And the plot thickens

I don't even know where to start.  This week has been crazy insane.  Monday was a normal day, I thought I would make some changes to lessen the stress in life.  For Family Home Evening I invited everyone to go to Yoga with me.  It was President's day and everyone was out of school.  Greta was at Kate's house and Wil was sick.  Jaxon was a stick in the mud but Sven, Paul and Ava went with me.  Ava and I really enjoyed it and made plans to go every day of her break.  Tuesday she woke up and wanted to sleep in and we thought that wasn't a big deal, class was at 9:15, figured we would go Wed, Thurs and Fri.  This did not happen.  Tuesday Grandma Ruth became very fatigued and had low blood pressure.  Paul and I decided that I should take her to the ER.  They admitted her for an elevated BNP and troponin.  Wednesday all of the fun began.  Her heart ended up being fine, she has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure goes hand in hand with that.  But her echocardiogram was the same as last August.  Nothing had changed or progressed, all good news.  They did not agree with her CIDP diagnosis (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy).  The nuerologist, Dr. Clark, questioned it right away.  On Saturday we everything was ironed out and test were done being ran.  Ruth has Myelopathy in her cervical spine.  Dr. Choutka (Greta's surgeon) came and spoke with Ruth, he explained to her that there was no compression, that surgery wasn't an option.   He did explain to her that trauma or vitamin deficiency had caused her spine to be injured.  Ruth has had trauma to her neck twice over 20 years ago.  She has also had two fusions done to her neck.  Dr. Choutka says the trauma could have happened then.  She is still in the hospital, we are not sure how long she will be here.  Her treatment is: 1. Treat deficiencies (they found she had several vitamin deficiencies)  2.  Use Medicine to treat Spasticity  3. Rehab, Rehab, Rehab   This has been very hard for Ruth, she would prefer to be given a "fix".  After her "fix" she would work on becoming strong again.  But we are having to redo her thinking and help her fix herself through Rehab.  She has a spinal chord injury that has become progressive and caused her all kind of problems.  Spasticity, Pain, No Balance, No strength, Weakness, it has taken her for a fast ride the past 12 months.  We need to find a way to light a fire under her to fix herself.  To build back any muscle she could have, become as strong as she can, and take control of her affliction.  She had me bring her "Rosie bag", this is her hair bag.  I guess part of aresonal is going to be having a good hair day tomorrow.  We will do that first thing in the morning so she is ready to conquer Rehab.   

On the home front - Wil had the flu and struggled all week with basketball and school, Greta has also been sick, Ava has strep throat again.  I took Ava to the doctor this morning and she is on antibiotics now.  We also met with Ava's surgeon tomorrow, she will get her tonsils and adenoids removed on March 15th. 

On top of it all I am so concerned about our finances.  We are really struggling right now.  I don't see a "fix' in sight.  With everything going on I am going to have to hand this over to the Lord.  Paul is working constantly to provide for us and I have everything billed out but it just isn't coming in.  It is so frustrating. 

I am so grateful for everyone of my children, Madison, Jaxon, Greta, Wil and Ava.  I am grateful for a loving husband (Paul) and everything he does for us.  I am grateful for where we live and the animals we have.  I am grateful to have Ruth staying with us.  I am grateful for the new Come Follow Me program, for the Family Scripture Study that we do.  I am grateful for all the meals that have been made for us and that will be made this week.  I am grateful for all that are praying for us and Ruth.  I am grateful for my good friends and family.  I am grateful for the medical care that has given Greta so much back, that has given her what she needs to live her life, for the care that Ruth is being given and for the care she will be given.