It has taken me a few days to update b/c we have been going through it. Wow. 

Zeke had another bicarb incident but praise be to the Lord, we did not have to go to the hospital. The Lord had provided a local IV infusion place that has really taken Zeke under their wing and was able to provide 3 infusions for him this week. His PCP was so happy about this b/c she does not like for him to go to the ER, as it increases his risk of other illnesses. So this is a massive praise. Please pray that God just pours and pours blessings over this infusion center for their kindness. 

You know he lost his 2 bottom teeth, and his little tongue has done a lot of exploring of the lost teeth. However, this has caused 2 large canker sores on his tongue and mouth and he winces frequently due to the pain. Would you pray for quick healing of his tongue and for his brain to learn not to keep doing that motion?

We got all of his testing back from the functional doctor and we now know that he has a mitochondrial disorder. I am still navigating what that means which means I am doing loads of research in preparation for my appointment with his doctor on Tuesday morning. 

When we got the news, it felt like a gut punch AND a gift. It was a strange feeling. A gut punch b/c you never like to see "disorder" and a gift b/c this could be the root, or at least a partial explanation, of these bicarb drops. As I said, I won't know all the details, treatment recommendations or next steps until next week. 

It appears that this is treatable and correctable, if I am understanding everything I am reading correctly. So I am praising the Lord for this, while I am simultaneously begging the Lord for strength. We are exhausted, friends. And the functional doctor said we may need another referral to another genetic doctor. 

I am so, so weary of new doctors. Telling our story. Advocating. Listening intently and having to wade through all the information. 

I am tired of doctors and therapists taking up so much of our days. I am grateful for them, yet I long for normalcy. Packing my kids up with a picnic lunch and going to the beach. Going to play at a friend's house. I worry about how Zane's going to view his childhood. And how Zeke is going to view his childhood. I try to make every day things special and fun, yet I am acutely aware of our reality. 

And then...God gave me the gift of dead roses. LOL! 

Jon had bought me some roses to brighten my day and encourage me. I keep those roses as long as I can. Even when they are dead and starting to droop b/c I love roses so much. When I went to throw them away last week, I as shocked to see that the dead roses had LIVE SHOOTS. Bright green shoots coming out of the very dead flowers. 

There was a lesson here from my precious Lord. 

In Ezekiel 37, we see a vision where God brings dead things to life. Dead, dusty bones into life. 

These roses were my own personal message from the Lord. 

Many of my dreams seem dead, so very dead. 

But my God brings life from death. Beauty from ashes. Joy from mourning. 

Dead roses. Live shoots. 

Let's keep watching together while we are here in the middle.