Here we go...again?

Tomorrow, Wednesday, is the Big Day. Elizabeth gets born one way or another. If she is head-down or willing to get that way, it'll be the same old, same old. I'll get 600mg ibuprofen and ice packs, home on Friday, Mass on Sunday, etc.

If she won't comply, she'll be surgically removed. [Yes, I'm trying to be lighthearted.] I'll get stitches and Vicodin, still home on Friday. After that I have no idea how I'll recover. I've been reassured that it's not the end of the world but I'm only human. I fear the unknown, same as I was afraid before Madeleine's delivery.

My biggest fear is, as with any mother, complications that could endanger my child. Regardless of how she exits the womb and enters the world, I would really appreciate the prayers.

And a prayer request, folks.

While he's said "This ain't Oprah," I've spilled my guts here, and this is another one of those times.
Tomorrow my beloved husband goes under the knife for Lap-Band surgery. To those who noticed his comment somewhere about the "pre-surgical liquid diet," that's why.

I know it's laparoscopic, I know it's only one day, I know it's been done without complication thousands of times, I know it will make a huge difference in his quality of life and, by association my own, I know.
That doesn't change the fact that my best friend is going under general anesthesia and getting cut open, my kids will be with someone else for the day (regardless of how much I trust her, there's still that worry), and all the rest.

So, if you Gentle Readers could on this day of the March for Life just tack a prayer on for us, I'd really appreciate it.

We could have put off buying furnace filters.

Seems the furnace doesn't want to work. It was fine in May when we shut it off, but it seems to want more of a summer vacation. At least our house is well-insulated and hasn't gotten below 61 in the morning, and it's supposed to be in the 70's later in the week.
The Trustworthy Furnace Guy just left, since we're waiting on finding a couple parts--one is a gas valve, the other is the tough one. I don't remember the name.
We're looking at $500. And toeing the line on budget-limits on this one.
He told me frankly, "I'm not a salesman, especially not a pushy one. But you might want to think about a new furnace come tax return time. We typically put in eight or nine in February for people we first saw in early fall."

St. Joseph, keeper of the home, pray for us. St. Joan of Arc, who knows a bit about keeping warm, pray for us.

This financial crisis

has me all atwitter. I'm using a British-level understatement; I never have studied economics so this whole thing goes mostly over my head. I just see the effects of surviving the Depression on my mother (she's Silent Generation, not Boomer like most folks my age) and part of me curls up in darkness. My grandmother was worse, I'm told, so I was spared that.
I suppose I should be grateful. My husband has about as secure a job as can be imagined, and it has benefits. My children are healthy for the most part--and what would fall under "unhealthy" can be managed. We have a home with all the modern amenities--electricity, running water, a working furnace. Among my family, that hasn't always been the case. My kids even have dance and swim classes. We have food in the fridge and two working vehicles (knock wood).
While love doesn't fill the stomach, it does fill the heart in ways I can't quantify. Love we have in abundance.

I think of those who don't have all of these advantages--a secure job, health, a home, plus the fringe benefits. We all need prayers.

There's a first time for everything.

I saw something for the first time yesterday. One of the moms watching her son in dance class was holding and feeding her youngest son, who has a cleft lip and palate.
I've never seen one in real life before, just pictures. My knowledge of the condition is summed up thusly: There are degrees of it, it's tough or impossible to breastfeed directly, prosthetic nipples are expensive, and it's correctable with surgery.
This mother and I struck up a conversation. The little guy is four months old and it's been tough for her, having to pump every three hours for him (I had suspected it wasn't formula in the bottle). I imagined how expensive it would be if she were buying formula too, and that little guy could probably use every health advantage he could get.
He smiled at me from his stroller, and Madeleine whispered to me, "That baby is cute." She did repeat that to his mother.

This was in contrast to the chilling conversation I had this weekend. It was a political discussion and I admitted there was just no way I could vote for Obama. The fact that he voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act sickens me, regardless of any other stance he takes on any issue. (I'm pretty much a single-issue voter. So sue me.) After I explained the BAIPA, he shook his head. His stance boiled down to this: Those children of botched abortions probably have other medical issues because of that and would be better off dying. Better to die than to "drag all of us down."
I couldn't believe what I heard. I was horrified. I've known this person his whole life--or so I thought. I would have thought with his knowledge of Nazism he could recognize the similarity. No, he's not a child of a Holocaust survivor, but World War II was a not-uncommon topic of conversation at the dinner table. He repeated "diminished mental capacity" like that's all it should take. Someone with "diminished mental capacity" would "drag all of us down," and thus we should spare ourselves from that person seeing the light of day. Eugenics, anyone? I couldn't believe the outright evil I was looking in the eye. I thought of Trig Palin in this, though neither of us mentioned him.
I pointed out as gently as I could what he sounded like and that it's a very slippery slope from "optional" to "recommended" to "obligatory." I don't know if that sunk in.

