Things Not Seen... Like Dinner a Second Time

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. Hebrews 11:1-2

This week was one of our toughest yet.  Mentally and physically draining but spiritually renewing.

The cardiologist did a heart cath this Tuesday on Zach to try to poke around for answers.  Graziano found that Zach's pressure in both of his superior vena cava are about double (24 points vs 12 points) what the doc would like it to be.  (Remember that the superior vena cava [sic] are what the surgeons rerouted bypassing the heart going into the pulmonary artery feeding the lungs.)  This could be the reason that Zach is leaking the chyle fluid because the pressure is too high for the fluid to transfer to the blood stream.

Needless to say, the docs told us this week that Zach will be in the hospital for weeks not days. The medical team then took the findings and decided that the best course of action is to continue Zachary on IV nutrition (TPN) and let the leak heal naturally; again.  Yes, this is the third time this strategy has been used on Zachary but this time things will be different... (insert witty sarcasm here)  The team has... decided... to... go... really... slow... when... they... make... any... changes... to... Zachary's... plan... hoping... that... time... will... help... him...  The other options that the team came up with are less than ideal.

How was that physically draining? Well, that was not, necessarily, but this next anecdote happened starting Monday night was...

Monday night, Becky went to hang with the Zach man, so I wanted to do something that continued to fulfill one of our family goals: Close relationship with our boys.  Relationship is often spelled: TIME.  So, I took advantage of the Christmas season and took Micah and Josiah to look at Christmas lights.  But, to be the cool dad, I gave them a cookie and made them each hot chocolate and put it in my coffee cups (because of the lid) so we could sip on something refreshing as we meandered around the valley.
We drove for about 2 hours listening to Christmas music and seeing some really cool lights when Micah said, "Daddy, I am done.  Can we go home?"  Absolutely buddy!  Drove home and put them to bed; Becky was now home and so we also went to bed.
About 2 am, Micah cried out, "Mommy!  I spit up!!"  Within the hour, Micah, Josiah and I were reliving all our previous meals (yes that was plural).  Becky would clean up one mess only to hear another person empty their stomach.  I underestimated the thrust I could produce!!
Micah and Josiah only vomited a couple of times.  I had the worst of it by far.  Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea made me kneel before my porcelain throne for long periods of time.  
So now it's Tuesday morning and Becky and I were planning on going to the hospital for the heart cath but now, I cannot stand and I need her.  So we call in reinforcements.  My brother, Stephen, got a slew of items from the grocery store that help combat this evil; Sue went down to the hospital to be with Zach and to get first hand reports from the cardiologist and medical team; and those that read the last blog post prayed.  THANK YOU ALL!!

In between bouts, I had two things going thru my mind:
1.  ♫ When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!  When we all see Jesus, we shall sing and shout the Victory!  (and not throw up!!) ♫
2.  Please don't let Becky get sick!!

Tuesday evening we all were feeling a little better so Becky made some plain white rice with a hint of butter.  With every scoop of rice, my mouth experienced a cornucopia of flavors that made me regret ever passing up on this delicious grain!  WOW! That was GOOD!  I must have another!  We put the kids to bed and Becky and I both slept over 12 hours.  Thank you Jesus!

By Thursday, we had resumed normal operations.  I was back at work; albeit still a little green under the gills and Becky was back at PCH with Zach and the medical team.

Tonight (Friday night) Becky wanted to surprise me to take me to the Hobbit in 3D.  She bought tickets and got a sitter.  We went to dinner and she said she felt nauseous and really, really tired.  I went to the theater counter and explained that we cannot go see the movie tonight and got our refund.  She fell asleep around 8:30.  She woke up once saying she felt nauseous again, but fell back to sleep.  Let's pray she doesn't get this bug.

More stuff happened this week, but this is a long enough post.

God is Good and Hope is Alive!!