Is it too much to ask for a few more miracles in our lives?
We could use your prayers right now. It's been a rough week or so.
Chris, Cort, and I all came down with colds. Cort had his 5th ear infection since January. We are all almost all over that and thankfully Cohen seems fine so far. Yea!! Cort has had a tough time kicking it and it has been very difficult keeping him away from Cohen.
The two main things that we could really use your prayers over are Cohen's eating and Chris' health.
Chris has had chronic hip pain since he was a teenager and back pain over the past few years. Over the past 6 months his back pain an intensified and spread around to his ribs. He finally got in with an internist and we are starting to get some answers. It has been a very long weekend and week so far. Chris has been in very severe pain from Saturday until yesterday( Tuesday) was pretty nonfunctional. He went to a Rheumotologist today and she believes that he has what is called ankylosing spondylitis. It sort of a type of spinal arthritis and it fits his symptoms perfectly. For the most part he feels fine during the day( until this weekend) but wakes up in the middle of the night or in the morning in pretty bad pain. The treatment is mostly anti-inflamatories and some other medicines, exercise, and good posture. He will have an MRI on Monday to confirm this. The easy thing to pray for is just that we can stop the progression of the disorder with treatment. But what I really want to pray for is that God would take it away. That Chris would not have to endure this pain and would not have this disorder. I am praying for healing.
Cohen has not been eating well at all the past few days. He is extremely fussy while eating and will only nurse for a few minutes and then starts screaming. It has been taking me about an hour or so to get him to finally eat. I have been managing to get him to eat enough that he hasn't lost any weight( he was 7lbs 9 oz) but it is very frustrating for everyone and can't stay like this. I took him to the doctor today and there was nothing physically wrong. His diaper rash is back in full force and he is miserable when trying to go to the bathroom. My doctor really thinks it might be a cow's milk issue and has me trying nutramigen. I am not happy about this and am really frustrated. I spent so much time getting him to full nursing and now am back at pumping and bottle feeding - and now he's not even getting the pumped milk right now. I had taken most dairy out of my diet but not super strictly so that is why we are trying the nutramigen to try to quickly see if it makes a difference. I just feel like we are stabbing in the dark. We just switched his reflux meds Friday so I also wonder if we just need to go back to what we were on in the first place. All of this is so much like what Cort did ( minus the projectile vomiting - a positive note) but I really just don't want the journey with Cohen's eating to be as long and frustrating. It is hard to devote this much time to it when I have another child at home this go round. I am very frustrated. Please pray that we figure out what is wrong with Cohen. Better yet, pray that God would take this from Cohen and that he could nurse and eat without issue.
My grandfather is also in the hospital having several problems. The big one being issues with fluid on his heart. Please pray that the doctors can figure out what is wrong and that he will be strong enough to endure the tests and procedures. My mom has had to be there all week and I know that she is tired and scared. Pray for her.
We know well that God can answer prayers and do big things. But somehow I almost feel like our answered prayer card has been all used up. I know that is stupid. I know.
I am really struggling with all of this. I am frustrated about the feedings and I am scared about Chris and I don't understand why all of this happening. I am tired. I am having trouble balancing it all and taking care of all three of them. I feel attacked and I just want things to get easier. I know I am not entitled but it is my desire. Pray for me.
Finishing 2011
13 years ago
36 comments:
aching - groaning - with and for you ...
Emily & Chris, my heart & prayers go out to you.
I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will give you the strength you need to get through these issues. That he would touch the entire family's health & restore it. He is Jehovah Raphe(sp?)the God that heals.
Emily, I especially pray for you, that God would give you peace of mind, I bind up satan in the name of Jesus Christ. He has no place in your family & MUST BE GONE!!!! Lord please restore Cohen's eating habits that Emily has worked so hard building up, heal his diaper rash & touch his digestive system.
I pray also for their extended family- give them peace as well.
Father God, may this family continue to give you the glory & honor in all that you do.
In Jesus name.
Emily,
Please know that I will be praying for Chris and for Cohen. I am so sorry to hear that all of this is going on at once for you. Asking God to heal each need here and give you and your family restoring rest. You are entitled to ask because Jesus says you are worthy. I will be praying for you all.
