I'll have the double Espresso IV drip, please...

Bret fell off a ladder while putting up gutters last week and sprained his ankle, so he has had to slow down for a few days, which is good for Gemma, who keeps handing Papa books to read (the boys crowd around, too, as you can see).  Me?  I'm having another action-packed week.  I say that knowing that most weeks are like that and every Friday I rub my eyes and say, "Huh?  What happened?  You mean it's not Tuesday?"

On Sunday we had a lovely Mass with a wonderful homily.  We get seriously spoiled by the homilies we get from the Fathers of Mercy, as they are mission priests and preaching is what they do.  Of course, their homilies are not for those who are impatient, have short attention spans or really wiggly toddlers, as they run no less than 30 minutes.  Anyway, it was very good, and you can listen to their homilies on their website.

We had one of the Fathers over on Sunday for dinner, and it was very pleasant and relaxed. We made chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips for dessert (he'd liked our homemade chocolate ice cream last time he visited), and then he sheepishly told us that he's given up chocolate for a year as a sacrifice!  We were going to pick up something else, but he wouldn't allow it...

We have started easing back into a school day again, although this week is full of interruptions, and I am still lacking some of our books.  No bother--I used to be hyper-organized, and after years of being a stickler for schedules and charts,  I find that as I approach age 50 this year, I am rebelling against all of it.  I do need to come up with at least a menu plan, though, as I really hate never knowing what I'm doing for dinner!

Anyway, tomorrow and Thursday are appointments, and tomorrow Bret's cousin is passing through with his wife and will stop for a visit.  So we'll squeeze in what school we can.

I have been trying as well to keep up with my own pursuits, but I think it will be difficult.  I may be able to stick with the online French and squeeze in a little writing now and then, but I think some of my reading and other things will have to be dropped in deference to the education of the kids.  And I need to make time, at least in the van, for knitting again, as Christmas is only a few months away!  Isn't that a scary thought?

I couldn't resist posting a photo of my friend Debbie's little girl, Celeste.  Isn't she precious?  She is having a fourth eye surgery tomorrow, so if you could kindly say a prayer that all goes well for her, I would appreciate it and so would her mom, dad and 8 siblings!

Prayers for a young family

Back in April, I posted a novena for a young father of six with brain cancer.  He has been called to God, and now I ask your prayers for his family.

Rest in peace, Kevin Thomas.

Novena for a young father of six with cancer--last day

On my sidebar is the novena prayer I have been asking people to pray.  If you missed my earlier post, you can find out more about Kevin Thomas, who has inoperable brain cancer, and Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago, whose intercession we are asking for, here.  And by all means, if you are moved to do so, continue to pray for this man...not just for his healing, but for his emotional and spiritual strength, and for his family.

May God reward you!

Novena for a young father of six with cancer--day eight

On my sidebar is the novena prayer I am asking those so moved to pray through May 4th. If you missed my earlier post, you can find out more about Kevin Thomas and Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago here.

May God reward you!

Novena for a young father of six--day seven

On my sidebar is the novena prayer I am asking those so moved to pray through May 4th. If you missed my earlier post, you can find out more about Kevin Thomas and Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago here.

May God reward you!

Novena for a young father of six--day six

On my sidebar is the novena prayer I am asking those so moved to pray through May 4th. If you missed my earlier post, you can find out more about Kevin Thomas and Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago here
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May God reward you!

Novena for a young father of six--day five

On my sidebar is the novena prayer I am asking those so moved to pray through May 4th. If you missed my earlier post, you can find out more about Kevin Thomas and Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago here
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May God reward you!

Novena for a young father of six--Day four

On my sidebar is the novena prayer I am asking those so moved to pray for the next six days. If you missed my earlier post, you can find out more about Kevin Thomas and Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago here
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May God reward you!

Novena for a young father of six--Day three

On my sidebar is the novena prayer I am asking those so moved to pray for the next seven days. If you missed my earlier post, you can find out more about Kevin Thomas and Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago here
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May God reward you!

Novena for a young father of six--Day two

On my sidebar is the novena prayer I am asking those so moved to pray for the next eight days. If you missed my earlier post, you can find out more about Kevin Thomas and Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago here
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May God reward you!

Novena for a young father of 6--Day one

On my sidebar is the novena prayer I am asking those so moved to pray for the next nine days. If you missed my earlier post, you can find out more about Kevin Thomas and Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago here
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May God reward you!

