mariah Carey singing "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman" began blaring out of our living room. I jumped with anticipation because the battery was still alive. So I start seeking out the sound. It leads me to the large blue couch. I think, "Oh, it must have fallen down in the cushions out of my pocket last night."
I begin sticking my hands down deep into the recesses of the couch. Nothing! I have to call the phone again, because it quit ringing. By now, I have the cushions off the couch and I am pressing my ear against the bottom lining of the frame. Again, these divas begin bellowing from the depth of my furniture. I then slide the couch back against the wall thinking it might be under the couch. Nothing!
I wrestle with the couch for a good 5 minutes. Keep in mind that Emma is still out in the car and Abbi is in her car seat in the kitchen. Both are just waiting on Mom - as usual. I am now dumbfounded. I can even feel the couch vibrating when the phone rings. I know it is in there, but how the heck do I get to it. I then vaguely remembering something falling the night before and thinking it was the remote control, I did nothing. It was my phone and it had fallen so deep within the couch it hit the floor through the frame lining on the bottom of the couch. So now I think, I've got to turn the couch over. Then I realize, that me having this phone is not as crucial as my two children who are waiting on me to get the show on the road - literally.
So now, I call Jeremy at work and decide I will just tell him I am off to my father's house and he can reach me there later. You know, inform people of your agenda like we did in the good old days - pre-cell phone years. What an idiot I am? I call and get the church secretary who informs me that Jeremy is meeting with someone. I then request that she just tell him where I am and I don't have my cell phone. I also explain to her why.
She then says to me, "well there's another 'What the Crap?' moment." It hadn't even dawned on me how retarded this event was until she said that. I have become so accustomed to these outbreaks that they are the norm.
More later - Emma and the Bush, Dad's Sit-ups, Do You Not Know?, Abigail Jo, Barbie Girl, But It's OK Mom
Last week I was packing my things to go to my father's house for the evening and this is the event that occurred. I find that if I get Emma ready first, life is somewhat easier because she is contained (somewhat) and is also in "helper-mode" if needed for little sister. She is come along so well with the adjustment of a sibling. At first, we had your normal drama of everything being so devastating and tragic and magnified, but now she is getting into the swing of things. As I was preparing the girls and myself to leave, I loaded them strategically. I first took Emma out to the car and got her secure with a toy and closed the door. I told her that I was going to get her sister and would be back.
I ended up coming back to the car with bags and odds and ends probably 4 times, before I brought Abbi out and each time Emma would ask, "now are you going to get my sister?" I felt like a dolt, but I kept forgetting something and I would remember just as I would enter the house to get Abbi. The last time I went back into the house, it was the ever needed cell phone that I remembered I needed. We had been unable to find it earlier that day and I thought we had called it and it didn't ring. I had suspected that it was dead and I would find it eventually in a diaper bag.
With one last attempt to find it so that Jeremy could get a hold of me, I called my cell phone from the house phone one more time. The trio of Pattie Labelle, Celine Dion, & Mariah Carey singing "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman" began blaring out of our living room. I jumped with anticipation because the battery was still alive. So I start seeking out the sound. It leads me to the large blue couch. I think, "Oh, it must have fallen down in the cushions out of my pocket last night."
I begin sticking my hands down deep into the recesses of the couch. Nothing! I have to call the phone again, because it quit ringing. By now, I have the cushions off the couch and I am pressing my ear against the bottom lining of the frame. Again, these divas begin bellowing from the depth of my furniture. I then slide the couch back against the wall thinking it might be under the couch. Nothing!
I wrestle with the couch for a good 5 minutes. Keep in mind that Emma is still out in the car and Abbi is in her car seat in the kitchen. Both are just waiting on Mom - as usual. I am now dumbfounded. I can even feel the couch vibrating when the phone rings. I know it is in there, but how the heck do I get to it. I then vaguely remembering something falling the night before and thinking it was the remote control, I did nothing. It was my phone and it had fallen so deep within the couch it hit the floor through the frame lining on the bottom of the couch. So now I think, I've got to turn the couch over. Then I realize, that me having this phone is not as crucial as my two children who are waiting on me to get the show on the road - literally.
So now, I call Jeremy at work and decide I will just tell him I am off to my father's house and he can reach me there later. You know, inform people of your agenda like we did in the good old days - pre-cell phone years. What an idiot I am? I call and get the church secretary who informs me that Jeremy is meeting with someone. I then request that she just tell him where I am and I don't have my cell phone. I also explain to her why.
She then says to me, "well there's another 'What the Crap?' moment." It hadn't even dawned on me how retarded this event was until she said that. I have become so accustomed to these outbreaks that they are the norm.
More later - Emma and the Bush, Dad's Sit-ups, Do You Not Know?, Abigail Jo, Barbie Girl, But It's OK Mom
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Pow-Pow Powerwheel
As I awakened undisturbed today, I decided to rise and begin my day earlier than usual and try to actually accomplish many things in the morning as opposed to my usual 2-3 items. I was beep boppin' along just great and got out of the house before 9:00am. That is huge for me right now. I was ready. Emma was ready -with fixed hair and cute outfit to go. There was a rummage sale going on in my hometown and I decided I needed to go scout out for some rugs. We are about to move into a lovely home with all hard flooring and I own about 3 rugs - none of which match because I am a garage sale junky these days. We had a great time upon entering the Rummage Sale, but it became time to go when people began to notice me. Why is that?
You see, before then, Emma was behaving beautifully. She would get a toy, bring it to me and we would giggle together about it and then she would put it back. Then she discovered the racks of clothes. This is a secret that she also somehow inherited from me. I LOVED to hide from my mother in clothing stores. LOVED it. Sometimes I would take her to a place of near cardiac arrest though because she couldn't find me and I was just standing there. Emma now does the same thing. God just giggles all the time at me. Three beautiful ladies from my home church came to talk with me and ask how I was doing. They were all in my mother's Sunday School class at one time. They, of course, want to see Emma. And she, of course, wants to hide and be 2. After a while of coaxing, she comes out. However, she is not going to let me live down that I have removed her from her comfort zone. She now proceeds to draw more attention to us than the hiding was doing. She whines for me to hold her. She whines about being asked to speak to the nice women. She pulls at my shirt and eventually stretches it to where she can pull it over her head and hide from the ladies that way.
I attempt to talk to her because dragging her into the parking lot for a more stern conversation just isn't right at this moment. However, I am getting there. I then check out - 3 books for Emma and a Hummingbird cake to take to the wonderful gentleman renovating my house. As we are checking out, my daughter announces to the patrons that she needs to go potty. I pay and we head back to the potty. This makes everything better in my world, because see, we are potty training. I am just elated that she told me instead of going in her Pull-Up. We get to the potty and she decides she doesn't want to go potty. She cries and whines and I am dumbfounded. My daughter has a thing for public restrooms. We have to coach her into any of them because there are one's that are out there to get small children. You know the ones - AUTOMATIC FLUSHERS. You place a tiny body on this large seat and expect the sensor to react appropriately. Not gonna happen. One too many times, I have placed her on one where she feared for her life as it flushed and appeared to be attempting to suck her down in the great unknown. So from that point on, I have to assure her that Mommy has control of the flushing mechanism and it won't get her. Regardless, no pottying.
Then she wants a brownie. They have nuts in them, and quite frankly, I don't think we have merited a brownie. She wants her juice. She doesn't want her juice. She wants me to carry her. Etc.
