Probably our scariest 4th of July ever...

Last year's 4th of July was surreal around our house.  We were told my oldest son might lose hearing in one ear or even worse.

Let me give you the backstory...

My son had just come back from San Diego after staying at his best friend's new house for his friend's 13th birthday party.  They had put in a pool and spa and Billy swam several times EVERYDAY!.  When his friend's mom dropped him off (a mere 190 miles away) ...they said he hadn't talked all day and seemed quiet. I thought it was the excitement of the being the special guest at his friend's 13th birthday party...Well swimmer's ear turned into an infection, turning into mastoiditis.

He has such a high tolerance to pain...he actually never complained about being in pain...his friend's family wouldn't have known.

It turns out he had such an acute and severe case the doctors worried about the unthinkable happening.  God's timing planned things where I took him to the doctor immediately the next morning because I happened to feel HEAT coming from his blankets when I awoke him on the 3rd. We left the doctor, went to imaging, left with cat scans in hand and were admitted in emergency by 4:00 p.m. that afternoon.  Looking back now...I thought everyone was being so nice letting us to the top of the list at each doctor...I see know that God's hand rested on my doctor to treat this patient seriously.  Praise the Lord...

After surgery...he was feeling a lot better.  He enjoyed lots of tea and all the peanut butter and spinach sandwiches he could handle...

Praise and glory to God for giving me ALL my children another year.  Folks don't take their little lives for granted.  

I'm also using this post to thank the folks who forgot about their 4th to be there with us.

My friend Jocelyn was out of the country at the time as and soon as she stepped on California soil...came over to see him.

My younger boys had no idea what was going on but Nathan heard the word..."Mastoiditis" and asked to use my sister's computer...that's when he really got nervous...he read the wrong website. (kids today are so savvy).
My wonderful sister just happened to be off that day (thanks God...'cause her job only has federal holiday off...not state) and was able to take care of the younger boys...they stayed with Aunt Moni for several days.
This great couple came by the hospital right when Billy got out of surgery, It was great timing...he was still recovering but their visit was calming.  When you see smiling faces it's so comforting in a crisis.

My "sexy, single, sister in the Lord" Janette stayed with us the entire day.  Bill and I kept telling her we didn't need anything...but when she brought Chick fil A that night...we acted like we hadn't eaten in days.
My dad was there too...praying and witnessing to folks. When he's nervous...he goes into Gideon bible passing mode. (Why did I upload my poor dad so small?)
There were so many other people who came by and called like crazy...I'm thinking about our pastor and his wife, my friend Tracy who left stuff at the house so when Billy came home and went in his room...he had puzzles, candy and Sudoku to keep him company.  I'm also thinking about his only real sitter when I was working, Teri who came with Pokemon stuff (thanks a lot)...he loved it!  My really good friend Dina...who had to pull me aside from the hospital room and order me home...of if I start naming folks...I know I'll miss someone...so those were the ones who came to the hospital...So many other people at our wonderful church left calls and cards...and we were so grateful for every kind gesture.

We're so blessed this 4th is nothing like last year.  We're hanging around the house, sleeping off a youth all nighter, and waiting for fireworks...

What a blessing to have an uneventful day!