Thankful

One month ago yesterday Christopher had his surgery.  One month is one of the marks we have been waiting for. We are so excited and grateful for how well he is doing!   All of his levels are in balance, and we are already starting to see a decrease in office visits.

Yesterday we went to the hospital to have the catheter removed from his chest, as well as a stent removed from his bladder (both are placed in kidney transplant patients during surgery, and they are removed after one month).  While yesterday was a good day since we were having these removed, Christopher was anxious about being put to sleep again.  He claims being put to sleep is "freaky".  As a mom, it was difficult seeing him feel so nervous, but everything was over very quickly and we were home by 10:30 AM.

We are so grateful that Christopher was healthy going into his kidney transplant and that he continues to thrive.  We found out nine months ago that Christopher would need a kidney transplant, and he hasn't missed a beat.  In the eight months prior to his surgery, he finished two seasons of sports (flag football & soccer during the fall, and basketball this past winter), youth group at church, and he has had a great school year. So, you take an 11 year old child that feels perfectly normal and tell him he has outgrown his kidneys and that he will be facing major surgery...  pretty overwhelming from an adult’s perspective, huh?  Not for Christopher.  It is amazing how he has accepted the past nine months with grace without complaining or even questioning.  He realizes that the Lord has spared him from traveling a more difficult road, and that he has been blessed to have felt so well through this whole process. The more I read and hear, his case isn't the norm.  We count our blessings every single day that he never had to face sickness, fatigue, or even dialysis. The Lord spared him (and us!) from traveling a more difficult path, and we are grateful.  If we don't praise Him, then the rocks will cry out, and that is not going to happen around here.  

Please continue to pray for Christopher.  Pray that his levels will continue to stay within target range, and that he is free from infections, sickness, and viruses over the next five months.  Prayers are powerful.

Tomorrow morning is the graduation service at our church.  I have cried during that particular service for parents over the past 10 years as the graduates names are called and they walk to their parents in their gowns and give them hugs, and now it is our turn!  Oh my! Will I make it? Who knows!  But I do know that we will have no regrets as CG is sent off to college this fall.  He is a young man with amazing character, and he has a passion for our Lord and Savior.  CG was given the "Falcon Award" for his senior class at the awards banquet Tuesday evening.  His principal explained that award as being "the student you would want your kids to hang out with, dependable, someone all of the teachers like, and liked by everyone".  What an honor.  God is being glorified through CG.  By the way, the Christian concert he coordinated through FCA two weeks ago was a success!  As far as he knows, five lives were changed forever that night.

God is good, all the time.  And all the time, God is good!

Blessings and love from the Pendarvis family!

Moving Right Along...

We found out at Christopher's appointment yesterday that our visits will decrease to twice a week starting next week!  Visits will continue to decrease over a period of time.  His levels continue to look great and are already stabilizing.  Thank you for your prayers!!  Please continue to pray that his levels remain stable and that he remains free from infections, sickness, and viruses over the next five months.

A dear friend of ours interviewed us for an article in the Fort Mill Times this week.  You can click on the following link if you are interested in reading the article titled "Fort Mill Mom's Gift to Son a Divine Calling"  http://www.fortmilltimes.com/ .  For more details from the article on how the Lord worked in revealing His plan in this process you can read our journal post dated  2/7/12 titled  "A Piece of Our Journey".  You can click on http://ourvictorywalk.blogspot.com/2012/02/piece-of-our-journey.html to read more.

Please pray for the Christian concert CG has been coordinating the past two months.  Pray for the band, speakers, and that His Word will penetrate hearts.  See below for blurb:

Nation Ford High School's FCA is sponsoring a FREE community event on Friday, May 11th from 8-11 in the Main Gymnasium. Day Seven will be leading us in worship, as well as guest speakers, prayer, and tons of fun! The Gospel will be presented, and lives will be changed. All are welcome - schools, churches, families, and friends. Best of all, it's free! We hope to see everyone there!

We also wanted to thank everyone again for the hundreds of cards and emails Christopher received in the hospital!  We read through a lot of them again yesterday.  This will be something he will treasure for years to come.  Thank you also for the gifts, snacks, love, and especially your prayers!  We know prayers have covered Christopher and our family during this entire journey.  We have also been absolutely spoiled with meals!   Our family has truly experienced Jesus' hands and feet.

Christopher decided to line all of his gifts on our kitchen table..


There actually wasn't room for everything!!  Thank you for all of your support!

 Blessings to all!
Mia

The Victory Walk

Tomorrow marks three weeks since Christopher's surgery.  We are continuing our visits for lab work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 7:15.  His lab work continues to look good, and we will hopefully be able to begin decreasing our visits after next week since we will be at the one month mark.  Christopher will go in one day next week to have the catheter in his chest removed (this is placed in all kidney transplant patients in the event dialysis is needed).  He will be put to sleep, but we should be able to come home the same day.  His spirits continue to be high, and you would never know that Christopher has traveled this new journey in his life.  He is one of the Lord's special soldiers.

Greg returns to work tomorrow, but his principal has allowed him to continue taking us to Christopher's morning appointments for now.  I am very thankful for this since I am not quite up to driving yet. 