Love and Hugs, Laurie in Ca.
hey. if it's any encouragement, we put canon on nutramigen when he was a baby and noticed a HUGE difference within 36-48 hours. it's not cheap but, we were at a point where i would have put $100 bills in his bottle if it helped his stomach issues! so sorry about your frustration. i will be praying!
kelley smith
I understand your overwhelmed feelings, and what it feels like to be beaten down all at onece.
I will pray for you and your family.
Thinking of you lots, and praying for you here in Cardiff, UK. XXX
I am thinking and praying for you. It is so much...so overwhelming and I must believe....so normal.
I have been reading your family's story and praying for you and will continue to do so. I think you are all amazing and your faith is inspiring.
Regarding Cohen's nursing problems, have you talked with a lactation consultant? It sounds like you could have a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and/or an oversupply problem. Sometimes these problems are incorrectly identified as a dairy sensitivity issue when some fairly simple changes in your nursing pattern could help. (I dealt with these issues personally with my son; we had multiple visits to the pediatrician and to a specialist who wanted to put him on nutramigen and I changed my diet, etc., before I identified the problem with some help from a lactation consultant and some online research, so I was just hoping maybe my experience could help you? I hope you don't mind that I gave you this info, but since you've worked so hard to get Cohen to nurse, I would hate for his problem to be the same as my son's and for me to not say anything when it could be fixed.)
It seems like you are really dedicated to nursing Cohen, so I just wanted to give you that information for you to look into in case it isn't a dairy issue (you can read more about these issues at www.kellymom.com). I will continue to pray for Cohen and your family.
Spiritual warfare is real, and we will pray that all that is coming against you and yours will be halted. Know that we are praying that you and yours are protected, healed, and surrounded by God's favor and love.
hugs,
Sweetie
Haven't left you yet...
Still praying with and for you all...
A cool book i am reading and another i have read are:
Perricone Plan (speaks some of arthritis/inflammation and some tips for our diets that can maybe help, an added plus for me is it is helping with wrinkles ;-) )
What The Bible says about Healthy Living, by Rex Russell--I used to be His brother's Dental Assistant and read the book when first published, "many moons ago"
Try googling those names and books before you purchase-i have a copy of the one, but the other is in storage somewhere out there! or i would send it to you...
As for the little men, hang in there as best as you can, when you need to be upset and frustrated allow the feelings to come, but not take over-Our God as you said is capable and can do great things--In our weaknesses others see His Strength and Power--sometimes i think when i am tired and not thinking straight-"okay, haven't they seen enough of my weakness and His Power?" You are not stupid and no thought that you mentioned reveals anything of the sort. Every prayer is answered some as yes, some as no, some as maybe and wait a while...for me the "wait" and "maybes" are the most frustrating...
Love you guys and praying in agreement with those who mentioned spiritual warfare.
My daughter was a preemie and I had to pump for a month and a half before she would nurse and when she finally did she was soooo fussy when she would eat. We also had her on medicine for reflux but it was so dicouraging to be back in that place where you feel so helpless. We finally found that giving her colic tablets (they are an all natural homeopathic teeny tiny pill you dissolve under their tongue) 30 min. before she ate would calm her stomach and she could eat really well. As soo as we did this, I was able to reintroduce dairy into my diet without it bothering her. Maybe these could help your sweet boy??!! I found my at Walmart....I don't know where you live and if you could get some, but it my be worth a try. It helped my sister in law with her son (who had reflux)who had nursing/being fussy while eating problems too.
I am praying all works out for you. Stay strong...you have been through so much already that this must be just a little speed bump compared to the mountains you have already climbed and conquered!
Blessings!
I have been following your blog before your little miracle arrived. I am amazed daily at your strength!
My son also had reflux and they diagnosed him early on as being lactose intolerant. I tried cutting back on dairy products but could not completely. When we decided at 6 weeks to change our son from breast milk to formula we chose Similac Isomil. It has been wonderful. With the help of Zantac for his reflux (1.3ml 3xs a day) and this formula he never spits up. Before he was diagnosed, we also experienced the projectile vomiting..lovely isn't it. He is almost 6 months old and is a very happy baby.