I am determined to not stop with my list of things to do. Emma is. We begin to head to the next town down the road that is somewhat larger and has more shopping. I have a dear friend that has a birthday approaching and I wanted to go to an actual retail store to look for her something. It wasn't open yet. I decide that I need a cappuccino. I stop to get it, but I am an idiot. I have to get Emma out to go in the store (heavens no, there is not a Starbucks out where I live people). She is still whiny and still wants me to hold her around strangers and I am 8 months pregnant and just not gonna do it. After that crying escapade, we proceed to go to the Flea Market. I figure it should be open and I can look for rugs there before heading back to the department store for my friend's gift.
I know that by this point, many of you are saying, "Why Jodi? Why would you do that to yourself?" I am thinking I can handle it. She, for the most part, minds fairly well and when we are not disturbed by strangers, we are ok. It was sensory overload though. We went into the market and got 1/2 way down the first isle and she needs to go potty again. Without describing it all over again, the results were the same. I am now severely agitated.
We go back out and I have her hold my hand. I let her stop to look at things, but keep it to plush non-fragile things. We make it up and down about 4 isles and I decide that I am tired of asking her to keep up and we should just go get the birthday gift and head home. BTW, there were no RUGS. We turn down the final isle (for us) for the day and there was a booth full of powerwheels. I was intrigued as well. Emma currently has a yellow bug that she loves and they had another. I thought, Abbi could have a matching one. Then I saw the Barbie Jeep. Oooo! Christmas!!! Great price too. However, I couldn't buy it right there. While we were looking at it, Emma climbs onto the police motorcycle next to it. I didn't think a thing about it because really, how long had they been sitting there? Apparently, not long enough to drain a battery. She hit the gas and before I could grab her, she drove it into a dividing wall between two booths. I know the entire market heard it. God was gracious enough to not let anything fall or break. I immediately jerk her off of the bike put it back and drag her out of the store. I was mortified. Sweet Lord! What could have come of that?
I have now regenerated myself and might try to get out again later. For now, the flea market is just for Mommy. I learned my lesson all you tenured parents. You go giggle with God now and we will talk later about other life lessons I have yet to learn.
You see, before then, Emma was behaving beautifully. She would get a toy, bring it to me and we would giggle together about it and then she would put it back. Then she discovered the racks of clothes. This is a secret that she also somehow inherited from me. I LOVED to hide from my mother in clothing stores. LOVED it. Sometimes I would take her to a place of near cardiac arrest though because she couldn't find me and I was just standing there. Emma now does the same thing. God just giggles all the time at me. Three beautiful ladies from my home church came to talk with me and ask how I was doing. They were all in my mother's Sunday School class at one time. They, of course, want to see Emma. And she, of course, wants to hide and be 2. After a while of coaxing, she comes out. However, she is not going to let me live down that I have removed her from her comfort zone. She now proceeds to draw more attention to us than the hiding was doing. She whines for me to hold her. She whines about being asked to speak to the nice women. She pulls at my shirt and eventually stretches it to where she can pull it over her head and hide from the ladies that way.
I attempt to talk to her because dragging her into the parking lot for a more stern conversation just isn't right at this moment. However, I am getting there. I then check out - 3 books for Emma and a Hummingbird cake to take to the wonderful gentleman renovating my house. As we are checking out, my daughter announces to the patrons that she needs to go potty. I pay and we head back to the potty. This makes everything better in my world, because see, we are potty training. I am just elated that she told me instead of going in her Pull-Up. We get to the potty and she decides she doesn't want to go potty. She cries and whines and I am dumbfounded. My daughter has a thing for public restrooms. We have to coach her into any of them because there are one's that are out there to get small children. You know the ones - AUTOMATIC FLUSHERS. You place a tiny body on this large seat and expect the sensor to react appropriately. Not gonna happen. One too many times, I have placed her on one where she feared for her life as it flushed and appeared to be attempting to suck her down in the great unknown. So from that point on, I have to assure her that Mommy has control of the flushing mechanism and it won't get her. Regardless, no pottying.
Then she wants a brownie. They have nuts in them, and quite frankly, I don't think we have merited a brownie. She wants her juice. She doesn't want her juice. She wants me to carry her. Etc.
I am determined to not stop with my list of things to do. Emma is. We begin to head to the next town down the road that is somewhat larger and has more shopping. I have a dear friend that has a birthday approaching and I wanted to go to an actual retail store to look for her something. It wasn't open yet. I decide that I need a cappuccino. I stop to get it, but I am an idiot. I have to get Emma out to go in the store (heavens no, there is not a Starbucks out where I live people). She is still whiny and still wants me to hold her around strangers and I am 8 months pregnant and just not gonna do it. After that crying escapade, we proceed to go to the Flea Market. I figure it should be open and I can look for rugs there before heading back to the department store for my friend's gift.
I know that by this point, many of you are saying, "Why Jodi? Why would you do that to yourself?" I am thinking I can handle it. She, for the most part, minds fairly well and when we are not disturbed by strangers, we are ok. It was sensory overload though. We went into the market and got 1/2 way down the first isle and she needs to go potty again. Without describing it all over again, the results were the same. I am now severely agitated.
We go back out and I have her hold my hand. I let her stop to look at things, but keep it to plush non-fragile things. We make it up and down about 4 isles and I decide that I am tired of asking her to keep up and we should just go get the birthday gift and head home. BTW, there were no RUGS. We turn down the final isle (for us) for the day and there was a booth full of powerwheels. I was intrigued as well. Emma currently has a yellow bug that she loves and they had another. I thought, Abbi could have a matching one. Then I saw the Barbie Jeep. Oooo! Christmas!!! Great price too. However, I couldn't buy it right there. While we were looking at it, Emma climbs onto the police motorcycle next to it. I didn't think a thing about it because really, how long had they been sitting there? Apparently, not long enough to drain a battery. She hit the gas and before I could grab her, she drove it into a dividing wall between two booths. I know the entire market heard it. God was gracious enough to not let anything fall or break. I immediately jerk her off of the bike put it back and drag her out of the store. I was mortified. Sweet Lord! What could have come of that?
I have now regenerated myself and might try to get out again later. For now, the flea market is just for Mommy. I learned my lesson all you tenured parents. You go giggle with God now and we will talk later about other life lessons I have yet to learn.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
BSU Choir
Hallelujah! Salvation and Glory!
Honor and Power unto the Lord, Our God!
For the Lord, Our God is Mighty,
And the Lord, Our God is Omnipotent,
And the Lord, Our God, He is Wonderful!
All praises be to the King of Kings,
And the Lord, Our God. He is wonderful!
All praises be to the King of Kings,
And the Lord, Our God. He is Wonderful!
Ha - Le - Lu - Jah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Ha - Le - Lu - jah! He is Wonderful!
Ha - Le - Lu - Jah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Ha - Le - Lu - jah! He is Wonderful!
As I was singing to my daughter while allowing her to drift off to sleep tonight, I recalled this favorite staple of BSU Choir at Samford and longed for the other parts to sing with me so we could sing the rounds as it should be. I hope Emma gets to sing it one day.
He is Wonderful!
Honor and Power unto the Lord, Our God!
For the Lord, Our God is Mighty,
And the Lord, Our God is Omnipotent,
And the Lord, Our God, He is Wonderful!
All praises be to the King of Kings,
And the Lord, Our God. He is wonderful!
All praises be to the King of Kings,
And the Lord, Our God. He is Wonderful!
Ha - Le - Lu - Jah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Ha - Le - Lu - jah! He is Wonderful!
Ha - Le - Lu - Jah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Ha - Le - Lu - jah! He is Wonderful!
