Scriptures for encouragement

So in my Deployment: December 2006 post I make reference to a thread that was started by one of my online MOPS friends for people to post scripture for myself and anyone else going through a rough time in their lives.  I decided to post is separately so I could easily reference it as needed in the future.


It's interesting how this post has encouraged me as much today as it did back when I first read it five years ago.  To be honest, the closer the threads get to when Mike's unit was extended the more difficult it has been for me to go through them.  Reading the hopefulness in my posts and knowing that things didn't work out the way I had hoped is difficult to relive. The timing of this post couldn't have been better.  I love how God knows just what we need to hear.


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December 9, 2006

Post your scriptures here for Kate D and anyone else…

....going through a rough time right now, with Christmas coming, or just any of us who are in need of some encouragement!
There seems to be a lot of us facing some tough times right now, so I thought we could post some uflifting verses to help each other through!

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10 (dawnie)

Psalm 91:4
"He will cover me with His feathers, and under His wings will I find refuge. His faithfulness is my sheild and rampart."

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You." (kalette)

Isaiah 43:1-3a "But now saith the Lord that created thee , O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. (mountain mama)

Psalm 113:7 "The Lord raises the needy from the dust, lifts the poor from ash heap."

Psalm 70:6 "Here I am, afflicted and poor. God, come quickly! You are my help and deliverer. Lord do not delay." (allycat)

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

I know it's not usually seen as a verse of comfort, but we should look at it carefully.
God has a plan - a "good work" - that He is working out in us ~ experience by experience ... day by day ... moment by moment. His goal is to make us more like Himself. I am confident, that though times are hard and experiences sometimes cause confusion and pain in this life, God is working it all "together for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose."

If you have given your life to Christ and keep your eyes on Him, even when your world seems to be crumbling around you, you can be absoluely certain that it WILL all work out for good. (janet)

"O taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, ye His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger , but those who seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Come ye children, harken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Psalm 34: 8-10 (evaG)

Bumping up.......
Today our pastor had a message about the kind of person God uses....it was so upflifting. As it is almost Christmas, he used Mary as the example. He talked about how Mary wasn't rich, educated, especially gifted, or perfect. She was just willing to be used by God for his plan. How encouraging for us to know that God can use US, me!, far from perfect, often broken, but HE can use ME, as I am , in whatever circumstance I am, for His plan, so long as I am just willing to let him work......wow! Anyway, I thought I would add that, although I have simplified his message, I was really moved by hearing this simple truth again. (dawnie)

Deployment: December 2006

Just FYI: dh=dear husband, ds1=dear son 1, ds2=dear son 2, dd=dear daughter, PTL=praise the Lord, FIL=father-in-law, BIL=brother-in-law, SIL=sister-in-law
Also, peoples' comments I included are in italics with the person's name in parenthesis

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December 3, 2006

DH got a call today from another guy he's in guards with who is also currently stateside and was told that a soldier from their company was killed by an IED today. Please pray for this soldier's family. He was in his early 20s and unmarried. I don't know much about him as dh didn't know him real well, but it is still so very sad.

Dh said he had hoped they would make it through this deployment without losing anyone from his company. They only have about 3-4 mos to go. I know this must be especially hard for the family since it's the holiday season and all.


Kate
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December 4, 2006

I got this email from dh today:

"ONe of my buddies here is online with one of the guys from over there in our unit. I guess the driver died instantly the gunner didnt die until he was being air lifted out. The commander of the vehicle(a sgt)sounds like that he'll be losing his legs both from about the knee down."
When I talked to him on the phone dh said he didn't know the two who died very well, just from them coming into the arms room when dh was working in there. The sgt is actually a guy dh knows pretty well. Just from talking to dh I know it's harder for him than he lets on. Part of him wants to be over there with his company right now, but the other part of him wants to stay in the states so he stays safe for me and the kids. Since that squad was the one dh went on patrol with a couple of times I know he is thinking that it could have been him. I just thank God he's here in the states right now and I am praying like crazy that he won't have to go back!

At any rate, I know the guys in dh's company and the families of the soldiers involved in the explosion could use a lot of prayer right now.

Thanks.

Kate

oh nooooo .... & that poor guy losing his legs. Praying for the Lords comfort to shower upon those families. I'll bet your dh is feeling it coulda been him! Do you think his injury may have been God's protection on him?? Praying for your dh's comforting too. (Susan)

I have been feeling the injury is something from God since things started really heating up over there. As frustrating as it is that his treatment/diagnosis is taking so long I know in my heart it is God's way of keeping him safe for me.

As a wife though, it's really hard not to feel "survivors guilt" since my soldier is safe and others are not. I know with my MIL's death last spring God is keeping DH safe for my FIL as well. DH is kind of the favorite son and I know it would be more devastating than I can even imagine for FIL to lose both his wife and his son within a year. It's bad enough that his favorite dog died in October.

