Standing Up and Holding On

This has probably been one of the toughest weeks for us. We're relying on so many for help to get us through. Never thought we would also be relying on Beyonce and Avril Lavigne to help get us through too. I'm talking about their music of course. A couple of months ago, my friend Margo gave me a cd she put together of songs to help in the crazy journey we are on. On the cd is "Just Stand Up" and "Keep Holding On". Both great songs that are fitting for our circumstances. Natalie loves the cd too.

I just listened to the songs this morning again and they made me cry. Thankfully, nobody came in.

I am reminded that we can get through this and we are stronger than we think.

The good news is that Natalie has not had a fever since Friday night. She has also been pretty active. She wanted Sean and her Po Po to visit yesterday and she also wanted to take a shower. Both good signs that she is feeling better. They took her off one of the antibiotics today and said if she continues to do better, they will start taking more off. She is on so many right now. They are what the medical team refer to as "the big guns".

The challenging thing is that her nose feeding tube got clogged yesterday. They tried squirting cola into it as well as put the guide wire through it to unclog it. No luck. One of the doctors want it out today for fear it may cause an infection. Grant just called to say hold off because he has an idea how to unclog it. We'll see... The nurses said that as long as she eats, she doesn't need it. Natalie ate half a hotdog and some cheese crackers yesterday. She asked for a Costco hotdog and smoothie today. Robin, the only nurse that Natalie will let put a nose tube down her, is not here today unfortunately. It's her daughter's birthday.

Also, with all the events of this week, everyone forgot that the gauze that is on the site of where they removed her broviac should've been removed days ago. The rule here is that a bandage can't stay on longer than 24 hours because of possible bacteria infection. So,last night it took us almost over 1 1/2 hours to get Natalie to remove the gauze so the doctors could take a look at the site. She was crying and wanted her papa. We finally got it off. Actually, Natalie got if off because she wouldn't let anyone do it. The site looks really good. Jenny, the nurse, was going to put a sad face band-aid on it. Natalie stopped her and said, "I want a happy face band-aid." She's such a funny girl. I'm glad she wants her papa though because he is spending the night tonight and she will have to remove the happy face band-aid tonight to let it air again. She has to do this every night until the site completely heals.

We need everybody to please pray for Natalie's counts to start going way up! We've been told that once her counts come, she will be less prone to getting another infection and be able to recover from her pneumonia easier too. The good thing is that her strep seems to be gone. The pneumonia is also really small and in one lobe of her lungs only right now. They think it's the same bacteria that was in her blood that caused the pneumonia.

That's it for now. Here are some of the lyrics for the two songs I mentioned ealier.

"Just Stand Up"- Beyonce
"Everything'll be alright again
alright again, alright again

The heart is stronger than you think
LIke it could go through anything
And even when you think it can't
It finds a way to still push on through

Sometimes you wanna run away
Ain't got the patience for the pain
And if you don't believe it look into your heart
The beat goes on

I'm telling you things get better through whatever
If you fall, dust if off, don't let up
Don't you know you can be your own miracle
You need to know

If the mind keeps thinking you've had enough
But the heart keeps telling you don't give up
Who are we to be questioning, wondering what is what
Don't give up, through it all, just stand up.

It's like we all had better days
Problems getting all up in your face
Just because you go through it
Don't mean it gotta take control, no

If the mind keeps thinking you've had enough
But the heart keeps telling you don't give up
Who are we to be questioning, wondering what is what
Don't give up, through it all, just stand up.

"Keep Holding On"-Avril Lavigne

You're not alone, together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold and it feels like the end
There's no place to go, you know I won't give in

No I won't give in
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you