I have truly learned to cherish God's plan to lead us one step at a time instead of desiring a blue print for what lies ahead.  Psalm 119:105 tells us, God's word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  This new journey has truly taught me how to surrender my moments and days to Him. To cherish Him lighting our path one step at a time. To be grateful for today.   I didn't realize when He gave me the Bible verse and title for our blog that He would lead me to a new realization of what this verse and blog title really would come to mean.   But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 12:9-10.  THAT is what the Victory Walk really means.  A walk that is content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities with the full realization that God is truly in control.  Knowing that He will give the peace and strength needed for that moment and for that day as He guides our steps.  Christopher is learning this lesson at such an early age, and oh how sweet that is.

Thank you for your continued prayers.  Your prayers have helped guide us on our Victory Walk.  We are truly grateful!

We wanted to share a few pictures from our journey in the hospital.  Please don't let Christopher's pictures make you think he was sad the entire time!  He really doesn't enjoy having his picture made, and most of these pictures reflect just that!



This was my first visit with Christopher following surgery (Day 2).  Christopher was still in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.  This picture is bitter sweet for me.  It was really hard on him not having his mama.

Christopher with Dad, CG, Gracie, and Cody in his room after he left the PICU. What a beautiful picture!





Scoot over Christopher, Mommy is here to stay!  I went home on Sunday, but I was able to come back on Tuesday to stay with Christopher until he was discharged.  Greg says that he began seeing a difference in Christopher from that moment on.  I just love this picture!

We pulled in an extra bed from Tuesday through Saturday so I wouldn't hear an "I told you so", from my sweet husband.  Note Christopher chilling out and playing Wii.

Ms. Jackie is praying with Christopher.  She is the precious woman Greg referred to that prayed over Christopher with his medication.  She prayed that his medicine would begin to flow down his throat like honey.  He prayed the same prayer when she left, and he hasn't had a problem since.  God is so good!  He sends many intercessors our way when we need them.

Christopher had many wonderful visitors!  This special visit was from one of his best friends, Dakota.  Dakota brought along his keyboard and played "Amazing Grace" for Christopher. 

This is a picture of another Ms. Jackie.  She worked in the nutrition department and worked  VERY hard to help Christopher eat.  She brought up anything and everything, and she wanted him to eat as badly as we did.  Another one of God's special people sent our way during his stay in the hospital.



Gracie and Christopher on discharge day! Now we are starting to see a little smile:-)

One of the days we were waiting for....Christopher's request for spinach pizza a couple of days after we arrived home!!

Life in the Pendarvis house is slowly but surely getting back to normal.  Christopher continues to get stronger and stronger every day; CG went to the prom on Saturday, and he is getting ready for the Christian concert this Friday; Gracie is in the play-offs, and we found out today that she made All-Region for the second year in a row; Cody won 2nd place in the strawberry shortcake eating contest at the Strawberry Fesitival on Saturday (CG recorded it for me:-) and he was elected treasurer for the student body for next year; and my precious husband continues to be superman.  We are blessed blessed blessed!!

Love,

Mia



Home "Again"...

I arrived home last night around 5 after 24 hours of getting rehydrated.  I am doing much better, and I am trying to drink versus sip (which isn't easy for me).  Greg gives me so much liquid per hour that I "must" finish:-)  I have tried to take care of myself, but the "sipping" over a period of days just wasn't enough.  


Christopher continues to do great!  His lab results from yesterday were favorable.  We are looking forward to his levels balancing out this month so he can reduce some of his medication (though he never complains).  We are so grateful for his quick recovery.  I tell him that he is my hero.  He is such a high spirited, amazing kid. His positive outlook on life continues to inspire us.  Continue to pray that he remains free from any infections and viruses.  We are trying to keep him away from visitors this first month to play it safe.

Life in the Pendarvis household continues to buzz.  Along with Christopher's recuperation, CG is counting down days for his senior year of high school and busy coordinating a huge concert for youth in the York County area.  Gracie is wrapping up soccer season, and getting ready for the play-offs..  Cody completed his play, and he decided to run for the school treasurer for next year.  Greg is busy trying to keep all of us straight before returning back to work next week. He has done such a wonderful job with running our home and taking care of me and the kids.  We will miss him when he returns to work next week!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

Loving the Lord more day-by-day!
Mia

Christopher doing Great, Momma Mia admitted into hospital!

Mia has been eating and drinking pretty good, but apparently not good enough.

We admitted her into the hospital today. She was put on IV for dehydration and may stay 2 nights. Pray pray pray.

She had a long awesome blog on Sunday with many updates.
She wanted to say that Christopher's visit on Monday morning went great. The anxiety on the catheter in his chest ended up not being a big deal at all. The nurse did a great job of handling Christopher and it didn't take any time at all. Thank you Lord!

They are still trying to figure out medicine, but overall things look great. It's just going to take a little time. Drink drink drink.

We are excited to say that yesterday, Christopher finally asked for his favorite, Ci Ci's spinach pizza. He ate several pieces, which means he is moving right along. Taking medicine is going great and he has two great days of drinking fluids. We go in tomorrow morning to do blood work again and we hope and pray everything looks great again.

Remember Mia and pray she gets home quickly and of course continue to lift up Christopher.

God loves you and so do we!