Botox, Anyone?

Pops may not be getting Botox anytime soon, but he did have a collagen injection earlier this week. And it wasn't to give him plumper lips. Medically speaking, they injected collagen into the thingies in his throat so that they would seal properly when he swallowed. The true test to see if it worked will be tomorrow when he has his fifth swallow test. Yep, that's right. Swallow test number five. Tomorrow. Two-thirty. Pray for him!

Dad's doing well. He came home for the afternoon on Sunday and we got to hang outside and do some catching up with a few family and friends. It was a good day. He really loves being outside and after five months in the hospital, who wouldn't? When he's done with therapy for the day, he and mom get to roam the hospital and find a sunny spot to sit outside. How fun it was to see him waiting for me outside the hospital entrance when I pulled into the parking garage today. I got so excited I laid on the horn and yelled out the window. Not a smart move considering the elderly man on oxygen standing behind him jumped about five feet in the air. Whoopsie.

His dialysis schedule has been changed to Monday/Wednesday/Friday which will allow him to come home this weekend. If all goes as scheduled he may even get to spend the night for the first time. Pray that all goes well so this can happen. It would make for a great mother's day weekend, that's for sure.

I have to say a big thank you to all the Awana kids from ABC. The highlight of Sunday was watching a "video get-well card" that they made for dad...and it was precious. Dad loved it and was very touched. He misses his Awana kids and hopes to see them all soon.

As I watch dad interact with the nurses that have become family, and watch mom taking on the role of caretaker with courage, determination, and of course, boat loads of humor....all I can be is thankful. Thankful that God goes before us...and knows what lies ahead. As I watch my parents go through the toughest thing they've ever faced, I find myself looking up to them more than ever....amazed at their faith, amazed at their perseverance, amazed at their promise to each other....'in sickness and in health'. It certainly ain't all peaches and cream, and tears still come pretty easily...but I see God working in this, and it's an unexplainable joy. Joy that only comes from knowing Christ, and knowing that he holds our family in the palm of his hand.

Thank you God for holding us, sustaining us, and of course, for collagen injections. Here's to a clean swallow!