Slight Delays...

So we had a very uneventful trip to Charleston on Thursday.  First off let me say I hate the fact that all of Conner's surgeries have been scheduled on Thursday.  We have to leave around 1 am on Wednesday night/Thursday morning and because of this we always miss church that Wednesday night in order to get enough sleep to actually make the five hour drive.  ICK...so after missing church Wednesday night we got up around midnight and got on the road right at 1am.  I was impressed considering we are habitually late to everything we do.  Once we parked and got out in Charleston it was very apparent that Conner did not appreciate having no food since 11 pm the night before.  He was one hungry five month old.  I don't know if you have ever tried it, but there is really no reasoning with a hungry baby.  He was having none of my excuses.  LOL!  After a short wait the doctors came in, everyone made sure they were on the same page and Conner was taken back to the OR.  Normally the doctor is only gone for about 10 minutes.  At around 15 minutes Dr. Hochman came out with a strange look on his face.  He stepped in our room and said "He's fine BUT..."  (No mom wants to hear the but word when their child is in surgery...AHHH!) Apparently the laser did not work.  They got Conner put under the general anesthesia and then started the laser which promptly stopped working.  Basically we were in the car for 10 hours so that Conner could take a highly medicated nap...A technician was going to fly in from Boston to fix the laser, and we will head back sometime in the near future to do a make-up surgery.  OH well, guess if we haven't learned it by now our Lord is just trying to teach us more patience.  

In other news, Conner's pediatrician has reason to believe that Conner might have some internal hemangiomas.  Anyone that has been around us lately and has held little man knows his breathing sounds awful.  He kind of rattles and pants as he breaths.  I have had him to the ped office 5 times for this, and each time we have been told his lungs are clear and that he has an ear infection.  He has had three rounds of antibiotics and still has a "red ear".  The ped office rotates so Conner has seen three different docs.  But on Friday when I talked to his main ped about it he asked me to bring Conner in again Monday.  He is concerned that the breathing could be caused by an H in his airway and that the ear infection could simply be a H behind the ear drum.  Pray that God's will be done.  Ofcourse we want for none of this to be true and Conner to simply have a never ending cold.  But we will go where God leads on this incredible journey.  I will try to update later tonight and let you all know what the ped says!  

We start revival at our church tonight so that should be exciting.  Plus one of my uncles and his family  drove down from TN to see us this weekend.  We actually got to attend church with them this morning and eat lunch together.  They brought a donation from their church which was such a blessing in this otherwise difficult week!  : )  As always we are so blessed.  Much love to you all!   

Hearts of Thanksgiving!

I am simply astonished at God's amazing love.  He provides for everything we need all the time.  Looking back at that first time Dr. Hochman told us the $25,000.00 figure I was floored.  In my meager mind there was NO WAY we could ever raise that kind of money.  God knows how to take the impossible and make it the possible and I am just stunned everytime I see Him working in our lives.
Before we ever left this week, we recieved a substantial donation from Pilgrims Freewill Baptist Church in Erwin, TN.  As I read the card from them I was simply awed at the humble love sent to us.  For each of you at Pilgrim, let me just say again thank you and I hope that the Lord will richly bless your church! 

For all of you that were able to attend our benefit in TN Friday night; Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  With all the snow on our way up the mountain I would have been pleased to have our family and the preacher to show.  But there were almost 50 people there.  We had a wonderful service with singing, shouting and old-fashion preaching.  (The girls and Conner even got to hear my Papaw preach a little.  That is a memory that I hope they will cherish forever.)   Then when the offering was counted I was simply speechless.  This little church family who didn't even know us, only knew our extended family, raised $1,200.  Isn't God good?  Our family will never be able to adequately express our gratitude to each and every person who has sacrificed to help with Conner's medical expenses.  Our love goes out to each of you...and hope that someday we will be able to bless another family the way we are being blessed now!!! 

Little is much!

I am constantly amazed at the outpouring of love from our family, friends, coworkers and yes even strangers.  For all of you that have been used to bless our lives recently let me just say thank you!  Conner is doing well.  He has had an ear infection that we just can't seem to get rid of despite antibiotics, but is still has the sweetest temperment.
 I don't talk a lot on here about Conner's big sisters but let me just ask you all to please say a special prayer for Mallory and Makenna.  I know that their little hearts are hurting, but it is not quite so easy for them to express.  Mallory has tried to rub her face long enought to make it red so that she can have a "tumor called e-man-g-oma" too and Conner won't be lonely.  (her words) And she is always requesting prayer for Conner at Wednesday night prayer meeting.  Plus just two days ago I found Makenna's My Little Pony (her fave Christmas present that just happens to be white) with ketchup smeared across its face.  Ofcourse me being quick to jump to conclusions I fussed at her for eating with her toys and getting food on things, and she very calmly replied "But Momma that's not food, thats Sweetie Belle's birthmark."  I felt ashamed at my attitude, and blessed to have such understanding children.  In their own sweet ways they are reaching out to us every day and I just hope that our Lord continues to comfort their fragile hearts as He has being doing to ours. 
All in all our family is wonderful.  We are getting ready to head to TN on Feb. 12 for a benefit service for Conner at a church my grandparents frequent in Ernestville.  I am ecstatic to meet this fellowship of believers that have been lifting Conner up in prayer. (Also just maybe we will get to see some of my wonderful TN family, that I love so much but don't see quite enough of,  HINT HINT!!! I miss all you Hughes's!)  
Plus one of my very  sweet co-workers, Rosa, has asked her youth group to head a fundraising project.  They discussed it and all the youth agreed that it was something they would like to undertake.  They will be selling the rubber bracelets with inspirational words on them, and the proceeds will go towards Conner's medical expenses.  Rosa told me tonight that as she requested prayer for our family one of their little girls, a 5 year old, came up with $2.00 and asked for her to please give it to that little baby. And then another member of their youth group also gave $5.00.   Talk about the water works from this humbled momma.  If only I could have that same attitude....Little is definetly much when God is in it.  Thank you again to each one of you!   Have a blessed week and please be safe if weather conditions are rough at your house.  : )