As I was singing to my daughter while allowing her to drift off to sleep tonight, I recalled this favorite staple of BSU Choir at Samford and longed for the other parts to sing with me so we could sing the rounds as it should be. I hope Emma gets to sing it one day.
He is Wonderful!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Barney's Gone
A few months ago, I got a notion in my self to introduce you all to our fantastic and well under appreciated dog. His name is Barney and he is a black/charcoal miniature schnauzer. Barney would celebrate his 2nd birthday this November 30th, but he is no longer able to do so. Our precious four-legged friend went home to be with other doggies in heaven today as his curiosity got the best of him on an outing. We deemed his condition upon arrival to Alabama as severe sensory overload. He was just overly excited with all the new smells and new terrain here at the Anderson place and we had surrendered to chaining him up for potty breaks. However the past 3 days, he had proven to us that he could go and return without a leash and we had decided to attempt to allow him that freedom.
Barney was a great dog that we had for just over 2 years. We got him when Emma was small and had two reasons in mind. One, we hoped that his presence would calm our other dog, Scout and prevent her from harming our baby. Scout, however precious she was to us, could not handle the competition. Instead of restraining her, Barney just proved to be another threat. We let Scout go to another good home that had no children and then began raising Barney to be Emma's pet. He truly was. She was brutal with him and he graciously tolerated it. She pulled his beard and his hair and she pinned him down and shoved him out of her chair. But he loved her and she loved him. One of our favorite memories of Barney will be just before our move from Texas. Emma had crashed on the floor in the game room and Barney curled up in the crook of her legs and napped with her. I always told Jeremy that I one day saw him sleeping in the bed with her. Not today.
How is Emma? I don't think she really grasps it yet. Barney has been gone for days at a time before and she has not been confused. We shall see how it progresses. I pray this does not send her into a regression from the progress we have made in terms of her sleep patterns lately. I did not do well hiding my emotions. How do you do it Moms? I remember losing MANY animals to that road and my mother would always hold it together. I, in my pregnant state, did not do well and my daughter was distraught trying to console me. She even gave me a Dora bandaid. She will miss him greatly, as will all of us. My father raved about how good he was with Emma and was thankful for him. He feels the loss is his fault, but I assure you my ever active dog made the decision on his own.
So if you see me or talk to me over the next few days, know that I might be just fine or I might shed a tear or two. I know that it is for the best on many levels, but just the same - we lost one of our family members today. Please remember our now smaller family in your prayers.
We love you Barney!
Barnabas Aromashodu Powell
11/30/2005 - 8/23/2007
Barney was a great dog that we had for just over 2 years. We got him when Emma was small and had two reasons in mind. One, we hoped that his presence would calm our other dog, Scout and prevent her from harming our baby. Scout, however precious she was to us, could not handle the competition. Instead of restraining her, Barney just proved to be another threat. We let Scout go to another good home that had no children and then began raising Barney to be Emma's pet. He truly was. She was brutal with him and he graciously tolerated it. She pulled his beard and his hair and she pinned him down and shoved him out of her chair. But he loved her and she loved him. One of our favorite memories of Barney will be just before our move from Texas. Emma had crashed on the floor in the game room and Barney curled up in the crook of her legs and napped with her. I always told Jeremy that I one day saw him sleeping in the bed with her. Not today.
How is Emma? I don't think she really grasps it yet. Barney has been gone for days at a time before and she has not been confused. We shall see how it progresses. I pray this does not send her into a regression from the progress we have made in terms of her sleep patterns lately. I did not do well hiding my emotions. How do you do it Moms? I remember losing MANY animals to that road and my mother would always hold it together. I, in my pregnant state, did not do well and my daughter was distraught trying to console me. She even gave me a Dora bandaid. She will miss him greatly, as will all of us. My father raved about how good he was with Emma and was thankful for him. He feels the loss is his fault, but I assure you my ever active dog made the decision on his own.
So if you see me or talk to me over the next few days, know that I might be just fine or I might shed a tear or two. I know that it is for the best on many levels, but just the same - we lost one of our family members today. Please remember our now smaller family in your prayers.
We love you Barney!
Barnabas Aromashodu Powell
11/30/2005 - 8/23/2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
To the Zoo
(Petrified after begging to ride the carosel)On Friday, the Powells 3 1/2 journeyed to the Birmingham Zoo to celebrate the fact that Emma had slept in her big girl bed 2 nights in a row. I know that many of you are wondering why this is a monumental occasion, but I must preface this by letting you know the battle that we are enduring currently with our baby girl. Since Jeremy's trip to the hospital at the beginning of July, Emma has struggled with security and comfort. We decided to not really battle this challenge until we made the move and now that we have been here almost a week, we are already seeing changes for the better.
(Daddy is showing me a spider spinning a web. He still loves them.)Emma ended our stay in Fort Worth sleeping on a palet in the floor by Mommy and Daddy's bed occassionally waking up during the middle of the night with nightmares. Before we brough her into our room, she was refusing to go down in her bed and violently fighting us as we attempted the regular routine we had maintained for 2 years before. She claimed that there was a dinosaur in her bed and would refuse to stay in her room at all, even if Jeremy and I were in there with her.
Since arriving, we are able to put her in her own bed at night, even though we have to wait until she falls asleep (about 10 minutes). I still count that as progress because we were unable to even aproach her room before, much less lay her in her bed. She went down for a nap in her bed today for the first time in WEEKS. We are still working towards the finished product and are prayerfully hoping to achieve it before Abbi gets here. So join us in that prayer.
(probably everyone's favorite exhibit - even Mommy. He really showed off for us as we had our own private time with Mr. Tiger. Daddy attempted to pet him through the glass and Mr. Tiger seemed to like that.)In the mean time, enjoy these fun pictures with Emma and her first, of many, trips to the Birmingham Zoo.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
Easter 2007
This Easter weekend was an exceptionally special time for the Powell/Anderson family. We will probably not forget the many aspects of this celebratory weekend for many reasons. You see, it was this weekend that my dearest friend Abby decided to not only join me in my annual tribute to breast cancer by participating in Race for the Cure. She organized a massive team of runners and walkers who all wore coordinating t-shirts for my mother. Gail Force took the streets of Fort Worth on a very cold April morning in bright teal and magenta shirts. It was truly a moving day for me in countless ways, but the truly most important aspect for all of us was that my brother and my father were able to join us and they too crossed the finish line for my mom.
Emma also strolled across the finish line bundled up quite fiercely as Papa pushed her in style. The endurance of all of the runners, not just the Gail Force team, announced to the world that this disease is something that has impacted thousands of people to the point where they desire to make a difference in fighting this awful fiend.
Papa and Jason also joined us for Sunday services and Emma looked absolutely as beautiful as a Southern Belle. Her Grandy sent the dress for her to wear along with the bonnet. The only think she is missing are her Easter gloves. Do you remember those? Were yours short or long? Do you still wear them on Easter? Confess. You do, don't you? It's ok. I had to really work myself out of a hat because that was what I thought you did. 
She is our little angel. We love her so and Nana would be so proud.
We did it MOM!
Emma also strolled across the finish line bundled up quite fiercely as Papa pushed her in style. The endurance of all of the runners, not just the Gail Force team, announced to the world that this disease is something that has impacted thousands of people to the point where they desire to make a difference in fighting this awful fiend.Since completing this race, my dear friend Abby's mother-in-law has been diagnosed with a relapse of her cancer after a successful 7 years of remission. She will get to spend some quality time with her children this coming weekend after a fantastic Alaskan cruise. Continue to pray for Vonda as she embraces what God has for her during this next phase of her life. They have decided to no longer pursue radiation treatment. Elevate the Boerger family in your prayers as the Lord works His will here. Pray that God will protect her from suffering as well as unite this family around her during this journey.