I just keep telling myself that God is in control no matter what happens. If dh is meant to go back, that's God's plan for us. If dh is meant to stay in the states, that's God's plan for us. I just have to trust in Him and wait and see what happens. Either way, our lives are in His hands.

Kate

(quote from Kate D)"Just from talking to dh I know it's harder for him than he lets on. Part of him wants to be over there with his company right now, but the other part of him wants to stay in the states so he stays safe for me and the kids."

I wondered about that Kate. I had always had the impression that he is a real honor and duty kind of guy, and I am sure he feels pulled. Remind him that you are his primary ministry here on earth, and that God has a plan so its ok to go with it! He knows, though, I'm sure. The good ones always feel torn.....the bad ones wouldn't care one way or the other! (dawnie)

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December 5, 2006

I know so many of you are already praying for me and my dh and I thank you for that. I just wanted to let you know that he has an appointment with an actual wrist specialist (at what I recently found out is one of the best clinics/hospitals in the midwest ) tomorrow (12/05) at 1:45pm CST. If you could please pray that this specialist can figure out what is wrong with him I would really appreciate it.

Dh said his arm is feeling better overall, but then he went to put a log on the fire this weekend which required him to twist his arm a little and he said that simple task caused pain to shoot up his arm. To me, that sounds like there's still something wrong in there. Of course I am praying the doc will recommend he stay in the US, but more than anything I just want to know what is wrong with him and how to fix it. Having him home for Christmas (or even "for good") would be a major bonus.

Thanks again for all your support. I know dh appreciates it when I tell him all the ladies at MOPS are praying for him.

Kate

****Update****

I just spoke with dh and the specialist said his wrist was definitely borken, but it looks like his wrist is healing (PTL!!!!) and that the pain he is experiencing is most likely tendonitis. They could do some sort of operation to go in and check things out, but if nothing is wrong it could actually cause damage and make things worse so at this time the doc recommends passing on that operation. The doc said to do another month of Physical Therapy and see how dh is feeling. He also said it could take up to a year for the pain to go away!

Anyway, since dh called en route to Ft McCoy from the doc he doesn't know whether or not he'll be going back since he hasn't spoken wiht any of the "higher ups" who actually have the power to make decisions like that. Dh did say that the doc told him he's as close to 100% as he's probably going to get for right now. Basically it will just take time.

Please continue to pray that they don't send him back. I know his job over there requires a lot of lifting which would put some strain on his arm and prolong the healing process. Even if he has to stay at Ft McCoy until the rest of his group comes home I think he would heal better/faster than he would in Iraq.

Thanks for all the prayers and all the support. We both really appreciate it!

Kate

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December 6, 2006

I just got off the phone with dh and he asked if he could call me back because he was heading into a meeting with the colonel and the case worker to decide what's going to happen to him. Please, please pray that they make the best decision for my dh.

He needs 6 weeks of physical therapy according to the specialist and yesterday he was told they may send him back to Iraq and have him do the therapy over there. Please pray that doesn't happen. I just can't imagine a war zone being the best place to recover from an injury.

Thanks and I'll update when I hear from him again.

Kate

So here's the deal. Because the doc said he's just under 100% as far as returning to where he was before he was injured it's okay for him to return to duty. As for physical therapy, he can do the excercises on his own so he won't actually need a physical therapist working with him. This means they'll be sending him back unless for some strange reason his unit doesn't need/want him back. I asked for a timeframe and he said he has funeral detail next week for one of the soldiers who was killed from his unit and then after that it's just a matter of when they could get him a flight out.

I knew this was a possibility, but I wanted to badly for him to stay home. I just don't understand how if he's still experiencing pain whether tendonitis or whatever that they are okay with sending him back into a war zone. Even though Christmas is a couple of weeks away it looks like that doesn't matter and they'll just send him back as soon as they get the okay from his unit.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. I am still praying like crazy that his unit won't want him to come back. No matter what I just need to prepare myself for the fact that despite what I think is the most logical thing to do in this situation, the army doesn't do things "locigally." (maybe that's why I never joined)

Well, my dd needsd a nap and I have to clean up the house before piano lessons tonight. I just wanted to post an update.

Kate

Right now dh is scheduled to fly back to Iraq Dec 15. If he can't get a flight that day he'll fly out on the 18th. Either way he won't be here for Christmas. I am so frustrated that he couldn't stay just an extra week since he's here anyway, but of course we have no say in the matter and they don't care that we have three little kids who will be so sad to have daddy leave, especially right before Christmas.