My prayers are with you and your family. I pray your husband gets better and the boys stay healthy. I pray strength and lots of sleep for you. You're an amazing woman with an awesome testimony.
God Bless You,
How can you even think that you are not entitled to prayers? Every one is! I will include you in mine, as well as my thoughts.
I hope that everything makes a turn for the better soon!
Hi Emily! Mary(the PT) found this website while researching on the internet. I hope you don't mind that we have read a little of it. I am in town this weekend and I live in Taylors (not far from you). I would be more than happy and more than willing to come over on Sunday afternoon to take care of Cort or Cohen for you so that you can have some quiet time to rest. I'll call you tomorrow to pass along my cell phone number to you. I'm thinking about you!
Praying for you and your family, for health and strength.
I will definitely pray for healing for Chris and for Cohen's tummy issues. This is probably a dumb question but has Chris seen a Chiropractor? Since he's had this for so long he probably has but just thought I'd ask.
My son had major reactions to dairy and soy so I had to take any trace of those out of my diet (since I was nursing). At 7 mos. he was healed of this sensitivity. I will pray for Cohen to be healed as well. ...and for Cort to be better in a hurry. :-)
Emily-
THANK YOU for keeping us updated and letting us know HOW we can specifically pray for you guys at this time. I totally agree with the above mentioned Spiritual Warfare and am beseeching our Heavenly Father for your family and their health!!
Just stopping in today to let you know I am praying for Chris to heal and for your other needs. Praying for strength and balance for you each day too Emily. Hold on, your prayer card is renewable each and every day.
Love, Laurie in Ca.
I will pray for those specific things, Emily. Hang in there.
Emily,
I don't think we have talked since the New's tailgate this past fall, but I did hear about Cohen through Miranda and have been reading your blog and praying for you all for so long now. I wanted to say how sorry I am for all the struggles you guys are facing and for Chris' pain. I am 25 weeks pregnant and developed rheumatoid arthritis with the pregnancy (always had it the doctors say, but symptoms surfaced with the hormone change in pregnancy). I feel for him as I know how painful sleep is - the longer you are still the stiffer you get. I know how frustrating the days are when you can't even function and the pain is unbearable (especially without being able to take anything while I'm pregnant and I'm allergic to tylenol). I will be praying that his doctors can get to the bottom of these problems and get him some medication to fight it and give him relief. If it's any encouragement to him I am on only 5 mg of prednisone and it has helped me have more good days and lessened my pain some on the bad days.
I love you and continue to pray for all of you! Thanks for always keeping us updated!
Alise Nettles
Emily, as I was reading your post about Chris's pain, I thought, Woah I wonder if Chris could have ankylosing spondilitis? Then I read the part where you specifically mentioned this diagnosis. I am 32 and was diagnosed about 10 years ago. If you'd like to chat with someone who's been there and done that, I'd be happy to. :)
Amy in Pensacola
I'll pray for you and yours. You have so much going on -- SO much -- and anyone would be overwhelmed.
You seem like you really want to breastfeed Cohen. My daughter had bad reflux and I had to cut all dairy and soy out of my diet. It was hard at first -- overwhelming, even, to try to figure out what I *could* eat -- but then it was easy once I got in the habit.
You have so many people who want to help you -- I bet people would be willing to figure out soy- and dairy-free meals and snacks for you for a while, if the Nutramigen helps at all and you want to get him nursing again. I'll make a list of things I remember eating, if you want.
You're doing great. I'll pray for you.
My heart goes out to you and your family at this time.
Do you think Cohen might be allergic to disposable diapers and need to use cloth diapers?
As a doula, I frequently see doctors readily switch babies to all kinds of special and expensive formulas whenever there seems to be a feeding issue. Despite your sons medical issues, I highly recommend you continue with breastmilk and have him check more thoroughly for an ear infection. His ear canals may be more curved than usual, causing doctors to miss an infection. Your doctor should especially do a stool (usually 3 from different stools) sample to varify any digestion issues before doing the milk-roullette method of guess treatment. You've worked too hard at establishing breastfeeding to be shooting in the dark.
Also, you should know that worldwide and across all cultures, there is a peak in crying when babies are around two months old. There isn't an explanation but some suggest it has to do with the first major growth spurt babies experience.
