Sorry I haven't updated the blog for awhile. Our normal life has gotten in the way of putting down my thoughts. Yes, I said normal . . . life is good!
It has now been 10 days since our return from Arizona. It was great! Pictures to follow.
Today was a tough dose of reality as Kourtney needed to have routine followup bloodwork done. Kourtney and I both felt that there was nothing to be concerned about, however, we both realize how the procedure can spiral downhill so quickly. So bloodwork was ordered for 3 months after the last set was done in January.
After the "hack" job we endured in January at Children's, Dr. Coutemanche suggested we try our local hospital to get her blood drawn. The best of phlebotomists (lab ladies, pokers whatever you call them) came to help, but nobody could get a sample from Kourtney. Kourtney screamed the hospital down. She said the pain was unbearable. Thankfully, getting the blookwork was not "urgent" so now we are working on Plan B. Arghhhhhhh........
Generally Kourtney and I are so worn out that we can't function after an event of the this magnitude. However, after a hug and a pep talk from Angela, Kourtney clearly stated the plans of cross border shopping would not succumb to the trauma of the morning. I was a bit apprehensive about taking her but Shaelyn was off school, and as it stands, nothing gets in the way of the Kujawa girls going shopping!
I knew all was well when we crossed the border into the USA. The border crossing guard routinely asks us to open the sliding van door to see if the passport pictures match the people sitting behind the tinted windows. I told the girls that when the doors opened to give big, cheesy smiles. Shae being the preteen would not take part but I knew Kourtney was on board with my plan when the border guard kept looking to the back of the van, barely containing his composure. She said he was an easy one to smile for because he was so cute. It kept on like that for the rest of the day.
It was one of those days that a mom cherishes forever with her two daughters. There was no bickering, secrets were shared, including Shaelyn having a fear of owning 73 cats and dying alone. Shaelyn helped push Kourtney in her wheelchair, lifted the wheelchair into the van and provided the musical entertainment. Kourtney kept the one liners coming and kept us all on our toes. It was one of the best days I have had in *years*. It reassured me that I didn't have to have lab results to know Kourtney is OK. We are so thankful. Everyday is a gift.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Sigh of Relief
We are breathing a little easier these last few days. Since my last blog the situation is now in the past, it would be easy to ruminate on how we have been wronged in so may ways, but our family has chosen to practice Harold 3:16, and take the high road, move on and forgive. We have been through too much as a family to let something like this destroy us.
Kourtney is doing well. Mornings are the worst part of the day as they are greeted with "a hangover" from the pain medication she is getting. The tears come easily, and with that comes a lot of anxiety on how she will get through her day of school. The rollercoaster of emotions every morning wear us all down, as Todd and I both have to negotiate with her. In many ways it would be easier on all of us to give into her. We have come up with guidelines for staying home, if she doesn't have a fever, and if she isn't vomitting. Once she starts moving and facing the day she perks up and is back to her resilient little self. She loves her new school and happy to be there.
Shaelyn and I are taking off today on a overnighter in Bainbridge WA for a skipping tournament. It is daunting for me to drive on my own especially in the torrential downpour we have had for the last two days straight. I am looking forward to spending some one on one time with Shae, and do some shopping for her 12th birthday that is coming up next Saturday. ( I love that my girls have inherited the shopping gene ). Todd and Kourtney are going to have a date at Kourtney's school play.
Once again we are reminded that Kourtney's unexpected full recovery was a promise to our family that God still wants to accomplish amazing things through her. We know the "bumps" along the road is a deterrent to this, and that is why we chose to face each day and each situation with boldness and courage.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
HIGHS and LOWS
It is difficult to describe this last week. It has been highlighted by some soaring highs and some crushing lows.
Once again we have been blessed in unbelieveable ways once by everyone at Kourtney's new school.
As well I had the privilege of being a part of Angela's baptism, and was part of the cheering squad to support the rest of her family, Scott, Jordyn and Jenna as they took a step of faith with Baptism as well. Todd and I were thrilled to see the many staff members from ACS in the congregation to support the Visser family. We definitely feel that Kourtney is in the "right" place. Kourtney feels the same way; she doesn't cry when she has to leave for school, her stomach problems have settled down, and the heart palpitations are gone.
Just when we thought life has settled into a "better than new" normal, we have been blindsided, once again, by a major set of events. To preserve the integrity of everyone involved, I will not and cannot go into any detail. We believe that it is an "attack" on our family but once again we feel "protected" in so many ways that we can't even begin to describe how we know and feel that God is looking after us. As a family we have chosen to claim Ephesians 6:12.
Please hold us even higher in our prayers this week.
.
Once again we have been blessed in unbelieveable ways once by everyone at Kourtney's new school.
As well I had the privilege of being a part of Angela's baptism, and was part of the cheering squad to support the rest of her family, Scott, Jordyn and Jenna as they took a step of faith with Baptism as well. Todd and I were thrilled to see the many staff members from ACS in the congregation to support the Visser family. We definitely feel that Kourtney is in the "right" place. Kourtney feels the same way; she doesn't cry when she has to leave for school, her stomach problems have settled down, and the heart palpitations are gone.
Just when we thought life has settled into a "better than new" normal, we have been blindsided, once again, by a major set of events. To preserve the integrity of everyone involved, I will not and cannot go into any detail. We believe that it is an "attack" on our family but once again we feel "protected" in so many ways that we can't even begin to describe how we know and feel that God is looking after us. As a family we have chosen to claim Ephesians 6:12.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Please hold us even higher in our prayers this week.
.