He comes home Saturday to get his stuff for the funeral detail Tues/Wed so I'm planning on getting all the presents and stuff together and doing our own little family Christmas one of the days he's home. He has to be back at WI by midnight on Thursday, so hopefully we'll be able to figure out something during the short time he gets to be home with us.

Thanks, everyone for all your prayers. You never know if there will be a big storm or something and he'll get stuck in the states for a few extra days or something. Anything's possible, right? If that happens we'll just be lucky enough to have two Christmases this year.

Kate

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Praise you in this storm

So after posting my update about dh I started thinking and decided that I needed to post again. Despite the fact that I am disappointed right now about how things are probably going to turn out I really have so much to be thankful and praise God for.

*Even though it means probably going back to Iraq, dh's wrist is almost completely healed and he didn't need surgery to fix it.
*He has been in the states nearly a month past the date he was supposed to return to Iraq and I have seen him every weekend since he left for WI the beginning of November.
*I get to see him this weekend when he comes home to get his class A's for the funeral detail.
*I know that as hard as it is going to be to see him go again, God is in control of everything and no matter what happens I can count on Him to be by my side (or carrying me) every step of the way.
*I know that everything my family has gone through with this deployment is going to be used by God in one way or another.

I know in my heart that all thing work together for the good of the Lord and although I don't understand why things are going the way they are right now I just need to trust in Him and His promises.

Thanks so much for all your support and your prayers. I am still clinging to the shred of hope that they won't want him back, but I am prepared to face the reality of him leaving again if that is God's plan for us. It's amazing how much truth there is in the verse "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength." Phil 4:13 Any strength I may be showing right now comes directly from my Lord and Saviour and I thank Him so much for never leaving me to fend for myself. I know I could never do it alone.

Kate

Yes, I have heard that song. I have the Casting Crowns CD that it's on. The chorus of that song is what was running through my head when I was feeling sorry for myself earlier and decided that in everything I need to give praise to God no matter how rotten I think things are or how frustrating and unfair things seem. I'm not in charge of anything other than how I choose to react to the situation I am in. I guess that's why I felt convicted to start this thread.

Thank you all for your kind words. Any of you who read my "getting to know you" thread know how far I've come from 10 years ago when I hit rock bottom in my walk. Thanks, JavaJayne for pointing that out again. I guess I'm doing better than I thought I was. There is no way I could have written a post like this if I was still in the place I was back then.

One more thing that I thought of that is good about dh going back is the plan my dad had to surprise him by building a master bedroom addition to our house before he comes back for good. Right now our room is so tiny and if we have another kid it will be even more squishy around here. That would be a really great surprise for him and something for me to be a part of in order to take my mind off things.

Kate, I too am so proud of you for this post! And don't forget, God has a plan in this for YOU too! Just look at how many of US here you and your story have touched, and by touching, changed! You may not know in this life, but I expect there will be at least a few in heaven who tell you just how much God has used you through your trial. Hang in there, and keep hanging on Him! Love ya! (dawnie)

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So when I logged on tonight and saw the scripture thread for me and anyone else having a rough time right now it brought tears to my eyes. I think this is the first time I have ever cried from just reading the subject of a post.

I just wanted to say thank you. Really, I am so glad that last March after dh left I sent an email to MOPS, International asking for resources for wives of depolyed soldiers. The response I got directed me to these forums.

I don't know if you ladies understand just how much easier you have made these last nine months for me. If it's not support through prayer and scripture and advice and hugs it's sharing a silly story that makes me laugh and brightens my day or posting something on the eyeroll thread that I can totally relate to.

Thank you so very, very much for being here for me. I know my nights would have been a lot lonelier without you guys to spend them with. Thanks again!

(((((((hugs)))))))

Kate

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December 12, 2006

Today is just being a really hard day. I found out a few minutes ago that dh is supposed to fly out to Iraq this Friday so we won't get to see him this weekend after all. He's kind of home for a couple of days, but he's gone during the day for the funerals of the two guys from his company who were killed a couple of weeks ago. He hasn't seen the kids much and we were really looking forward to just spending the weekend together as a family before they sent him back. Dh asked if there was any way to push it back to Monday instead and the guy told him no, they already had the flights booked. Seriously, this is the 21st century and switching flight schedules isn't as difficult as rocket science or brain surgery or anything!

Anyway, I am having a really hard time holding myself together and the kids are asking me why I'm sad and they are too little to understand anything that's going on and I just don't want to do anything other than curl up on the couch and cry my eyes out.

I am going to email dh's captain here in MN and see if there's anything she can do. I'm sure I'll just get the response "that's the military" which is the most infuriating thing I have ever heard in all my life and I am so sick and tired of them using that as an excuse for how they do things I could just puke!

Anyway, please pray for me. That I will be strong for my family regardless of when dh goes back and that I will make it through the holidays with minimal time curled up on the couch feeling sorry for myself.

