He is home!

Tyler has arrived home and we are relieved to see him. He looks so good. What a blessing it is. I can't wait to talk more in depth to him about his life in Kenya. I love to hear glimpses of his life there. He has pictures of his home...no running water, no electricity, only a dirt floor, a bed and a gas cooktop. But home has nothing to do with where you live or what you have....home is living right where God wants you to be until He calls you to be with Him.  Tyler is home in Kenya because God has called him there...and we are so thankful that we are able to see him for the next 10 days before he returns.

Also, Elijah did develop a 101.7 fever. He is being treated with several antibiotics and tylenol. He seems much more comfortable this afternoon...the tylenol must have kicked in. They sent out several cultures to see if anything grows...depending on what they find out, they will change the course of treatment if necessary. He still has no white blood cells but they often start growing as soon as day 14. 

Day +11: Torn

First, good news...Elijah's temp remained stable during the night. An answer to prayer..he slept well. He started out his morning with some gagging and wretching...

Today is a day we have been waiting for. Lord willing, Tyler will be stepping off a plane in Minneapolis around noon. I can't even begin to tell you how much emotion that stirs in me. I can't wait to see him...to hear his voice in person, to see his face again. He tells us he is doing well, but it is what he doesn't say with his words that I want to hear. Just having him here will tell the rest of his story..I am praying that any lingering fear will be wiped away when I see him in person.

Living in rural Kenya, the culture shock is dramatic. He spent the last week on the island with the kids..picking up the handmade items that the widows he is working with made so that we can sell them here. When he gets home, we will work on filling up his suitcases with items that the children and widows desperately need. With just 10 days to spend here, it gives him little time to acclimate.

Living at the hospital in the world of bone marrow transplant, the culture shock outside of this room is also dramatic. I feel torn because I know that it will be difficult to be fully in one place. When I am at the hospital with Elijah, I will be missing my time with Tyler...he is only home 10 days. And when I am with Tyler, my heart will be at the hospital.

I wish there was a way to talk myself through this one. I wish I could just tell myself to enjoy the moment fully without the tug o war within, but I know that this time..in this difficult situation..there is little I can do to change things. If there is one thing that God is teaching me these days, is that He specializes in difficult, even impossible situations. And so I will come before Him with my plea...may this much anticipated visit from Tyler be filled with the grace and peace that is so needed right now...