Pencil me in! and Good news!

So lately it seems like we never have time for each other! We wake up, go to work, come home and change, head back out the door, come home, sleep, and do it all over again the next day. We're busy people and for the most part I wouldn't have it any other way. Every now and then I'll have a complete melt down about us not being home enough.

You know it's bad when we literally have to schedule time with each other! Last night, for example, we ended up with no obligations and nothing fun to do. We got Applebees to go (YUM) and stayed in. It was FABULOUS! Sometimes I forget just how much I like chill nights! I kept thinking it was 10:00 and we should be heading up to bed and then I'd look and it would be like 8:00!!! What a nice surprise!!! :-)

Today I have a lunch date with two of my best friends - AnnaBelle (4) and her mom Brenda. Their family has been through the ringer this week. I thought I'd share the chain of events here:

Email from Brenda on 10/11:

I am asking for your immediate prayers for my daughter, AnnaBelle. Just to catch some of you up....we were traveling home from Christine's house in PA (she just had a beautiful little girl, Mallory Christine Myers) when she started feeling really bad. We thought she just had a stiff neck, but her fever would not go down. We started at an Urgent Care, they transported AnnaBelle by Ambulance to the Pediatric ER. After several hours....they decide to admit her to the hospital. They started her on an antibiotic which we soon found out she is allergic to. They started a 2nd one last night around midnight. A team of Dr.'s came in this morning and decided to start another antibiotic (oral). They are now consulting with an ENT specialist to look at the lymph nodes. They will probably do a CT scan later today. Please continue to pray for complete healing for AnnaBelle! We trust God can do anything!!

Email from Brenda on 10/12:

We finally spoke with the Dr.'s this morning....her swelling is down but the lymph nodes are still really big. Last night they told us that the infection has spread to her blood --which is not horrible, but certainly not good. They believe that the antibiotic IS working. The blood culture should tell them the actual organism that we are fighting this afternoon and tonight or tomorrow they will know which antibiotic to use. They will draw more blood tonight and try to grow more cultures in the next 24 hours. That will help them to know what to do with her next. Please continue to pray for her complete healing. Thank you for all the personal notes, we truly appreciate everything and we most definitely feel your prayers. God is in control and is good all the time!! Please pray specifically for her at 8pm tonight, they have to draw blood again. Last night her IV came out and we spent 2 hours trying to get it back in. It was VERY traumatic and no one is excited to stick her again. Thanks!!


Email from Brenda on 10/13:
 
We are actually in a hotel in Roanoke, VA. They released her around 1pm. They found out the exact name of the organism (I can't remember the name) and the antibiotic that is needed is one that was used early on so they know that she is NOT allergic and won't have a reaction. We will get a good night's sleep tonight and head home tomorrow. Thank you again for all of your prayers. She will be on the antibiotic for 7 days and should make a full recovery. What a roller coaster of emotions!!
 
Email from Brenda on 10/15:
 
This will be the final email on AnnaBelle because we got a great report today at Dr. Stewart's office. She was diagnosed with Staphlococcos Warneri. According to Wikipedia: Staphylococcus warneri is a member of the bacterial genus Staphylococcus , consisting of Gram-positive  bacteria with spherical cells appearing in clusters. It is coagulase  -negative and is a common commensal organism found as part of the skin flora on humans and animals. Like other coagulase-negative staphylococci, S. warneri rarely causes disease, but may occasionally cause infection in patients whose immune system  is compromised.
So basically, she had the flu 2 weeks ago...her immune system was down. she was scratched on the face 2 Sunday's ago by accident and the bacteria got in her sinus cavity and spread. By Thursday she had the stiff neck and you know the rest.... However, this IS a VERY rare occurrence. NONE of the doctors in VA or here have ever seen a case of it, so please don't start freaking out!! Just clean open wounds and keep them covered.

Thank you so much for all the prayers...we feel so blessed to have so many God-fearing friends. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!!

God was so good to them through this time! They ended up being just where they needed to be to receive the best care for AnnaBelle. When I spoke to Brenda on Sunday, I was so shocked that she was so calm about the whole situation. God really gave them peace and courage to face the whole thing! I'm so glad they're all home and doing well!! I can't wait to see AnnaBoo today at lunch! It'll be hard for me not to squeeze her! :-)