Settling in....

Dr. Muenzer came in yesterday and he is pleased with how well Lauren is handling the tube feedings. Her weight and color have improved. She has more energy than she has had in several months and he is pleased with her bloodsugar control at this point; however, he told me that as far as he is concerned, the clock has not even begun to "tick down" as he calls it. He wants her to be able to tolerate the feeding thru the tube during the day and then be able to drink her cornstarch overnight to maintain her bloodsugar levels so that she won't have to have the feeds 24 hours a day. So, as he told me yesterday, once we get to the point where she is on just her feeds during the day (no IV along with it) and taking her normal cornstarch amount overnight, then he wants to watch how well she does for at least a week before they do the surgery to insert the J-tube. That means it will more than likely be another 2 weeks before we get to surgery for the J-tube and then another week or more after the surgery to recover and get back to what her home regimen would be. We will more than likely be here until the 1st week in November if all goes well! Can I just say that we feel like we have moved in! I am already tired and by the end of this visit, I will probably have aged a 100 years....or at least I will feel like I have. The last few days have been an emotional roller coaster for Lauren...she is finally coming to terms with having to be hooked to a pump 15 hours a day and that is frightening to her on so many levels! She is afraid of the J-tube surgery, afraid about the pump itself, afraid that when she drinks the cornstarch again it is going to be more painful that she can tolerate and worried about her health in general. I have watched helplessly as she has struggled to get hold of herself and find her faith but she has done so. Yesterday Jeff and Duane came up and gave her a priesthood blessing which helped her tremendously! I could not help the tears from falling as I watched her sob with her daddy and then I watched Jeff and Duane tenderly talk to her and give her the love, support, and strength that she needed. Duane offered a beautiful prayer before he and Karen left and the spirit in the room was powerful! I witnessed last night the power of prayer and fasting and faith as Lauren got hold of herself and drank her cornstarch without complaint or fear and then was able to go to sleep peacefully! I watched my brave daughter face her fears with profound faith and assurance that all is going to be well. I felt as if angels were watching over her and strengthening her and my own faith was strengthened. Her doctors are working tirelesly in her behalf and between them and the strengthening power of faith, she is improving daily! It is a long road, but we are traveling it with complete trust in the Lord.