Liz: The Real Super Nanny Diaries

At the young age of 19, as I was being wheeled back into brain surgery, I thought this was the most life changing and life expereince I would ever go through. Boy was I wrong! No one could ever dream what the years ahead would have in store.

Since marrying my college sweetheart, Donny, we have not only been through the most extrodinary experiences and recieved the most beauitiful gift when our first child was born, but less than a year later, we had four more children. Our miracle quadruplets! We have faced the overwhelming and frightning medical issues that each of our five family have been through. From Logan’s kidneys, Hudson’s brain bleed, the girls heart surgeries, Maddy and Hud’s retnina desease, Candice’s multiple airway surgeries and trachestomy issues, RSV hospitalizations, and Maddy’s eye surgery.

Thinking back. it’s insane that we have been through all this. There are so many ways big and little that God has helped us through. Each of our children is doing wonderful. Logan is a bright boy, full of life- you’d never know he only has one kidney. The girls heart issues are completly resolved. The retinina desease that once faced Hud and Maddy has completly healed itself. Maddy’s eyes have been corrected and she is doing great. Hudson is all over the place and doing fantastic, despite the IVH that once threatned his life. And most recently Candice was successfully decannulized and is breathing on her own. She has never been better! You’d never know all they have been through. God has taken care of each one of them and continues to each day.

After the Quads were born, I faced several life threatining medical issues. I was very sick. Since the births, my colon burst, I had multiple infections, multiple colon surgeries, a colostomy, pulmonary embolisim, many other blood clots, appendectomy, ovarian surgeries, gallbladder surgery, and most recently I suffered a stroke and am now getting ready to have another colon surgery.

The reason I am writing this is to say, there are days that I wonder when it is ever going to stop. I am scared at times thinking about going through one more thing. But the truth is, there are no garentees. But I do know that we have made it through everything thus far. I have survived through worse things. God has given me a peace about all this, and just like he delivered us through all the events of the past, I trust  that He will do just the same now. I AM going to get better. I AM coming home. I’m going to be much heathier and stronger for the long term after this surgery.

I hate that I keep putting my family through all of this.  I want to be well. I want to be able to be a normal mom. I want to be there for my kids. I want to do fun things with them and help them learn and grow. I want to spend time with my friends and be a part of their lives. I want to see my family, outside of a hospital room.

Most importantly, I want to be well, to be there for my husband. To love, support him and serve him and be the best wife that I can be. Although, I’m stuck in the hospital right now, I’m getting better, and I can’t wait to come home and start a new season. I’m looking forward to celebrating when I get home and enjoying the new challenges and journey that God has in store for us.

It is very appropriate that the womens bible study first lesson I just started is fucussing the first lesson on faith for hard times. Our key verse is,

“2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 2:2-4