Papa and Jason also joined us for Sunday services and Emma looked absolutely as beautiful as a Southern Belle. Her Grandy sent the dress for her to wear along with the bonnet. The only think she is missing are her Easter gloves. Do you remember those? Were yours short or long? Do you still wear them on Easter? Confess. You do, don't you? It's ok. I had to really work myself out of a hat because that was what I thought you did. 
She is our little angel. We love her so and Nana would be so proud.Saturday, July 07, 2007
4th of July - 2007 Part II
Jeremy was released to a regular room today and has had yet another successful day on many scales. He saw a physical therapist today and has also been up numerous times to move about the room for necessary procedures. He has kept all that he has consumed today down. Now, the quantity is not a lot, but we are thankful for any amount of food consumed. Continue to pray for the nausea that is plaguing him. We sat and laughed and joked about many things this afternoon and I heard him make many jabs and jokes - I heard Jeremy.
We received word from the doctor that the culture continued to grow another bacteria. The bacteria bacillus (?sp?) grew along with the staph infection that we mentioned before and they are crediting this second bacteria with the reason for the extreme high fever. That gave them satisfaction to know this puzzling answer. I had surrendered that we would not know and it would be ok.
Jeremy is still being visited by specialists, including the infectious disease doctor. We will discuss with him tomorrow about when Jeremy will resume his prior medication for the fungal infection. I would be very comfortable if they administered at least one treatment in the hospital before they released him to my feeble hands again. We will consult the NIH for when to resume this treatment as well.
He will work with the physical therapist again tomorrow and if all goes well we are going to see a release of him from the hospital. Pray for him during this waiting time. Pray for his strength to increase and his appetite to reappear. Eating equals strength and strength equals improvement and improvement equals return.
Thank you all for your calls and emails and thank you for respecting our rest at the hospital as well. Jeremy is an entertainer and would struggle not performing for an audience - no matter who, so it has been very restful for him in this recovery process. God bless you all as you minister in your own venues. Thank you for celebrating this miracle with us. We love you all and look forward to celebrating with you in person soon!
We received word from the doctor that the culture continued to grow another bacteria. The bacteria bacillus (?sp?) grew along with the staph infection that we mentioned before and they are crediting this second bacteria with the reason for the extreme high fever. That gave them satisfaction to know this puzzling answer. I had surrendered that we would not know and it would be ok.
Jeremy is still being visited by specialists, including the infectious disease doctor. We will discuss with him tomorrow about when Jeremy will resume his prior medication for the fungal infection. I would be very comfortable if they administered at least one treatment in the hospital before they released him to my feeble hands again. We will consult the NIH for when to resume this treatment as well.
He will work with the physical therapist again tomorrow and if all goes well we are going to see a release of him from the hospital. Pray for him during this waiting time. Pray for his strength to increase and his appetite to reappear. Eating equals strength and strength equals improvement and improvement equals return.
Thank you all for your calls and emails and thank you for respecting our rest at the hospital as well. Jeremy is an entertainer and would struggle not performing for an audience - no matter who, so it has been very restful for him in this recovery process. God bless you all as you minister in your own venues. Thank you for celebrating this miracle with us. We love you all and look forward to celebrating with you in person soon!
4th of July - 2007
We had too much calm, so a storm was in store. The problem was we were not expecting it this time. I secretly pride myself in being able to adjust to situations and challenges in order to best handle them. I even catch myself working through different results of situations and analyzing what I will do if "y" happens instead of "x". I know. Kinda disturbing. If you have not yet been a part of the group to be informed of our recent challenge, than take a moment to read this Powell update. If you are in the know, than scroll down until the current date to catch yourself up to speed. There's no need for you to reread the story you know. If you are fresh to the story, than read it segments. I have not had a computer for 4 days, so I had to cram it in one email. Precious prayer warriors, God came to us in a BIG WAY again. Please understand this important message here: if you are a skeptic that still does not believe that God did not necessarily have complete control of Jeremy's medicine working "all-of-the-sudden"; that God is a God that STILL performs MIRACLES, than make no mistake. This story WILL change your mind. If you are one of those readers of the Powell Update who is not exactly sure where you are with Our Creator and at the close of this message, you need to know the God who does these things, WRITE ME BACK. I WILL GLADLY, PERSONALLY, INTRODUCE YOU TO HIM.
Monday, July 2: Jeremy comes home from work to have lunch with his girls. He shares with me over lunch that he is all of the sudden not feeling so well. I told him that I would get him some medication and he declined. He called me around 3:00 and told me that he felt feverish and was coming home to crash for a little while. We settled him on the couch with a Tylenol and he slept for about an hour. He arose and felt somewhat better, but was still sluggish. We had dinner together as a family and eventually worked our way to our evening ritual. We usually put Emma down for bed with a series of steps and then immediately begin his nightly IV infusion. The infusion takes roughly an hour. As the hour began to close, Jeremy began to complain of a fever again. He began to shake VIOLENTLY. I got our heating pad and covered him with several blankets. He eventually vomited from the shaking and fever. The fever spiked to 104.1 and then broke. I left to go to the drugstore to get some Motrin and juice. Jeremy and I both decided that he must have a virus because this came on so quickly. We alternated Tylenol and Motrin throughout the night and he maintained around a 99.5 low grade fever.
Tuesday, July 3: Jeremy awakens me at 6:30 asking for blankets again. He was chilled, but not any where near the same shaking that he had the night before. I told him we were going to the doctor so that we could have a professional assessment. His fever spiked again to 103.7, so we packed the family up and headed to the doctor. Emma got to play with Jonathan and Katelyn for the morning while Mommy and Daddy went to the doctor. Dr. David treated Jeremy with caution and we are thankful for that because she does take such care for him. She decided not to risk writing off this fever as a viral infection and to instead attack it as if it were bacterial, just in case. Remember, with Jeremy, bacterial infections can become critical. She gave Jeremy a shot in the doctor's office of an antibiotic and sent us home with a prescription for doxycyclene. If you remember back in the lung infection and early back infection days, Jeremy was on doxy as we were still deciding as to whether this infection was bacterial or fungal. Doxy has a tendency to induce nausea and vomiting with Jeremy. So needless to say, we were not looking forward to this. ON the way to the doctor, we stopped at Sonic and bought Jeremy a large Sprite. He finished this by lunch time and crashed out on the couch still alternating Motrin and Tylenol.
Emma and Mommy decided to quarantine Daddy and we set up a playland downstairs. His fever moved between 99-102 throughout the day with moments of breaking off and on. He began to feel somewhat better and went downstairs to take a shower. He went back upstairs and Emma and I followed to go through our nighttime routine. After Emma went down, I proceeded to begin Jeremy's infusion again. Again, at the close of the infusion, Jeremy began convulsing violently complaining of fever chills. I took his temperature and it was 100.8 (note the placement of the decimal). So I was really concerned because I didn't think chills on this severity were normal for such a low grade fever. Then his lips began to turn purple. I called his mother and had her agree with me that it was time to go into the ER.
I called the Alexanders at 10:15 and asked that we bring Emma by on the way to the ER. Kristina offered to send one of them to get her. While I was getting Barney out for one more time and packing my purse to go to the ER, Jeremy arose from the couch and had a series of events that began to lead to a state of incoherency. Zack arrived and ran us out of the house and took care of everything for me - this includes getting my dog inside, getting my daughter and her bag packed for a night away, locking up and alarming my house. Have I ever told you guys how God continues to minister to me through people who SELFLESSLY and TIRELESSLY love on us with the love of the Lord? Amazing.
