New York, New York

When I titled this blog "A New Heart", it carried a couple of meanings. Both my hubby and I share similar concerns regarding our Mother's hearts.....and I'm talking about their physical hearts. As you know I started this blog when we found out that my Mom needs a heart transplant in the very near future. I wanted this blog to be a blessing to her and a way to express my thoughts, prayers, praises as we make this journey for " A New Heart". I have already asked for your prayers, for others in my life, and now I'm asking another one for my Mother-n-law. She is such a good Gran to my boys and I love her bunches.



To make a long story short....she (mother-n-law), found out she had an aneurysm in her heart back several years ago. It was in the main aorta and was going to prove to be some what dangerous to try and repair. After seeking several opionions, the risk was great to fix it, and even greater if she didn't. So, after much prayer and soul searching, a friend suggested she call a Dr. that was originally from this town. Yes, someone from this small town (he actually graduated from our small school) was/is a renowned heart surgeon in New York City. She made the call and the next thing we knew we were on a plane to New York. This would be the first flight for all of us! Scared out of our minds for the surgery she was facing, plus the flight, we get on the plane and laugh and cry hysterically on the way up. What a site to behold....two screaming women and a man who was in a cramped poisiton on that ity bity plane. Did you catch the one man thing....hubby rode on a seperate plane...you know...just in case. Brother-n-law and Sister-n-law came on later.....brother-n-law had an inflamed tooth....not too good...he broke in New York by seeing a dentist ASAP! Anyway....we made it and were able to enjoy a couple of days sight seeing with her before the surgery. The surgery was a complete success and that has been about 6 years ago. Hubby and I can't quite agree on the # of years. So, she has done great now for several years. God performed so many miracles during that time. She is living proof of it!

So my prayer request for today is: that she will be going for some tests coming up in 2 weeks. She has been experiencing some difficulty with shortness of breath. I hope and pray that it is nothing and that if it is something...that medicine can take care of it. She assures us that she feels fine. We are just a little over cautious when it comes to her heart too.

And I actually got on the plane in Newark, New Jersey all by myself......phone on ear with Mom, while she is telling me to get with someone who looks "normal:)". Yes....I'm sure you figured out by now that I don't get out of this small town very often.



Thanks for letting me bend your ear!


Carrie

FYI......

Yuck!! That's right.......one ugly basel cell. My Dad has had a hunk the size of a quarter cut from his ear. You wouldn't think you could get a quarter size anything from an ear...but they did. He has had several skin cancers burned or taken off in the past, but this one takes the cake. He has several stitches to prove it. My sister C is the family nurse, minus the degree, BTW sis you are a darn good one!! She took the bandage off yesterday so I stopped by on the way to work this morning to see for myself. Yikes!! If this don't prove to you what years of sun exposure can do, I don't know what will. I'm very fair and freckled so I need no more warning....I think the 2nd go around of sun poisoning drove the fact home that my wishes of being a sun goddess is forever lost! I'll just sit in the shade.....Sister P.....while you fulfill my longtime dream of being perfectly tan. It's a big joke when we go the beach every year and the L family sits under a big tent while on the beach. We are ALLERGIC TO THE SUN PEOPLE! My Dad is a farmer, and yes Farmer Brown he was every summer. Now he wears a big brimmed hat and all the clothes he can get on. Hind site is 20/20.

So please say a prayer that the test results from this biopsy are not malignant. Thanks!

Carrie

UPDATE ON PREVIOUS PRAYER REQUEST FOR MY FRIEND: She is at home and recovering. Last I heard she was still running a low grade fever at times. So continue to pray for her.

