An Update All The Way Around...

Good morning, everyone.

Whew.

Where do I start?

I guess, firstly...

I'm typing from my Mom's computer, so excuse any errors (her computer drives me nuts!

Two...

I'm a hurry, so same as above.

;)

So...

I am in NC with Savanna, Coty, and Natalie thanks to the goodness of Scott's sister and her husband because after being out here for a month for her birth, there was no way we could afford to fly me back here merely 2 weeks later.

I arrived early Monday morning after weather delays and missed connections...

On each flight, the Lord placed a wonderful person beside me to talk to me and keep my mind off of being in the plane (you know, the anxiety attacks and all).  Thank you to the Jeff (I think) from Pennsylvania, by way of NJ...  I hope she says, "Yes!" and to the sweet woman from Portland, Oregon who kept me laughing and treated me to a snack pack - and gave me 4 disposable tooth brushes just in case my luggage got lost (which it did and I didn't get it until yesterday afternoon!).

 I got to the hospital at 2:30 am, where I got to see my sweet girls.

I will tell you, the pictures don't do it justice...

How bad Natalie looked.

Seriously...

My knees buckled and Savanna held me up.

Only by the grace of the Lord, was I able to keep it together.

And I think I've been operating on shock ever since.

But let me tell you....

Yesterday, when I went in and said, "Hey, sweet Natalie" and she opened her eyes, looked directly at me and started flailing around...  Oh.  No words to describe it!  Especially compared to how she looked on the paralytic/heavy sedative.  They did have to restrain her because they were afraid she'd pull the vent tubing out, but my...  It was good to see!

The strides she has made since I got here have been amazing!

Not out of the woods, but still...

HUGE!

It's hard watching her choke on the heavy amounts of phlegm that are coming up and I have yet to be able to be in the room when they are pounding her back to loosen the fluid.

There are so things this Meme can't watch.

But...

To see her eyes open.

Yes, I cried.

And to see the Lord's hand in all of this has been simply astounding!

From the prayers of thousands...

To so many of my good blogging friends who have stepped up in so many ways to help our family...

To my followers that have helped us so much by uplifting Natalie and our family in prayer...

I have been so touched and humbled.

I am tearing up as I write this.

(I seem to do a lot of that lately.)

I love you all!!!

And so many of my friends and family...

And to one special childhood friend...  You know who you are, although I swore I would keep your gesture anonymous...  Well,  I love you and I thank you.  He made it possible for me not to have to worry about food or lodging while I am here for the week and a half.  Thank you, Lord for angels in disguise!

I have just been amazed as I have seen His hand working in so many ways to help our family!

Speaking of angels...

Blogland is full of them and here are two:

Angelina from JoJo and Eloise contacted me Saturday Night with a wonderful, beautiful, sweet idea of how she would like to help Savanna and Coty with the mounting expenses of Natalie's care - food, parking, and the any care that she may require even after our sweet girl comes home.

You can go HERE to help support "Flowers for Natalie".

These brooches are gorgeous!  I adore them! 

 They are just as beautiful and sweet as the lady that is making them!

Angelina also helped Savanna set up a donation page that you can find on the JoJo and Eloise side bar.

These funds go DIRECTLY to Savanna and Coty and will help them with so many things!

They are a young military couple living on such a small income, that this has really just hit them very hard.

Not only from a mental and emotional standpoint, but they are learning all too quickly (and at a very young age) how expensive things can be when there is a critical emergency.

So far, lots of wonderful people have raised over $3,000 to help them and really...

I am so truly, truly humbled.

Thank you all so very, very much!!!

You just don't know how much this is helping them!

Since Natalie is in isolation, they are not allowed to stay at Ronald McDonald House.

They did find a place that allowed them to stay for four nights for free because Coty military, but that runs out tonight.

So these donations are also allowing them to remain up in Greenville with Natalie and have a restful place to sleep.

I really cannot say it enough...

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

And another angel...

The always sweet Shannon from Fox Hollow Cottage is auctioning off a way cool "Aloha Wreath" for Natalie's benefit.

It is so cute!!! 

For some reason, it is showing me an error page when I try to go on the link, but you can just go to Fox Hollow Cottage and click on the appropriate post after the link is fixed.

So....

Anyway....

This is where we are at today.

Each day is one step forward, two steps back, but she is getting better thanks to a very skilled team of doctors and nurses at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville AND by each and every one of your heart felt prayers!

You can get up to the minute updates from Savanna on Facebook at "Prayers for Natalie".

She does a really good job about keeping everyone informed.  

(Even I find out things when we're not in the waiting room.)

Thank you all so much in all the ways you have helped us....

You sweet words of support and encouragement are what help us keep going during this very difficult time.

And it means more than you could ever possibly know!

I love y'all!

Laura