Update from the hospital

Thank you all for your continual prayers. It's been a long week and my spirits are better but I'm still ready to go home. We are still waiting for the test cultures to come back and show what infection I have and what meds should work. I think I have been labeled one of the difficult patients on the floor but like Jason says I just have some spark. (More like loose wires going crazy!) I am so thankful to have my sister here though, she has been taking care of Faith and bringing in down here so I can spend time with my sweetie. I'm also thankful for God's mercy towards me and giving me grace when I don't deserve it. He has given me some good verses of hope. Thanks again for everything you all do! We are hopeful to be going on by this weekend.

~Emily

"We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed." 2 Cor. 4:8-9

"So do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised." Heb. 10:35-36

In the hospital

We continue to need your prayers. I am in the hospital again but in Birmingham this time. My doctor in Cullman was out for a missions trip so my only other option was to call our doctor in Birmingham (CF clinic). And of course they require their patients to be in the hospital for several days while on I.V's. I have been very blessed or spoiled in doing my I.V's at home so I hate having to be in the hospital. (It seems so pointless to me) I think infection has set in again and so it's good that I'm getting on meds again but it's just been a very discouraging day and I feel very weary in every aspect. Please pray for me as I always have such a hard time being away from Faith, pray the meds help and that I can go home soon on home I.V's, and pray for Jason and Callie as they go through all of this too. Despite the hard day we still have lots to be thankful for, we have been blessed.

Thank you for your support and prayers.....Hope you and your families are doing well and had a good Thanksgiving!

~Emily

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