Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Update on Emzel

Anyone who has known me well in the last 20 years knows that my pregnancies are absolutely awful. For weeks I hover so close to the edge that Heaven seems close enough to touch and it wouldn't take much to make me let go of here and slip over there.

Then things start to improve, ever so slowly, and I actually begin to become aware of my surroundings, such as my husband. Then I venture outside for the first time in a month, shuffling weakly, and maybe sweep the kitchen floor, before I lie down for a few hours to recuperate.

A very long and dreary recovery follows, during which I again get strong enough to step up on a chair or lift a gallon of milk. During this time I still feel absolutely rotten from head to foot, but Paul and others continually remark about how much better I'm doing.

I do eventually recover completely, praise God.

I say all that to say that Emily's illness has been eerily like a pregnancy. She never threw up, but otherwise it was a bit too similar--weeks in bed feeling horrid, weakness, a longing for Heaven, obliviousness to her surroundings, and that sense of feeling completely yucky from head to foot.

In fact, I said as much to the doctor, and added that I was glad there was no chance she was pregnant. He implied I shouldn't say that, as he's seen a few too many pregnant teenagers with moms who were sure they couldn't be. Yikes. Well, at least I was right this time.

Anyway, we dipped Emily seven times in the Jordan as the doctor advised, and soon after that she came down for breakfast with the family, which caused great elation, then sadly right before Thanksgiving she caught the flu that Ben brought home from school and got knocked off her feet again.

Two days ago, to my astonishment, Emily came downstairs and asked if I had any work for her to do, and she cleaned out some bathroom drawers. Yesterday we all went out for supper at the gourmet restaurant of her choice--Taco Bell--her first such excursion in many weeks. Today she cleaned up the kitchen. When I went into raptures about how she's getting well at last, she grumped that she still feels awful.

So I think she's in the stage of recovery where everyone around her can see the improvement and her new interest in her surroundings, but she's still feeling gross enough that she feels like she's as sick as ever.

So that's where she's at, and enormous thanks to everyone who has prayed for her and encouraged us. We have a long journey ahead, I'm sure, but I have more hope than I've had for a while.

Quote of the Day:
"You know what's kind of disheartening? In books when a character's sick like me, she always dies."
--Emily

11 comments:

  1. Wonderful news! So glad for all of you.
    I can identify with the pregnancy thing very well. Migraines work the same way---coming back from the brink. The double whammy of pregnancy sickness and migraines together puts a real damper on the whole idea... Especially when family members think you are nuts for getting in such sad shape again!
    The difference between Emily and books is that she has a sense of humor. She might try What Katy Did.

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  2. Emily - hurrah for victory over the mosquito bite, at long last!!
    Dorcas, after reading Mark Roths post about Matt "going and doing the right thing", does Mark listen to Dr. Laura? I am laughing since that was my recent advice to YOU.
    sil

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  3. May she have a speedy recovery and soon have enough energy for her imagination to take off too! ~Edith

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  4. I'm glad to hear she's on the mend!

    I totally identify with the pregnancy thing, too. We almost decided not to try to have more because we weren't sure we could handle me being pregnant again. Fortunately I got 2 for the price of one, but being 37 weeks along with twins(who weighed a combined 14.5 lbs and I measured at 48 weeks) in August in Georgia is as close to hell as I ever hope to come.

    I'll still be praying for you guys.

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  5. Dorcas!
    I just now deleted what I thought I wanted to say because it didn't say much.. maybe I'll call you sometime. Hope everyone gets/stays well over there on the west coast

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  6. you are very observant.
    and in comment to your post...steady on, steady on.

    -amy l.

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  7. Time & more time. My oldest girl has CFS. It's been 6 years & she still has days when she can't get out of bed & sleeps all day. Will sontinue to pray for continued healing for Emily.

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  8. YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!
    Bethany

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  9. So glad to hear you have reason to be encouraged. And the quote of the day - it made me want to give her a big hug, and I don't even know her.

    p.s. I just finished "Upstairs," although I was supposed to be tucking it away as a gift from "Santa" to put under the tree. Your experiences in Africa were so moving.

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  10. good for emily for NOT dying of this horrible sickness. :-) tell her she's way better than the storybook characters.
    so why did you ever want to have kids in the first place?? honestly. if that's really what pregnancy is like it makes the whole idea seem worse than ever. :-(

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  11. Thanks for your encouragement, everyone.
    My dear qwert: surely you would agree that my kids were worth the anguish...:-) Actually, there is a merciful amnesia that hits about a year after you give birth. But I still marvel that I endured that ordeal 5 times.

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