Yes, that is Patrick this morning without the oxygen cannula in his nose! It was a huge landmark day after a discouraging weekend with everything moving very slowly and some misinformation that hadn't been passed on properly. Today all the storm clouds disappeared and the bright sun came out... there truly were thunderstorms last night here in mountainous desert El Paso, Texas... but I am speaking about a day on hold since it was a the weekend. But Maria and I arrived there and in short order the doctor gave us a glowing report of how Patrick was doing, and had his oxygen tube removed, and Maria was able to feed him without bottle or through a tube in his nose!!!!! We were thrilled and they could hear our laughter of delight all through the NICU! There is talk of HOME on the horizon, and I am starting to think that my prayers at mass yesterday that Patrick could come home and come to mass with us next Sunday will be answered after all! The only reason that he is still in the top level of NICU is so that they can keep an eye on his O2 now that he has been totally taken off. All the time we were there spending wonderful joyful time with him... his levels were the best!!
He seems to be so peaceful and content every time we visit! That reminds me so much of his uncle Johnny and his battle with brain cancer three years ago... no matter what he faced or the procedures he went through, he seemed to have such peace and courage! He admits to this day that the prayers that surrounded him by the thousands and all the blessings and graces of the sacraments and the sacramentals filled him with total Trust and Hope! Patrick seems to be aware of the huge hands of Faith and Trust that are holding him close to the heart burning with LOVE for him! In a way we have rejoiced with each sound that he has made since getting the respirator off, but even today when they were taking the tape off his face when they took the oxygen off.... it sounded like it was hurting him and he fussed a bit, but never truly cried or complained!
Today's Gospel is about the farmer, who built bigger barns to put all his crops in, and then he died and it meant nothing to him - as they say, you can't take it with you. When we go through these rough bumps in the road - we realize what is truly important in the large picture of faith!
A poem from the mediation of the day today
What it means to be Rich in What Matters to God
All surface indications
to the contrary
we have got to believe that
God is good,
unfailingly good to us.
Even in the thick
of troubles,
in moments of
dire tragedy,
calamity,
God is being good.
This is illogical,
it is nonsense
but it is true.
His goodness
is never
one whit diminished,
obscured
or blunted."
Msgr James Turro
Jesus, "for by grace you have been saved through Faith." We know that you heard our heartfelt plea in our weakness and total abandonment to your being in control in the midst of the storm! We hold a beautiful new and healthy LIFE in our hands, and we are filled with gratitude for this miracle of healing! Each step of progress is a JOY - we praise you to the highest heavens! Jesus, may we always remember to be "rich" in what truly matters in life - Faith and Family! May we see your face in all that surround us especially those closest to us in domestic Church/family. Sometimes those closest to us are the hardest for us to be loving and forgiving. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
Psalm 100
A grand Hallel Psalm and the psalm from mass today!
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations."
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations."
We were having so much fun telling Patrick what is going to happen when he comes home and he loved to listen to his mom tell him about all of it! We were laughing out loud when we were talking about the Halloween costumes that we could think of with a theme for the three kids... green tended to come up often... appropriate for Patrick, i think!
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