Please pray for this individual. He is near and dear to me so please don't call him names, but help him to find God's mercy.

My big girl is at the hospital.

Madeleine started wheezing at her cousin's birthday party this afternoon. It sounded worse than it has in the past, so I just asked my sister for her nebulizer and all.
For about half an hour, maybe 45 minutes, all was well. Then it returned just as bad as before.
We stopped on the way home to get a Frappuccino; Daddy remembered getting coffee when he'd have attacks as a child.
Her nighttime medication didn't kick it, either, so Daddy took her in.

She had an hourlong treatment (of what I don't know) and they X-rayed her lungs. They're keeping her overnight on oxygen and an IV (she threw up four times from their stuff). They do anticipate her coming home tomorrow (Monday), I think.

Daddy's with her.I know others who have left babies alone at the hospital, and Madeleine isn't alone, but this is my first time.
Frankly, I'm terrified. Since we've got a pretty good praying contingent, can I ask that?

Second verse, same as the first.

UPDATE 8/11/08 9:25AM: They're keeping her until tomorrow as her lungs don't look as clear as they'd like. There's an in-room DVD player so she'll be watching Princess Bride, Holly Hobbie, and whatever else she wants ad infinitum.
Thank you all graciously for your prayers.

This is hard for me...

but my best friend is at the hospital right now.

He woke up with what he thought was digestive trouble, but given what else it could be, we aren't taking chances. The kids think he's just at work and I'm desperately trying to be "normal."
And today's dance class day, with recital tickets to be purchased as well...

Prayers, please, that he's okay.

UPDATE 12:00PM: First EKG is good, but they're admitting him and going to do a stress test. More to follow.

UPDATE 12:40 PM: They aren't doing the stress test until tomorrow morning and thus are keeping him until then. Now, what and when to tell the kids? God, thanks for having me plan "leftovers" for dinner tonight...

Guess what's going on!

We're going for the intercession of St. Christopher (patron of travelers), St. Joseph (patron of the Holy Family), and St. Jude (patron of desperate or lost causes).

Guesses in the combox.
More details here.

I'm deliberately being vague.

But I have a prayer request.
It's not for me, directly, or any of the kids, or dear husband. But it IS someone near and dear going through a pretty rough stretch, and taking family along for the ride, and... That's enough. The details are not mine to divulge.

I'm sad, I'm scared, I'm worried, none of which I need right now with being 7 months pregnant, et cetera. I don't know what else I can do.

Thanks.

Again with the prayers.

For those affected by this--wherever they may be.

Thank you.

Prayer request

Jennifer F. is in the homeschool group I'm in. She'd due with #6 any time. Technically, she's 35 weeks but is measuring at 42. Her blood pressure, I'm told, is at "stroke level" and she's going in for a non-stress test today.
Her oldest is six. Her doc wants to wait until August 13 to induce, but that is really bad for Jen. Her husband's other coworker is going on vacation on the 15 so he can't be around and her mother must return home that same day. If they wait, she'll be coming home to six children age 6 and under and NO HELP.
Prayers that she goes into labor or her doc changes his mind and induces, so that she can come home and have some help, are what we're looking for. Of course, a healthy delivery as well.

UPDATE: Jen, last I heard, was sent home with lower blood pressure on Friday. But still pregnant. She still has a few weeks--and every little bit helps.

Prayer request

Our neighbor up the street, Greg, has always been a good guy. He's praised my clothesline, pets our dog, and jokes with the kids. On our walk around the block today, the kids were jumping on the discarded wheelchair ramp in front of his house. He got it from his next-door neighbor and is trying to use it to repair his driveway. He happened to come home while we were there.

He asked how old the kids are, specifically The Boy. "My grandson is four, too," he said. "He was having a rough time of it, bruising really easily and generally not feeling well. They took him in to the doctor's who directed them right to the hospital. They think he has leukemia." It might be anemia, he said, but his white count was extremely low.

Mom works as a radiologist at one of the bigger hospitals in the area (Beaumont, if that means anything to you), so his health care is covered. They tried to catheterize him so he wouldn't bruise his feet walking to the bathroom, but his dad is staying to carry him each time he needs to go.

I didn't catch the little guy's name, but will update with it when I get it. Thanks.