Monday, February 11, 2013
It takes a village
"It takes a village to raise a child." I have heard this saying over and over again, and in many ways felt resentful that the village (Abbotsford) has not taken this on...........until recently.
Kourtney was greeted warmly in her new school, not just by the educational assistants, and support staff but by teacher's, principal as well as the students. I don't think we fully "understand the undertaking" that went on to get Kourtney established in the school but we "appreciate how the team scrambled not just to accomodate Kourtney but to receive our whole family with open arms. I know that what they accomplished in 6 days generally takes months and months of planning. Thank-you ACS.
The first day of school, the plan was for me was to spend the whole morning with Kourtney at school. I had a meeting with the educational assistants (EA's), Kourtney chose to go to her English class. After the meeting, I went with her EA to her English class. Kourtney looked at me and whispers something about being "lost". I panicked thinking she was "lost on her assignment" and the the mother bear took over. She then looks again at me and I came closer, and she whispers to me "get lost". The look on my face was one of pure delight and I said ok "see you". I asked the EA if she was ok with Kourtney on her own, and she said of course, and I exited doing a little bit of a happy dance. It thrilled me to see Kourtney want to be independent again.
Todd has been thrilled to be working with a staff and a school that is willing and able to use to help Kourtney make use out of her iPad. All her text books, and assignments will be done on her IPAD. In the 1.5 years in the public high school, not once were the team able to get Kourtney up and running so quickly in technology. It frustrated us to no end that no one seemed to care or take this on as a reasonable and best option for Kourtney.
Kourtney managed to hold up ok. She is only taking two classes, but every day is different. Some days she is there in the monring, some afternoons, some mid mornings and so it goes. We want to preserve her strength and decrease the amount of stress on her body.
All in all we still see signs of improvement, even with her strength. She is using a walker to get around the house and are praying that eventually she can use it a school to get around. We ask you to continually pray for our family. We can not survive on our own strength and know that the only way through this has been the prayers of "His people"
Kourtney was greeted warmly in her new school, not just by the educational assistants, and support staff but by teacher's, principal as well as the students. I don't think we fully "understand the undertaking" that went on to get Kourtney established in the school but we "appreciate how the team scrambled not just to accomodate Kourtney but to receive our whole family with open arms. I know that what they accomplished in 6 days generally takes months and months of planning. Thank-you ACS.
The first day of school, the plan was for me was to spend the whole morning with Kourtney at school. I had a meeting with the educational assistants (EA's), Kourtney chose to go to her English class. After the meeting, I went with her EA to her English class. Kourtney looked at me and whispers something about being "lost". I panicked thinking she was "lost on her assignment" and the the mother bear took over. She then looks again at me and I came closer, and she whispers to me "get lost". The look on my face was one of pure delight and I said ok "see you". I asked the EA if she was ok with Kourtney on her own, and she said of course, and I exited doing a little bit of a happy dance. It thrilled me to see Kourtney want to be independent again.
Todd has been thrilled to be working with a staff and a school that is willing and able to use to help Kourtney make use out of her iPad. All her text books, and assignments will be done on her IPAD. In the 1.5 years in the public high school, not once were the team able to get Kourtney up and running so quickly in technology. It frustrated us to no end that no one seemed to care or take this on as a reasonable and best option for Kourtney.
Kourtney managed to hold up ok. She is only taking two classes, but every day is different. Some days she is there in the monring, some afternoons, some mid mornings and so it goes. We want to preserve her strength and decrease the amount of stress on her body.
All in all we still see signs of improvement, even with her strength. She is using a walker to get around the house and are praying that eventually she can use it a school to get around. We ask you to continually pray for our family. We can not survive on our own strength and know that the only way through this has been the prayers of "His people"
Monday, February 4, 2013
She is off
 |
| Typical learning session; Mr. Lewis, Kourtney, iPads and Lexi |
Well, Mr. Lewis pulled it off! Kourtney now
has officially passed Science 10! Mr. Lewis said goodbye to our family on Friday and Kourtney is returning to school on Tuesday. As much as this seems like a no brainer for Kourtney to become a part of civilization again, I have very mixed emotions about it. While Kourtney deals with anticipatory pain issues, I have anticipatory issues about Kourtney getting worn down again.
We made the decision to change schools. A part of me (OK, all of me) wanted to keep Kourtney at the high school where she was going. It would have made the transition back easier on both Todd and I. But Kourtney could not go back to that high school where she felt betrayed, friendless and found no place of refuge. Although we don't expect the grass to be greener, somehow switching her to a smaller, private Christian school seems to be better fertilizer to make the "grass greener". Kourtney made the choice of school she wanted to go to, hopefully this will give her some motivation to get out of bed in the morning and face the day with courage. I also have to keep in mind that Kourtney's pain is way better controlled, she has uninterrupted sleeps and her body is so much stronger. We have "safeguarded" this semester by enrolling Kourtney in two classes, English and Math. Everyday will be different as far as times she has to be at school, and although it is a scheduling nightmare for our caregivers, it will allow Kourtney to have some "sleep in" days. Although we are not going through a crisis now, it many ways we need just as much prayer as we did a couple of months ago. It is the daily grind that wears us down, and although there have been many positive changes, the bottom line Kourtney still has EB and that in itself says it all.
We did manage to go to Kelowna for two nights. Kourtney was able to go shopping and wasn't as worn out after it all. She led worship with Todd at my brother's "church". It was a sweet moment for us as it was 3.5 months ago when we were in Kelowna when we first noticed that there was something really not right about Kourtney. So, for her to be back there doing what she loves most was reassuring to us that she has indeed become well again. But once again it is about balance . . . . . if we all could lead a life of balance, how much better our lives would be.
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