A special novena

I've been asked by my dear friend, April, to promote this novena.  There is a former Gallatin, TN police officer named Kevin Thomas, a father of 6 children, who is suffering from inoperable brain cancer, and this novena would be prayed for his complete recovery.  The novena is to Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago, Puerto Rico's first Blessed.  The miracle for his beatification, cure of a non-Hodgkins malignant lymphoma, took place in 1988 and was approved by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 1999.  He needs one more miracle for canonization, and it would be wonderful if it could be the recovery of this man.

We are going to pray this novena beginning on April 26th, so that it will end on May 4th, Bl. Carlos' baptismal date.

Prayer for Carlos Manuel Rodríguez (from ewtn.com)
O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You enlightened your humble servant, Blessed Carlos Manuel, to understand and live the Paschal Mystery, which is the source of our liturgical life and becomes manifest in the service of our neighbor, especially the humble and needy. Grant that Carlos Manuel's commitment to Your Church and the return of her people to eternal values, based on a Christ-centered and paschal piety, may lead to his prompt canonization. And if You so will, grant us, through the intercession of your Servant, the grace we plead for (the complete recovery of Kevin Thomas from brain cancer).Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory BeMay God reward you!

Getting ready for November 6th

Starting today I begin a 40 day fast to hopefully add some "oomph" to my prayers for a positive outcome to the elections in November.  I hope there are others out there who are doing something similar...think about joining in.

Thanking you for your prayers

Bret has received the news that the nodules in his lungs are not cancerous; he will be closely monitored, however, for a time.

Good people, I thank you for your efficacious prayers.  God bless you.

Requiescat in Pace

No Monday Musings today...my dad passed away on Saturday in Charlotte, NC.  I feel so blessed that I got the news while at Casa Maria, surrounded by beautiful Sister Servants of the Eternal Word.  They offered many prayers for the repose of his soul and a great deal of comfort.  Fr. Ben Cameron, CPM, was the "retreat master", so to speak, and he prayed a Chaplet of Divine Mercy with Una, me, and a few dear friends who joined us in our room.  And yesterday, Father offered the Corpus Christi Mass for my dad.  I feel very much at peace.  I feel quite certain that God wanted my father to leave this world while I was down there and able to obtain so many prayers on his behalf.

Dad was a tender-hearted, gentle man, quick to get choked up with emotion when speaking of how much he loved his grandchildren.  He was artistic, and from him I got my love of crafting and making things (and my left-handedness).  I remember him making Halloween costumes, rag dolls, suede vests, paper mache puppets and other things for us.  We'll miss him.

Please say an Ave, if you would, for the repose of the soul of Jack Tasner.  May God reward you.

Serenity can be hard to find (and a prayer request)...

Peace is at a premium, especially with kids all jacked up on Christmas candy and no school to create a sense of routine.  After all the hustle and rush in the weeks leading up to this beautiful feast, I felt that Christmas should bring with it some sort of release, a great exhalation, and with it, a sense of inner quiet.

It's just not happening.  At least not yet.

  

I snapped these shots on our way to Mass on Christmas morning.  This is as close as I can come to serenity...at least for now...

As for the prayer request, Kimberly over at Catholic Family Vignettes has a dear daughter in serious condition in the hospital.  I know that your prayers would be appreciated and that they will bear fruit...I am sure she and her family could use some serenity, too...

Mother's Day

Wishing all you mothers out there, and mothers-to be, a delightful day.  Please say a quick prayer, if you would, for mothers who are struggling in some way--single mothers, mothers who are contemplating abortion, widowed mothers and mothers who are critically or terminally ill.  In your sorrows, joys and difficulties today, offer some of it up for them...

The news is good!

Gemma is getting better!  As of yesterday she showed signs of finally responding to the shots of antibiotic in the rear end she received for four days in a row.  Her breathing is much improved, and her temperature is staying down.  She is sleeping much better at night.  But it wasn't easy getting her to this point.

Not shown are the shots of antibiotics and steroids she has had to endure, not to mention all the testing, listed in the post below.

She still has congestion, diarrhea, diaper rash, thrush and fluid in her ears, and is still refusing to eat and drink (there may still be some infection on her tonsils).  She has lost 3 lbs. and we have to sort of distract her to get a mouthful of cottage cheese into her.  But she is no longer dangerously ill.  The last five days have been the longest month of my life...

