Ups and Downs

Up and down is the best way I can describe our last few weeks.  We have had some very great and fun times but some challenges as well.   I will attempt to recap our last two weeks of life; the good, the bad and the ugly and also how God has been faithful to take care of us!

Up:
We drove to Texas for a wedding.
We had the privilege of being a part of our dear friend, Valerie's, wedding day.
Adah and Layla were the flower girls and I read scripture at the ceremony.  It was lovely.  I don't think I've ever been to a more beautiful wedding.  Val thought of everything!  We enjoyed being with her family and meeting her hubby, Brian.
Second half to this "up" was a pit stop at Derek's sister's house in Texas.  It was so fun to see her, the kids and their new house.  We stayed one night with them and we all (8 kids and 3 adults) went out for dinner.  It was short but so good to see them and where they live.  Corinne also came to the hotel so she could help watch the girls during the reception! What a fun time for the girls to be with their aunt!  Thanks Aunt Corinne!!

Down:
While at Derek's sisters, he got sick with what we thought (at the time) was the stomach flu.  Blah! I felt so bad for him.  I wasn't sure what we were going to do.  We still had another hour to drive to get to the wedding and he was very sick in bed.  I have never seen my husband that sick! Praise God he was able to get out of bed and take us to the rehearsal dinner.  He stayed on and off sick for the rest of our time.
Let's just say it was a very long 18+ hour drive home, but as you can see, Adah made the most of her time!!!  Layla woke up less than happy about this! :)  We thought it was hilarious!

Up:
Layla's 6th birthday!

Down:
Daddy was out of town for the day.  He tries so hard to be here for our little girl's special things, but sometimes he has no control over his own schedule.  So, last minute, he headed out for business.  Praise God for technology {most days}.  We were able to Face Time him in the morning and he watched her open her gifts and see her birthday table and even enjoy a donut with us!


Up:
Daddy made it back safely from his business trip. 
He arrived home about 1 A.M. Saturday morning from a long trip.  He had still felt very sick off and on from being sick in Texas with what we thought was the flu.  But none the less, we were thrilled to have him home.


Down:
Derek was admitted into the hospital.
Only a few short hours after his arrival home, we headed to the walk-in clinic.  Derek woke up around 8 in the morning and was not doing well.  We decided that he had been sick long enough and something didn't seem right.  We dropped the girls off at our friend's house {thank you, Karen and Megan for caring for our littles!} and it didn't take them long to usher him to the ER.  Over the next few hours the doctors exhausted every possible idea of what they thought it was.  It was so hard to watch my strong, confident husband in the state he was in.  He was declining and fast!
Finally, as we were walking up to our hospital room, they came over to us with some results.  He has strep.  Strep?  What?  He didn't even have a sore throat or cough!  And strep can put a grown man out like this???  Apparently, in few cases, strep, if left too long, can attack your body. 
We just praise God for safety and healing!  We know Derek's life was spared by God's grace and great doctor care.
Derek was admitted into the hospital and stayed one night {should have stayed 2, but that's a whole other story!}. 


Up:
We did end on an up, thankfully! 
Derek made it to the birthday party!

Derek's major concern was missing his little girl's birthday party.  Since he had to be out of town for the day, he was set on making it to her party on Sunday.  Well, when the doctor came in on Sunday morning and "suggested" that he stay another night, Derek's face sunk.  He explained to the doctor that it was his daughter's birthday and the doctor was gracious and understanding.  He didn't say we had to stay he was just suggesting.  You guessed it, we were discharged on Sunday morning, went to the pharmacy and picked up his prescription, went home for a nap, picked up the girls and headed to the party place.  I really do think we are crazy!!!!
On our way out the door, our garage door broke, which sounds like it should be a down, but it is so cool how God worked.  Earlier, when I went to pick up the girls, Derek asked me to leave his car out of the garage so we could more easily pack the other car.  I thought, that's weird, we never do that and not to mention, it's raining.  But, Okay!  So, I left the car out and shut the garage door.  Praise God!  Our other car was stuck in the garage for a few days waiting to have the door fixed.  I am so thankful for a husband, even at death's door, that listened to the Lord's voice and I listened to him!

It has been a long few weeks! It really feels more like a few months.  Derek is still recovering and finally getting to almost 100%.  I'm grateful he was protected.  We did enjoy the wedding, time with his sister and kiddos and Layla's birthday.  It is so good to give thanks in the midst of trials.  We are thankful for our friends who took our girls at a moments notice.  We are thankful for our pastor that came and sat with me and prayed with us.  We are thankful for all the calls, texts and especially prayers on our behalf.  We are thankful for the meal that was brought to our family. 
We are just thankful!!!!