Blistered and Bruised

Thank you to all who prayed for us on Friday. I didn't realize how anxious I really was about this last treatment until Friday morning. Mercifully, God provided through my friend, Kate, who came early to the house to help me get the numbing cream on Judah's face. I seem to forget with each treatment that I can't apply the cream by myself. Each time I think I can do it by myself; each time God provides a friend to help me, and I am always grateful.

Once applied, Judah left the cream alone pretty well. We saw Dr. Cohen at 11 a.m., and the treatment itself went quickly, only 4 minutes. Four minutes feels like an eternity, however, when having to hold him down and listen to him scream at the top of his lungs as if being tortured. I resolved to sing to my son to bring him comfort no matter what the doctor might have thought. Ironically, our dermatogist is Jewish, I believe, and I was singing, "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "The Gospel Song". My first priority is to comfort my son, but I am always mindful of the witnessing opportunities these appointments are as well, thanks to the encouragement of another faithful friend, Karen Coleman.

We (mostly mommy) terribly missed the nurse, Judy, who is no longer with Dr. Cohen, but are asking God and trusting Him to supply someone as comforting and helpful as she was for future treatments. Judah bruised and blistered quite a bit with this treatment, but we're trusting that will mean a greater impact on the swelling and overall appearance of the Port wine stain.

That same afternoon, I made a "sick visit" to our pediatrician for the boys' colds. Judah was having to get nebulizer treatments all last week, and I wanted to check with her to see if she wanted him to go on a steroid again. She prescribed a steroid for him, but different from the one he had been given with his last three asthma "episodes". The steroid she prescribed for him now will not help immediately, but rather over a period of time as I will give it to him daily. It will not be systemic like the other one, but only take the medicine directly to his lungs where he needs it. This steroid will not have the negative side effects like the other one does. We're hoping this will work and keep Judah from having any more asthma attacks. As an aside, Tucker has had diarrhea for four days now as well and has a horrible diaper rash as a result.

This week, we are scheduled for a regular 15 month checkup at the pediatrician. The boys are supposed to be getting shots at this appointment.

Please pray that:

• God would provide a nurse to assist Dr. Cohen who would be as comforting and helpful as Judy, his previous nurse, was.
• God would mercifully and completely heal the boys of all infections, viruses, rashes, etc.
• Our 15 month checkup would go smoothly: the boys would be able to get their shots without any strange reactions to them, all their "stats." would fall within the range of 'normal' (Judah's head circumference, mainly), and God would grace me to reflect His image to our pediatrician and her staff who is now very well acquainted with our family, our circumstances and our trust in God.
• there are lots of our little friends who are also sick with colds, fevers, diarrhea, etc. Please pray for God's protection of these little ones and God's merciful healing to rain down on the babies at Chesapeake. And, pray for the mommies, too. Caring for sick kids is very tiring!

Please thank God with us that:

• Judah was able to have this last laser treatment.
• God always provides friends and family to help with the practical needs we have in caring for the boys.
• God continues to sustain Judah and Tucker through all these illnesses and hardships.

Remaining desperate for the Lord, Briana :)