Encouraging News

First the news of today:
Ellie was not quite as pleasant today. She woke up early and never took a nap, but she has amazed me with her resilience. You would never know she has been through so much in the past week. She's beginning to eat a little better.

I spent some Josie-Tatum and Mama time today. It was simple. Ellie was playing on the computer at starfall.com and Playhouse Disney. JT and I sat in the recliner by the computer and colored together. It was such a little thing, but she enjoyed it greatly. Then the girls started coloring together, so I could post for the day.

And Now Today's Headline Story:
So much was going on with Ellie's surgery updates that I've waited to share these encouraging moments sent from the LORD.

The day of Ellie's pre-op she needed another cathed urinalysis to check to be sure her bladder infection was clear. During the catherization, the muscles of the uretha were pushing out the catheter! Do you know how BIG that is?

And, while back at the hotel, I was reading, Ellie was eating a sucker, when she interrupted both of us rather loudly with, "I'm poo pooing Mommy." Well, she wasn't at the moment, but we went to the potty, where she successfully used the potty for a BM. (Most of the time she tells me in the middle of the process or right after the event is over--a little anti-climactic if you know what I mean.)

So, a couple of days after surgery, I asked the spina bifida care coordinator to come by to see me. (She was coming to check on us anyway.) This time we didn't talk about surgery , but about bowel/bladder control. When I started talking to her, she said the nurse who cathed Ellie had already told her about the muscles pushing out the cath. Did I mention how BIG this is? Well, Ellie's bladder empties spontaneously, and she has bladder spasms, but there is hope that, when she begins medication to calm her bladder down, she can be trained to use those muscles. Praise the LORD for hope!!!!!!!!!!

And, after talking with Jacki about the findings from the gastroenterologist, she offered some tips for bowel training when Ellie is out of the cast. More Hope!!!!!

Perhaps, along with your prayers, these big pieces of news have kept my spirits up. I'm a little tired today, so today is the day to really praise my Jesus.
"I will sing of your mercy, to You, O LORD, I will sing praises."