I drove somewhat speedily to the hospital and Jeremy's demeanor and alertness faded rapidly as we approached our local hospital. I feared coma or seizure, but not being a medical professional, I tried not to alarm myself because I didn't want to make it bigger than it was.
I arrived at the ER and ran around to heave my husband out of the car. His mobility was gone. There was a cluster of people standing outside of the doors to the ER who graciously came behind me and shut my car door as I carried my soaking wet husband into the ER. A kind officer took Jeremy's other side and helped me get him into triage. It was obvious to the people that he was already in a deep state of emergency. Let me tell you, this was the first of many small prayers running through my head that would be answered. I knew that waiting in the waiting room of the ER would be detrimental. I sat in triage with my no responsive husband FILLING OUT PAPERWORK. Oh you precious medical professionals, I think I would pay the extra money if you guys would help me find out a way in the ER for patients to receive treatment while dictating all of the crap that needs to be written out on all of those papers. I know insurance companies are to blame for most of it, but it is an ER!!! The E is for EMERGENCY. Ok, enough of that tangent for now.
Jeremy's condition RAPIDLY worsened in front of my eyes. He was sweating profusely and refused to let me get his sweatshirt off. His precious brothers, Clay and Zack, arrived shortly after I did and immediately went to work for us. I am sorry, but I am welling up with tears as I stop to tell you this part. Jeremy had completely doused my passenger side on the way to the ER and Zack took my keys and proceeded to clean up my car so that it wouldn't sit in that state all night long. That is a friend. I know you will read this Zack and think nothing of it, but really. Your love for my family is a strong testimony to your love of the Lord. Than Clay joins me in triage and helps me fight Jeremy to get his sweatshirt off and holds his brother's head as he struggles to expel more liquids from his body orally. You must know that this also speaks volumes of the Love of Christ that radiates through Clay. First of all, he was ill with an infection in his eye and really needed to be home sleeping and second of all, he is a sympathy yacker. Yet, he made it through this event.
I decided to demand attention and strongly stated to the ER staff that it was imperative that he be seen IMMEDIATELY. They got him into a room and my husband was completely gone from the man that you know by now. As he fought to escape the grasp of the medical professionals and myself, they were able to wrangle him down and proceed with assessing his vital signs. His heart rate was at 200, his BP was incredibly low, and his fever had spiked to 108.0 (NOTE THE PLACEMENT OF THE DECIMAL). Did I lose it? No. I couldn't. How would God respond to a person in hysterics? How could I help my husband if I couldn't hold it together? I immediate began praying even harder. "Only you, Oh God, can restore him from this state. ONLY YOU, OH GOD, CAN SAVE HIM FROM THIS DESTRUCTION. I cannot. These professionals cannot. I give him to You and ask that you hold me through this so that I can be a tool for your use as you save him again. I ask that you not take him yet. His ministry is only beginning and we know that you have called him to do great things for your kingdom. Don't take this man of God! Don't take this willing vessel! Not for me. Not for Emma. Not for our baby. But for You, oh God! But God, if this is his time, than please, PLEASE, PLEASE don't make him suffer!"
I can quote you this prayer because I repeated it over and over again FOR HOURS. They packed Jeremy in ice and the Q&A began. You remember, my husband does not have a normal immune system. I declared this to the ER professionals immediately upon entry of the hospital. I had to explain his condition to them about 5 different times. This quickly put them on edge. I could see the fear and concern in their eyes because they knew his condition was traumatic. I had to give his medical history along with explain what was going on with this PIC line in his arm. They relocated Jeremy to an OR in the ER and decided quickly to go ahead and remove the PIC line. This was after they had poked him numerous times to try and find a vein to begin meds and IV fluids for this severely dehydrated man. (Remember that sprite I told you about earlier? He had that and a Gatorade over the course of the entire day)
I have to admit that when the removed the PIC line, I winced - not because it was gross, but because I saw the progress we had made disappear with the fungal infection. They wheeled Jeremy down the hall for x-rays and a CT scan so they could assess the damage done to his brain from the heat of the fever. We got to the X-ray when your author stupidly remembered - All of the Sudden - I can't be here. I'M PREGNANT. They than ushered me back down the hall and my heart began to ache because I couldn't be with him. He was sedated though and didn't know where I was, so I had to take that satisfaction. X-rays came back with splotches, but I told them that they really needed to compare them to other x-rays. You see, Jeremy has lots of scar tissue in his lungs from previous infections. To an unknowing eye though, they appear to be spots of infection. Here's where it gets even better. It's after midnight. What day does that make it my friends? That's right - INDEPENDENCE DAY! Hooray! Government holiday! Did I mention the National Institute of Health is a government funded facility. So to wait until the start of a workday for this information would mean to wait until THURSDAY! So once again, I had to pray to the Lord to maintain them with wisdom on how to treat him until then.
Jeremy returned and would come in and out of sedation. His fever dropped to 105.1 and then about an hour later it dropped to 103.7. Can I tell you how happy I was to see that number on a thermometer. Than God began to give me glimmers of hope. His CT scan came back NORMAL. My husband maintained NO NOTABLE brain damage from this astronomical fever. Believer? You will be.
Wednesday, July 4: We eventually get to a state where we are ready to admit Jeremy to the ICU there at Harris Southwest. Did I mention that Clay, Zack and Randal were still there and were pretty much holding it together with me through this enormously trying time. They walked my frail pregnant body along with Jeremy's frail dehydrated body up to ICU. I know that I could have done this alone, but I don't know how except for added strength from the Lord. They were the added strength that got me through this and their love for my husband is phenomenal. Believe me gentleman, I have made Jeremy very aware of your sacrifice and his heart wept with gratitude.
They had some difficulty switching Jeremy from the gurney to the ICU bed and it was best that they left me in the waiting room. After the transfer, I went by myself for a one-on-one consult with the ICU General Internist - Dr. Jennifer Alexander. Can I tell you that once more, God provided a glimmer of hope. Although she was not quite familiar with Jeremy's disease, she had taken the time to briefly read about it before our arrival to the floor. I explained everything to her once more and saw her immediately begin to set her wheels into motion about how to properly address the most adequate care for my husband. The admitting nurse was named Jessica and she took such care to make sure I was secure in my settling in this room for the night.
The boys came back and had prayer with my family for the evening and then left. Zack came back with Abby about an hour later bringing me clothes and necessities to get us through the next few days and Abby sat with me because she knew I wouldn't sleep if I was alone. Every time a nurse comes in, I sit up because I want to know what they are doing. She sat up for me so I could rest. Again, the love of Christ radiating. I slept in 45 minute increments and then decided it wasn't worth it because I was still too distressed. Doctors began pouring in and the fishbowl that we were living in was unavoidable. Jeremy was the talk of the hospital. "Did you see the 29 year old who spiked 108? He's a miracle. There was no brain damage. His kidneys have returned to functioning!" This also was accompanied by nurses passing by our room and staring at him - I am not kidding.
About 7:30am, the next nurse took her shift and came in to begin some preliminary work with him. She shared with Abby and I that Jeremy shouldn't just be brain damaged, but he shouldn't be here at all. She didn't know anyone who had survived that high of a fever. Believer yet? You will be. As we wept with that reality, she also shared with us that the kidneys that had gone into failure had miraculously began to work again. He came in producing nothing and yet being pumped full of fluids. In that short amount of time, he began producing adequate amounts of fluids.
