Praise

Hey everyone~

Just wanted to share a praise with you all. I went to the doctor on Wednesday and my left lung has re-expanded, praise the Lord. We just pray it will continue to stay up. I am now at the top of the list for my blood type so they are hopeful it will be soon. Thanks again for your prayers.......

Here are some pictures of our little ballerina and riding in the car.

Love~ Emily

A sweet ladybug

Hello Everyone~

Well, we had a very cute ladybug this year for Halloween. We went to the fall festival at our church and she was pretty overwhelmed by all the people, lights, and noises. She just sat frozen in her stroller for a while but then she loosened up when she found candy in her little bag and decided to eat through the paper to get to the candy. And as you can tell in the last picture she was pooped at the end of the night. It's hard being a cute ladybug.........

I went to the doctor yesterday and took another x-ray and found my left lung has collapsed again about 20%. The doctor didn't want to put another chest tube in if at all possible so she said if my pain continues to get worse then go in to the ER but hopefully it might heal by its self. Please pray God will heal the hole and my lung can re-expand by its self without the help of a chest tube again. Thanks for your prayers!

Love~ Emily

Staying another day....

Hey~

The doctor clamped the tube yesterday and was hopeful my lung would stay up so she could pull the tube today and I could go home but there was a little bit of a pnuemothroax (collapse) still in the top part of my lung so she wants to go another day to see how it does. As much as I want the tube out I like the doctor want to make sure it's the right time to take it out. So, maybe tomorrow we will get to go home...........

I told Jason I hope the next time I have a chest tube is when I have my transplant. (Which they tell me I will have 6!) All I have to say is they better have some REALLY good pain medicine! Well, we will keep you updated........

~Emily

Hospital update

We have been in the hospital a week today but I think I'm slowly making progress. The doctor took off the suction on my chest tube tonight so we will see if my lung can stay up without it, if it can they will then clamp the tube for 24 hrs and see how the lung does and then maybe pull it out. The doctor wants to make sure it is totally closed up before she pulls the tube! Which I fully agree, don't want to have to re-insert the tube if at all possible! Thankfully Jason is still here and I think he will head back to TX on Saturday because my mom is coming in for a couple of days. Thank you all for your encouraging e-mails, phone calls and prayers! Love ya......

Love~Em

In the hospital

Hi to all~

Well I'm sure word has got around I am back in the hospital. Christie (sister in-law) took me to the ER last night due to more pain in my chest and not being able to breathe. My left lung collapsed again but 30% this time and so I had to get a chest tube. It was a very draining night emotionally and physically to say the least and I know it was the prayers of so many of you and the Lord's mercy that got me through last night because I had nothing left. Thankfully the lung re-expanded when the doctor put in the tube but now it is a waiting game like last time until the hole closes up. Jason flew in today and my mother in-law is here helping with Faith so we have good support. Having the chest tube should not effect me going through with the transplant if it should come soon. We just continue to try to focus on all our blessings and believe God to walk us through this very difficult journey. Though my body is ready to have "new" lungs I try to treasure the time in waiting too, more time with my baby girl, time with my sister and always learning new things from the Lord. I also can't help but think my waiting might have something to do with my donor or their family. God might not be done working in their lives and finishing His plan for them. When it gets really hard it helps to remember I can only see one side of the coin but God sees all and just like a puzzle He fits and works through our lives and the people that intertwine with ours. I have had my share of tears this week but again I appreciate your prayers and support to us. Your e-mails, phone calls and prayers really do mean so much! We'll keep you posted on how things are going.........love you all!

Love~ Emily

Pumpkin Patch

We got to go to the pumpkin patch on Saturday and pick out the perfect pumpkin. Faith enjoyed pulling the pumpkin seeds out and of course tried to taste them. I found her with some slimy pumpkin stuff in her mouth!

I'm doing ok, my left lung continues to give me pain and shortness of breathe. Life can be heavy with all that is going on so I very much enjoy the times Faith and I get to go out and do some fun things. Her hugs, kisses, and smiles keep me going........We love you all!

love~ Em

Left lung collapsed

Hello to all~

I was walking out of church on Sunday with Faith and my left lung (the good one) collapsed for the first time. Praise the Lord it only went down 10% so I did not need a chest tube at this time but the doctor wanted to watch me for a couple of days just to make sure it doesn't get worse. We were disappointed this left lung didn't hang in there longer but I guess it once again shows me these lungs are giving out. The nurses were happy to see Faith again though! :-) We are hoping to go home today. Jason flew in late Sunday night so it's good to have him home. We know you all pray for us so we just wanted to keep you updated. Thanks for your prayers!

Love~ Em

It's fun to explore.....

I thought I would send some pictures of some of the busy activities Faith does throughout the day. As you can tell she is in the stage of exploring everything and leaving a nice tornado trail behind her. I know you must be thinking, "where is your mama while you are doing all of this?" Well lets just say as long as it is safe and keeps her entertained for the moment while I cook or try to do other things I am more then happy to let her have her fun. The life of a toddler is so busy, just wish I could transfer some of that energy to myself! Hope all is well with you and your families!

Love~ Emily

Happy 1st Birthday, Faith!

Well.......it's hard to believe we are already celebrating Faith's 1st birthday. God has been so good to us and we are just are so thankful to have this sweet, funny, silly & crazy little girl. We had a party for her last night and as you can tell she had lot's of cousins and friends to celebrate it with. She wasn't quite sure about her cake at first, she kept looking at me like, "Are you really going to let me eat this?" She would get a little bit of frosting on her finger and then suck it totally dry! She has NEVER had that much sugar before! It was a great party and lot's of fun but mama is little emotional about her baby growing up. =) I guess they all grow up whether we want them to or not. =)

It was good we had the party yesterday because today I had to go visit the ER again due to pain in my chest and so I am back on some IV's. My right lung has pretty well had it and so it has a very hard time fighting off any form of pneumonia or virus. Also, Jason heads back to TX tomorrow so we would appreciate your prayers for him and us. It's been a rough go in TX with the CFA there and it's going to take some time and a lot of hard work to get it in even some kind of order. The CFA store is in very bad shape and the crew there is NOT welcoming to Jason and Brandon so they could use your prayers.

Hope you and your family are doing well and thanks again for your love and support!

Love~Em

Our first call

Hey Everyone~

I know most of you got word today that we got our first transplant call. We got the call at 6:30 this morning so we headed to Birmingham and got there by 8:00. After some testing on me and the donor's lungs, the doctors decided to cancel due to the quality of the donor lungs. It has been a long and crazy day but we know your prayers were answered because the Lord gave us peace through it all. Yes, we were disappointed it didn't work out but we also know God has the right time and the right lungs for me. We are taking it as a practice round which is good. We now know what to expect and understand the process a little better. Pray the next time will be the real deal and hopefully sooner then later. Jason heads out to Tx on Saturday so I would appreciate your prayers as we get him ready. Thanks again for your support and prayers! Love you all!

~Emily & Jason