I just don't understand how they can medically clear someone who is still experiencing pain and who still needs physical therapy and send him back into a war zone, especially when there's no physical therapist at his base! I am so concerned that he won't get the therapy that he needs and then in March when he comes home for good he'll be stuck in WI finishing the therapy they should have taken care of right now!

Thanks for all your support and everything. I really do appreciate it.

kate

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December 13, 2006

I feel like a total prayer piggy, but I don't know what to do other than ask for more prayer.

I just spent the last hour laying in bed sobbing my eyes out because dh is definitely leaving to go back to Iraq Friday morning at 5am. He has to be back in WI by midnight Thursday so that means today is our last day/night together until he comes back for good in March.

I know this is God's will at least I keep telling myself that it is that that it has to be and that even if I don't understand it right now there is a reason for this and someday I will see what it is. It's just hard to make my heart understand what I know in my mind to be true.

It's far easier to just curl up in the fetal position and think about how much life sucks right now and just cry my eyes out. Problem is that I have a family to consider, not just me. I actually made my dh cry because I was so upset and I feel terrible about that. I think that's only the third time in our nearly 10 years together that I saw him cry and it was because of me. I hate that and I hate feeling like this.

It doesn't help that ds2 was screaming about wanting his daddy and told me he wanted me to leave instead. That's what started the cryfest. I know he's only 3 and he didn't really mean it, but if this is what I have to look forward to for the next three months then I don't know what I'm going to do.

Please pray that I can focus on being strong for my dh and that I got all the tears out of my system (at least for now) and that we can focus on the positive for the rest of the day. Anyway, I have to get going. Thanks for the prayers and support as always.

Kate

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December 15, 2006

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers that have been sent up for me and my family the last couple of days. I just got home from taking dh to meet his ride back to WI. He leaves on his journey back to Iraq at 5:30 tomorrow morning.

I have had such a hard time with this even though I knew it was a possibility and I know your prayers have helped me survive the last couple of days.

I posted yesterday about how rotten I was feeling and I just have to say that after I posted I did start feeling better. I'm sure it's the sharing the burden thing and I thank you all for sharing this burden with me.

I also wanted to share something really cool that happened last night as I was laying in bed with dh. We were laying with his arms around me "spooning" and he was really quiet so I asked him what he was thinking. He said he wasn't thinking, he was praying. I asked him if he would pray out loud so we could pray together and then for the first time in about 6 years or so, we prayed together. It was so amazing to share that with him. We both have our separate relationships with God through prayer, but we haven't made a habit of praying together as a couple. We both felt a real sense of peace after that and although of course I have still shed many tears today I haven't felt that sense of despair that I had yesterday afternoon.

Anyway, I know it will be three months or so until we can experience prayer like that together again, but we are going to make a real effort to continue praying together at night before bed once dh returns. I can't wait. Just one more thing to look forward to in his homecoming.

Thank you again everyone for all the encouraging posts and for sharing this difficult time for me. You are truly amazing women and I thank each and every one of you for what you have given me. You are all so unique and bring such a different perspective to things and I love reading how you see things and how you choose to share yourselves with me. Thank you for that.

Kate

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December 16, 2006

Just wanted to know how you're doing.
Been thinking 'boucha....have you heard from your hubby?
Praying as always! (dawnie)

Hey, dawn, thanks for asking! I'm doing okay. I was supposed to go for coffee this afternoon and someone was going to watch the kids so I could have a break and they ended up cancelling about 30 min before we were supposed to go. That was kind of a bummer. but dh did call a short while after they cancelled and I wouldn't have been able to hear him as well had I been in a coffee shop so then I wasn't quite as bummed.

Dh made it to Kuwait. He thinks he'll be there a day or two before then send him off to Iraq. I am still irritated about the whole situation, but dh is waiting for an email from a guy here in MN who was working on getting him a physical therapist at his base so hopefully that will work out and I can relax a little as far as his treatment is concerned. I still can't believe that they don't take a guy's civillian job into account before they decide to "clear" him to return to duty. But I digress...

I have been playing with photos of the kids and posted a couple on the "ones that didn't make it" thread. Dh has the original file of our Christmas pic with him. Oops! I'll have to scan in a copy of the actual card after I get them back.

I am thinking a bubble bath sounds pretty good right about now so I'll probably be shutting down pretty soon here and heading off to the tub.

Thanks again for asking about me and for all the prayers. I know it really does help.