Jeremy began to arouse around 8ish and I was able to make eye contact with him and he acknowledged who I was. I shed a tear of joy. He faded again. About 8:30 he came around again and became aware of his restraints. I shared with him that he had been a little unhappy with being there, so we had to secure him to insure his stay. I shared with him that he had numerous tubes coming out of his body and I needed him to promise to not pull on them if I let him go. He told me he would be good and the nurse and I released him.
He received numerous guests early that morning and surprisingly conversed with Steve Tigner, a church member about putting. He remembers nothing from Tuesday or Wednesday. So you precious souls who came to love on us, I have told him a few times of your visit so your time there wasn't for naught. He later that morning had a neurological examination performed by Dr. Chin and passed with flying colors. AGAIN, A MIRACLE. He responded to vision and hearing stimuli as well as physical mobility. I was astonished.
He slept on and off throughout the day on Wednesday and concluded the evening with my explanation of what had transpired the evening before which left him silenced. He had asked how long he had to be there and I told him that they could keep him until October if they wanted because they saved his life.
Thursday, July 5: A new day begins. I slept about 4 hours the night before because of visits from the nurse and Jeremy detaching himself from the IV during the middle of the night. That was an ordeal - again one he does not remember and I am glad. ;0) However, my eyes were opened widely at 7am receiving a call from a NP from the NIH. We could now start making some further progress because we could finally get access to other medical records. Dr. Alexander took great caution to outsource many of Jeremy's conditions to specialist. As of date, we have seen a neurologist, 2 hematologists, an infectious disease specialist, a nephrologist, a gastro-intestinal specialist, along with a breathing specialist and numerous other consults. The NIH was very pleased with all that Harris had done with Jeremy and did not have any further suggestions. We did start getting test results back. None of the blood tests came back positive, but the culture on the PIC line revealed staph. This explained the convulsions. Every time I pushed his meds, I pushed this infection into his bloodstream. I felt horrible, but I have come to terms that it isn't my fault. God knew and God knew he needed someone to get that PIC line out.
Jeremy and I had a long talk about his current condition as I had to explain to him what had happened and I had to explain to him the most recent test results from Dr. Alexander. Thursday, we started to see residual effects from the high fever. The kidneys had completely repaired themselves and were functioning on their own thanks to intense flushing. However, the liver was beginning to fail and revealed itself as such with extremely elevated liver enzymes. His muscle enzymes were also elevated revealing damage. So again my prayer was big and specific for God to restore his liver and to do it by his personal touch on Jeremy's body. Jeremy and I took this as another hurdle and I surrendered again to God to heal him. I knew the specialist could set him up to a road of recovery, but I didn't know how. God did.
Long day of lots of doctors closed with Dr. Armstrong, our GI doctor coming in to explain how the liver was an innocent bystander of this traumatic event. He felt fully confident that this organ can and would repair itself after the infection began to push it's way out of the body. Jeremy had many good things come about on Thursday though besides this news of hope from Dr. Armstrong. He made it through the entire day without a fever reducer whatsoever. I knew we were on our way to recovery.
Friday, July 6: Jeremy and I slept in until around 8:00 after another night of every 2 hours. I went to my doctor's appointment to visit with our baby via measurements and heart monitors. I returned to Jeremy visiting with his mother who had surprised him from South Carolina. The doctor came in and shared with us another bit of miraculous news. Jeremy's liver enzymes had dropped DRAMATICALLY and his blood platelet level was on the rise. She would most likely let him go to a room today. He also began his clear liquid diet for breakfast. Jeremy was struggling with congestion and so she prescribed a Mucinex for him.
Jeremy's grandparents arrived around lunch and we all visited. Around 3:30 they began to allow us to pack for the transfer and they had the paperwork already complete. Just before they were going to take him out of the room, Jeremy's mother found a large splotchy rash on his shoulder. There goes our exit ticket. Dr. Alexander wanted to continue to monitor him and said that he needed to stay. Jeremy took it well. In fact, he just rolled back over and went back to sleep. They gave him some Benadryl and it went away immediately. However, he is spending one more night in the ICU.
Tomorrow is anticipated transfer to room and physical therapy. I will keep you posted. Our dear friend, Judy McDonald, from Alabama asked that I sing this song to Jeremy today and I did. I believe it and I know you do to. If you didn't before, you do now.
My God is So Big
So Strong and So Mighty
There's nothing My God Cannot Do!
NOTHING!
Monday, July 2: Jeremy comes home from work to have lunch with his girls. He shares with me over lunch that he is all of the sudden not feeling so well. I told him that I would get him some medication and he declined. He called me around 3:00 and told me that he felt feverish and was coming home to crash for a little while. We settled him on the couch with a Tylenol and he slept for about an hour. He arose and felt somewhat better, but was still sluggish. We had dinner together as a family and eventually worked our way to our evening ritual. We usually put Emma down for bed with a series of steps and then immediately begin his nightly IV infusion. The infusion takes roughly an hour. As the hour began to close, Jeremy began to complain of a fever again. He began to shake VIOLENTLY. I got our heating pad and covered him with several blankets. He eventually vomited from the shaking and fever. The fever spiked to 104.1 and then broke. I left to go to the drugstore to get some Motrin and juice. Jeremy and I both decided that he must have a virus because this came on so quickly. We alternated Tylenol and Motrin throughout the night and he maintained around a 99.5 low grade fever.
Tuesday, July 3: Jeremy awakens me at 6:30 asking for blankets again. He was chilled, but not any where near the same shaking that he had the night before. I told him we were going to the doctor so that we could have a professional assessment. His fever spiked again to 103.7, so we packed the family up and headed to the doctor. Emma got to play with Jonathan and Katelyn for the morning while Mommy and Daddy went to the doctor. Dr. David treated Jeremy with caution and we are thankful for that because she does take such care for him. She decided not to risk writing off this fever as a viral infection and to instead attack it as if it were bacterial, just in case. Remember, with Jeremy, bacterial infections can become critical. She gave Jeremy a shot in the doctor's office of an antibiotic and sent us home with a prescription for doxycyclene. If you remember back in the lung infection and early back infection days, Jeremy was on doxy as we were still deciding as to whether this infection was bacterial or fungal. Doxy has a tendency to induce nausea and vomiting with Jeremy. So needless to say, we were not looking forward to this. ON the way to the doctor, we stopped at Sonic and bought Jeremy a large Sprite. He finished this by lunch time and crashed out on the couch still alternating Motrin and Tylenol.
Emma and Mommy decided to quarantine Daddy and we set up a playland downstairs. His fever moved between 99-102 throughout the day with moments of breaking off and on. He began to feel somewhat better and went downstairs to take a shower. He went back upstairs and Emma and I followed to go through our nighttime routine. After Emma went down, I proceeded to begin Jeremy's infusion again. Again, at the close of the infusion, Jeremy began convulsing violently complaining of fever chills. I took his temperature and it was 100.8 (note the placement of the decimal). So I was really concerned because I didn't think chills on this severity were normal for such a low grade fever. Then his lips began to turn purple. I called his mother and had her agree with me that it was time to go into the ER.
I called the Alexanders at 10:15 and asked that we bring Emma by on the way to the ER. Kristina offered to send one of them to get her. While I was getting Barney out for one more time and packing my purse to go to the ER, Jeremy arose from the couch and had a series of events that began to lead to a state of incoherency. Zack arrived and ran us out of the house and took care of everything for me - this includes getting my dog inside, getting my daughter and her bag packed for a night away, locking up and alarming my house. Have I ever told you guys how God continues to minister to me through people who SELFLESSLY and TIRELESSLY love on us with the love of the Lord? Amazing.
