Post-Op

Jesus, Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus! This is all I can think of. Literally, so much stress and burdens have been lifted off our shoulders today. We had a sleepless night because Maddie has the flu and was throwing up all night and Mollie just didn't sleep good. We got to the hospital as scheduled and Mollie was visibly uncomfortable. The most difficult part for her was that she couldn't eat or drink anything this morning. We have had an overwhelming support system through this ordeal and it was no different this morning. Friends and family were there praying and caring the entire time. Mollie went back for surgery at 10:15...I must say it was very emotional to hand her off to strangers but they did take very good care of her. Promptly at 11:00 they called us back to visit with the doctor about the procedure. He walked in with a smile and I felt some relief already. He said that he was almost certain it wasn't lymphoma. Sing prasies to Jesus. What a relief. He said that the node was very large (more than he was expecting but that he was able to get it all out). He said that when he pulled it out some puss came with it which may seem gross but it is a good sign because it signifies that it is infecious and not cancerous. He said that he thought it is Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria....long name but treatable with a different type of antibiotics or possibly just by leaving it alone. The doctors said that the official results would come back on Thursday. We are beyond happy about the way it all went. She has been sleeping all day since we left the hospital....I hope that she sleeps tonight but she has been through the ringer and deserves some rest. I haven't been able to look at the incision yet because it is covered up. The doctor said he did the best he could to make it as small as possible so I am sure it will be just fine.
Thank you for all the prayers, comments, calls, texts, and presence at the hospital. God has provided so much for us and just as I knew he would he was with us 100% of the way. We have to give him all the glory for the amazing outcome today. I am continuing to pray that the lab results will come back with what the doctor told us today and that no other surprises will be presented. Thank you again. We are one happy family glorifiying God for his blessings.

Also, Maddie is feeling better today. No more throw up and her fever has been gone for almost 12 hours now. Isn't God just wonderful. The weather outside is symbolic of the hope he gives after a trial. Sunday we saw snow and winter weather and here we are today with sunshine warm rays and songs from birds. I love you, Jesus!


This picture is from last week when we went to the Daffodil farm. Look at all the wonderful things God has already done through her life. I can't wait to see what he is going to continue to do.

and the ENT said...

The whole morning has been crazy. Mollie was in a terrible mood this morning, crying, whining, throughing fits. I prayed with Maddie that she would calm down and be receptive to the doctor's exam. God answered and as soon as the doctor walked in she chilled out and let him check her out. He checked ears, throat, measured the node all without crying. God is wonderful. He was really able to look at her without having to fight her. He expressed concern over size and the way it feels. He said that he would like to do a biopsy to determine the underlying cause but with her age it was impossible to get enough cells to really run tests. He wants to test her for lymphoma. He feels like things should come back as non cancerous but he wants to make sure and be very thurough. I appreciate that because at this point I don't want to take chances. So in order to be able to run tests on the lymph nodes he scheduled us for surgery to remove one lymph node. Surgery is set for TOMORROW! He said there is no reason to wait any longer and that he wanted to get this ball rolling to figure this all out. He was a great doctor and we just felt he had her best interest at heart. So we are gearing up for surgery and all that it entails.

Please pray for good results ( no lymphoma) wisdom for the doctor, peace, and rest. We are continuing to praise God because he has been so faithful. He has provided a wonderful doctor who is really taking steps to figuring this out without the big waiting game.

Also, please pray for Maddie. She fell to pieces twice at the doctor's office all because she was so worried for her sister. It was the kindest and most gentle heartedness emotions. Maddie has also come down with fever today, runny nose and sore throat. She is complaining of headaches too. We are worried about her too and just want her to feel well and not worry.

God has given us two wonderful gifts and I am trying to show them God's love through all of this. I am trying to be the example of turning to Him to find strength and I pray that they will see that he is the way to get through any trial.

God is so good

God is soooo good. After I posted about Mollie's update Trey's aunt heard about our situation and it turns out that she actually works at that office. She found out about a recent cancellation and got us in the spot. So now Mollie goes to the ENT on Monday morning at 8am. Isn't it wonderful how God works! It is so refreshing and reassuring in every aspect. He is keeping his hand on our family. He has given me peace beyond understanding. I know that we are taking steps closer to solving this problem. I am so thankful for His love...as he has wrapped our family in His love we have also felt the prayers and love of so many others. Thank you. I know that through all of this we will be brought closer to Him and be given the opportunity to spread His love to others. Please pray for the doctors to have wisdom as to what to do for Mollie, please pray that Mollie can tolerate all of this and even though she doesn't understand it all that she will be able to relax and cooperate.

