Mara's first steroid injections were a success! Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us. We appreciated all the phone calls, texts, care packages and cards. We are blessed with amazing family and friends. Thank you Grandma J and Papa A for helping us out with Micah. You are ALWAYS available when we need you, even though you may have to change or cancel plans to help us out. We really, really appreciate your flexibility and willingness to help out wherever and whenever needed.
Our morning didn't start out so great. We had to leave by 6 AM, and Mara was only allowed 2 ounces of clear liquids two hours before the procedure. She was tired, hungry and thirsty. She did fine in the waiting room until they called her name, and then she lost it. Lance was in the bathroom and could hear her screaming, so he knew where to find us.
We LOVE the Children's Hospital in Iowa City. It's an amazing place! They are so accommodating for kids and parents, and they do everything they can to make the experience the best it can be. The nurses are well equipped with toys, movies, bubbles, stickers and snacks! All of the staff are so patient and understanding.
Mara doesn't mind the "special lotion" and sticky window tape. They use this numbing cream on her for blood draws, IV's, and injections. It seems to do the trick!
She was loving the Dora movie and dress up doll. It definitely helped to pass the time while we waited for the IV. She kept all of the staff on their toes by asking lots of questions and by yelling "BOO!" whenever someone came into the room.
They have a team called Child Support that comes to help out. The lady brought her iPad to help distract her while they put in the IV, but Mara really preferred to watch what they were doing, while screaming of course. She even brought her a new doll to take home for being so brave. I was able to hold Mara on my lap while they put in the IV, and I was able to lay beside her on the bed while they started sedating her. If I'd move an inch, she's scream. The nurse told me to wait a minute or two and then Mara wouldn't care if I got up. I really didn't believe her. But after a minute, the nurse told her I was going to get up, and Mara smiled and said, "Ok!" Craziness! It definitely wasn't easy watching her get sedated. Quite scary actually. It's a weird feeling to be completely out of control of what was happening to her. Very thankful for the skilled medical staff! The injections only took a few minutes, so she wasn't out very long.
She woke up about 20 minutes after they stopped sedating her, and she asked the nurse, "Where's Mommy?" She then got to enjoy the purple popsicle the nurse promised her.
She wasn't supposed to run, jump, swim, or take a bath for 24 hours. She was sore for several hours after, but she was up and going that evening. She will start physical therapy in a couple weeks to increase the range of motion in her legs, and we head back to Iowa City in December for a check up. The doctor told us she has had injections last anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 years. There is also an eye disease that can occur with JIA, so Mara will have to get eye exams every 4 months. Her first one is at the end of August. I am praying the eye disease doesn't develop as this would require medication that has potential scary side effects.
Last week I was reading in Isaiah 22.
8 The Lord stripped away the defenses of Judah,
and you looked in that day
to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest.
9 You saw that the walls of the City of David
were broken through in many places;
you stored up water
in the Lower Pool.
10 You counted the buildings in Jerusalem
and tore down houses to strengthen the wall.
11 You built a reservoir between the two walls
for the water of the Old Pool,
but you did not look to the One who made it,
or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.
So many times when I have a problem, I set out to fix it. I start making my plans and gathering my resources. What's wrong with that? I feel alone and overwhelmed. I start to become anxious with "What if?" What if I'm not doing everything I can for her? What if I'm not doing enough research? What if I'm feeding her the wrong foods? What if this doctor makes a mistake? What if she develops more pain? What if we can't pay for her medical bills? What if she can't ever play sports? It's crazy how many things I can find to worry about. I can easily become so consumed with my worries that I do not look to the One who create my defenses and holds me in His hands. In doing this, I bypass my greatest resource and the best plan of all. I was reminded in this passage to not rely on my own strengths and talents but to reply on the One who created them. I have a choice - I can worry or pray. Only when I rely on God will I find the perfect peace I long for.