Since your husband's pain has been with him for many years and has only now reached such a critical level, along with the MRI, I highly recommend he see a Pilates specialist who may be able to pinpoint the early teenage trauma that began the pain and begin healing it. In my area there is a wonderful Doctor of Physical Therapy who is a top-notch Pilates expert. Perhaps you will have someone with similar qualifications near you, too.
Most of all, I will pray for you and your family that Cohen will nurse well, that your husband will be healed and that Cort will heal and remain well and free of ear infections. I will also continue to pray that you get plenty of rest and that those around you help as you need them to.
Dear Emily - There is never too much to ask of our Heavenly Father. I am praying that God wraps His all powerful, all-knowing, loving arms around you, Chris, Cort and Cohen. I pray that His healing and peace surround you and comfort you. I'm praying that Cohen remains healthy and learns how to eat properly.
I pray that God will help you to not be discouraged when you feed Cohen. I pray that He will calm your fears regarding Chris. And, I pray that our Heavenly Father will hold you close and grant you much-needed sleep so you can be the best mom, wife and you. While I don't know you personally, you are not alone, sweet mom!
With love - Lynne B.
I have been diagnosed with AS also & remember the pain. The dr put me on a combination of medications & I am a new very functioning pain free person. If you want info email me at sueboo54@aol.com.My best to you all. Susan from CA
I'm sorry I missed you on the phone last night. Guys...we all are aching for you and just want to help in any way possible! Please allow all of us the blessing of coming to your aid. As always our prayers are with you.
The Jarvis'
praying for your family...from your grandfather down to Cohen.
Chris...I have had back pain too. The exercise that has been best for me is pilates. I know it's not the most masculine of exercising, but it really helps to strengthen the body core (trunk) allowing for better posture and support for the spine.
praying, praying, praying!
jane
Guys, we will continue to pray and add Chris' and your Grandfather to the prayers. I'm simply amazed to have been able to witness your strentgh and continued worship in the face of uncertainty. It's awesome to see how this story is turning out.
Don't be discouraged. Many of us continue to pray for you, Chris, and your precious sons. I'm praying that God's goodness will pour out upon you in healing for Cohen and confidence for you as a mother and wife. You are so very loved.
Blessings - Lynne B.
Emily, we are still so amazed by what God is doing in your lives and by all He's allowing you to juggle. We are praying for each of you, your grandfather, Chris and the boys, and particularly that God will continue to give you the rest, strength and encouragement you need to carry your family through. Know that you're being prayed for, right this very minute, whenever you read this. Keep the updates coming!
Anne and Bradley Smith
Hey Emily,
Just checking in on y'all. I am praying for you. You are amazing.
Joni :)
sweet emily, i'm praying
nope...keep on asking! we're praying for all of you.
I've been reading your blog for a while and what you've mentioned about your husband today, I can't keep quiet on. Firstly, I'm just really sorry that you both have this on your plate as well as everything else. But I also wanted to mention something I've learnt the hard way, which is to not let a whole body/chronic diagnosis be a barrier to specific diagnosis in one part of the body, I did this, also with hip pain, the other diagnoses still stand, but thanks to a wonderful physical therapist, got a clue that there could be more going on and was able to go to a doctor with a specific question and it did indeed turn out there was something else going on as well, unfortunately it was a problem that was best treated by surgery and also, that by delaying so long a greater amount of damage had been done, but the results are still pretty good, even if not as good as someone without the other condition or getting the surgery sooner. Feel free to have him contact me if he wants to know any specifics, I think that responding to the comment should establish email contact, but I'll be sure to check back in case it doesn't.
I am a friend of a friend of a friend and found your blog though clicking on various friend's blogs....With that said, I just wanted to tell you that as a medical student, it is empowering for me to know your struggles and to always remember that I am treating the patient and their family and not a disorder. As a Christian, I am going to put a prayer request into our church so that we, too, can pray for your family. May the Lord strengthen your heart through all of this pain.
Tiffani
Hey Guys,
My cousin Anne Patton referred me to your blog because I, like you Chris, have Ankylosing Spondylitis.
If you would like to talk about it, please send me an email...thejwingos@yahoo.com.
My heart goes out to you.
-joel wingo
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