Afternoon Update

Today, I have been encouraged by an inflow of offers to help our family. A friend put the story of our situation out on several homeschool email loops and I have been contacted with offers of help ranging from money to diapers to toiletry items. We also have our house payment covered now, and that was our largest bill. PTL!!

Jason went back to the surgeon today. His skin around his drain and around his incision were looking red, so the surgeon took both out since he feels that this will improve his healing. They glued the incision shut with glue and some sutures. He will return to the surgeon on Sept 22nd, and we will go from there.

Thank you for praying! I am encouraged to see how God is moving in our lives.

Update on the Jones Family

We have had a very busy and somewhat trying week. It started Monday night with discovering that the battery to my van was dead and had to be replaced :-0 Fortunately, we had received some cash gifts that covered the cost of this battery, but I definitely wish the $92 that we spent could have been used elsewhere. A neighbor of ours took Jason to Autozone to purchase the battery, and the neighbor also installed it for us. I'm glad we discovered it in the evening because I had a WIC appt on Tuesday morning, an OB appt yesterday, and I have to take Jason back to the surgeon this morning.

Our house payment was due on the 1st and our electric bill is due today--neither have been paid yet. I did get some commitments to pay my water and gas bills that are due next week, and for this I am truly grateful. We are continuing to make calls towards getting help with these bills, but so far we have not received any specific commitments on the house or electric.

As far as my OB appointment yesterday, I am dilated to a 3, 50% effaced and baby is engaged. I could go any time or I could wait. It is difficult to say. Because of the conflicting information we received about my eligibility for Medicaid, I have tentatively scheduled an induction for September 29th. I can cancel this later, if I wish, but this way it is at least on the schedule. That way we will only have to keep his company insurance paid on me through the end of this month, and after that, we can drop it on everyone but him. It is not really my wish to be induced, but at this point, it would be cheaper than trying to pay out a delivery and hospital charge on my own, if DHS continues to persist in their delays.

The surgeon is supposed to remove Jason's staples and drain when we see him this morning. I don't know if this will happen since he still seems to be bleeding from his incision (although the bleeding is much less than it was a few days ago). I will update later with what we find out.

As far as his job, I got a call from his boss last night. He said that the company has done something for Jason that he has never seen done before (God has definitely gone before us in this matter). They are putting Jason on something called a review of restrictions. Basically what this means is that, for the time being, he is not actually fired. They will be getting us to sign forms giving his company access to his medical information and they also will be asking the doctor to complete some reports regarding the liklihood of Jason returning to work and what restrictions he will need when/if he does return. At the end of this review, he could still be let go, but for now this process buys us a little more time. It does not give us any income, but at least we can keep our insurance at a cheaper rate as long as we can continue paying our portion. This would probably take a miracle, but we are hoping that this process takes long enough that I will have had the baby and maybe (this would be the even bigger miracle) Jason might even be well enough to return to work.

Things I Have Learned Today. . .FYI

In the past, I have looked at people who were standing on the street corners holding signs and trying to solicit donations as people who were trying to take advantage of goodness of others. For a long time, I have been led to believe that there are organizations out there who will help people with basic bills if they are truly in need. Therefore, I believed that those who really needed help could get it, if they would apply through organizations designed to help the needy. Thus, there was no true need to stand on the corner, holding signs and trying to get people to feel sorry for you.

Today I have learned differently. After almost a week of calling different organizations looking for help to pay utilities, mortgage, basic bills, I have met with dead end after dead end. Either I don't live in the right zip code, or I don't meet the criteria for that particular organization (i.e., I have discovered that if my husband and I were a highschool drop outs or drug addicts, there would be plenty of help available to us.). I have found a Catholic church that paid my water bill for the month of September, and I have finally received a phone call from DHS scheduling an appointment with me for next Tuesday at 11am. This is all that has happened as a result of hours worth of calls.

I have received conflicting information about whether or not I can get Medicaid to pay for my pregnancy if my husband loses his job. According to the social worker that I spoke with this morning, my husband had some income in August and, since I submitted my application Aug 27th, they are making their decisions off of this income. He told me that even though my income allows my children to be on Medicaid, that for me it is a different number and I am not eligible for August. I asked him if I should withdraw my application and apply again now that it is September and we have no income whatsoever, and I was told that now that the application date was in the computer, that was not possible. Thus, I am unsure if I will be able to walk out of the appointment next Tuesday with food stamps and/or Medicaid to pay for the baby. The social worker also spoke to me about the cash assistance offered through DHS. Since I have a bachelors degree, and they cannot aid me with job training, I am not eligible to receive these cash payments--in other words--if I was a highschool dropout or cocaine addict, they could give me money, but I cannot receive any because I am "overqualified".

I am starting to understand why people stand at the street corner now, and I guess if anything, God is using this situation to teach me a few things and give me compassion on those who do this. I wonder how well I would do standing on the street corner with a sign?!?! :-)

God's Provision

Normally, when I think of provision, I think of working. After all, work is a scriptural principle and one that I was raised to believe in. But income from working isn't the only way God chooses to provide for us. Although I would infinitely prefer to earn a living by working (somehow it seems more secure to me), God has chosen other ways of providing for our family in the recent days. While this might make me feel uneasy or insecure, it really shouldn't. God is taking us through this time and increasing my faith in the process.

