Blessings

Well, I still have a cold. Because I also have a tracheostomy, having a cold is a difficulty that I can certainly do without. But never mind that, the baby, Little Joe, has ended up in the hospital with RSV because of his cold. Becky is such a good mama, she noticed changes in him, very subtle, and got worried, and took him to the doctor thinking maybe it was an ear infection. It turned out to be the start of a very serious respiratory condition, and the doctor said we had caught it right at the beginning. He is in Pediatric ICU right now, and hopefully for only a few days. I entitled this entry, "Blessings" and let me tell you why. It is such a blessing that we are near a medical center and not in Africa. You have to look at it like that, or you will start feeling sorry for yourself! Another fabulous blessing: After a year of looking, we have found a wonderful attorney that will take Martin's workers comp case! Over this past year, I have spend untold hours trying to find someone who would help us with workers comp, and everyone has turned us down, saying that they didn't want to take on a case like Martin's, where he has become so ill due to environmental contamination. I had just given up, and was trying to do everything myself, but I had little hope of getting help. Martin's job is threatening termination because he has become so ill- I have just been a wreck! But yesterday, our attorney told me to sit back and stop worrying, he will do the legwork from now on, and I told him then we could put the rest in Heavenly Father's hands. Also, Martin has learned to recognize the symptoms when his heart is under strain, and he backs off, just sitting down or lying down. Today is the last day of school for him for Christmas, (and if the college has it's way, the last day of work forever) so he has 3 weeks to take it easy. I am going to baby him, he deserves it!

Today, I will spend the day with Becky at the hospital with Little Joe. He is so precious, and he just busts out in huge grins when he sees me or Papa. Becky is so strong, last night when they went to put in the IV, I just got up and walked out, leaving poor Becky to it. Good thing too, because when I heard him screaming, I became really faint, and the only thing that kept me from passing out cold was that the Priesthood from the church was there to give Little Joe a blessing and I concentrated on getting to a couch with their help. I am such a sissy sometimes.

9 more days till Christmas. I wonder what I will be doing on Christmas day. Every year on Christmas Eve, we have a family party with lots of seafood. I have been planning this for sometime, but I am not sure what will be going on. We usually have enormous king crab legs, shrimp, french fries, and chicken nuggets for the little ones. There is lots of crab cracking, slurping, butter dipping, joking, and eager anticipation for gift opening. I MUST BE NORMAL! So, somehow, we are going to have our seafood Christmas eve. Only 9 days left, but you know me, I will pull it off somehow! What a blessing!