Early Christmas

 I know it's been awhile since I last posted.  Not much has changed. I daily deal with nausea to the point of throwing up at times.  Lately that seems to happen after I take one of my pain meds so that's a bit frustrating as the pain in my gallbladder area has been bugging me the past 2-3 days.  

Many people have stopped by to say hi, or I figure it's so they can say, "good-bye" in their own way.  I had to start canceling some of these appointments as I just do not have the capacity for them or in some cases medical issues came up with my bile drain being clogged and the bandages needed to be changed at the same time.  I am really hoping the issue with my drain will figure itself out so I don't have to go back to the hospital for a "drain exchange".  I really don't think I could handle more time at the hospital.  I have been sleeping a lot lately.  Perhaps it's the increase in meds they are giving me or it's my way of fighting the nausea.  It's been hard for the kids and my husband to see me go downhill a bit.  Thankfully today I had enough energy to have a visit with Bible School friends whom we have not seen in many years.  The husband was also in our wedding party.  And I got to meet my cousin's new baby. But now I pray I can sleep well as I am tired.  My daughter commented on how so many people come and then there isn't a lot of time for our family.  Don't get me wrong I love my friends and am thankful for them and glad if I am well enough for a visit.  But her words today made me want to guard our family time even more.  I find I have better energy when she's at school so that isn't great.  I am thankful for our family time tonight and for tomorrow being a day where I don't have anything up.  

We have no idea how long I have.  So tonight we decided to put up our Christmas tree early.  We don't have Christmas gifts bought but we did get them new ornaments for our family ornament tradition.  I love hearing the kids comment how they love that tradition.  Isaiah got a golf cart ornament in memory of his fist job this summer being the cart sanitizer boy at the golf course.  Kayra got one of a girl doing a cartwheel because she loves to do cartwheels and likes gymnastics.  We also got them a special family one with pictures from the photo shoot we had a few weeks ago.  Then after we watched a Christmas movie.  I know it hasn't even snowed yet but there is something refershing about the Christmas season.

Thank you for all your words of encouragement, prayers, meals, support and unique gifts for our family.  I don't know how people without a community around them survive something like this.  And when I am just too tired I feel like I am Moses sitting on the rock and Hur and Aaron are holding up  Moses' hands Exodus 17:2.  Thank you for standing on the side of me and helping me.  Those prayers give me the strength I need to get through each day.