The next step...

Yesterday we went back to the doctor for Mollie because her Cat Scratch Fever test results were negative. They immediately put her on a different antibiotic on Friday to try to fight what they thought was an infection. Well, the antibiotic has not done any good. The lumps are still the same size. The doctor checked her out again and then told us he felt like it was beyond him at this point and that we needed to go to an ENT. He reviewed the blood work again and confirmed again that he did not believe it to be cancer, Praises to our Savior for that wonderful news. The doctor felt like it was probably some type of cysts growing on or around her lymph nodes. Due to their size he said that he thought the ENT would probably do biopsy's and then remove them surgically. This all seems so scarey but God has granted me an amazing peace about it...I didn't even cry when he told us! I had already decided to get a second opinion at this point and so it was conformation to me when he decided to refer us. God has protected her all this time I have no reason to believe that he would ever stop. I am scared to see her go through surgery but if this will help her get better then we can get through it. Not to mention this is just what our pedi said he THOUGHT would happen but he didn't know for sure. Actually it could all turn into something maybe even easier. We are making steps closer to resolution and that is reassuring. I called the ENT today to get in and they won't see us for three weeks. I am hoping for a cancellation so we can get in earlier. This has been ongoing for 6 weeks already and I don't like the idea of waiting longer. Nonetheless, God is in control. Please continue to pray for Mollie, the doctor's, our family, Maddie, and most of all that God's glory would be shown to all involved.



Signing off with a sweet smile from Mollie...

A lot of words and no pictures but straight from my heart.

***This is not ment to say who is or isn't a friend to me it is just what I have been thinking about and what I am thankful for. Please don't take it as more than that. I think everyone can relate in some type of way to what I am trying to say.***

What is a friend? No, really think about it for a few minutes. What is a friend? I have always considered myself to have lots of friends. I am not trying to sound egotistical or toot my own horn but just plainly that I have lots of friends. Facebook says I have hundreds of friends, literally hundreds. Nonetheless, I ask myself a lot of times what is a friend. So as I have grown I think my definition of a friend has changed over time. In elementary school everyone is your friend. Even the teacher says, "Okay, friends now it is time to line up." "Please be nice to our friends in line." You get the picture. Basically if they aren't a stranger they are a friend. So maybe the first ammendment to the friend definition comes along with early adolscence. As I began to spend time with limited people and we would venture to each other's houses, go to the mall, more or less share similar passions or have commonalities in life like sports. Which I think is a true statement about friendships and even spouses for that matter. It is usually things your share in common that bring you together. I wouldn't say that you could put a definition to friendship through the teen years. As all the hormones rage through your system friendship seems to be a rollercoaster ride. Friends with someone one week and then not the next. Not that I didn't have any friends through this time in my life but it seems like the groups of friends changed so often. I did have some very important friends in my life whom I share precious memories with. I think this time is when friends truely influence and shape you. You know the ones that your parents want you to spend more time with because they are "good" friends. My mom always told me that you don't always maintain the friendships of your HS days and that is somewhat true in my life. I have a small cluster of friends from that time in my life that I hold close to my heart but the majority has moved on as well. Then onto a college definition of friendship. As your idea is completely rocked upon moving, figuring out so many things for yourself, determining careers, dating (seriously) and entering the real world. I discovered a lot about real friendship...some friends you just can't live with which is a big strain, some friends only are friends when they want something, some friends just want to be friends when they don't have a significant other. Can you relate to any of these? I know I can and there are so many more. For example, there are those friends that you can sit up with all night and watch movies and laugh for hours, those friends that you cannot of spoken to for so long but you just pick up right where you left off, or the type that seems to just be on the same page as you about beliefs, desires, and wants. I don't think that I have nailed down a definition for friends or even friendship yet because I think as I keep growing or maybe aging is a better word it will continue to change. However, I do believe that friends are hard to find. Sure I know lots of people and hang out with countless people on a regular basis as I am sure most do, but when it comes down to a true friend there is only a few that I would bestow that title to. The ones that will speak the truth to you even when it is hard to hear, that come to your side in tough hard times and don't even have to say anything but just be there with you, laugh about all the silly things we think and do, pray with you and for you, understand, love your children as their own. God has placed several people in my life that do this and so much more. They are so important to me. I try to be the friend to them that they have been to me and I can't think of any other people that I would rather spend time with. As I ponder and am thankful for their friendship I must admit who the true friend is, whose friendship never fails, who always listens, would drop anything to be there for me, understands me completely and is the perfect example of a friend, even died for me because they loved me so much. I am the luckiest person to have a friend like Jesus. He sets the standard for friendship. He established what a real friend is and does. No one can meet the same standards and that is why my relationship with him is unparralleled. My friendship with him is number one and as much as friends matter none matter as much as him. Thank you Jesus for also giving us friends here on Earth as we pass through. They help us so much and are a reminder of your love.
Tell your friends what they mean to you today and be thankful for those valuable relationships. You may have lots that are near and dear to you or just a few that hold that special place in your heart. I know in my life it is just a few.