Parenting 101

No one bothered to tell me just how exciting raising young men would be. There is so much testosterone in the house right now, it is oozing from the walls:) When you throw in my hormones to boot, we are having soooo much fun! Just ask my hubby! It's like my 13 year old and myself have lost our senses and cannot get enough rest. He could sleep around the clock and I'm up at night dreaming the weirdest stuff or just laying there with one eye open. My dreams are getting the best of me. For example, I'm running around trying to save children from a loose bull, falling over cliffs and fighting are just to name a few. By the time I wake up, excuse me, get up, I feel like I've ran a marathon. I even have a bruise now on my wrist that I cannot remember exactly where it came from. What's up you ask? or maybe your asking what hospital I need to be transferred to? STRESS is up!!!!
My 13 year old now belongs to the athletic program at his school. Don't get me wrong....I'm all for sports. I'm as competitive as the next one. It's the getting them there @ 6 am, 2-3 days a week, practice after school, pitching lessons, etc. That's the kicker. He's old enough to play on the JV, but not old enough to drive. The ball field is not on the school's premises, so therefore, he has to hitch a ride. I'll save this grip for another post. Anyway, the whole point is: if we don't get some rest soon.....DHR is going to show up at my house:) Before you call DHR on me....he loves to play all sports and like most kids he just doesn't like being woke up at 5 am to go workout. We have a small school and it takes all the extra training, practice, etc. to be able to compete.
So this morning I'm dragging him and myself out of bed. We missed the bus, due to a bleeding face (his) and no I didn't touch him. It's the result of the mean trick that mother nature plays on these adolescents..you know the hormones and all. He will absolutely kill me if he knew I was telling all of this. I feel sorry for him, and the worse Mom of the Year didn't show enough compassion to him this morning. Do any of you relate to this craziness or is it just me? We made it to school on time...and all is well for another day. He actually has the evening off!!! Whooohoooo! I think we'll lay on the couch this evening and hopefully listen to it rain, while apologizing and treating him with some dessert he loves! Sweets can fix everything!!!
Well enough of that!
I hope you all have a great day! Because everyday God gives us, is a blessed day.....HE reminded me of that on my way to work this morning!

Carrie

Prayer Request

This is a prayer request for a friend of mine. She had surgery Monday. She is having some complications with fever and her breathing. Please pray that God will lay his healing hand upon her. I know her family would love to see her home as soon as possible. Thanks for helping me lift, a sister in Christ, up in prayers.

Carrie

Thankful Thursday

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on" (Luke 12:22). "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Luke 12:31) "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 12:34)

Wow....these words are ringing truer everyday. When we were hit with the news in 2006 of Mom having a heart attack, nothing else mattered....I mean nothing! But, as time went on, and she began to recover somewhat, I began to slack on the remembrance of what God had done and life went on.....getting caught up in the frenzy of life...and not seeking the kingdom of God like I should have. Now, with the news of heart transplant back on the table...I begin worrying, searching, praying harder again. Did you notice the order of my action? The old sin of worrying began. Shame on me! In Philippians 4:6-7, it says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Don't get me wrong, I have and will always thank God for everything he has done in my life and will do in the future. It's just that I haven't been seeking the kingdom of God as fervently as I did/do when times get tough. I'm thankful that I serve such a loving and forgiving God! He knows my heart! And I have peace in knowing that!!

I'm thankful for my husband and children. My hubby is my best friend! He loves me even when I'm being unlovable:) My kids are the most precious gift from God. They make my heart swell everytime I think about them.

I'm thankful for my parents, siblings, in-laws, grandmother, aunt and cousins. We have such a great time together! I love you all dearly!!

I'm thankful for my friends and church family. You all have supported us through so many rough times in our lives...especially with Mom. Words could never express just how I feel about all of you. I hope that I can be such a friend to you, as you all have been to me!

Carrie

Hooray......

Every parent of a child with braces (on the teeth) look forward to 2 things: 1) the receipt

that says "paid in full", and 2) the day they come off. TODAY WAS #2! And wouldn't you know

it.....he wouldn't even SMILE:) For two years I have took him, if not once a month, you better

bet twice a month. And what do I get....NO SMILE:) I did however, threaten, I mean asked him

to smile for the camera....Dad deserved a peek at those pearly whites....since he paid for them

and all. What he didn't see was that I texted the pic to not only his Dad, but his aunts too!

