Busy days; that's what the end of school usually means around here. It is hard to believe another year is nearly over. Emily finished up at BBC. Actually, it may have been her last semester ever. That is a weird thought. She got home on a Thursday evening (May 5th) and left for camp on the following Monday. We had just a weekend with her before losing her for a very, very long time. I sense the days of my little girl living at home have ceased; it is a very strange feeling. She wasn't due to go to camp until May 23rd, but she received a call from the director of the camp asking if she would be willing to come in early... 3 weeks early! AFter the initial shock, she told him yes. That's my girl. She would give anything to be a part of Skyview. She was willing to spend 3 very hard weeks of work (it is not a walk in the park... she is up and moving by 7:00 am and often doesnt get back to her bed until after 9:00) as a volunteer. Emily just assumed that it would be a volunteer position. She never asked, never thought anything differently. She worked for 4 days before she ever saw the director. The days were filled with hard work; but work that she loved with all that she had. She was thrilled to be giving of herself for "her" camp. She loved being at camp again! She didn't expect anything, she just had a willing heart to work. Then... 4 days into it, she was told by the director that she would be getting paid for her work. She was floored. She hadn't expected it. What an answered prayer! She is exhausted but so filled with joy that it is crazy. She isn't staying in a cabin just yet; not until the campers come. For now, she is staying in the house that she will live in while she interns during the school year. It is a wonderful duplex. She is very excited about it.
Erin is healing and really doing some searching on what the plan for her life might be. It is exciting to see her really realize that much of her plans have been her own plans; now she wants to really seek what God's plan is for her life. She is really growing and being stretched through the trials that she is experiencing. At times, it is difficult for everyone because the emotions seem to be on a very intesne rollar coaster. She is strugglng with all the decisions she needs to make and the uncertainty of her future. She is waiting for a release from the doctor to be able to begin working out.... of ANY kind. As of Monday, the doctor told her it would be another month before she can do more then a couple of minutes on an elipse. That is hard for her. Another month takes her into mid June. By mid-August, her season will begin... and she will need to be ready to play college level ball. That gives her only 2 months to put her body back into playing condition. 2 months.. after 7 months of not being allowed to do ANYTHING! To take a kid from the level activity that she had been in (soccer season).... to nothing... for 7 months.. plays havoc on an athlete. The doctor told her he will give her a training plan on the next visit. His goal is to be able to have her at playing level by September. IN the meantime, she is tryng to figure out what direction to go in school. the blessing of having had so much time to do nothing has been that she is beginning to wonder if education is really what direction she wants to go. After having the opportunity to volunteer in school and to work at a daycare, she really is questioning things. God seems to be opening her eyes to some things to other things. So... we need to be praying for her.
Elizabeth and Mark both had surgery on Friday. Mark had it to repair his sminiscus in his left knee. The surgery went well. It was hard for him only in the sense that he really couldn't complain much about pain after having watched Erin go through so much! His knee surgery was nothing in comparison... so I think he just got tough and refused to acknowledge that the surgery/recovery was painful in any way. He was an amazing patient! Elizabeth did well with hers too. The hard thing on me was that I couldn't be at 2 hospitals at the same time. They were in 2 different cities and too close together in time. I just couldn't pull it off!
She was amazing... almost like an old pro. She took everything in stride. She even talked to the nurses and doctor without needing much prompting. She took her meds when she was suppose and never once whimpered or cried before they took her. When she came out of the anesthesia, she was just quiet and looked around alot. Never cried or moaned. Her left ear hurt but she never cried about it. She wimpered about the pain a couple of times, but that was it. I was so proud of her! The only time she has had a fit was when I had to put drops in her ears. And that was when she FREAKED out! I think it was mostly in fear. I think her ear really hurt and putting drops in only made things sting. But mostly, i think sh ewas just afraid of the drops. As for the results of the surgery: Her right ear went smoothly. The left ear .. not so much. The doctor was completely surprised to find it filled with an ooeey sticky mucky mix of blood and muscus and stuff. He said it is very rare to find the middle ear like that. He suspects that she may have had a bleed in there (since she is a bleeder). At this point, he is hoping that the tube will take care of the problem. In a month, she will have a hearing test. If she passes the hearing test, we are in the clear. If not, then she will have to have a cat scan on her head and see if there isn't anything in the bone behind her ear. It is possible that there is something going on there that may require something more extreme (surgery). We ar epraying for good results. Blood came out of her ear for a few days, not tons..... probably just blood aggravated by the drops in her ears. That was when I really noticed the blood. You could see it in her ear (deep). But now, it isn't as bad, in fact, I can't see any blood (not fresh anyways).
As for some highlights in our kids lives. Sam recieved an award for being in the top 10% of his class. He also achieved his second academic letter; a wonderful accomplishment! He is getting ready to fly to West Point in June for a week and then straight to the Naval Acadmey for a week. He just had his first meeting for his summer employment as a lifeguard. He was selected section leader in band and was selected as a senior mentor for next year AND he was appointed as a cabinet member for class government for next year.
Jacob has had an amazing year as well. We are so proud of how he conquered this years battle. He was awarded the top geometry student for the school. Geometry is a class that very few freshman can take. Before taking geometry, a student must take Algebra 1 and Algebra II. Most kids dont take Algebra 1 until high school. Jacob was selected to take it in 7th grade. Only 3 students were selected to take it then. He is also taking Latin. All Latin students are asked dto take the National Latin test. Jacob took it and was the only one in the school to recieve a gold medal. He is also desiring to take a college course next year. Generally astudent must have taken their ACT or SAT test, but he is only a freshman. In the event that they do not have those scores, they must take a test given by the college called a COMPASS test. I am not sure how intense the testing is, but he achieved a perfect score in the writing and a 98 on the math. I spoke with an administrator about a course that Jacob would like to take and got the impression that those scores were pretty good. Who knows. I only know that he passed it and is able to take the college course next year. In addition to that, he has enrolled to take 2 an additional 2 courses through a computer online program. He has set a goal and is striving to achieve it. He amazes me! He is also planning on taking a lifeguard course adn is trying out for the soccer team next year adn hoping to swim on the swim team. Wow - he has changed! :)
Well, it is late and I have so much more to type. But for now, this is all I'm writing. God is at work!!
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