She has several more days of antibiotics to do, although no more shots.  And she will need a checkup with Dominic's ENT to look at her tonsils and ears and adenoids.  The good doctor thinks that Dominic may have been the bug-carrier, but he got only an ear infection.  His responded to the amoxicillin.  I suppose somewhere along the line it could have mutated.  I don't really know.

I feel so grateful to the doctors and nurses at our little clinic.  They were all so kind and concerned about Gemma, and so happy to see her getting better.  Life is good...God is good...

Many, many thanks to all those who prayed for Gemma and for me.  Your prayers and your emails were a comfort and meant so much to me.

Really sick baby

The last few days haven't been fun.  Gemma has a constant temperature, a hideously infected pair of tonsils, congestion, loads of mucous, an ear infection and diarrhea.  She has gone to see a doctor four times (and must go again tomorrow).  She has had a rectal temperature taken twice, a swab stuck up her nose twice, a plastic tube put up her nose once, blood taken, x-rays taken, given five injections and force-fed everything from Motrin to Hydrocodone to various antibiotics to just plain water, as she is becoming dehydrated.

Seems she has a resistant form of strep and we are hoping that this third antibiotic will do the trick, as the next thing would cause diarrhea, which might require her to go to the hospital for IV fluids.  Everything is on hold around here.  Just hoping that everything will pull together for Easter.

I appreciate your prayers.  May God reward you...

Monday Musings--the Sunday Night Edition and Prayer Request

Right now...it is 10:30 p.m., Sunday night and I can't sleep.  I need to request some prayers yet again.

This weekend...was awful.  On Thursday Gemma had a stuffy nose, which I thought might be allergies.  On Friday it became obvious that it was not allergies, and I thought she had a cold.  She did not want to eat, and her nose was runny, but she seemed happy enough for me not to worry.  Friday night she woke many times, due I thought to congestion (makes it hard to take her pacifier).  On Saturday I realized something more was going on.  She awoke with a low fever and refused food and drink, was listless and her breath was foul.  So off to the ER in Gallatin.  Swollen, pus-covered tonsils.  They gave her a steroid for the inflammation, amoxicillin, and hydrocodone/acetaminophen for pain and fever.  Based on the few experiences I have had with antibiotics in my kids, I expected that after a couple of doses and a good sleep she would be somewhat improved in the morning.  She awoke after a fair night's sleep at 6:30 with a fever, still refusing food, although she did drink a bit, and looking even worse than the day before.  I gave her Tylenol, but after an hour it hadn't done much.  I called the doctor and he said he thought it might be a resistant form of strep, and to bring her back to the ER.

Bret got home from Mass with the kids and we went back to the ER.  She cried as soon as we went in, and with good reason.  They did two rectal temperature readings, put a tube up her nose to suction mucous for a flu test and then gave her a shot of a potent antibiotic.  Now I am forcing her meds down her throat (which must hurt like crazy, since she won't even take much water), and listening to her labored, rattling breathing.  I have never had a child this sick.  I don't handle it well, although I am keeping it together outwardly for the sake of my family.  I was so sure she would be better this morning that now I am fearful of tomorrow--afraid that once again I will find her worse instead of better.

I put her to bed at 8, went to bed myself at 9:30, and she awoke at 10 and 10:30.  I am wondering if she will do this through the night, and what I am to do about it.

Some plans for this week:  Tomorrow is the feast of St. Gemma Galgani.  I am praying that the good saint will intercede for her namesake, who has a follow-up tomorrow with her doctor; we need to go shopping for groceries and some items for Una's birthday, which we are celebrating a week early on Saturday.  Dominic has his follow-up for his surgery on Friday, and I will have to bake Una's cake then as well.  I can't think of anything else.  I have a feeling it will not be a very heavy school week.

If I find some time for myself I want to: I had a dozen plans and I can't focus on any of them now.

Special prayer intentions for this week:  Gemma to get well!  I can't concentrate on anything and I feel restless and anxious, not to mention the fact that she wants to be carried and held every waking moment.  I would gladly oblige her in this, and do so to the best of my abilities, but I have other children who require me as well.  I also pray that all goes well with Dominic's follow up and that I can get my act together for Una's birthday.

Something that makes me smile:  This little face when it is happy and healthy as in this photo.  I want to smile again...