UPDATE April 6, 2008

UPDATE
April 6, 2008

We have been brought safely through another week. Since we have garnered the troops to start moving, Jack has enjoyed the new schedule. As we mentioned last week, we planned to go the movies for the first time since Jack became ill. We sat on the back row, just like high school days. Now that we have a handicapped person, we appreciate all of the efforts that people have created in buildings, towns, and cities to improve the ability to navigate for all of us who need those adaptations – another provision of the Lord. As Jack so wonderfully stated several weeks ago, without this experience we would have never had the opportunity to see this side of life.

Back to the movie “21”, it was most entertaining. However, mid-movie, Jack needed to go to the bathroom (a fear I had only pondered). I pushed him out to the common area, sought out a customer service person, and asked him where the handicap bathroom was for Jack. Of course, it was a space in the men’s room. I explained that I had to go in with him. This young man said let me check to see if anyone is in there; he did and reported that it was empty. I said what if someone comes in while we are in there. He said, I will spot the door. The coast was clear and in we went. All was executed very easily. Jack then said, in 39 years of marriage, this is a first. So we decided that he who goes to handicap bathrooms together, stays together!!! I feel a little like the Dr. Seuss book that describes “the places we go”! Jack and our family thoroughly enjoyed the movie and we decided that the adventure was very much worth the effort. Everyone thanked me for pulling this one off. Even our children were not sure about this one

Jack continues with the health club twice per week and is really enjoying the activity and the people. He also went to Nano-C briefly this week. I am most grateful for Annette who is willing and very able to take him to these places.

For those of you that are engineers out there, you will appreciate the following story. For those of you who are not, you will get a glimpse of what it is like to live with an engineer. If this story is a little too personal for some of you, I apologize but I think it worth telling.
You may remember early on with Jack’s first hospitalization, I made mention of the fact that he was urinating very frequently at which point he said that it was a mass transfer problem – the sum of the flows is zero. This story is in the same vain. One of the minor difficulties that we have experienced is Jack pants getting damp when he uses the urinal. This morning as I was helping him with the urinal, I had an idea to help prevent this problem. At this point, Jack begins explaining the damp pants problem - here goes –
“The problem with the pants getting damp is the urine climbs up the urinal wall via a hydraulic jump forming when the kinetic energy of the stream suddenly decreases while potential energy or the thickness of stream on the wall increases causing the urine to climb up the wall onto the pants.” All I could say was oh my – could you repeat that because I have to write it down for the blog!!!! The Lord supplies all of our needs including the laughter. When Jack had his last MRI, I observed many crevices all through the gray matter of his brain. I am certain there are many more than I could ever dream of having and I am certain that a few of them think about damp pants problems as well as mass transfer problems!!!!! I am telling you, urinating will never be the same. It only gets more complicated.

My sister, Suzanne, safely arrived on Friday to stay for a month. She had offered to come and stay with us while I take my needed rest and relaxation as well as some business trips. Suzanne has experienced some disabling health issues and has an appreciation of Jack’s situation probably better than I do. We are most grateful for her generosity as well as her husband, Rob. Courtenay, Megan, and Jonathan are very excited to have her around. Many years ago, Suzanne worked with children with muscular dystrophy. Her experiences will certainly enrich us. Suzanne is 15 years younger than me and our children think of her as a contemporary.

The Lord willing, I leave tomorrow morning for 7 days with another family member, my sister-in-law, Jan to rest, relax, and charge my batteries. I thought it would be best if I had another close family member with me to enjoy the time together. My prayer and hope is that the Lord will provide refreshment to my body and soul.

I also want to thank Roberta (don’t know anymore) who provided a comment in the last blog entry. Roberta, I would appreciate your email address for further correspondence. My email address is chowardcfp@comcast.net. Jack is a retired PhD MIT Chemical Engineering professor. I found it interesting that your husband is a PhD Chem E person.
Our prayer for you is that the Lord will sustain you in the difficult days ahead. A verse that has been most helpful is “In Christ that strengthens me, I can do all things” – Phil 4:13. Another important verse for us has been Phil 4:4-7 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace that passes all understanding will your guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

We also want to thank the James family for their delicious dinner that was dropped by last week. Words do not adequately express our heartfelt thanks to them and others who so graciously supply all of our needs.

Also, Happy Belated Birthday to Madeline Montel, a former Ky schoolmate of Jack’s. Thank you for your card and pictures of the celebration.

A verse that has provided us with great comfort is from Psalm 57:1-2 –
“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Thinking about the shadow of our Lord’s wings and a finding a refuge there is such a great comfort at all times. But at all times, it is the only shelter to seek.

May the Lord bless all of you in the next days as I seek shelter under His wings.

Blessings,
Carolyn and family