Shame on me...but I think I was as proud of this moment as if he had won the noble prize. He

did receive some floss, a water bottle full of candy and some balloons, which I had to

carry.......what were they thinking....a 13 year old carrying balloons:) I loved it! After a Zaxby's

run, we were headed back to school. I wonder if he smiled for his friends? If so, he better keep

that one to himself. Anyway, we stopped by Mom's and guess what.....he SMILED! I do love

that boy.

So, enough of that.......Mom called B'ham and told them that she wanted to go ahead with the

transplant. She just wanted to say it......out loud....to them. Now she feels better about it and we

are ready. Hopefully the meds she is taking will get rid of the pressure that is on her lungs, so

the transplant will be successful. As long as pressure is on the lungs she cannot receive a heart

because she would just reject it. So for now we just wait. Her next appointment is in Feb.

Thanks for the comments.....I had to gulp.....somebody actually read this thing! And I'm still

working the kinks out....who knew that www. was so important:) I would love to have all the

cute buttons on the sides. Please leave me a tip.

Thanks again for the prayers and keep them going......Oh, and if you know of someone who

knows someone, etc. who has had a transplant...ask them to leave a comment...she wants to

know all the details.

Carrie

Word is Out.......................

About this blog....I let 'er slip...to the family that is. My kids know about it....that's all it took:)
Also, my Mom came over to visit with me on Sat. and I showed it to her. She loved it! She said
that she needs all the prayers and encouragement that she can get!!! So come on and help
me....help her!

My Sunday School lesson for the kids this week was titled "God Answers Prayers". Amen!! All
we have to do is seek, knock and ask him for his will to be done. God will give us what we
"need"...not necessarily what we "want" and "when" we want it. It's the "when" that gets
me in trouble...patience...and I mean the lack of it. As we wait and pray for Mom a new heart,
patience is going to be vital! The song, "Four Days Late" comes to mind. When he's four days
late....he's right on time!!

Thanks for listening and praying! Be sure to leave comments....I'll give them to Mom.

Carrie

P.S. By chance if someone does read this blog....I'm having a problem with adding my favorite
blogs to my list. Yes, the rest of you preacherwife bloggers....I read yours too! Help please! And
please give me pointers...I'm struggling here.

Mom

Mom on her Cardiac Therapy Graduation Day
with her grandchildren - June 2007

This is my very first post to a blog that nobody knows about...lol!!! I've wanted to try my hand at this, but have never took the time to do it. For some reason I had a strong urge to go ahead and do it. The "urge"was God speaking to me and wanting me to get this up and running for my Mom. You see, November 2006 she had a massive heart attack. Doctors were skeptical if she would make it. She did and now 1 year and 2months later we are faced with some big decisions. She visited the heart transplant unit (which she regularly visits every 3 months) yesterday, and did not get good news. The heart attack left her heart with little muscle to pump. With the help of meds and a pace make/defibrillator, she has done pretty good this past year. But we've noticed how she has seemed to decline over the last few months, and the tests proved that yesterday. She has 2 choices: 1) mechanical pump or 2) heart transplant. She was flown from Chatt. back in Nov. 2006 to B'ham for a heart transplant and she has remained on the transplant list. The Lord touched her heart in Nov. of 2006 and she began to get better....a Christmas Miracle was what the doctors called her. So, she came home a few weeks later and has been able to resume a semi-normal life. She is the most determined woman I've ever known. I want to be like her in so many ways. She is kind, loving, caring, strong Christian wife, mother (of 4), grandmother of 6, sister, friend, aunt, etc. She always puts others first! She is first on the scene with food, groceries or whatever is the need for that situation. I love her with all my heart and soul!

Please join me in uplifting her name in prayer! I'm asking God to please give my mother a peace in knowing what she should do.

Love to all.....

Carrie