Results are in...

The doctor called this morning and when I saw that it was them my heart stopped. I have been so nervous waiting for this call. I have been praying that the results would be positive and that she would have Cat Scratch Fever and we would be well on our way to recovery. Well, God decided to take us in a different direction. They said the results were negative. I was floored. They initially told us to wait 6-8 weeks and we would see what would happen. Remember though we have already waited 5 weeks with nothing positive happening in terms of health. I told the nurse that the doctor informed me he would want to see us right away if the results were negative. So she graciously made an appointment for next Wednesday. Yes, I have cried so much because I am so worried about my little baby. No one knows what is wrong. I am finding peace in Jesus though. I called Trey to let him know and he could sense my anxiety. He took it upon himself to call the doctor because they are personal friends. He wasn't working today so he was easy to reach. He confirmed that we wanted to see her again and that we was going to put her on a different antibiotic. He also told us that after reviewing her blood work the positive thing is that her white blood cell count wasn't all out of whack so they don't think that it is any blood born problem like cancer. Praises to Jesus! He is already answering my prayers. Even though we still don't know what is wrong there is some relief with that news. I love you Jesus! Please keep praying for our family as we face this trial. Please pray that Jesus name would be glorified and his light would be seen through all of this.

Cat Scratch...what?

It has been beautiful around here lately and we have been enjoying so much time outside. I have two sweet girls and seeing them swing, slide, drive the car around the yard, dance and glow in the sunshine has been so much fun. We are definitely glad that spring is right around the corner. God has been revealing a lot to me lately and right now leaning on him as been the main topic of choice. About a month ago my little baby, Mollie who is 19 months old, woke up with a swollen lymph node. I thought it was strange because she didn't have fever or any other symptoms. I kept an eye on it all day and pointed it out to my husband. We decided to go ahead and call the doctor to see what they thought. They told us as long as there was no fever she was fine but that she would probably eventually get sick. Needless to say, four weeks went by and she never got sick but the lymph node has been getting bigger and bigger. Yes, I definitely called several times again to see if we should be worried. They kept telling us no. Well last week we finally decided it was time for them to actually look at it instead of us describing it to them on the phone. As soon as the doctor saw her he looked concerned. He gave her a thurough examine and then decided that she should have some blood work. You can imagine how that went. Trying to get blood out of a 19 month old was not so easy. The sweetest thing about the ordeal was that my eldest, Maddie who is 5, expressed concern about them taking sisters blood. We decided we would pray for her right then. It was such a sweet, innocent, and beautiful prayer. Once the drawing of blood commensed Mollie was bawling, I was fighting tears back, and the nurse was fishing with a needle in her little arm. It was aweful!!! Then, I heard my big girl hiding in the corner crying her eyes out for her little sister who was in pain. So there we were all three of us girls crying in the doctor's office. I am sure they thought we were all pathetic but I didn't care I wanted my babies to be okay. God wrapped is loving arms around us and just held us all so close to his heart.

The doctor thinks that this swollen lymph node which by the way is the size of a golf ball on her neck is the result of Cat Scratch Fever. However, he won't know until 2 weeks. We are treating it like it is and then we will be two weeks ahead of the game if the results come back positive. I am praying that it is positive because the treatment is simple and there will be no lasting effects. The doctor told me that if it wasn't Cat Scratch Fever she would have to come back in to be re-examined and then further evaluated to decide what the next course of action. My mind can sometimes jump to the worst but I am trying hard to stay positive. I am leaning on God as he is my absolute strong hold and foundation. I know that no matter what happens he will carry us through. It has made me feel stressed seeing her like this but the good is that it doesn't hurt her. The meds have caused her not to want to eat and to have severe runny poop, and not to mention she is getting three teeth at the same time. She is having a hard go but she is trying so hard to be in a good mood. She is just so cuddly and cute. Please pray for Mollie to find comfort, rest, and for her tests to be positive. Nothing is too big for my God and I know that he is all powerful.