Encouragement, Provision, and God's Goodness

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is the one from Psalm 37:25 where King David looks back over his life and recounts the Lord's provision. He says, "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread."  I also love Philippians 4:19 where the Apostle Paul states, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Over the years I have seen God provide for our needs so many times and in a variety of ways. I KNOW there are so many more ways than what I am about to recount. And the ways that God takes care of those who trust him on the day to day basis are not to be forgotten. Even so, there are events and situations that are highlighted in my heart as reminders of what God has already done in my life. Things I go back to when funds are tight and tensions high and stress overwhelming. 

Throughout our adoptions, we watched God provide the needed funds through his people and through hard work.God brought in a grant from the North American Mission Board Pastor's Adoption Fund. He also brought in a $7,000 grant from Show Hope.  Friends stepped up to help with fundraisers.  People helped cook food for dinners, helped with set up and decorating and others came to eat the ton of pasta and sides that were made. People gave donations for yard sales and auctions. Venue funds were donated. Talented music friends gave of time and traveled to sing in concert fundraisers. Multitudes of people prayed. It has been amazing and breath-taking to watch God provide.

Then God brought us Caleb. When that happened, we needed help because I spent so much time in the NICU with him or on the road to and from the NICU. Friends watched Joshua ALOT. Meals arrived on days when I did not think I could go on, and those leftovers sustained us for days. Gifts of diapers and wipes and clothes filtered in keeping me from having to run to the store. Several gift cards have arrived to help buy formula. Every card or word of encouragement came at the just the right time.

While Caleb's NICU stay was covered by Medicaid since that is what his birth mom was admitted under, the second round of bills were not. The moment he left the hospital on May 28, all future bills became ours like any other family, And the bills added up: Mary Immaculate ER for Caleb, CHKD Pediatric transport for Caleb, CHKD ER, and 3 nights in CHKD hospital.When we were concerned about covering the cost of medical bills, I inquired about adding night hours...and a previously unopened position opened that very day. Then something else really cool happened.

When Caleb was in CHKD, they gave us some information on their Charity Care assistance program. This is a program that offers assistance to those with large medical bills that aren't entirely covered by insurance (or those who have no insurance). I applied hoping that we would be eligible for a nice discount. Then today, a letter from CHKD charity care arrived with some almost unimaginable news - 100% of our bill was covered. 100%!!! I admit that I fell to the floor in tears of gratitude and praised Jesus right here in our house entryway. My heart still rejoices! There will still be some other bills to come in, but the bulk of the ordeal has been taken care of.

Tonight as I prepare to go to sleep and tomorrow as I work an incredibly long shift cleaning houses, I rejoice. My God has done exceedingly abundantly above all I could ask or think. (Eph. 3:20). My God has supplied all our needs  according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19) And as I look back on this journey, I can once again join King David and say, "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread."

Whirlwinds, Isolation, and Blessings

I realized today that It has been over a month since I last updated this blog. When I tell you what has been happening, I am fairly sure you will forgive me. It has been nuts. In fact, so nuts that I cannot remember it all without going to my FB posts to retrieve the "real-time" updates. So, for you FB friends, SOME of this will be old news put into narrative form. Thank you for reading.

May 28 - We brought Caleb home from his NICU stay. It was a great week, tiring but great, as we tried to adjust to being a family of 4 and not sleeping because the littler boy wouldn't sleep. The bliss didn't last long.

June 5 - When I woke that morning, I could not foresee how that day would go. I was grocery shopping when Eric called that something was wrong with Caleb's breathing. I left a buggy of groceries with a store associate and told them I had an emergency and had to go. When I got home, I found a baby with "shuddery" breathing, While I was on the phone with the Nurse line, Caleb quit breathing.and then started again. I was terrified. I hung up the phone and we drove to the ER. I sat in the back and held Caleb to keep making him scream. If he was screaming, he was breathing. We arrived at the ER much like a scene from a movie. I was the barefooted mom running in the door and screaming that my baby wasn't breathing, only I was saying "having trouble breathing." It was terrifying. Eric handed Joshua off to our pastor's wife who met us at the ER. After a bit, the doctor decided that we needed the expertise of CHKD and had us transported us to CHKD via pediatric ambulance. (I rode with him but had to ride up front.) He was so tiny in the middle of that huge yellow transport cart. 

              At CHKD, the amazing ER staff immeidately surrounded Caleb and began to hook him up to IVs and monitors so they could watch what was happening, check his breathing and heart rate, and give him fluids and antibiotic. Eventually, he was admitted to a regular room. After every test imaginable (it seems), docs say Caleb had the rhinovirus. That's just a common strand of cold this year. It is complicated by the fact that he is so small. The fact that he could not breathe right was what caused the Brady's. On this day, he was only 1 month old and not even to term yet since he was 5 weeks early. They said they would keep him for 37-48 hours from the time of the blood culture.

              (FROM FB later that night) "Eric and I got home at midnight. It took for ever to get home from Norfolk since the midtown tunnel was closed, as were other key roads to make the route home easier. When you don't know an area and it is 11 at night it is a bit frustrating. But we made it. I don't know how Eric feels, but I have a serious headache. I miss my boys. Our house is too quiet. And sleeping together in the same bed is overrated when you miss your kiddos. I think we would trade that just to have our boys home."

Caleb was finally released from the hospital on June 8. He was much improved, but the congestion and cough were scary for a long while. I don't think Eric or I have totally slept at ease since then. Anyone who comes to our house must wash their hands and have on a clean shirt. We don't go much around kids or crowds. We are kind of in isolation until July 5 when Caleb gets his 2 month shots.

June 30 - Caleb is doing well now. He is growing like a weed. I think he is over 8 pounds now. He eats 3-4 ounces of formula every 2-3 hours. He is about to split out of the Newborn clothes and go entirely to 0-3 month clothes. Mommy isn't ready for that, but, yet, I am; because that means he is healthy.  I am so grateful that he is doing as well as he is. I am grateful for the prayers for our boys. Thank you.