Kate

Oh man, bummer. Again, too bad you all don't live here, I could watch your kids for you so you could get out more. Ah, well, I digress too.....
Glad you heard and that things are going ok, I will update SS tomorrow, and lots of us are praying about the whole thing.
Enjoy your bath....I usually do that more often myself when hubby is gone.
Hey, that pic in your signature is hilarious! Is that your daughter?????
It looks so much like Bubba that I did a double take! Same face, same expression, eegads!
Have a good night, and try to relax and enjoy yourself! Hope the kids are doing better now too!(Dawnie)

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December 19, 2006

So I just got off the phone with dh and he said that now it's looking like they won't be leaving his base to head for Kuwait and then the US until March 15 or later. (before he left for R&R he was told Feb 15 or so) My birthday is March 24 and with the amount of troops they have to move and the travel from overseas and the demobilization and all that it really doesn't look like he'll be home for my birthday.

He was home for his mom's funeral the beginning of March this year and left to return to MS the 21st and then on to Iraq the 27th. I know it's not that big of a deal, it's only a birthday, but I was really hoping he'd actually be home for my "real" birthday since he missed my "real" birthday this year and he missed our "real" anniversary when he came home for R&R.

I'm just feeling grumpy tonight. I suppose part of it is the fact that he's back with all the other soldiers and their soldier brains so he's going to get brainwashed into thinking like them again and might actually decide to reenlist even though when he was home he decided not to. Just having two conversations with him since he's been back in Iraq I can tell the difference in his thinking.

Anyway, if y'all want to pray a speccific prayer for me and dh, please pray that he's home in my arms on/before my birthday. Thanks!

Peace out!

Kate

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December 25, 2006

So dh got the "official" word that his group that is stationed at his base will begin training their replacements early Feb and that he will be done at his base as of Feb 23!!!

BUT- Remember that this is the military...

He said that doesn't mean he will be coming home then. All it means is he and his group will be "out of harms way." Right now they are scheduled to leave for the US March 15. He said it is likely they'll be sitting on their butts at their current base between Feb 23 and Mar 15 but one of his commanders is working on getting them sent home early!

I am not even going to begin to start hoping that he'll be home that early, but even if it's the 15th it will be before my birthday (which is what I've been praying for all along!).

So Merry Christmas to me! This was wonderful news, especially today!

Kate

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December 27, 2006

So ds2 has been having a really hard time with daddy being gone this time around. He has little screaming fits where he wants his daddy or needs to hug his daddy or whatever. So I told him that since daddy's not here in person we have to send him "angel hugs" and then God can deliver them for us. So I have him hug himself and then we pray "dear God, please send this angel hug to daddy. Amen." The amazing thing is that ds2 calms right down after we do that!

Tonight he got up after I put him to bed and was hollering down the vent at me. "Mom! I didn't give an angel hug to my daddy!!!" We sent daddy an angel hug and he went straight to bed.

I just thought if anyone else had kids who were missing their loved ones this might be something to try.

Kate

Deployment: November 2006

Just FYI: dh=dear husband, ds1=dear son 1, ds2=dear son 2, dd=dear daughter, PTL=praise the Lord, FIL=father-in-law, BIL=brother-in-law, SIL=sister-in-law
Also, peoples' comments I included are in italics with the person's name in parenthesis

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November 3, 2006

So I have just a minute or two and I thought I should post a quick update on what's been going on with my dh since he's been home on leave.

Some of you may remember that he injured his wrist breaking up a fight 2-3 mos ago. First they said it was a sprain and did nothing for a month, then when it didn't get better he was examined again and over the course of 24 hours went from being badly broken and needing surgery to something not so serious so they were going to try a cast for a month and see what happened.

Anyway, two days before he was supposed to come home for leave they wanted to send him to a specialist and if it was determined that he needed surgery then he wouldn't have been able to come home for leave and would have had to stay for the surgery and such over there. Thankfully, dh's commander or whoever said that would be a lousy thing to do to a guy and his family two days before he was supposed to be going home and they told him to skip the specialist, go home on leave and get a second opinion over here.

Well, that's what he did and I guess he really shouldn't have since it opened a big can of worms. Now he can't go back to Iraq until he's cleared medically (which to me is a good thing ) and according to some bigwig over there he shouldn't have even come home if he wasn't cleared medically in the first place. Too late for that now.
Anyway, the good thing is that I get a few extra days with him. He was supposed to be leaving for Kuwait tomorrow morning and now he doesn't have to leave until Tuesday. On Tuesday someone will come and pick him up to drive to Ft McCoy, WI where they'll start the process of figuring out what the heck is wrong with his wrist. most likely he'll end up being sent to Ft Knox, KY at some point for medical treatment.

