Tiny (Gigantic) Victories

Celebrating them keeps our focus positive.  It would be all too easy to allow the things that aren't wonderful about this time to overshadow those things that are.  We ride the rollercoaster that travels between anxiety and peace nearly every time the numbers on the monitor aren't what they should be.  We held our breaths when discussing removal of the LA/common atrial line this morning as it might've required a blood transfusion, or even a trip back into the OR.  Our lives are at a complete standstill, while life resumes for others.  I'm pretty sure I've gotten a collective total of 8 hours of sleep since Tuesday.

And we miss our little boy terribly, even though we've brought him in to visit Camdyn twice. 

But the tiny (gigantic) victories?  They're part of what keep us going.  Add them to all the prayers, love, support, encouragement, (and not to mention the fabulous meals), from all of you, and round it out with the faith, trust, and stillness of knowing God's plan is perfect...that He is sovereign...and that, my friends, is one "cup that overfloweth."

I try to remind myself that our circumstances are completely orchestrated by Him (like, there's a reason we didn't have a space at the Ronald McDonald House...we didn't need it!).  I am reminded of this by Oswald Chambers in "My Utmost For His Highest."

Oswald Chambers

God has called us to "¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thess. 5).  Our attitudes should not be dependent upon our circumstances.  We are not only to rejoice when things are going our way, but even when it seems like nothing is.  Why?  Because He is sovereign, gracious, merciful, steadfast.  Because He sent His son to die for each of us, wretched sinners that we are. Because our puzzle was designed by Him, and He is putting it together in a far better way than we could ever imagine. 

Today's victories have been exponential:

1. Her blood pressure has stabilized since being weaned off of the dopamine yesterday.

2. She's talking a lot more.

3. She's acting silly and feisty at times.

4. Her LA/common atrial line was removed without a stitch of complication.

5. She's drinking juice.

6. Her bubble blowing is massively improved over yesterday (shows lung strength).

7. She walked down and around one section of the PICU.

8. She sat in her chair for about an hour.

9. The drainage from her chest is still slowing, even though she's been up and around.

Please pray for these victories we've yet to overcome:

1. Her heart rate to return to a non-junctional rhythm, so the pacemaker does not have to be used anymore.  

2. Her left lung to regain its full strength and recover from being partially collapsed.

3. Her spirits to be lifted continually (it's working!!!)

4. For us to have wisdom, strength, and energy to aid in her care.

This has been a growing process, a practice in trust and right attitudes.  We knew this would be the most difficult of the three surgeries, for emotional reasons, simply because of her age.  But, we have five Big Red Heart Days under our belts, and we're thrilled to be on this side of the surgery date, and moving forward with her recovery process.  And we can't wait to get home and spend all that quality family time we've been looking forward to so so much.