The last few days, I have spent a lot of time chasing down financial resources to help our family through this difficult time (actually, maybe I am working :-b). I have figured out already, that there are people who are professionals at getting this type of help. They know what systems are available and exactly what to say to get the help they want immediately. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. I have spent a lot of time talking to organizations who help people who live in specific zip codes (unfortunately, not mine) or organizations who have already run out of funding for the year. The economy is rough right now.

Wednesday, I submitted applications through the DHS office to get Medicaid for myself (in case I lose health insurance) and also food stamps. I was told that because we did have some income for August that they have 30 days to contact me for an appointment. As you can imagine, I was not thrilled with this answer. Baby is due in 35 days and may not wait that long, and at this point, Jason is only guaranteed a job through Sept 3rd.

However, God has chosen to encourage me through other methods of provision this week. We have received money from several different sources (even from people that we don't know!). We received a Payless gift card (so I could get shoes for my kids), a gas gift card, and a WalMart gift card. Last night, a friend came and brought groceries for our family. Our immediate needs are taken care of.

Specific areas you could pray about are:

1. That DHS will expedite my appointment for food stamps and Medicaid. Baby could come at any time and I really want to have these things taken care of ahead of time.

2. I know that there are organizations to help with utlilities and possibly house payment. Please pray that I can find the organizations with the funding to help a family in our zip code. So far, I haven't received any specific leads that are promising.

3. Continue to pray for Jason's healing. He has had some unusual bleeding since returning home and has started running a fever. The surgeon wants us to wait it out and see, but I am very concerned with these developments and wondering if he should be back at the hospital.

4. Pray for our children. They are very insecure in the midst of this (especially "Miney") and yet Mommy is very busy trying to chase down assistance and not fully available to them :-(

5. Pray for me to have physical strength and stamina. Normally, I would have everything taken care of for the baby at this point and have my house cleaned and organized where I could take it easy. This has not happened at this point, and some things really do need to be done so that I can fit another person into our small home. Unfortunately, between hospital stays, doctor visits and financial arrangements, I am finding very little time to work on these things.

God has been faithful to provide for our family, and I believe that he will continue to do so. Someday I will look back on these times and be able to share with others the incredible testimony of God's provision for our family during this time. Please pray that I will rest in Him.

A Nice Way To Think About Things. . .

I AM THANKFUL: FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.


FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.


FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.


FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED .



FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.


FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.



FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE



FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .


FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.


FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .


FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.


FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR.



FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.



FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.



FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.


SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

Jason was released today

Jason is now home from the hospital. I am so relieved because I was really finding it challenging to cover childcare. My parents really came through for us these past few days even though they were completely exhausted. My dad even came to our house over the weekend to handle things when our plumbing backed up and had to be snaked out (thank goodness for rentals at Home Depot). It is hard on me to feel like I'm such a burden to them, but I'm glad they made the sacrifice.

Hospitals are such scary places anymore. There were several mistakes made when Jason was there that terrified me when it came to leaving him alone. Fortunately, God protected him, but it amazes me that things of this nature have happened so often during his hospital stays. To complicate matters, his pain medicine makes him somewhat incoherent and his memory is not very good. So when no one can be there, it is difficult for me to take over when I do show up because I'm never quite certain what has transpired.

Jason is very sore, and it is a little early to determine whether the surgery is successful or not. The surgeon is considering it a success, but I guess we will have to see what his pain level does before we know for sure. He will have to begin rebuilding his strength again, and we are using the walker we purchased for him last fall so that he can take several walks each day. I'm sure he will get plenty of rest at home and I'm thankful I spent the past month or so doing a lot of work in our bedroom so that he can get around easier in there with his walker and also so that he rests more comfortably. Jason will return to the surgeon a week from Thursday to have his staples and drain removed.

Now I need to figure out what our financial options are. Lord willing, I'll make a trip to DHS tomorrow to see what type of help is available to us. For the next few months, we will live out the daily bread principle because we have no more paychecks and I won't be able to consider working until after the baby is born. The Lord has always been gracious to us, so I'm trying not to stress too much about it at this point, but I'm sure I will have my moments. It will be a harder adjustment on the kids, as we are all going to have to tighten our belts and see how the Lord provides for our needs.

Thank you for all of the prayers!

Jason is Having Another Surgery!

PTL!! We faxed an appeal to the surgeon this morning and he called us back in less than two hours. After an office visit today, he scheduled Jason for another bowel resection this Wednesday August 20th at 1:45pm. He is also having a central line put in this time, so that hopefully, there won't be such an issue with them blowing out his veins all the time. He doesn't have very many good ones left :-(

Last time, he was off work for two months after the surgery. His work still does not have to hold his job, and we are out of paychecks, so please pray for the job situation and for our finances. We are out of money but are trying to do some checking into what assistance might be available for us. We truly feel that God has orchestrated this whole turnaround because last time it took us two or three weeks to get on the surgeon's schedule. We trust that He has a plan to get us through.

Please pray for me to have the strength to do everything I need to do between now and Wednesday and also to care for him after the surgery. I was awake for three hours last night having painful contractions :-0 I am 33 weeks, so pray for Baby Girl to wait until end of Sept or beginning of Oct to make her appearance so that Jason will be a little more self-sufficient by that time. Also that I can get the sleep and rest I need in the midst of all of this.

Pray for Dr. Hemric to have wisdom and discernment as he prepares for the surgery and during this entire process. Jason's other health conditions cause him to be out of the normal range for most patients so sometimes it is difficult to know how to treat him. Also, Jason's blood sugars have been high, so pray for these to be stabilized.

Thank you so much for your prayers!