The specialist we saw in town said he did have a break but it had healed and that he would recommend an MRI before moving forward with any kind of surgery. Please pray that my dh will get the medical attention he needs and that we will know as soon as possible whether or not he will be returning to Iraq. If he needs surgery it is likely the rest of his deployment will be cancelled and he will be home early. (of course I'm trying not to hope too much, but that would sure be a nice Christmas present for us)

Anyway, thanks to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers for me and my family. I'm sure I'll be back more after he's gone to WI. I try to keep up with reading for a few minutes each day, but I haven't been able to post much. Just know I'm thinking about all of you and I send up prayers for my MOPS family every day. Oh, and welcome to any newbies who have joined in the last couple of weeks.

Kate

As far as the use of his wrist goes, it still bothers him when he lifts heavy things. He said over all it feels better since he's starting to build up muscle again after having been in a cast, but he still has pain that isn't getting any better.

I am concerned that if it doesn't get fixed soon there may be permanent damage and with him being in law enforcement I don't know what that will mean for his civillian job. I am just praying that they will figure out what is actually wrong so they can find the appropriate treatment. I am still extremely irritated with the care (or lack there of) he received when he was first injured. I think it's partially his own darn fault for not insisting to see a specialist after the fiasco with needing surgery and then just needing a cast. If I had two contrasting medical opinions like that I would have insisted to see someone who actually specializes in orthopedics! Too late now.

Anyway, thanks again for all the prayers.

Kate

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November 7, 2006

Please join in prayer for KateD's hubby today and in the next however long it takes until they find out the verdict on his wrist and whether or not he will go back to Iraq. I am sure the waiting and not knowing is the hardest.

God, we just lift up Kate's husband to You, as well as Kate and the kids. We know that You are in control of the entire situation, and that the outcome will be according to Your will. I pray for wisdom for the doctors as they decide the necessary treatment, and most of all for peace and patience as he and Kate wait for the outcome. Help them to wait and to trust in You. In Jesus' name, Amen. (dawnie)

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I know he's only going to Wisconsin, but it's still hard to have him gone. Both my boys have been pretty down about it and dd was napping when he left so I don't know how she'll be when she discovers that he's gone. She's become quite a Daddy's Girl since dh has been home. I am guessing the reaction of a 16 month old will be quite different than that of a 9 month old.

Anyway, thanks so much for the prayers and support. More than anything I just want him to find out for sure what's wrong with his wrist and get the treatment for it that he needs. He said he won't know anything for a few days because they have to get him processed and all that, but I'll keep you posted as I find out more info.

On the bright side... he does get to have his cell phone so I'll be able to talk to him more than when he was overseas. That will be nice. Even if I can't talk to him in person I can leave messages on his voice mail. Also, my college roommate and I will be going through WI this weekend to go see my uncle in a play so we may be able to stop by the base he'll be at for a quick visit on our way out or on our way home. I am really hoping that will work out, but we'll have to see what happens.

Thanks again for everything!

Kate

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November 8, 2006

Do any of your kids…

try to hurt themselves in the same way one of their siblings did just to receive the same attention from you? Or does my ds2 just have some "owie envy" issues?

Ds1 was trying to crawl into bed with me this morning and slipped and hit his head on my dresser. He said he needed "something cold" to make it feel better so we went to the kitchen and got one of those plastic ice cubes I have just for boo boos and had him put it on his head. As I'm doing that I hear a couple of thumps and I look over to see ds2 banging his head on the cupboard and fake crying "I need something cold! I need something cold!" If you're going to hurt yourself on purpose at least go into the other room so I don't see you doing it.

I suppose I could somehow blame this behavior on dh leaving yesterday, but I have a feeling it's more than that.

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I talked to dh last night and he made it safely to WI. He said it sounds like today he'll be seeing doctors and he will hopefully know later today or tomorrow what's wrong with him and if he needs surgery.
Please pray that he gets an MRI and that it shows the doctors what they need to see to determine what is wrong with him.

If you could also pray for speedy results I would appreciate it. This not knowing for sure what's going to happen is driving me crazy. I know it's in God's hands and I just need to trust in Him, but knowing it and actually doing it are two different things. KWIM? I am trying, but it seems like it's been forever since he was first injured and I just want to know one way or the other if he'll have to stay in the states for treatment or if they'll determine it's nothing serious and he'll be sent back to Iraq.

Thanks everyone!

Kate

I just talked to my dh and I am more frustrated than ever. They have him in a splint again. (he was in one for 2.5 weeks before he saw the specialist here who told him he didn't need it) They say he needs to wear it for three weeks and do physical therapy and then see what happens. Supposedly these docs see a break on the X-rays that the specialists didn't see. *fighting the urge to post an eyeroll*

Even though the "civillian" specialists he saw while on leave suggested an MRI would be the next logical step to make sure there's no cartilage or ligament damage they are refusing to sign off on it and send dh for an MRI. I am thinking that if a cast for a month didn't do anything and a splint for 2.5 weeks didn't do anything then why not do the MRI and make sure there is nothing more serious wrong there.

