A fresh perspective...

Many of you have been praying for me over the last 5 days or so. Thanks so much. For those of you who haven't heard already, Christmas night, I had a very interesting evening. The doctors think I had a TIA, a mini-stroke. Mom and Dad came over to help me get dinner on the table-everyone was on their way over and within 15 minutes I lost the peripheral vision in my right eye, the feeling in the right side of my face and tongue, the feeling in my right hand, and I started having a really tough time getting the right words to come out of my mouth.
Nate and I went to the ER and sat for at least 4 hours. We finally got into the ER around 9 or so, and then I was admitted to the hospital around 3:00 AM. Long night...but before I even went back to talk to a doctor all the symptoms had subsided and all the function returned-a headache showed up, but other than that I felt fine. Sorry about the run-on's-they are not a result of the stroke!! Ha!
CAT scan of my head and Ultrasounds of my heart and neck all came back fine. The most popular speculation is that it was caused as a result of the baby we lost back in October. They told me at that point that the baby would reabsorb into my bloodstream-weird-but apparently a blood clot went to my brain and they think that's why.
So here we are feeling SOOOO blessed, so grateful for health, life, everything.
Mia was an angel through it all-both parents kept her for a night-which, had it been in my control, I would have stressed over leaving her...not an issue.
Nate was able to stay with me the whole time-He is such a Rock. A dream to have as the head of my home. He wasn't detached, just focused on not panicking.
Neither of us had to take off of work...we were already off for the holiday.
Our families still enjoyed their dinner together (and cleaned up my house afterword-thank you!!)
I found out what was wrong with my throat for the last 8 weeks-a wonderful doctor (Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist) came to see me while I was in the hospital (which helped with insurance issues) and was able to find an ulcer on the back of my voice box that no one else could see (he used a scope down my nose-that was something!) and now its being addressed.
My sister brought me good food, my brother in law brought me flowers, and God just brought me a new perspective on how awesome He is. I just love Him so much.

In the Busyness

Christmas seems crazier than ever this year. I think I am learning my limits a little more clearly. It's not the first time this Christmas season that we have planned to go to a party or event and have just had to maintain our sanity by staying home instead. Not that we wouldn't love the fellowship, but our sanity and stability is tied much more to the status of one little person in our lives. She knows when too much is too much, and she knows when Mommy and Daddy should just slow down. And she lets us know!

She is getting big so fast...making us laugh all the time, finding more personality in that little body...we just adore God for the joy that He has brought us through her precious self.

Today Nate did the Christmas monologue at church and the choir (I'm in that) did a few songs. Its really awesome to be involved in a church we love. Family was there to support...so appreciated! A few days before Christmas and only a few more (thousand) things to get together. Trying to put it all in perspective...what's worth stressing about and what's worth saying, "I'll do the best I can and that's all I can do".

Christmas isn't worth celebrating if it's not focused on what it was truly for...just trying to keep my head focused in the busyness.