I drove somewhat speedily to the hospital and Jeremy's demeanor and alertness faded rapidly as we approached our local hospital. I feared coma or seizure, but not being a medical professional, I tried not to alarm myself because I didn't want to make it bigger than it was.
I arrived at the ER and ran around to heave my husband out of the car. His mobility was gone. There was a cluster of people standing outside of the doors to the ER who graciously came behind me and shut my car door as I carried my soaking wet husband into the ER. A kind officer took Jeremy's other side and helped me get him into triage. It was obvious to the people that he was already in a deep state of emergency. Let me tell you, this was the first of many small prayers running through my head that would be answered. I knew that waiting in the waiting room of the ER would be detrimental. I sat in triage with my no responsive husband FILLING OUT PAPERWORK. Oh you precious medical professionals, I think I would pay the extra money if you guys would help me find out a way in the ER for patients to receive treatment while dictating all of the crap that needs to be written out on all of those papers. I know insurance companies are to blame for most of it, but it is an ER!!! The E is for EMERGENCY. Ok, enough of that tangent for now.
Jeremy's condition RAPIDLY worsened in front of my eyes. He was sweating profusely and refused to let me get his sweatshirt off. His precious brothers, Clay and Zack, arrived shortly after I did and immediately went to work for us. I am sorry, but I am welling up with tears as I stop to tell you this part. Jeremy had completely doused my passenger side on the way to the ER and Zack took my keys and proceeded to clean up my car so that it wouldn't sit in that state all night long. That is a friend. I know you will read this Zack and think nothing of it, but really. Your love for my family is a strong testimony to your love of the Lord. Than Clay joins me in triage and helps me fight Jeremy to get his sweatshirt off and holds his brother's head as he struggles to expel more liquids from his body orally. You must know that this also speaks volumes of the Love of Christ that radiates through Clay. First of all, he was ill with an infection in his eye and really needed to be home sleeping and second of all, he is a sympathy yacker. Yet, he made it through this event.
I decided to demand attention and strongly stated to the ER staff that it was imperative that he be seen IMMEDIATELY. They got him into a room and my husband was completely gone from the man that you know by now. As he fought to escape the grasp of the medical professionals and myself, they were able to wrangle him down and proceed with assessing his vital signs. His heart rate was at 200, his BP was incredibly low, and his fever had spiked to 108.0 (NOTE THE PLACEMENT OF THE DECIMAL). Did I lose it? No. I couldn't. How would God respond to a person in hysterics? How could I help my husband if I couldn't hold it together? I immediate began praying even harder. "Only you, Oh God, can restore him from this state. ONLY YOU, OH GOD, CAN SAVE HIM FROM THIS DESTRUCTION. I cannot. These professionals cannot. I give him to You and ask that you hold me through this so that I can be a tool for your use as you save him again. I ask that you not take him yet. His ministry is only beginning and we know that you have called him to do great things for your kingdom. Don't take this man of God! Don't take this willing vessel! Not for me. Not for Emma. Not for our baby. But for You, oh God! But God, if this is his time, than please, PLEASE, PLEASE don't make him suffer!"
I can quote you this prayer because I repeated it over and over again FOR HOURS. They packed Jeremy in ice and the Q&A began. You remember, my husband does not have a normal immune system. I declared this to the ER professionals immediately upon entry of the hospital. I had to explain his condition to them about 5 different times. This quickly put them on edge. I could see the fear and concern in their eyes because they knew his condition was traumatic. I had to give his medical history along with explain what was going on with this PIC line in his arm. They relocated Jeremy to an OR in the ER and decided quickly to go ahead and remove the PIC line. This was after they had poked him numerous times to try and find a vein to begin meds and IV fluids for this severely dehydrated man. (Remember that sprite I told you about earlier? He had that and a Gatorade over the course of the entire day)
I have to admit that when the removed the PIC line, I winced - not because it was gross, but because I saw the progress we had made disappear with the fungal infection. They wheeled Jeremy down the hall for x-rays and a CT scan so they could assess the damage done to his brain from the heat of the fever. We got to the X-ray when your author stupidly remembered - All of the Sudden - I can't be here. I'M PREGNANT. They than ushered me back down the hall and my heart began to ache because I couldn't be with him. He was sedated though and didn't know where I was, so I had to take that satisfaction. X-rays came back with splotches, but I told them that they really needed to compare them to other x-rays. You see, Jeremy has lots of scar tissue in his lungs from previous infections. To an unknowing eye though, they appear to be spots of infection. Here's where it gets even better. It's after midnight. What day does that make it my friends? That's right - INDEPENDENCE DAY! Hooray! Government holiday! Did I mention the National Institute of Health is a government funded facility. So to wait until the start of a workday for this information would mean to wait until THURSDAY! So once again, I had to pray to the Lord to maintain them with wisdom on how to treat him until then.
Jeremy returned and would come in and out of sedation. His fever dropped to 105.1 and then about an hour later it dropped to 103.7. Can I tell you how happy I was to see that number on a thermometer. Than God began to give me glimmers of hope. His CT scan came back NORMAL. My husband maintained NO NOTABLE brain damage from this astronomical fever. Believer? You will be.
Wednesday, July 4: We eventually get to a state where we are ready to admit Jeremy to the ICU there at Harris Southwest. Did I mention that Clay, Zack and Randal were still there and were pretty much holding it together with me through this enormously trying time. They walked my frail pregnant body along with Jeremy's frail dehydrated body up to ICU. I know that I could have done this alone, but I don't know how except for added strength from the Lord. They were the added strength that got me through this and their love for my husband is phenomenal. Believe me gentleman, I have made Jeremy very aware of your sacrifice and his heart wept with gratitude.
They had some difficulty switching Jeremy from the gurney to the ICU bed and it was best that they left me in the waiting room. After the transfer, I went by myself for a one-on-one consult with the ICU General Internist - Dr. Jennifer Alexander. Can I tell you that once more, God provided a glimmer of hope. Although she was not quite familiar with Jeremy's disease, she had taken the time to briefly read about it before our arrival to the floor. I explained everything to her once more and saw her immediately begin to set her wheels into motion about how to properly address the most adequate care for my husband. The admitting nurse was named Jessica and she took such care to make sure I was secure in my settling in this room for the night.
The boys came back and had prayer with my family for the evening and then left. Zack came back with Abby about an hour later bringing me clothes and necessities to get us through the next few days and Abby sat with me because she knew I wouldn't sleep if I was alone. Every time a nurse comes in, I sit up because I want to know what they are doing. She sat up for me so I could rest. Again, the love of Christ radiating. I slept in 45 minute increments and then decided it wasn't worth it because I was still too distressed. Doctors began pouring in and the fishbowl that we were living in was unavoidable. Jeremy was the talk of the hospital. "Did you see the 29 year old who spiked 108? He's a miracle. There was no brain damage. His kidneys have returned to functioning!" This also was accompanied by nurses passing by our room and staring at him - I am not kidding.
About 7:30am, the next nurse took her shift and came in to begin some preliminary work with him. She shared with Abby and I that Jeremy shouldn't just be brain damaged, but he shouldn't be here at all. She didn't know anyone who had survived that high of a fever. Believer yet? You will be. As we wept with that reality, she also shared with us that the kidneys that had gone into failure had miraculously began to work again. He came in producing nothing and yet being pumped full of fluids. In that short amount of time, he began producing adequate amounts of fluids.
