My friend, Chantel, who I have mentioned several times on this blog, almost died this week. And it sucked. Big time. Without going into all of the details I will just say this...there were scarey seizures, bleeding on the brain, a life flight to the U hospital, an induced coma, a lot a scarey hours before it looked like she would live through it.
She had a brand new baby on Friday, the brain hemoraging was not at all related to the delivery, but to an AVM in the back of her head.
The baby has been with Grandma.
I've had her older kids this week. They are doing good, and they crack me up. Her son said one night before falling off to sleep, "I feel so fat and tired right now!" which made Max and me laugh and made Ethan say, "What's so funny, what did I do?" I said, "You said you felt fat and tired and that's funny." And then Ethan started to laugh too. We have all loved each other like crazy these past days.
I've shared thousands of hugs with these kiddos, whose hearts are a wee bit fragile right now. Their love for each other is so apparent; they both sustain the other.
I feel that the spirit has been here. The children have literally not had one fight...and by some chance my fridge and cupboards were loaded with "kid food" just before they came. And the little girl, who is a mama's girl through and through, has been easy to console and to put to sleep (thank goodness for Charlie and Lola)!
Chantel's kids will leave tomorrow, off to their next adventure, and I will miss them.
Our families came up tonight to say goodbye to Anne. Their love and kindness made my heart feel that it would explode. Anne told her Aunties earlier this year that she always wants to put her hand right in the middle of the birthday cakes my mom makes. So Aunt Julia brought up a cake just so that Anne could put her hand in it.
Everyone hugged Anne. She cried. Especially when she hugged Amby.
I don't think I can bear to watch her say goodbye to Harrison or Max or Mira. They will all suffer for each other.
I will force myself to say the word "goodbye."
And I will be sustained by knowing that this is exactly what she is supposed to be doing...everything we have done in the last year has led to this moment.
And God will be with her.
5 comments:
Yes. God will be with her, and with us.
Your house was filled with love last night and I was so happy that I was there to feel it.
I had no idea about Chantel. I'm glad that she is doing better and the baby is fine. How completely scary though. Her poor kids. I'm glad that they were able to be with you and still have some smiles and laughter.
I'm sure that Anne will love it in Germany and they will love her. I can't even imagine saying goodbye for a year. You are so strong. I cried all through this post. So many lives change so quickly. I guess it's good we all have each other and our Heavenly Father to rely on.
We experienced a scary situation in our neighborhood this week and reading your post really gave me a moment to be emotional about it.
I love that she got to stick her hand in the cake. That's really so fun. What a great family you have.
and you will too. (in spirit)(like a bicycle rack on the hood of her heart)
love you.
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