Sunday, when I entered CAren's room, a brilliant, sunshiny bouquet immediately caught my attention.  What also caught my attention was the special elephant pick in the bouquet, and the cute, little elephant mug.  Elephants are CAren's medicine animal, her spirit totem, present with her since she was an infant.  Rumor has it that a Krista [sp] bird knew this about Caren. What a loving, thoughtful gesture to honor Caren's healing journey in this very extraordinary way!
     Yay, team!   Way to go, Krista [sp?].   Thanks a million, :-)[...]

     We have all been blessed by the flowers Austin's and Benjamin's classes sent.  This evening I wanted to share something else special from this wonderful group of young people.
     Saturday, Benjamin presented a handful of cards to Caren, lovingly prepared by his classmates. The artistry is amazing, and the words of comfort deeply touches our hearts.  Caren cried, she was so moved by the outpouring of love represented by each unique card.  She read each and every one of them.
     I promised Benjamin that I'd hang them up on Sunday, and I wanted his friends to see how valued are their contributions.
     Thank you all so very, very much![...]

     With a gait belt, three-pronged cane, and assitance - Caren took her first 16 steps today! What a trooper! I am so proud of her determination. By evening she was one tired girl.[...]

Silent Unity,  the 24/7-prayer ministry:  Call: 1-800-NOW-PRAY (669-7729 )
                                                                        International: 01-816-969-2000[...]

     Our boys are blessed beyond measure with the most amazing teachers.  Austin's teacher and class (Fantastic Fives), and Benjamin's teacher and class (Fabulous Fifth Graders)   [I hope this is correct]  came together to send this gorgeous bouquet.   Caren so appreciated the flowers, and they cheered her up.   Thank you friends, for your loving gift, prayers and support.[...]

     Saturday evening, when we were still in shock, Jordan and Rachel stepped forward to loan us a car until we could get wheels.  A HUGE thank you!   (There is a possibility of another dear friend donating a van, which would eliminate double trips to schools, appointments, and the hospital.  So far, Nich has been gracious to be the one who stays at home, :-) )  Dar, Rick's Mom has been a constant source of strength, and a great help and comfort to Austin.
     Balloons (the latino card was for Rick's Sunday birthday, from the kids), cards (from our kids, friends, and co-workers),  flowers (orchids from Kane, specially blessed angel and lilies from Candice; small bouquet from Mary/Kane/Nich especially chosen for its cheery colors; mixed bouquet from Brittany), books (made by Austin, 12 Days of Giving;  Angel Touch from B-man), and stuffed animals (frog from Katie, pink bear/Mary, and Bacon - B-man's most favored and loved friend), Sue's daily messages of hope, and Jesse, who is in touch with/about his sister daily - what an awesome Support Team!  All these expressions of love Caren can see, and that love sustains us all.  Thank you to all, seen and unseen in our Support Team!
      To those I've failed to mention, the oversight was not intentional.  Any oversight was the product of a very long day yesterday, and a very short night.  We love and appreciate all of you![...]

     Saturday evening, after the accident, before Austin saw Mom, he insisted that Mom needed a stuffed animal with her.  Sunday was the day the kids first got to see Caren.  On the way to the hospital Austin became extremely agitated that he had forgotten his stuffed animal.  We stopped at the dollar store.  Austin insisted Mom had to have the larger white bear AND the smaller one.  He wanted BOTH.  We waited.  He explained, "It's me and Mom."  The bears stay.  
     The blue prayer shawl is a very special gift from the Unity of Greater Grand Rapids Prayer Shawl Ministry, and is always close.  "Shawls . . . made for centuries universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving God, . . . wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter, and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles." (Written in 1998 by: Janet Severi Bristow Copyright ©2014)
     This is Caren, new and improved.  Saturday she was still covered in blood, and the R eye was swollen the size of a golf ball.  It looked like someone had placed half a plum where her eye had been.  The abrasions to her forehead, that extend into her hairline, are also smaller, and not as intense.  They had been from eyebrow to two inches into the hairline.  The bruising from the R eye is draining into the L eye.  Thankfully the Trauma Team explained that one, :-)  They are awesome!
     Rick, her most favorite lovey,  has been with her the whole time, holding her hand, whispering words of encouragement, helping her to stay focused, positioning her, and believing for her. 
[...]

     Today, the pain is more under control.  We are grateful for progress.  Caren was up in the recliner today X2.   Since Saturday we have had a wonderfully caring and knowledgeable           Trauma Team, nurses, assistants, doctors, therapists, housekeepers, nutritional staff, resp. staff, and probably too many people who should be mentioned.  A special thanks to all of you.  
      Whoever didn't make our 'A-list'  -  you, too have reminded us to continually release and let go those things that are too small to worry about.  You've also reminded us how important it is to lay aside our personal issues, and treat others more kindly, with compassion, with respect and dignity - as we ourselves would want to be treated.  We include you in our prayers today.
     Today's Daily Word reminded us that, "An accident . . . — these are situations many of us would deem unfortunate or even disastrous. Yet if we stay open and available to a good outcome, we find great blessings ready and waiting for us to receive."   
     Even when our body feels tired and irritable, Ruth reminds us that, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out."   At first I thought this would be such a good reminder for Caren.  The still small voice within my own heart gently whispered that I, too, should wait in the void for great expectations.
     Continue having a blessed day, all ya'll!   

     PS  I haven't learned yet, how to do multiple posts in one/w all the pics we wish to share, so there will be more than one accompanying post, :-D [...]

Hooray! The epidural is in. We are now awaiting the pump of meds to attach to the epidural pic. Caren and I read today in Job, "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Ezekiel says, "Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life." We are trusting that the sustaining breath/Spirit of God will be Caren's sustaining life, and the epidural will give her enough relief to breathe deeply. Caren is now getting a shampoo. Ah, the luxury. Thank you, Rachel for the beauty treatment. It is now 2:30 pm, and time to make the school run. I'll post any further updates for here, after I return. Thank you for your continued love and prayers. When I returned at 5:45, the epidural pump/meds still had not been delivered, and the pain level was through the roof. It has taken all evening to get the the pain back under control to where it is tolerable. I do know that most of the time her team has been exemplary. Letting the pain get out of control to the level Caren experienced - that was difficult to handle. Rick is here now, so I can run home and get her C-pap. We've made it through another day. Thank you, God.

Caren's personal goal today was, "Move forward, not backward." First thing when I arrived Caren said, "Mom, I keep saying that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." That's my girl! Determined and positive. So many people have been in today, yet Caren has difficulty staying awake - because of the meds. Caren had the desire to help with getting out of bed, but by the time the team was ready, Caren was too tired as of 3-ish. Apparently Caren was moved to a sling chair later in the evening after we'd gone home. The main accomplishment today: Anesthesiology talked to Caren about pain management choices - a nerve block or an epidural. It has been decided that Caren is to receive an epidural for pain management. They will not be able to do a nerve block because of the broken transverse processes. We MUST avoid getting pneumonia, so it is imperative that Caren be more mobile. Since Caren was given blood thinners this morning, the epidural will occur on Thursday. Also, Rick and I were concerned that her L eye was also becoming black. I knew that injuries, by sheer force of gravity, usually drained downward. The trauma doctor explained that it would also drain to the L eye (from the R) through the sinus cavities. Th! Caren ere is a specific name, but I don't recall it. We appreciated the explanation, and felt less anxious. Oh! Caren was seeing the dr.'s jacket as green instead of navy. That gave the trauma team something to think about as far as concussion care, :-) So much for Wednesday. Each day is a gift. I look forward to progress on Thursday.