It's been a long time since I've posted a blog, but this has been a semester of tremondous upheaval. First, I was completely overloaded--I taught 10 classes (5 on campus and 5 distance ed). I realized this almost isn't humanly possible (I say almost because I did manage to pull it off--well, perhaps I should wait to make this claim until after I read my student evaluation of instruction). Perhaps the biggest hurdle to overcome was the birth of my grannddaughter, Avery. She had reconstructive heart surgery less than 24 hours after her birth, then her bilirubin was very high (she looked like a little pumpkin for a while!); then, she had liver issues and the doctors suspected biliary atresia, which can be fatal. Next, it was discovered she has hyperinsulinism, which is extremely rare; only about 80 cases per year in the entire country are diagnosed. On top of that, she began to aspirate her milk to her lungs, so the doctors had to put in a G-button. However, through all of this God's hand was at work, and He performed so many miracles! It is such a blessing that we have Avery--every difficulty has only strengthened our faith.
Currently, we're dealing with another health issue concerning Avery. She's back in Cooks Children's Hospital (she's actually been in more than she's been out!) because she contracted a head cold which turned into aspiration pneumonia. She actually had to be transported to Cooks via ambulance because she turned blue and stopped breathing momentarily. She's also developed severe reflux, which actually triggered her breathing episode. Now, the doctors are going to add another tube which bypasses her stomach altogether. This will stop the reflux and help prevent another breathing episode that actually caused her bronical tubes to swell shut, but it will also mean that she will have to go on a schedule of continous feeding; she'll be connected to her feeding tube 24/7. The good news is that the doctors say she will outgrow all of this--none of these things are permanent. God is so good!
Watching Avery over the past couple of months, I wonder how those who don't know Christ cope with such extreme adversity comes their way. I know that it only by the grace of God that my family has been able to get through all of this. My prayer for my family is that God will continue to minster healing to Avery, Addison, and her parents. I know that my faith has been strengthened in all of this; God has given me strength and a peace that would not otherwise have been possible. I have heard His voice in the dark of night and through scripture.
For the next year, I pray that God's peace and healing will permeate not only my family, but the lives of everyone around me. I know that I pray more ernestly for those who are hurting as a result of my experience with Avery. It's amazing how difficult situations make you more sensitive to the needs of those around you. I pray that my students know that when I say I'm keeping them in my prayers--I'm really keeping them in my prayers!
It actually feels good to write again, even if this post is a bit rambling--stream-of-consciousness is a perfectly acceptable mode of writing. My plan is to do more writing this semester; I want to post on my blogsite regularly. I also plan to begin working on more academic writing. Perhaps actually putting my goals in writing will help me move forward with them. Reading is also going to become a priority; I enjoy it and I haven't been able to read much over the last year.
Finally, I would like to close this post with this prayer for the new year:
Father,
I give you thanks that You are who you say you are, and You do what you say you'll do. I thank you for bringing health and peace to my family and to each of my students. Help each of us, dear Lord, to be more attuned to Your voice, to spend more time in prayer and in Your Word. Open our hearts to the needs of those around us, and use each of us to be a blessing to those we come into contact with. Thank you, Father, for loving us and surrounding us with a hedge of protection. May we each walker closer to You in the coming year.
Amen
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