Here’s the latest.
Jennifer is in the hospital with a heart monitor to track the baby’s heartbeat. With low amniotic fluid they want to make sure the baby isn’t in any duress. So far so good with that. The biophysical profile (measurement of the amniotic fluid, small movements and large movements) was not good today. They checked the blood flow in the umbilical cord, which was good so no immediate urgency. However, if things don’t improve most likely they will decide to take the baby early. They will do another biophysical profile in the morning, which will determine the course of action.
This would put Grace’s surgery on hold for a few weeks. Honestly, unless things turned out perfect tomorrow we would put it on hold. It was our hope to have this surgery before the baby arrived but even if things are tentative with Jennifer and the baby I couldn’t risk being away with Grace in Minneapolis having the pacemaker replaced. We have a few months window to work with so we would reschedule sometime in November or early December and just run a test sometime in November to check battery life and function of the pacemaker.
Also, Jennifer’s grandmother is not doing well and doctors indicate that she does not have long to live. She had a stroke a month back and has not shown any signs of recovery or responsiveness. More recently she has had congestion and pneumonia and her heart is failing. She is a believe which brings comfort in the midst of hurting.
Honestly this seems like a lot and it really is. But the one thing that I keep in mind is that problems are moment by moment and we don’t face the full weight of it all at once. We are weak and powerless and I don’t realize that any more than at the moments when there is absolutely nothing that I can do. But God’s grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in our weakness. We are not handling this well, God’s grace is enabling us to handle things well. We are not sufficient in ourselves but we are trusting God and hanging on to Him knowing that He is holding us securely in His strong and gentle hands.
Sincerely,
Dave
2 comments:
There were frequent times when Tom and I were blasted out of the safety of the current crisis into another one. I remember one time quite well walking the hospital hall alone praying, sure that I would not survive and be able to minister to Tom one more minute. My cell phone rang and it was our dear pastor mentor, Mark, who called to pray with me. "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down but we are not destroyed. Through suffering our bodies continue to share in the death of so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." 2Cor 4: 8-10
May you find strength in these verses, especially as you reflect that Paul wrote them...a person just like us. I wonder, did he know the help and impact his words would have in the ages that followed?
Dave, we pray for rest, both sleep and spiritual, knowing that what you wrote in your blog is eternally true...His grace is sufficient! May grace pour down upon your dear family and you during this time and may it be a testimony to all who witness it what a Glorious God we serve!
Love, Carol
I have been a warrior for your family, keep going. You are so encouraging even in your times of stress. God IS good.
Geneice
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