I am going to ask dh to have the military docs call the specialist he saw and talk to him themselves. It just frustrates me that they seem to be jerking him around so much with his care. If he weren't deployed for active duty right now we would have been able to follow the advice of "civillian" docs and get the care they recommend. We would have known by now what all is wrong with him and we would be able to get him the appropriate treatment.

Not that military docs are bad or anything, it's just that seeing an actual orthopedic surgeon and having your x-rays sent to an orthopedic wrist specialist for evaluation seems to me like it should carry more weight with them than it is. (and we had to pay out-of-pocket for the darn specialist visit!)

Okay, if you've read all this you probably can guess that I can use prayer for my attitude since I know it's not going to help dh if I'm a crabby beast. Also, please continue to pray for the medical care dh is receiving. I am really quite frustrated right now and I just don't know what else to do about. Thanks for all the prayers and support and I'll keep you posted.

Kate

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November 9, 2006

Thanks so much for all the prayers for my dh. Monday he gets an MRI. He talked to a different case worker today (who according to dh was kind of a jerk about things). Despite the jerkiness he approved dh for an MRI on Monday. Please pray that the MRI shows what's wrong with him and that they figure out the appropriate treatment.

The case worker read the specialist's report where it said to "return to duty and if it doesn't get better the next step would be to have an MRI" and was kind of rude about it and wanted to know why dh wasn't back in Iraq "on duty." Dh tried to explain that his job in Iraq requires him to do a lot of lifting and that he can't even lift dd in and out of the car without pain so he knows he won't be able to do his job in Iraq with his arm the way it is. Even after that the guy was still a little rude and just said that obviously dh is frustrated so they'll go ahead and to the MRI. Regardless of the attitude of the case worker we will hopefully have some answers soon.

Anyway, please keep praying that the MRI enables the docs to see what is wrong with dh. The specialist he saw while home thought there may be cartilage or ligament damage causing the pain and that sort of thing would only show up on a MRI.

I know there is a chance he'll be going back to Iraq and I'm okay with that as long as he is healed and can actually do the job he is supposed to be doing. I just pray they don't send him back prematurely and that he gets the treatment he needs to heal his wrist/arm.

Thanks again for the prayers and keep them coming!

kate

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So I just talked to my dh and his pass starts tomorrow morning! He had actually filled out paperwork for a Sat-Sun pass to come to Waukesha, WI with my college roommate and me to see my uncle in a play and then he found out everyone gets a 3-day pass for veteran's day.
The only problem is that the base he's at is 4+ hours from here and I really don't want to drive 8hrs in the car tomorrow and then another 8 Sat to WI and another 8 Sun home again. That's too much car time for me! DH asked his dad if he could get him from WI and the reply was "Can't Kate do it? I was going to go hunting tomorrow." This is the same man who complained that he didn't get to see dh enough when he was home for his 2 weeks of R&R.

Hopefully, they'll get the details all worked out otherwise I'll be driving down to get him tomorrow, kids in tow, which sounds less than fun to me! Let's see, retired man driving by himself vs. mom of 3 (4 and under) driving with kids... Which makes more sense to you?

Anyway, regardless of the details I get to see dh for a couple of days! Yeah!

Kate

So here's the latest... Dh has a friend with family in a town a little closer to the MN/WI border so dh is going to go with his guy in a couple of hours. His new "master plan" is for me to find someone to sit with the kids while I drive down tonight to get him! So I'm scrambling to figure something out and I don't even know if it will work. Grrr!
Oh, I just thought of something... dh's sister sometimes works in the cities M-Th and might be heading north tonight! I have to go have him call her and see if they could meet up somehow. I'll keep you posted!

So dh's sis was sick all week and isn't in the cities after all. I can't find anyone to watch the kids for me since they all work early in the morning and we wouldn't get back until really late. So after I log off here I'm loading us all up in the van to go get him ourselves. Dh's dad can't get him because he's going hunting in the morning. Instead his grandkids get to spend 6+ hours in the car tonight. But by all means, hunting is more important than anything else...
Sorry, I should be happy (and I am) I just really didn't plan on making a "family trip" at nearly 7pm tonight. talk to you all soon and please send up a few attitude prayers for me. Every ounce of my being (that was up until 2am last night and up at 7am this morning) wants to just tell dh to find someone else to take him. Someone without kids to worry about. But I love him and I need to get him if nobody else will. I just wish there were some other way to work things out that didn't involve me driving. *sigh*

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November 14, 2006

So dh is meeting with the doc (as I am typing) to see the results of his MRI. If the necessary treatment takes long enough that his deployment has less than 60 days in country left then his deployment will be cancelled and he'll stay stateside. If the treatment is shorter and his deployment has more than 60 days left in country then he will go back to Iraq.

