January 12 MOVING DAY

I came in today to find they're kicking us out. So to speak. Barbara is being moved to a long term care facility in Hammond, located at St. Margaret's Hospital. There's probably a lot to tell, but this is a busy and hectic day, so I will fill you in more later. By this evening, she should be located there.

January 11

We are back in the step down unit, and things continue to progress. I was excited to come in this morning and find that Barbara's respirator is shut off, and she only has an oxygen mask attached to her trache. She will still receive slight assist at night, but I've been told that even with that in place, she is still breathing all on her own. Wow! That's great!

Without going into all the details of things that can make a long term hospital stay so unpleasant, I will simply say that she is also making good progress in other areas of well being.

I continue to be very concerned about her slow progress in moving her body. She can move her arms and legs to a degree, but she has little strength. Long term physical therapy will be crucial. However, my concerns go deep in several areas pertaining to this factor. There is Jackie and Peter's wedding in May. And, I realize that I am ill equipped to give her the level of care she still requires. Taking care of someone in her present state is practically a full time job. So, I trust you'll be at prayer with us concerning this issue.

I've had a number of you remark about how you've been inspired by some of the things you've read here. Let me tell you what it is, in case you don't know. It's the incredible power of the Holy Spirit of God ministering to your heart and speaking to you as you have need to hear. I can't take credit for any sign of strength or any word of significance you read here. So if anything speaks to your heart, I would encourage you to recognize that you are witnessing the fingerprint of God. He loves us all so much that He uses the feeble words and efforts of man to trigger powerful things in the heart.

The speech therapist was just now in the room, and Barbara is making good progress with her speaking valve for the trache. She is ready to go home today! I hope to find out more details soon on what long term care facility she'll be moved to after she is dismissed. The day is rapidly approaching, I suspect.

Today, pray about Barbara's physical healing so that she can move her hands, make those beautiful afghans she makes, and so that she can walk again,

And pray for the healing of her digestive system.

Don't forget to give praise, too.

This Friday and Saturday, my church is embarking on another 24 Hours of Prayer. We'll have someone at the church praying every hour for 24 hours in a row. If you think you couldn't pray for an hour straight, then you're not alone. However, with a few proper prayer starters, our people have found that not only can they pray for an hour... some even stay and pray for 2 or 3 hours! Even in the middle of the night! If you'd like more details on how we do this for your church, I'd encourage you to get in contact with me. It's very much worth doing. We've actually had a teen accept Jesus during one of these events. And the weeks after always are charged with power. There have always been definable "miracles", if you will, associated with this event. It is also a valuable occasion for fasting should the Spirit lead you in that direction.

May God bless you richly so that many others may be blessed richly.

January 10 - Deja Room

Once again, we will be heading out of intensive care and back to the step-down unit. You might recall that Barbara's return to NICU was not due to a return to critical condition, rather, the need for monitoring her blood pressure and vent-weening process more closely. We should be moved back at some point this afternoon. She continues to breathe on her own during the day, receiving only a flow of oxygen from the vent. At night she returns to some vent assist because the process if so tiring. We are in foreseeable reach of being able to move her to a long-term care facility for rehab. It will be much easier to find a place if she is off of the vent.

One other note. We just received word that Jackie was able to get into the class at UK that she needs to finish her masters work by this spring. Thanks for your prayers!

I will keep this brief, as it is a busy day for me!

January 8 - More Good News

For the past two days, Barbara has been breathing on her own during the day with no respirator assist! She will receive assist overnight, as regaining your breathing ability is a very tiring process. She can also speak from time to time with the assist of a special valve. This too is very tiring. It's all a part of the weening process that will eventually completely free her from the respirator. Accomplishing this will open up a broader spectrum of possibilities for rehabilitation placement. She will need a lot of physical therapy (along with help getting her brain back in full working order) for a long period of time, probably well into the days that she is finally home.

This is a big concern to me. I realize that I can't possibly give her the care she needs at home. Especially if she continues to be physically debilitated for an extended period of time. Please be at prayer that God will be at work through this process.

We really need to see her digestive system up and working again, too. This has been an extremely puzzling problem for us and the doctors.

Another thing that has concerned Barbara, believe it or not, is the fact that she is experiencing no arthritis related pain. This seems like a good thing, and I am thankful for her break from pain. But she's also concerned that it may indicate a long term paralysis situation that would not be good. My prayer is that God has used this experience to heal her of the arthritis!

So, please join us in praying today that her digestive system kicks back into gear,

Pray that her brain sharpens more everyday,

Pray that her paralysis subsides but that the arthritis is gone (!!! wow !!! wouldn't that be great? !!! BIG PRAYER ALERT, BIG PRAYER ALERT !!!)

Pray that she continues to receive excellent nursing care as she is stepped down from intensive care.

By the way, we anticipate that she'll be moved back to the step down unit tomorrow. Her blood pressure and heart rate has been very good this past weekend.

I have been praying for the physical (and spiritual) needs of the husbands of two different nurses we've had here. If you feel inclined to pray for them, God will know the need!