Yesterday was a long day!

The day started at 5:30 AM - had to get up and get dressed for church before getting Jake up....I have to be at the church at 8:00 for choir practice prior to our 9:00 and 11:00 services - taking Jake that early can tend to be a chore - so it goes easier if I get dressed prior to him waking up!!! My husband comes at 9;00 - but Jake has to go with me so he can "practice" with the band......LOL

Off to church we went - and we had some church! It was amazing. The praise and worship was off the chain and the sermon was awesome as well.....however, during the 9:00 service - I receive a panic call from my sister Carla, who is staying at my house during her sickness. She can't move!!! One of her legs is completely swollen and on fire (or that is how it feels!). She is crying and very upset and needing someone to come back home. So, I get my husband and child out of the sanctuary and send them home - call my sister Deniese, who is on her way to the 11:00 service to swing by my house to see what the problem is. Once she arrives - they determine that Carla needs to go to the emergency room. Her leg is swollen above and beyond the normal for steroids and it's beet red!!! She can't lift her leg, move it or walk............Houston, we have a problem.

Meantime, I have to stay and sing at the 11:00 service, then I travel to Daisetta Texas were some very dear friends of ours are celebrating their 26th year anniversary at their church in Daisetta. Daisetta is a very special place for me. My dad pastored there when i was a "snotty brat" as he called me (LOL) and I spent all my summers there during my teenage years. Had my first real crush there and everything!! LOL - so, I was very excited to return and help them celebrate......Paulette went with me - we left my church at 12:00 noon to be there at 2:00 for their service. Dad and Shirley were there as well - Dad was MC'ing the service - he did a great job....and the Jordans were gracious host. Saw several really good friends from our childhood - overall - it was a great service.

Once the service was over, I had to rush back to my church for a vision meeting with the Music and Media team - it lasted until 9:30 PM - so I had a very long day!!!! I was so tired when I got home - but Carla was still not back from the hospital - so I had to wait up to make sure everything was ok and that they made it back and got settled......while we are in Daisetta - my husband is hosting his parents to dinner - Deniese and Sandy (a good friend of ours) - is at the hospital with Carla - just waiting................and waiting..................and waiting................it's always hurry up and wait at the hospital isn't it.....

Carla had an ultrasound and blood work done while there. It seems that the steroids are causing her leg to pool the liquid that is in her body and since there is no where for the liquid to go - it's just hanging out in her leg and causing bacteria and now, a full blown infection!!! She is limited to what she can take for pain because of her liver not being able to digest the medication - so the medicine they put her on doesn't really do anything for her..............we really wanted them to keep her over night because she can't walk on her leg - she is having to basically drag it behind her - and she is in intense pain......however, because they didn't deem her a medical crisis - they sent her home at 10:00 PM - where she then had to find a 24 hour pharmacy to fill her meds and I think they made it back to my house around 12:00 Midnight. After a very painful entrance into the house - she had to sleep on the couch sitting up because she was afraid she wasn't going to be able to move her leg to get up off the bed since she had to be back at the hospital at 7:00 AM this morning!!!!!!! The medical system sometimes is very frustrating and confusing - but we are thankful for them at the same time!

Carla is at the hospital right now - she is waiting to see her doctor - we are hoping they admit her and figure out what is going on!!! They should also know the results of her cat scan and bone scan from last week...........God is good - all the time -regardless of what man says!

Specific prayers are needed - that they find out what is causing all these issues in her body. That they figure out where and what needs to be addressed and provides medication for her.

That her body begins to line up with the word of God. That her leg becomes functional where she can get around and do things by herself. It is very hard to be a caretaker 24/7 when you have a small child and a life of responsibilities. We are going to have to figure something out in terms of additional help if things don't change.........

Pray that her body begins to respond to the steroids and that her liver and spleen begin to function properly. That her blood pressure returns to normal and her sugar as well. It seems everything is being affected by whatever is going on in her body and we need some answers soon!

Thanks to all of you who read and continue to keep her and our family in your prayers. It's very frustrating to not know what is causing the problems and to not be able to fix her. As you know - I'm not the most sympathetic person on the planet and I tend to push through pain and want her to do the same - but sometimes it's not that easy!

Hope everyone has a great week.
Karen