Please pray that whatever the results show that I will be at peace with what the doctor says and what dh has to do. Selfishly I don't want him to go back, but I do know that the most important thing is that he gets the proper treatment for his injury. Pray also for my dh since I know he is hoping to get to stay stateside since that would mean being with the kids for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even if he has to be on some military base for treatment, he should get a pass to come home for the holidays. Please pray that he will be at peace with the results as well.

I'll keep you posted when I hear from him.

Thanks!
Kate

So I just got off the phone with dh. The doc he saw wants him to make an appointment to see the hand/wrist specialist on Dec 5 so he will be home for Thanksgiving! She said that the break looks like it is healing, but she can't determine what is causing the pain along his arm. She asked if he was injected with anything for his MRI (he wasn't) and then said something about possible cartilage damage or a possible tear. That's when she recommended seeing the specialist.
Thanks for the prayers. The not knowing for sure what will happen is really hard, but at least I know for now he's staying safe and having physical therapy to work toward strengthening his arm and healing his wrist.

His group is currently scheduled to leave Iraq mid-February. Dec 5 puts us so close to the 60-day cut-off. Please pray that whatever the specialist sees/recommends will keep him here that extra week or so and that he won't have to go back to Iraq. His job over there requires a lot of heavy lifting and I would hate for him to go over there and re-injure himself trying to do his job if he's not fully ready. I also think it would be stupid to send him over there for "light duty" if he can't fully perform his job. (however in my experience decisions made by the military aren't always the most intelligent... like say, when a soldier goes in with an injury saying "it's probably just a sprain" and giving motrin rather than taking an x-ray to check for broken bones then a month later taking an x-ray and seeing that "I guess there might be a break after all" sorry for the sarcasm, but I think in this case it's warranted!)
Anyway, thanks again for the prayers and keep them coming!

Kate

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November 18, 2006

So we read about a local church having a kids shopping day where they could buy gifts for $1 and have them wrapped and stuff. We decided to check it out and it was so cool!

They had a table set up when you walked in and the kids filled out shopping lists and labels. Then we paid for the number of names on the list. Then volunteers took the kids into a separate room where parents weren't allowed and they helped the kids pick out gifts for the people on the list and then wrapped them and brought them back out to us. There was a room with coffee and cookies for the parents to wait in.

it was so cute. ds2 was out first. He had dad, FIL and BIL (his favorite uncle who he just had to get something for ). Of course the first thing dh did was ask him what he got. Ds2 looked at dh with kind of a blank look in his eyes and said "i don't know." he is so silly. Then dh asked about each individual package and after much thought on each he said "Maybe screwdrivers" for BIL, "maybe digger gloves" for FIL and "maybe gloves" for dh. Who knows if that's really what he got or not.

ds1 took longer and when he came out and I asked what he got for my mom and my dad he knew right away. He picked a snowman for my mom and "a golf thing so Grandpa can golf on the floor" for my dad. I could tell he put a lot more thought in it than his brother did. (I'm glad he had my name) I asked him not to tell me what he picked for me so it would be a surprise, but he didn't listen and told me he got some perfume. then when we got home he wanted me to open it! I told him we had to wait until Christmas. he was a little bummed about that.

Anyway, it was just such a cool thing that I thought I should share. Do any of your area churches do anything like that?

Kate

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November 19, 2006

DH was home for the weekend and gets to come back on Wed night for Thanksgiving. The issue is that we only have one vehicle. I didn't feel like driving him there tonight and then going to get him again on Wed. There is no family housing available so we couldn't go stay with him for the next three days. Instead we decided he should take the van since it's only three days.

So of course I am now thinking that this will be the days my kids get sick and need to see a doctor or whatever other catastrophe may develop now that I have no means of transportation.

Please pray that nothing happens and that we survive without the van. Thanks!

(honestly, it's not that big of a deal since my folks are next door and will help out if needed, but I just don't want to have to deal with trying to juggle our schedules and all that if I don't need to. Really, I shouldn't even be worrying about this because I know it will all be fine. Of course I just have to worry about something. I told you this was kind of silly!)

Kate

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November 20, 2006

So of course after posting about me not having a car and the "silly" prayer requst that went with it I started feeling like I might have an ear infection in my left ear. Sure enough, this morning it was hurting like crazy so I had to go to the doc. Turns out it's a sinus infection and it's a good thing I went in because the doc said that it could take a couple of weeks for it to completely go away. I guess the "head cold" I've had the last few weeks was a lot more than that!
Thankfully my dad was home today and took the kids so I could use his truck.

I learned my lesson, though, no prayer is too small (or silly)!

Thanks for the prayers, I'm sure that's why dad didn't have anything going on today.

Kate