Breathe In...Breathe Out....

It has almost been a week since Brylea had her biopsy.  She is doing great with her cast!  We are trying hard to keep it dry and clean but its been kinda hard.  Especially for Brylea.  She cannot go outside and that has been a downer for her.  However the preliminary thoughts of the hand surgeon is that it looks to be a rheumatoid nodule which is very rare for a child especially a child as young as Brylea.  The pulminologist saw us today.  She thinks that a lung biopsy is not necessary (Thank God!!).  She also thinks that as far as she is concerned Brylea's condition is not linked to anything pulminary related.  So, no more pulminologist visits.  However, she is concerned with Brylea's tonsil size and she has another ear infection so she is referring us to an ENT.  HOWEVER, I am feeling alittle overwhelmed as far as the medical field is concerned.  I am not ready to jump into another specialist with more tests and surgeries.  Therefore, I have put a call into our pediatrician to see if we can hold off on an ENT for now.  I want to get her opinion before we do anything else.  Other than that Brylea has been the same.  She has not gotten any worse (is that grammatically correct??) nor any better.  She is in a plateau in a way.  She is still swollen, still limps a little, and still has nodules.  The methotrexate is not working so I am hoping when we go back to Scottish Rite June 7th they can take her off of it.  We go back May 18th to get the cast off!  Cannot wait for that day!

Next, I would like to say a thousand thanks to those who have prayed and prayed for our daughter.  Thank you to my mother in law, Karen, who has been Brylea's cheerleader.  She has been to every appointment and helps Brylea have fun.  She also shared with me an e-mail from a woman who prays for Brylea.  I HAVE to share this e-mail.  It was beautiful:

I am so glad to hear from you, The "Little Angel" has royalty all around her, now they have crown her arm with purple, yes PaPa does work wonders and he will receive the glory.  I will continue to pray for God little angel and your family.  Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother Day.  God will take care of you and your family.  Love you in Christ, Linda

I also want to thank my dad for the adorable Hello Kitty Edible Arrangement.  It was almost too cute to eat but Brylea insisted!!

In Sunday School, it was mentioned about quiet time and the Lord.  Sometimes you will read a passage and you think it doesn't really apply to anything at that moment but then you will get that "AHA" moment and everything clicks.  I have been reading Isaiah.  I am not a scholar but in this book it is addressing Israel and the fact that they have slowly slipped away from Yahweh.  The Lord speaks of His curses but then is reminded of how He is going to save them.  At first, I applied it to the state of our country.  But then I slowly started seeing the parallels in my own life.  The past month and a half have really hit Nathan and I.  We are seeing our own struggles in certain areas of our life.  Of course, there is Brylea but other things have hit us hard.  As I read Isaiah I realize that God puts us in the valleys so that we can see how awesome He is!  I went on a ladie's retreat and the speaker even mentioned that flowers bloom in the deepest of valleys.  I know that our situations that have hit us are completely out of our control.  I have cried and I have stressed, yes, I will admit.  However, now I have to take a step back and realize that all the crying and temper tantrums is not going to pull me out.  I need to fully turn to God and fall into Him to see how He is going to bring us out of this.  I have a certain peace about me now in knowing that He has not forgotten us.  One day we will look back in amazement of how God works.  It is in these times that I am so thankful to be a Christian and to know that there is hope out there.  I am God's child...along with Brylea...and along with my family.  He loves us and wants to give us our heart's desires.  We just have to sit back and let Him take control.