Back to the hospital-----Easter 2012 by the pig pen

Well Selah's heart rate continued to rise last night.  Thankfully we had a nurse or we would have been up all night with her.  As it was we heard her alarm going off and got up a few times to check on her.  She would spike a heart rate over 140....then it would go down to 120s.  So this morning we were debating what to do.  She hasn't any fever nor is she throwing up but she did have 3 big dirty diapers.  We gave her a bath and she seemed to relax some.  We took her to church (we live right next door) and she did ok but her heart rate wouldn't go lower than 120 AND that was with her in her much loved wheelchair!  Even on Saturday, being in the chair brought her heart rate down.  So we decided after a PRN dose of Valium and Tylenol with codeine did NOTHING, to call the ambulance and have her taken to the hospital.  If you are wondering why we'd call the ambulance instead of taking her ourselves, it's that when she is unstable, it is not safe for us to do that.  Things can go BAD very quickly and become life threatening.  You do not want that to happen when you are driving your child on the interstate!!!   So Jon followed the ambulance as did our nurse.

We believe she did not get well from the stuff she had 2 weeks ago.  She was unable to continue the Cipro in the gtube and the replacement med, wasn't strong enough.  Our idea is for her to get started on an IV med and then to bring her home on it.  We checked to make sure that we could have her home on an IV, and it is complicated but doable.  She'll probably have to stay over night but hopefully we can get this all arrange by Monday or Tuesday.  We do not want her to have to stay in the hospital on an IV.  Obviously Jon has to be at work, I can't be up there all the time and I am hesitant about taking the kids to the hospital, in case they end up with something too!!  We want her home!  Since we are back to 24 hour nursing, it should work out.  I hope so!

I did take some pictures today

 

Sarah twirls on the floor to the music, it is so sweet!

 

Here she is resting for a minute but it looks like she is praying...how sweet:)

 

 

 

this is Sam's seat right on the front row.  He sits and listens to his daddy preaching.  He won't get up till church is over. 

 

 

After church I took these pictures, I could almost "fill a pew" :) 

 

My crew:)

 

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Today a year ago was Orthodox Easter 2012!

 

We went to the local Russian Orthodox Church.  It was very interesting to be there.  Actually the service was just walking with the hundreds of others who walked through the church.  There was no sermon or anything.  People walked through and did the sign of the cross and kissed various artifacts there.  It was unusual, no music or anything.  Then the people lined up outside, with their Easter food for a blessing. 

 

We had also gone the week before for "Willow Sunday"  They call it that rather than Palm Sunday like we do.  They also have weeping willow branches they carry, much like we have palm branches.  I wish I'd been braver that Sunday and taken pictures... Little did I know a Willow Tree would save my children's lives....  (Jon caught the ONE branch that was hanging over the Erie Canal and pulled himself and the kids still in the stroller up on it!  The branch gave Jon the help he needed to get their heads out of the water. )  Life is ironic isnt' it?

 

 

On "Willow Sunday" we gave towards their new sanctuary as well as bought willow limbs (that we kept the whole time we were there) so we got blessed.  We didn't get blessed on Easter but I have some video that shows how wet you get, getting blessed:)

 

 

These pictures are taken on our way to church.  We walked with the neighborhood

 

the ladies carried their food baskets for blessings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sam is always happy for church

 

 

 

Jon and the Cossack guard.  he was our friend from the week before! 

 

 

Now we met all the guards.

 

 

 

children ringing the bells in the tower

 

 

guard dog.  they seemed pretty serious about security!

 

 

 

 

Ok the guard took us on a tour...on EASTER to see the priest's hog pen! 

 

 

 

 

Easter picture with the guard's daughter.  I think she liked Steve!

 

 

 

 

YES we are standing in front of the hog pen...THIS is OUR Easter pictures...LOLOLOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our guard friend must have been helping with communion...he was a little "happy"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting for the blessing.  This just cracked me up.  As a Pentecostal who has been to many services where folks have lined up to be prayed for, I couldn't help but be reminded.  I was just glad no one was falling out on the ground LOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the priest blessing them with holy water

The two ladies on his right were singing.  they must be the "church ladies" cause we went to a "service" later in the week and they sang/chanted also

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

yes we were watching

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some videos, very interesting

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures of Easter 2012

 

Lots of memories.....

 

 

By the next week we'd found the Pentecostal Church in town and went there where we made beautiful friendships.  We didn't speak the same language but we shared a love that was deep. 

 

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PLEASE PRAY FOR SELAH!