Jeremy began to arouse around 8ish and I was able to make eye contact with him and he acknowledged who I was. I shed a tear of joy. He faded again. About 8:30 he came around again and became aware of his restraints. I shared with him that he had been a little unhappy with being there, so we had to secure him to insure his stay. I shared with him that he had numerous tubes coming out of his body and I needed him to promise to not pull on them if I let him go. He told me he would be good and the nurse and I released him.
He received numerous guests early that morning and surprisingly conversed with Steve Tigner, a church member about putting. He remembers nothing from Tuesday or Wednesday. So you precious souls who came to love on us, I have told him a few times of your visit so your time there wasn't for naught. He later that morning had a neurological examination performed by Dr. Chin and passed with flying colors. AGAIN, A MIRACLE. He responded to vision and hearing stimuli as well as physical mobility. I was astonished.
He slept on and off throughout the day on Wednesday and concluded the evening with my explanation of what had transpired the evening before which left him silenced. He had asked how long he had to be there and I told him that they could keep him until October if they wanted because they saved his life.
Thursday, July 5: A new day begins. I slept about 4 hours the night before because of visits from the nurse and Jeremy detaching himself from the IV during the middle of the night. That was an ordeal - again one he does not remember and I am glad. ;0) However, my eyes were opened widely at 7am receiving a call from a NP from the NIH. We could now start making some further progress because we could finally get access to other medical records. Dr. Alexander took great caution to outsource many of Jeremy's conditions to specialist. As of date, we have seen a neurologist, 2 hematologists, an infectious disease specialist, a nephrologist, a gastro-intestinal specialist, along with a breathing specialist and numerous other consults. The NIH was very pleased with all that Harris had done with Jeremy and did not have any further suggestions. We did start getting test results back. None of the blood tests came back positive, but the culture on the PIC line revealed staph. This explained the convulsions. Every time I pushed his meds, I pushed this infection into his bloodstream. I felt horrible, but I have come to terms that it isn't my fault. God knew and God knew he needed someone to get that PIC line out.
Jeremy and I had a long talk about his current condition as I had to explain to him what had happened and I had to explain to him the most recent test results from Dr. Alexander. Thursday, we started to see residual effects from the high fever. The kidneys had completely repaired themselves and were functioning on their own thanks to intense flushing. However, the liver was beginning to fail and revealed itself as such with extremely elevated liver enzymes. His muscle enzymes were also elevated revealing damage. So again my prayer was big and specific for God to restore his liver and to do it by his personal touch on Jeremy's body. Jeremy and I took this as another hurdle and I surrendered again to God to heal him. I knew the specialist could set him up to a road of recovery, but I didn't know how. God did.
Long day of lots of doctors closed with Dr. Armstrong, our GI doctor coming in to explain how the liver was an innocent bystander of this traumatic event. He felt fully confident that this organ can and would repair itself after the infection began to push it's way out of the body. Jeremy had many good things come about on Thursday though besides this news of hope from Dr. Armstrong. He made it through the entire day without a fever reducer whatsoever. I knew we were on our way to recovery.
Friday, July 6: Jeremy and I slept in until around 8:00 after another night of every 2 hours. I went to my doctor's appointment to visit with our baby via measurements and heart monitors. I returned to Jeremy visiting with his mother who had surprised him from South Carolina. The doctor came in and shared with us another bit of miraculous news. Jeremy's liver enzymes had dropped DRAMATICALLY and his blood platelet level was on the rise. She would most likely let him go to a room today. He also began his clear liquid diet for breakfast. Jeremy was struggling with congestion and so she prescribed a Mucinex for him.
Jeremy's grandparents arrived around lunch and we all visited. Around 3:30 they began to allow us to pack for the transfer and they had the paperwork already complete. Just before they were going to take him out of the room, Jeremy's mother found a large splotchy rash on his shoulder. There goes our exit ticket. Dr. Alexander wanted to continue to monitor him and said that he needed to stay. Jeremy took it well. In fact, he just rolled back over and went back to sleep. They gave him some Benadryl and it went away immediately. However, he is spending one more night in the ICU.
Tomorrow is anticipated transfer to room and physical therapy. I will keep you posted. Our dear friend, Judy McDonald, from Alabama asked that I sing this song to Jeremy today and I did. I believe it and I know you do to. If you didn't before, you do now.
My God is So Big
So Strong and So Mighty
There's nothing My God Cannot Do!
NOTHING!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Powell Almighty
(Where it all began - the wall behind the refrigerator is this first picture. The change in paint color is where the wall is beginning to dry from the water spraying up from the hose that was on the ground. Yes, that is above our cabinets, above our pantry door)
(image 2 - Jeremy is taking a picture of the water leaking out of the foundation in the back of our house. The left non-brick area is our FIREPLACE. The wall is our living room connecting to the masterbedroom)
I realize in my random postings that I have not been able to share with all of you our destruction that has been brought upon our home. Most of you are familiar that our house was drastically remodeled on May 4th. However, many of you have not had the blessing of seeing the pictures. Let me tell you why I feel that even now is a good time to share. You see the demolition that has been done to our home in order to restore it has been left at just that. We are still in demolition mode. It is now July 4th - 2 MONTHS LATER. We have battled our insurance company to receive reasonable financial support from them. We have been through several different estimates of both construction and flooring professionals. We have written numerous letters to the company, and I will refrain from stating whom represents us because I will attempt to not be slanderous.
(This watermark is at our back door - about 15 feet from the refrigerator.)
Finally, this week, I nagged for another time and explained that we have not received any word from them in 4 weeks concerning my request for more $$ or my request for compensation for personal damage. The gentleman who is administrating the ordeal actually apologized and sent an apologetic gift to the Powell family because they had dropped the ball on our claim. I told him that I appreciated that acknowledgement, but more than anything, I just want my home back to normal.
(Our staircase leading upstairs is carpeted. You can see where the waterline was on the staircase was off of our main entryway. It is also about 15-20 feet away from the source of the leak.)Many of the pictures you will see will be difficult to distinguish where the damage is because the water is either already vacuumed up or is hard to see. The flooring you will see in these pictures is no longer present. The majority of our 1st floor is just concrete foundation. In fact today, Emma and I spent much of our time on a picnic spread downstairs as Daddy recuperated upstairs from a violent virus. I want my house back.
(This wall is parallel to the entry way, but it is the garage side of the wall. Here you can see where the water was pouring through into our garage. It ran all the way out of the garage door. Hence why I thought something had spilled in the garage at first before entering the house)
We should be seeing some improvements in the next 2 weeks. :) We are thankful for our Noah-like experience.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
It's A Girl!
Today was a monumental occasion for the Powell family as we were blessed to find the sex of our new addition to our family. Below you will find the other pictures of our angel as she is growing in her mommy's tummy. All organs and limbs were perfectly proportioned and she is guestimated to be weighing in at 9 ounces right now. Unfortunately, I have gained more than that, but she needs the extra padding. Hee hee! All of her tests came back negative (for downs and such) and the estimated time of arrival is sometime between November 11-15. We were ecstatic to hear such news. As many of you might already know, a very special date falls within that window. My mother passed away on the 14 of November and now it comes full circle. Around the same time, we will add a new lady to our family that will blossom into a wonderful and loving girl.
How is Jeremy, you might ask? Fine. He says that he is already defeated. He now is whipped by 2 little girls and Mommy. The poor dog cannot count because he is no longer a true male. As long as one of them will play some sport, he will be fine. Jeremy keeps forgetting, though I may be very feminine, I spent a large portion of my child rearing in the barn, at the creek, or on the ball field/court. I think one, if not both of our girls will give him a chance to teach someone to throw and catch. If not, maybe we try for another. hee hee!
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