Wednesday, October 29, 2008

back home

My last post said we were heading to the hospital after being called back in by Md. Well we are finally back home. That "call back" led to surgery, catheters, iv's, and picc line. Not to mention the iv antibiotics that Jeff will be receiving over the next 4 weeks. At least he is at home for that. Yes, it has been crazy. I will give details on this whole adventure tomorrow. We are exhausted and need rest. Thanks for prayers. We have great friends and are so thankful for the body of Christ!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

More about Puddin'

We are headed back to hospital. They found bacteria in the joint fluid. They have to evaluate if it is a true or false positive. If really positive for joint infection, he will be admitted and have ortho consult. If false positive, we will be back home. Please continue to pray. Hope this makes sense!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Another Puddin' update

Hey friends,
Boy are we tired! Jeff's leg is improving some. I think the antibiotic is working. He has a bad wound on his knee where they had to take fluid out and open the abscess. It was as bad for him as it sounds. It's hard for me to change the dressing b/c it reminds me of what he went through. I think he has a long recovery with this. His leg is still noticeably swollen and still somewhat discolored. The pain, however, is much improved, except right on the knee cap where the work was done. As far as I can tell, it is NOT spreading. I praise God for this. I want to give a shout out for my sis. She was the one who stayed with Jeff during the procedures because I knew I couldn't watch him go through it. Jeff and Debi have always been close, but he now has a new found respect for her. And thanks Michael B. for sitting with me and keeping me distracted.
On another note, Macie had fever, headache, and stomach pain last night. Joy. She is better today, but no appetite. I'm praying that whatever she had doesn't make it into Jeff's body. Can you imaging having stomach problems when you can't bend your leg. Not good. So, thanks for continued prayers and the encouragement many of you have already been!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Puddin' Update

Spent the night in Baptist ER last night. Got home at 4am this morning. Very sleepy! Jeff had some very painful procedures done which made for a very bad night for him. His leg tissue is infected but knee joint is clear. This is good. We are now watching for continued spreading. Please pray against that. Follow up to come when I'm actually awake!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Puddin' needs prayer

Last Thursday, Jeff noticed a pimple looking thing on his knee. Didn't worry too much about it until it started hurting on Friday. Then Sat. it hurt more, then Sunday even more. Monday he couldn't take it anymore so off to Medcentral we went. It was diagnosed as cellulitis, an infection in the tissue. It is on and around the knee and goes down the leg a bit. He can't stand well or walk. It's very hard for him to bend his leg. It is very painful. He is on antibiotic and pain med. I'm pretty worried about it b/c as a nurse I've seen what cellulitis can do. It's not pretty. Plus he's my puddin' and I don't like to see him hurting :(. Please pray for healing and tolerance of pain. Also pray that he is getting the right kinda care to treat it appropriately. thanks friends! One last thing, pray also that the kids don't bump into it. I know that sounds silly but it is like a knock straight to a wound and they have come close several times. thanks

Sunday, October 19, 2008

The latest from the Hudler house

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long. I have been wanting to post for a while now, but just wasn't inspired to do so until today. It's probably gonna be choppy and possibly make little sense at all, but I'm just gonna note some thoughts.

Homeschooling has been more challenging in the last 2 weeks. My challenger, the little misses, has been unhappy about life and making sure everybody knows it. Spanking has reached a new level in frequency thus increasing my burdened heart thus making it harder for me to accomplish everything that I usually do. It totally drags the whole house down, especially the boys of the house. One thing I've learned through this tribulation is that my husband is more on board this homeschooling journey than I ever realized. He stepped up to the plate big time when he volunteered to do her school at night when he is home! Praise God for supportive husbands. The good thing is that she has successfully completed all her work this week with me except for reading. I've discovered that is our point of contention. Homeschooling is so amazing. It's just sometimes the tribulation is overwhelming. It makes me realize how hard it is to fight for something you wholeheartedly believe in, something you cherish, something you would die for, a child. I think I persevere b/c I want nothing less than all I can give for my children. I want to pour everything into their lives in hopes of them realizing that Jesus poured His blood out for us. He gave it all and b/c of that, I give my all. Through the sweat and tears, they become closer to Him. Would that happen anywhere out in the world? Can it be more intense somewhere else outside of my home? I don't believe so. And when I mess up and threaten to give up, they see the full circle of it. They see me get impatient, then frustrated, then plain mad until I explode. But, then they see me repent. They hear me ask forgiveness. They here I'm sorry b/c just like them, I mess up and am not perfect. They know I need Jesus as much as I tell them that they need Him too. Homeschooling is more than giving my children work to do and shielding them from the world. God is using it to teach me what He went through to bring me to righteousness.

Next thought...
1st of all, if my husband was to say to me today, right now, that he thinks our family is not finished yet, I would be more than happy to oblige.
Okay, it's out there I said it.
So, our lovely friends, the Bowers, allowed us to participate in their fundraiser Friday night. Oh my gosh!! Amazing. What a blessing! I'm pretty sure that I already know Sierra, their daughter who is not yet home. I couldn't have been more excited to watch as people poured in to that coffee house to bless the Bowers. I had the privilege to take up money as things were sold and then to count bids, etc. My heart was leaping out of my chest and into my mouth causing my cheeks to smile so big it hurt. This little princess that is coming soon was so meant to be in the Bowers home. I believe God ordained that a long time ago. I just can't wait to meet her officially. I am rambling but it was just so stinking great!!!!!!!!

Next thought....
Last weekend I had 3 middle school girls spend the weekend with us. These are part of my discipleship group. They were staying with me because we were to leave at 7:15 Sat. morning to go to Hillsborough to see another one of my dship girls swim in a meet. I was so blessed by them. I loved the fact that they wanted to go with me to support their friend. We decorated my car in Abbey's (the swimmer) favorite color blue. Then we made two posters for her to see that we were wholeheartedly pulling for her. It was a lot of fun. On Friday night they helped Puddin' (my husband) put together two beds. Their help was so necessary and they were great about it. We had a great time! I love them! I look forward to seeing them always and I'm so thankful to have them in my life. By the way! Abbey is an amazing swimmer!

Next thought....
SS was quite a challenge today. I had a lot to get in and I had a lot of busy bodies in my class. A few of them were not focused at all. It is rarely like that so on these kind of days I'm not sure how to move through the lesson as easily. My spiritual kids are so amazing and fun to be around and normally very easy to teach. Today was more frustrating for me so I'm just praying that at least one of them heard something from the Lord and was changed in their heart when they left.

Next thought....(sorry, they just keep coming)
Our journey into ministry continues to throw us curve balls that we just can't seem to hit. We really need God to go to bat for us on this one. Most of you know that we haven't been able to sell our house in SC yet. It's been 2 years. We are renting a house in High Point and are able to do so because there has been renters in our SC house so that payment has come from them. We found out recently that they will be moving out by Christmas. Exciting, huh? Two house payments. Hmmmmm? That's all I can say. Can't wait to see how God knocks this ball right out of the park! Go God!!

Last thought....(finally, right?)
My quiet times have been nonexistent. I'm admitting it b/c my dear friend Jessica is always so honest on her blogs that it challenges me to do the same. Thanks alot Jessica...Anyway, of course I'm in the Word regularly because I can't teach ss and lead dship without it. But, my personal time with God, the kind that is just for me and Him, I've ignored it lately. Not good. I'm starving, and it's not for carrots. It is for the bread of life. So, I gotta get back in it. So hopefully next time I blog, I will have something more valuable to say then all these ramblings. I will bring you something of eternal value. Until then..........