Home

We are home!! I brought Mark home last night. YEAH!! I am so happy to have him home and feeling better. The virus is still affecting him. He has some headache pain and nausea but feeling much better than the start of the week or last weekend.

Continue to pray that he fully recovers from viral meningitis (the official diagnosis) and gets back to working on strength and weight building. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes. We are so thankful to have such a large support system.

While I would like to say that this was our "LAST" time in the hospital - I am coming to realize that the hospital will now be a part of our "new normal." At least until Mark is off of all of his immune suppression drugs..... New Goal: no more than 7 days a month in the hospital! I am some-what teasing, but at the same time it might be a realistic goal for us right now.

I am slowly working on convincing myself that this is our new life. It was easier to just power though in Seattle. Strange city, new apartment and consumed with medical care. But back home it seems so odd that Mark is still so sick and that we have to try and do all of our normal activities (work, school, church, small group, hanging out with family and friends, cooking and cleaning, etc....) AND oncology and physical therapy appointment, blood draws, IV's + all the medication, eating plan and working out at home. It is a lot of work and scheduling to make it all happen - but more than that - it seems so weird and strange to be doing it all here back home. I don't like it very much but I am trying to stay positive and work some fun, joy-filled family time in between it all. There are also chunks of time set aside for Karen. I know that I need time for me to relax. I also know that even if there are bad days and I don't always like what I have to do - I can keep this family going with help from family and friends, as long as I keep my eyes on Christ and lean on the Holy Spirit.

I have to remind myself often of these truths:
We love each other
There are brighter days ahead of us
I am strong enough
God loves us
He will continue to provide all we need
I am strong enough
My children are sweet & beautiful and just need love, encouragement and structure
My husband will feel better soon
I am strong enough
Joy can be found each day