Everyday Is A Challenge - But God!

First let me say that we are sorry for not updating the blog since last Wednesday but as you may image we have been busy with the kids (mid-terms, multiple athletic practices & games, etc...), Yolanda's treatment schedule, my work schedule (when and if I get a chance to go in depending on how Yo is feeling) and attempting to restore some level of normalcy to our daily lives, two out of three is not bad!  What a tremendous blessing it is to have my mom living with us.  I know that this family would not be able to function without her presence.  She has been a God sent and we are so eternally thankful to have her in Houston.

Since Yo has come home, we have all been learning to adjust to our current situation, but through it all we say PRAISE God because there were/are/is so many other alternatives.  I thank God daily for Yolanda and I continue to be amazed daily by her strength and determination.  Allow me to give you a glimpse of how we are REALLY doing:

Yolanda has started to feel those rods and screws in her back (from December 1st surgery) and it is extremely uncomfortable for her to rest.  Sleeping in the bed is a thing of the past (for both of us).  I refuse to leave her side, so where ever she sleeps so do I....restful sleep has no meaning any longer.

Throughout the day and night, we/I continuously have to adjust her pillows and her positioning to find that "right" spot in the chair so that she can maybe get a couple of hours rest.  But again, we say Thank You LORD for your tender mercies.  We take comfort in all of the small blessings along the way.  So, instead of complaining about the lack of sleep we enjoy our new found quite talking time.  There is a silver lining in everything, if you look hard enough! In a perfect world I am one of the hardest sleeper you will ever meet, just keeping it real.  Nothing could wake me from my dream, but God has blessed me with ultra sensitive hearing during this time.  If Yolanda so much as breaths too hard I hear her and instantly wake up to see what I need to do to assist her in any way.  Now, I do have to take a much needed to sleep break at least once a week to recharge my batteries which I typically do at some point on Sunday's after church (and my COWBOYS) :~}.

Yolanda has not yet regained complete strength to her lower body.  Her quad muscles are so weak that she is still using a walker to get from point "A" to point "B", but again we say PRAISE God.  We thank God for not taking the use of her legs away from her. We remain confident that physical therapy will help and she is going tomorrow morning for her second treatment.

As of today, she has had four radiation treatments to her spine.  PAIN management remains the biggest issue.  Just so you all know - there are good moments, not good days! Everyday she is battling pain in her back.  Today for example, was good early in terms of managing pain until around four o'clock.  While sitting, Yolanda started to experience a "new and different" pain in her spine and it continued to intensify as the minutes and hours inched by.  After multiple doses of Morphine she was finally able to find relief around 7pm.  I think Forest Gump said it best, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get."

Yolanda also has to wear an abdominal band to support her diaphragm because her core is not as strong as it was before her last hospital stay.  By the way, in case you didn't know, this is the primary reason why she has difficulty talking on the phone of entertaining guest for any length of time.  Feel free to send her all the text messages you like, generally speaking she will respond quickly unless she is not feeling well.  Trust me when I tell you she is not avoiding your calls.  Yolanda simply does not have the strength, energy or voice to carry on several conversations during any given day.
In closing, I will leave you with this thought:  Live life like there is no tomorrow.  Enjoy ever moment with your loved ones.  Don't pass up a chance to love and above all put and keep God at the center of your life!

Good night and may God Bless you all!!