On the mend?

Dear ones
Thank you for your prayers that you never hold back.
Thank you for walking with us.

(I think) Adam is on the mend.
He is still weak and occasionally having reflux type responses to food
I think his stomach is just building itself back up.
Poor guy lost probably 2 lbs or more during these days
Raja has been working so hard on preparing feedings for him (he eats primarily thru g tube these days) and had fattened him up so well
So it seems like we go a few steps back with each step ahead

But at the moment, he is scooting backwards on his little bum across the floor to get his guitar
(This backwards scoot, which only Adam can do, due to the structure of his torso and legs has been likened to Michael Jackson's moonwalk...I do hope YOU get to see it one day;) )
The guitar is perhaps his favorite toy
I love watching him maneuver and pick things up
I LOVE watching him hold instruments

One thing Raja and I want to be intentional about in raising these boys is filling their mind...
With thoughts of the Holy

Raja is really good about being intentional in this
I am really trying to be more intentional about it
With my words towards them and around them
With the music and Word I fill our house with throughout our days

Lately that has meant these lullabies

I love the WORD that is spoken throughout these songs
We want to always remind Adam that he is "fearfully and wonderfully made"
We want to drown him in words of love and truth that he is beautiful and designed as is, for a purpose
And that video has really been significant for me lately

This has been one of the toughest episodes of sickness, I believe
Maybe because we were so tired from travel and our sickness...
But it also really affected my heart (Jess') a lot
I was feeling incredibly discouraged these past few days.
I could not see the other side and I could not see how
"all things come together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose"
I was gloomy and discouraged and overwhelmed.
It is so hard to see your own suffer

 

         
(Someone told me that perhaps it is easier because Adam is adopted...
If it was my birth child, it would be different.
That is so far from the truth, dear ones.
Adam and Elliot both are treasures in my heart
They are both my sons who I delight in beyond measure
To see either of them suffer physically nearly does me in)

One morning I was really wrestling with Abba Father about this
I was beside myself with frustration and doubt
He reminded me of that passage I recently wrote you all about
Psalm 84
I remembered those words
"Blessed are those whose strength is in YOU
Who have set their hearts on PILGRIMAGE...
As they pass through the Valley of Baca
They make it a place of SPRINGS"
Maybe I will share more on this later
But dear ones, I was stuck in the valley
The valley was bitter and dark and gloomy

 And I was wallowing in it
In fact, I set up camp in that bitter valley
I wrote home about it
Maybe, I was even satisfied in that bitter valley
Not wanting to move
His Spirit graciously brought me out

                 

                           

I pray this bout of sickness and discouragement prepares me for the next time it comes
I pray next time, I will trust and allow His Water to come forth and fill the valley of bitterness with Himself
So that springs can appear in the valley
That is what I long for
Streams to come forth from me and my family's life in the midst of beauty and pain

Until then, I will set my strength in Him, in this moment
Despite rather the stability and health be momentary or permanent
I choose to see Him
And I choose to believe He is good

Update on the bug

Dear ones
Well, this has been one of the most difficult 24 hours I can remember.
BUT, it appears to be on the mend.
Can I just thank you? Thank you for your prayers, words, encouragement.
Thank you for just remembering us.

His vomiting stopped early this morning and then there was a lot of diarrhea.
Both seem to be ending now
We are hydrating as often as possible with Pedialyte and he has started on rice again between Pedialyte doses.

Thus far, sweet Elliot has not shown any signs of the bug.
We are praying that continues.
Poor Elliot has started teething in full force though and is quite miserable.
So that intensified the exhaustion and sense of being overwhelmed, as you can imagine;)

Continued prayers welcomed.
Last night, Adam did not sleep at all.
Please pray he will rest tonight.

Love to you.
This new (to me) song has ministered greatly to my heart today.
Trusting that He is making all things new, even in days like these.

Greedy again;) Prayers needed

Dear ones,

Just letting you know Adam has a stomach thing going on.

Just last night we were on the porch with Adam and Raja playing the geeeetar.
Today a nasty bug.

Lots of vomiting earlier in the day. It has settled now. But still lots of reflux going on.
Please pray.
Pray against more vomiting
Pray against diarrhea starting
Pray that he can keep the fluids down that we give him
Pray that he can rest...he clearly has an upset stomach and is restless and not sleeping

(We think it is what I had on the plane, bc Raja had it yesterday...if so, it is a short but nasty bug)

Pray that it is nothing complicated and resolves soon
Pray we can all sleep tonight
Pray that Elliot doesnt get it
Pray for wisdom for decision making

That is a lot to pray for;)

Pray that I will remember that HE is the solid Rock on which we stand...ALL OTHER GROUND is sinking sand. If I stand on the health of my sons...I will fall when they get sick. Pray that I can trust His Word and not doubt in these times.

I (jess) am feeling discouraged but clinging to Hope in Him
Love to you all