Loving my Daughters.....

Today was a big day for Summer.

I spent Sunday night with her and we both set our alarms for 8:00 this morning.

She has Alexa and I used my phone. I had one minute extra!

We were just lying in bed anticipating the day when Summer got a phone call from the medical facility asking if she could come in early - as in right now!

That took the leisure out of the morning and we hopped to it and was at the center shortly after the call. Oops! They had given her the wrong surgical center address.

Apparently they changed facilities so after we had parked and walked in - we walked back out and went a few miles to the other one.

Here's Summer with her medical records for the past three years - with the exception of one doctor who has his on a disk. It's a journey that records the pain she has endured for a long period of time....3 years. By the time the birth defect in her spine was diagnosed and surgically treated - more nerve damage had accumulated. 

And still she smiles....when her picture is taken.

You don't see what I see.....when she is crying and sobbing and moaning.

She tries her best to be positive and hopeful - but it is a challenge that has become increasingly hard as the months and years have gone by. She has lost her health, her home, her job, her career, her life......

and yet she remains positive and full of faith......

but she battles the darkness of doubts and despair as well.

My post on Facebook this morning.....

The injections this doctor is doing today are different from all the others she’s had. She started crying at the possibility these will give her relief the others have not. When she started crying, her three nurses came over and we all had prayer together before they took her back. Thank you all for the prayers for my daughter. It was three years ago in September when Summer’s journey with intense pain began......so hoping the journey grows easier.....

I was with her right until they took her back to the OR.

I had no more than made a cup of coffee in the guest area and called to check on Louis Dean - when they called my name to come back.

My next Facebook post was .....

Summer is home and in bed resting. I fixed a salad and she ate and is doing well! Thank you for all the many prayers....We are so grateful for each one.

After our salad lunch,  I loaded up all my bags and headed over to Dallas to meet up with the quads after their first day of school.

I was sitting outside the front door watching for them!

I am not normally early for anything but I was there today!

How can this be??

They are 7 years old and in second grade??

Will they be as tall as I next year??

Maybe......

I didn't take pictures - I try not to overexpose the kids - but we had a great time at the Race Trac after school eating up yogurt with all the toppings!

PLUS they still have the summer promotion of a set price for the different sizes of yogurt cups.

Let's just say - this grandma saved as much as it cost today! At least!

Granddad has not been feeling well these last several days.

He so wanted to come over and see the quads on Sunday but  just did not feel well enough.

He mustered up all his energy and was parked at Quadville when we all drove up after our yogurt treat.

Alas, after visiting with them a few minutes - he had to retreat to Amber's guest room and rest.  We have come to the conclusion that he inadvertently took a double dose of his blood pressure medicine. They are as small as a piece of lint so that is a real possibility.

He took a good long nap and we left when he felt like he was able to drive home.

I told him that it was a mistake to come and he said, "No, it was NOT a mistake."

Since we returned from the ranch - life has been busy.

I feel like we don't get to give our full attention to where it is needed.

I love my family and I feel like I have neglected my older grandchildren - Sam. Faith and Levi.

Then Rayne is so far away in Puerto Rico.....

I miss quality time with Amber - where we used to give our full attention to each other.

That was so much a part of us until it wasn't......possible after the babies were born and life moved and pushed us forward to meet the challenges of multiple births and we all pulled together as one.

You know, as mothers we do the best we can. We have our children and they have children and we then have grandchildren.....I seek wisdom tonight....

Wisdom to take care of myself......

because if I do not - I cannot take care of anyone else.

I vow to take care of Louis Dean .....first and foremost......

and of my children.....

Summer, Jesse, Jr, .Amber and Benjamin.....and my grandchildren....

Then there are others.....Louis Dean's family.....Dean and Sherry, Chandy and her family.....

So very many people who are so important to us.

It's a gift from God to give us all these relationships....

I close this journal entry tonight thinking some deep thoughts.....

and now it's time to go to bed......