Update 12/1/09

Dear friends,

Listen to this quote by C.S. Lewis: "We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito."

I've seen Him in the bloody trauma room of the ER at Albany Med. I've seen him at my front door with new tires, at my side door with a meal for my family, in my living room caring for my children and folding my laundry. I've seen Him on facebook and in the gym at Sunnyview. I've seen him in the darkest place I've ever been, so I know for sure that Psalm 139 tells the truth: "Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you".

Stephen was on a rigorous schedule today. I was shocked when I took Hannah for therapy and peeked in on him in OT. There he was for the first time in 23 days, sitting up - not in a bed, not in a wheelchair - but at the edge of the physical therapy platform. His back was unsupported. He was dressed in a Cape Cod tee shirt, with those groovy side snap pants, badly in need of a haircut. (I am his clipper queen, so we'll take care of that real soon!) Then, I did something amazing. He was busy, she was busy. I went to the cafeteria, bought a jelly donut and coffee, and sat down and ate. I love jelly donuts. Now don't start sending them to me, I know how you all are! I lost 9 pounds doing the PICU/SICU shuffle, and I don't want them back.

My darling spouse was a bit disappointed that he could only stand for 5 seconds clinging to the therapist. I, on the other hand, was thrilled. Five seconds beats zero from yesterday, and he transferred several times with help from the bed to the wheelchair. He's moving in the right direction. He's eating too. And let's hear it for those Stewart's chocolate milkshakes! I'm getting him one every time I go up there. The Stewart's people are getting very chummy with me. I recommend Stewart's Ice Cream second only to Bruster's in New Milford, CT (Steve's twin brother's shop). John actually brings ice cream up for him when he comes up each week.

Hannah is continuing to do well. Each day I see a little more progress. Her therapists at Sunnyview are totally top drawer, another picture of God "incognito". Tomorrow she is slated to get the molds done for her temporary new teeth, and to get the stitches out from her orbital bone surgery. We are also working on getting the tutoring going next week through Columbia High. She and my boys are really missing their Dad. God bless the Terrific Mark, who played with David tonite, letting him hang on his bad shoulders and goofing with him like his dad would. Love really does save the day!

This road is so step by step. It's long, it's windy, it's unpredictable. I am grateful to the marrow of my unbroken bones that you all are walking with me. Stephen is grateful to his decidedly shattered bones that you are all out there, caring for me and mine while he is temporarily in the shop for repair. He may not be walking, but he's on the highway too, if you know what I mean.

Your friend on the pilgrim road,

Loriann

PS: It's a bit awkward for me to write to you, and to see the donation requests on the blog. I hope you know that I am so very grateful for all you do for me. If you never gave one penny I would still rejoice over all you have meant to me. I want you to know that I promise to be a good steward of every dollar I receive. I don't take you for granted in any way. My gratitude overflows. Like I've said before, I can never pay it back; I can't wait to pay it forward!