Tomorrow and thank you

"They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone" Numbers 11:17

Not sure that I have really ever read the book of Numbers, but I'm trying (like I said, trying) to read through the One Year Bible right now and Numbers is where I am. Last night I read of Moses telling God he just couldn't carry the burden of all the Israelites on his own anymore. So God took the Spirit of the burden off of Moses and put it on those around him. God didn't take away the burden all together, but brought people to help carry the burden. Our God is so full of compassion and mercy that when Moses cried out to him, He helped him and helped him through His people. This is the beautiful picture of what I am experiencing through each of you who are truly carrying this burden with us and all I can say is thank you. Your prayers mean so much and you are just helping us in so many ways. Thank you for the emails, text, cards, verses, phone calls, etc. They really are such a source of encouragement. The love of Christ is so evident.

We arrived yesterday, had smooth travel and the weather is great in Philly. Not too cold at all. The Ronald McDonanld House was full, so we stayed at the Sheraton last night. It's been nice and we walked to CHOP this morning. However, today we called  RMH again and they have a room available for us. We are so thankful for this! Thanks to all those praying for this. They said it's a smaller room with a shared bathroom. But, we really will be at the hospital so much and I am planning to spend the night there anyway. In fact, in the ICU is divided into separate rooms and there is a place for parents to sleep in the room with their child and parents are allowed in 24/7 and then when MG is moved to the floor we will stay with her too.

So, today we met with Dr. Campbell again, anesthesia and did x-rays and bloodwork. MG was not so happy with the bloodwork, and then they called and we had to go back and redo some of it :( But now she is napping back in the hotel. She has been in great spirits the last two days, seems healthy and feeling good. She is definitely becoming more aware of what's going on around her and dislikes everyone dressed in scrubs. We spoke more with Dr. Campbell about tomorrow and he showed us the xrays, CT and MRI again. It's always hard to see these, her severe spinal curve and rigid back. But we know this is the best hope for her lungs and growth and we know it is the right time. He is hopeful that the veptr rods will expand MG's chest wall, but says sometimes we just don't know. Please pray for positive results from the veptr rods, for her lungs to be able to grow and strengthen despite her stiffness and help stablize or even improve her scoliosis. We are still so very grateful for Dr. Campbell and his team and what they do, she is in good hands.

I guess that is all for now, we will be at the hospital early in the morning and surgery will begin around 7:30 am. Please continue to pray for the surgery, no complications, her healing and recovery. Thank you gain for praying for us. A sweet friend said she pictured our family, friends and those praying for MG standing in a circle holding hands around the hospital praying throughout the day tomorrow...that is what I am going to picture also. "God is our refuge and strength, our ever present help in trouble" He hears our prayers and has been and will be faithful. I will update as soon as I can tomorrow.