Sad News

Yesterday in the early afternoon, Grandpa Don passed away.  He has been fighting some infections since getting pancreatitis last year.  He had been hospitalized for ever since while coming in and out of a coma state in the months since.  Don married Julie's mother several months after we were married back in 2001.  He was a good grandpa to our children and will be missed. We are especially sad for Julie's mother, Jan, who is widowed for the second time.

The sad news is that our doctor has stated that because of the nearness of Julie's return trip to the hospital for internal bleeding, she is not yet healthy enough to make a trip to Michigan.  So we will not be able to attend his funeral this weekend.  However, we are planning some time the end of the month for the whole family to go and spend a week with Julie's mother.  We believe that will be even better time to spend with her, several weeks after the funeral as she processes his departure and her new reality. 

There is something that I am seeing as I am now 35 and getting a year older every year.  Life gets harder as we get older, regardless of the money we may have to preserve comfort and avoid pain. Life still gets harder because of death, increased responsibilities, health struggles, and an increase in events over which we have no control.  I am so thankful that I do not need to be in control.  Rather, I can trust in Him who is faithful to the end...

Feeling Better

It has been almost a week since Julie was last in the hospital for a second time and she seems to be doing much better.  We have taken it easy, which isn't easy with five children around the house.  We have removed stairs except for a couple times a day and no lifting of children, especially the "chunker" Zeke and Sweet Caroline.  Selah is okay in limited doses.  Our friend Jen from the Detroit area has been here for an extra week helping out.  Her being home with Julie to help keep her off her feet has been so helpful and allows me to continue working at Rooftop.  Jen is headed back on Thursday morning after two weeks here.  We will miss her when she goes.

Thank you to all of you who have prayed, brought meals, and cared for us.  A couple more weeks and we think things will be back to normal.  I know Julie is chomping at the bit to get back to normal.  Keeping that woman off her feet is not an easy venture.  In the meantime she has been working on some beautiful crafts for the family and gifts for Caroline.  Julie has taken on some new interests in this area and it is great to see what she blesses our home and famil with.  She has to do something with all the time she has.

Thursday Update - 12 p.m.

I just talked with Julie and it looks as if they are releasing her this afternoon.  However, unlike a couple weeks ago, she has been given explicit instructions to "take it easy".  Now, the doctor instructed us to take it easy a couple weeks ago, but did not specify at the time.  So, apart from church, some grocery shopping, and visits to the doctor, Julie barely left the house.  However, life with 5 children 7 years and under is anything but "taking it easy" and normal life for us may have been what overdid it these past couple of days. 

So, Julie is coming back home to take it easy, but this time that means no lifting, no laborious movements, eating substantially and drinking large amounts of water and fluids.  Thankfully our friend Jen is staying another week to help care for the children and for Julie as I return to my post at Rooftop and balance home and ministry as we walk through her healing and recovery.

Julie is avoiding surgery again and we pray made her last visit to the hospital for some time.  Thank you to all of you for your prayers, support and encouragement.  Your continued "check-ins" on the Zilkies are appreciative and very helpful.  It is going to be an interesting couple of weeks, but we take it just a day at a time, right?

*On a side note, thank you to the many people who showed up at Rooftop for the prayer time last night.  Even though I wasn't able to make it because of our current situation, it greatly encouraged my heart to hear that you all gathered and petitioned the Almighty God, our Father, together as with one voice. 

Back Home

Well my flight got in this afternoon and I was home by 4:15.  I packed up some stuff for Julie and headed to St. Anthony's again.  Michele Herndon spent the entire afternoon with Julie and really blessed us in doing so.  Julie so enjoyed her time and appreciated Michelle's care today. 

Julie is doing okay as her blood levels are stable with a slight reduction.  She is in the 10s, 12-16 is normal, and the 7s are bad.  Dr. Probst just notified us that they are going to keep Julie overnight for continued observation, take additional blood samples at 12 a.m. and 6 a.m., and decide next steps in the morning. 

Our friend Jen is doing well at the home as I left for the hospital an hour ago.  Dinner has been provided for tonight and all is well considering everything that is taking place.  Caroline went to a friends house for the evening so that will make caring for the children a little easier.

*On a side note, Rooftop is hosting a special prayer night tonight in conjuction with our current financial series.  We invited anyone with job or financial struggles to come and be prayed for.  I see God doing some importand and cool stuff at Rooftop presently.  I am excited about tonight although I will miss it, and I am excited to see how He continues to work in our church.

Here we go again...

Ironic that I choose yesterday to update that Julie is doing well for the most part minus some minor details.  Well, this morning at her check up with the doctor he spotted a small hematoma and some internal bleeding. 

***Reminder that I am in Minneapolis right now finishing up a conference and flying back to St Louis around 4 p.m. 

Jason from Rooftop is driving her into the ER as I type and she will be admitted for further observation with the doctor ready to go to surgery immediately should her levels and other readings come back bad.  I am not sure exactly what they are looking for or waiting for right now, but it is potentially very serious.  That being said, Julie seemed to be in good spirits when I talked to her on the phone 15 minutes ago.

Please pray for her health and continued peaceful state of mind.  We are told by Jesus Himself in John 16:33,

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Thank you for your prayers and I will update Julie's and our family's status on the blog as things develop.

Family Update

Thank you to all of you who have been praying and inquiring of how Julie and the family are doing.  On a whole I would say we are doing much better: Julie is home, Selah has transitioned well away form breast-feeding, our long time friend Jen from the Detroit area is visiting for 10 days, I have begun  reading Lord of the Rings to David and Jonathan and they are loving it, and I am presently at a ministry conference in Minneapolis for 2 days.

Julie however is not yet completely out of the woods.  Her body is still thinking she is pregnant to a degree, and thus her hormone levels are not dropping as they should.  She is having to visit the doctor a couple times a week for blood tests and monitoring while we wait for them to return to normal.  If you could, please pray that she would return to normal and that her body would heal from all that has taken place.  Her spirits are high and she is (as always) one of the primary joys of my life.  Ironic, since the conference I am attending is about Joy and what "True Joy" is about and from where it comes.

If you could, please pray for me as I am away that I would hear from the Lord and benefit from the time spent focusing on Him.  There is much on my heart and I want to be discerning and wise as to what I endeavor and how I should respond to Him in all that I am hearing and learning.  Thank you for your "agape" (unconditional love) as well as your "phileo" (sisterly/brotherly love).  Julie and I regularly give thanks to God for the support and love, both local here in St. Louis and around the world, that we are blessed to receive.