Friday, January 28th

Today was really good.  Laura was so amazing.  She lifted my spirits and showed concern for me.  That is so very normal for her.  I love that about Laura.  I did tell her that I would complain plenty when she gets home!!!
My first text update today was so good to share.  I had to pause for a few minutes to understand how God was moving.  Janice (Laura's mom), used the word cheerful to describe her and her night.  They even prayed for a nurse that was not too nice.  What a blessing Janice has been.  She has been exhausted and worried and has fought so hard to be strong for Laura.  Janice: I love you, and I know how hard this has been.  Keep fighting.  Thank you so much for investing into me.

So, the first few hours of the day were spent waiting for confirmation of what God was already doing.  Healing Laura.  Finally, the doctor came in and told Janice and I that we are over the hump and that Laura is now the low man on the priority list; that that is a very good thing.  Apparently it's good in the trauma unit when they can ignore you for awhile!

From there was all Laura.  She asked if Janice and I could take notes because she wanted us to do a few things.  Then she spent 5 minutes telling me what to say to everyone in one small text.  Then I think she paused, took a deep breath, and continued with a list that poor Janice could not keep up with.  That would have been a good time for the OCDiva (Carrie) to be there to help us firgure out how to accomplish these things!  Anyhow, the doctor had taken out Laura's NG tube (tube through nose to stomach) and then said that she basically no longer needed a few things that she was connected to.  I will tell you what Laura looked like a different person with out all of those things.  She was chipper and happy.

I think having so many things attached to her gave her some comfort, because shortly after all of that she started to reveal some feelings.  She was scared and nervous.  She had come to trust some of those things on her, and she had come to trust  Aunt Dennie and Grandma Booth (Ina) for the evenings; now, she was going to have a very different looking situation--that made her cry a bit.  At this point, you all need to know that our very own Suzi Hahn is there right now and is doing an amazing job.  Suzi is there because Laura and I trust her.  That being said, there was change coming for the evening, and it was a little much for her.  Laura and I talked about who could help support her through the nights, and we felt God really gave us some great people to rely on.  Please pray for Suzi. I spoke with her before I left tonight and she was her happy, encouraging, bring-on-the-world self that I know.  Thank you, Suzi.  Being the first one outside of the family is tough.

After some very sweet times with my wife of singing worship together, all was calm.  God's presence (with an S!!! Justin Pritchard) filled our room and Laura slept.  She really slept--the lowest heart rate I had seen since this thing started.  She was so beautiful resting and knowing that her God is healing her.  I choked up because I knew she trusted Him.  I have learned this week that Laura's emotions are so much harder for me to be strong through.  I want to help her always, but there are just some moments that make it so clear to me that I am not her strength...her God is. In those moments when life is too much, she needs her Best Friend.

On a personal note, I was so blessed to see my dear friend Mary Fernandez (Abero).  She drove all the way up from L.A. to see me and give me a hug.  She is a very special person in my life and has always been there for me.  I kept telling her all week that I was okay and she did not need to make a special trip.  Again, she knows me very well. She texted me and said she was about an hour out and I told her that I really DID need her and was trying to not tell her.  She simply said, "I knew I had to come."  Laura (for some reason) understands my closeness with Mary.  That alone is an amazing gift of Laura's.  Mary and she have gotten to know each other over the years, and now I sometimes loose out on the conversation because Laura won't stop talking to Mary long enough for me to say hi!!!  Once again, I should not be surprised.  Anyhow, Mary thank you so much for all that you do for me.  I love you and always love a visit.  Please travel safely home tomorrow.

Tomorrow is another new day.  I am getting any guys together at 7:30 a.m. for prayer, so come out (Saturday).  I am not sure what the plan is for Laura tomorrow, but I know that the doctors are slowly taking her off of the pancreas medication; please be praying for that.

You have all been so amazing and have even helped out the McChesneys.  I was given some sack lunches for the kids today (Thank you Jenny!), and meals have been sent over to the McChesneys as well.  You guys all rock!  And, yes, things can get really busy at the hospital but DO NOT HESITATE to just come by and pray in the waiting room.  Someone is always there, and there are others that need our prayers too!

Talk with you all soon!

J.P.