September 17, 2012 (Final)

4:00
This morning the doctor asked Gretchen what he could do for her and she said "Get me out of here!"

I took the time this morning to get checked out/trained for getting Gretchen out of the chair and to the bathroom or car.  I know that doesn't sound like much but for Gretchen it will mean a lot (imagine always having someone watch you in the bathroom).  Next up is scheduling a drive this weekend.

Gretchen was really sad when I left this morning.  She got a bit weepy and I spent a few minutes encouraging her and letting her know how far she has come.

I am sitting her listening to a neighbor who lives in a cabin up the street (she brought Peter down for me).  Gretchen is conversing about all manner of things.  There is some confusion but it is very minor and I think that she is working hard to overcome it.

I am going to post now and try to update later.

8:00

Okay, I broke the rules and made a post between 4:00 and 8:00.  If you haven't read my "EXTRA..." post yet all I can say is "why not?"  The news was such that I felt I had to create an extra post and let it stand on its own.

God continues to confusticate my need for routine (okay, in this case I admit that I have grown weary of this routine).  I was finally getting the pattern established of the mornings and the various nights and the weekends and He decides it is time to send her home.  Fortunately I have 10 days to get the house ready.  Unfortunately, with the schedule I have been keeping I need more like 10 weeks (wait, that's what I expected them to say that I have).

I had such high hopes for things that I would get done around here but if I can de-bachelorize this place I think Gretchen will be happy enough that she will overlook anything that isn't improved.

Right now Peter is out tromping in the rain.  I never begrudge him his outside time, especially when I know that I will be asking a lot of him in the coming days.  I know that he is up to the task if he feels the motivation.

I have spoken with others who have told me of how their faith in God has been strengthened by this whole situation.  I have often commented about how Gretchen is a fighter but this miraculous recovery is not because she is a fighter but because God was gracious enough to bring it about.  Some people might say that it is easy to have faith when God is doing miraculous healings and I agree.  But to those who have admitted their sin and need of a savior, asked God to forgive them and felt the miracle of reconciliation we know that faith is how we survive (if we don't have this forgiveness, which we can't see, hear, or touch, then why not get whatever I can in this life?).

When all this started I was prepared for Gretchen to die.  I did not want it but I have been blessed by constant small reminders that, barring "accident", I will probably outlive Gretchen, possibly by a very long time, so I was prepared.  When the grief at the potential loss began to well up I was comforted by Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me).  I thought the strength was for dealing with the coming loss but when she replied appropriately to my hand squeeze signals following
 the emergency insertion of the drain I began to realize she would live.  When God spoke through His Word on Monday night my faith was strengthened for the long trauma of ICU.  Have there been times of doubt, of course (they are in my previous posts) but the faith that God was doing something that I couldn't comprehend right now and that it would all work out for His greater glory (see Romans 8:28) was there and I was just wanting to understand.

I could go on and on about all this, and would like to, but I have Peter's math to grade and a house to clean and I really need to get to bed by 10.

Rejoice with us tonight!  Tomorrow the work continues: Gretchen needs more clarity, better balance, and more upper body strength/coordination; I need to focus on the preparations for Gretchen coming home; Peter needs to focus on his schoolwork and chores (please pray accordingly).