daddy

I ask that you please please please continue to pray for my dad...for my mom; for all of us...

Dad has been in the hospital since last night with alot of things going on. He came home with respiratory distress, and within a few minutes my mom was putting him in the car to drive him to the ER at HEB...Within just a few seconds, he knew he was in trouble so they stopped at the firestation right by their house. They were able to get him into an ambulance and start working on him and decided to take him to North Hills because they didn't know that they could make it to HEB. They told us at the hospital that mom did the exact right thing stopping at the firehouse, because they wouldn't have made it to the ER before he would have passed out and really been in trouble. They got him into the trauma room and on the CPAP machine. They were able to get his heart rate and blood pressure down somewhat, but he was having so much trouble breathing and obviously with all of his heart trouble they wanted to be very thorough.
As of right now, they have both his cardiologist and a pulmonologist working with him to try and figure out exactly what is going on; what is the root of it all. They believe he is in the midst of yet a veryr serious heart attack, along with congestive heart failure, pneumonia, some liver issues, and crazy high blood sugar. He has always tested negative for diabetes, but his mother did have it so that is a possibility...there is also a possibility that it is a result of the stress of all of this going on at once.

It's alot going on, and last night was very scary. But, as always, dad is so tough...and, of course, he is cracking jokes...and mom, as always, is steadfast and strong. Dad has been through so much, especially with his heart. He works so hard and I know his body has got to be so tired...we are just thankful that the Lord has, once again, kept him here with us through so much. I am just so thankful that they made the decision to go when they did, and that mom stopped at the fire station. Lots of angels watching over us. Not to mention the sweet secretary at his job that went out of her way a few weeks ago to help make sure that my parents still have health insurance even though my mom is in between jobs right now. I can't even imagine what we would have done without that.

They decided to do a heart cath today...they were about to do a scan of his kidneys, but because his enzyme numbers were so high, they decided that the heart cath was more important...they said it was risky, but would be worse if we waited and any more damage was done to dad's already very weak heart. He just got out not too long ago and they told us that he needs another bypass surgery...this will be his 2nd...he has basically only had one small area of the lower left chamber of his heart functioning for many years now...but after the cath today, they said that that area on the lower left is functioning at no more than 20%...and that the two main arteries controlling blood flow are blocked. It is risky to do this surgery, with all the other things going on with his kidneys and such...but obviously, it is much riskier not to do the surgery and completely lose blood flow to his heart. Needless to say...we are scared...but we are also hopeful and have total faith in our Heavenly Father...we beg you for your prayers...please pray for God's healing hand...for the doctors who will perform this surgery...for a miracle...please...

My parents have just been enduring alot of pain and stress lately, and I just continue to pray, and ask that you would join me in that prayer, for peace to just surround them in everything. They have always been such amazing examples of enduring; of surviving...and not just getting through, but pushing through with hope...they don't just look at the pouring rain and think about the rainbow that WILL come...but they can truly trace the rainbow through the rain. I am so proud that they are my parents.


Please please please continue to pray for my sweet daddy...i know he is weary.

you have to be carefully taught

This video made me think of these lyrics from South Pacific...

You've got to be taught to hate and fear,
You've got to be taught from year to year.
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear;
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a different shade;
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight.
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught


I could also add these from Into the Woods...

Careful the things you say, children will listen.
Careful the things you do, children will see and learn.
Children may not obey, but children will listen.
Children will look to you for which way to turn;
To learn what to be
Careful before you say, "Listen to me"
Children will listen.


.truth from the pens of Rodgers and Hammerstein/Sondheim long ago...and truth today from the mouths of babes...It really doesn't matter what your political ideology is...little Terrence has the right idea.

And no...I don't get all of my wisdom from musicals...but there can be quite a bit to be had there...these particular lyric choices may also have something to do with the fact that I can't sleep, so I'm up listening to music and Mandy Patinkin just rolled through the shuffle... :)