So cute

I'm not the kind of person that gets into halloween....but when I saw this random pic of a kid's costume, I couldn't help but post it :).  Not sure who it is, it was on the internet....but bravo for being creative and adorable!! Maybe someday, Lord willing, when I have my own kids I'll get to dress them up all cute!

~Em

A Simple Letter

Dear Food,

How I miss thee! Oh how I miss the joy of eating delicious appetizing food. Why can't I be hungry? Please start tasting good and settling happily in my stomach, I would greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Warmly,

Emily

ps. In case you didn't get it, I want my appetite back! I'm on day 14 of having this swine flu and my appetite has not returned....I'm ready to start wanting to eat again!

Sweet poster

Just a little fun for today :)

This poster was up in the elevators at USC....gotta love the Trojan man stomping in victory on the little germ sticking his tongue out! Way to fight on, Trojans!

Go USC :)

~Em

A tasty treat

I got a wonderful treat delivered by my dear friend Shelly and it hit the spot (and thats saying something since I still have very little appetite or desire to eat anything- so really, this was tasty!). Thanks Shelly, I loved every bite of the fresh organic, juicy, tasty berries and creamy tart- you can't find this in the hospital cafeteria ;).

~Em

Fridays and Saturdays

Friday and Saturday nights are the hardest times for me in the hospital. Whew. Now that I got that off my chest! But seriously, they are the hardest times because it's when I would normally be out with friends enjoying my weekend and knowing that everyone else is doing just that makes it hard. Sometimes I forget while I'm here that life goes on outside of the hospital- people still have jobs, hang out with friends and live normal lives. For me, as life comes to a halt, I battle feeling discouraged, frustrated and alone.  I find that the little things keep me going and God provides exactly what I need at exactly the right time and sometimes in the midst of discouragement all I have left is to trust that God knows what he's doing- knows why I'm here and what He's doing inside my heart as I am painfully growing and learning in the midst of a life in the hospital. Even when I don't understand, I know that God knows.

As I write this post (at 7:35pm, Saturday night) the Lord provided encouragement at exactly the right moment, I'm not kidding. In fact, I wasn't planning on putting this in my post- I thought it would be a post full of lamenting and frustration. But right now, as I look out my window here on the 6th floor, a medical helicopter is landing right above me bringing (most likely) life-saving organs to this hospital to save someone's life.  Oh the hope it brings. As the windows shake from the helicopter above, I am reminded that God is in control, God works miracles, God brings life and God takes life. This hospital is full of miracles, they perform life-saving surgeries and transplants here and as I watch this helicopter land I can't help but thank the Lord for his timing and for saving someone's life with a miracle. I feel a sense of trust that God is bringing life to someone and a sense of grief that someone's life had to end for this to happen. And I feel a sense of joy to be able to witness it (well at least the helicopter delivery part). What a gift of hope....a gift of life for someone....a gift of hope to remind me that God is always working and is my source of hope. I can't help but smile knowing what a miracle is taking place and knowing it's all in God's hands and knowing I'm in His hands too.

...Thank you Lord for bringing exactly what I needed on this Saturday night....

~Em

Oink Oink..swine flu it is!

That's right, just got the results from my H1N1 test that I took when I was admitted on Sunday. I officially have the swine flu which explains a lot of why I wasn't able to fight this off on my own! It explains why the flu attacked my CF as well and my body wasn't able to fight it off. I got an infection in my lungs so rapidly and so severely that I guess thats what happens when H1N1 interacts with CF.

 There's not much they can do now since I've had it for over a week, but mostly I'll just stay put in the hospital until I'm feeling better and the virus is mostly out of my system :). Glad to know the official results, just thought I'd share. Other than that, not much has changed- I am doing IV meds, doing my treatments, resting a ton and staying put. I still don't have much of an appetite, but I'm slowly eating and keeping things in my stomach, I'm gradually getting better :). Please continue to keep me in your prayers, I am so thankful to be getting good care here at USC!

~Em

The flu caught me...

I did my best to avoid this gnarly flu with hand sanitizer and crazy avoidance of sick people but alas, it caught up with me and last Thursday it hit me hard! I woke up that morning with a terrible cough and sinus headache and by that evening was burning up with a fever, chills and it only got worse from there :(. I fought hard all weekend (thanks to my mom who really took amazing care of me- homemade soup, making sure I drank water so I didn't get dehydrated, and helping me get through the terrible-ness that is the flu). My mom's a rockstar...

After fighting over the weekend by Sunday night it was clear that the flu had made its move into my lungs and I knew that an infection had kicked in. I wasn't able to sleep from coughing so much mucus out of my lungs and when I woke up with another high fever that morning I knew it was time to call my doc and get some help. I was admitted Sunday night and though I was reluctant to make the call, I thank the Lord for wisdom as when I got here my oxygen levels were way too low (I had too much stuff in my lungs to allow me to get enough O2). I knew once I saw those numbers that it was good for me to be here and I feel very peaceful knowing i'm in good hands. My fevers have gone away and now that I have some extra oxygen I am breathing better and making progress. I'm on IV antibiotics and working on getting rid of this gnarly lung infection....

Just wanted to update my blog readers, I'll keep posting to update but as of now, day 4 in the hospital, I am much more aware of what's going on. The first few days because I was so deprived of O2 I really don't remember or feel like I even comprehended that I was here. Now that I sit in my quiet room and reflect, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for prompting me to be here. I don't know how to explain my thoughts right now with the exception of gratitude and peace. I feel peaceful that I am being taken care of and thankful God provides. 

More updates soon...

~Em

The big island of Hawaii!

I spent the week of labor day on the big island of Hawaii, I absolutely love it there. It was such a gift to spend the week taking care of my lungs, spending good time with my parents and enjoying the beauty all around the island. I actually noticed my lungs get better by the end of the week! It might possibly be my favorite of the islands...here are a few snapshots of our trip :)

~Em

We enjoyed many a sunset....

Hiked from the top of Pololu'u Valley...

...to the black sand beach below.... (And yes, back up again)

taught my dad how to stand-up paddle surf....
...in probably the most crystal clear water and cleanest beach i've ever seen....

yep....watched another sunset....

snorkeled....a lot....

...another one.......thanks Mom and Dad, it was a really wonderful trip....

Oh where has September gone??

Wow, the end of September already....what the heck?!

Since the month decided to get away from me and haven't updated my blog, here's a recap of my September in a nutshell... I'm back to work at the same community college, interpreting and walking around the hot campus (thank goodness its finally cooling down now, lets hope it stays like this!). I went to the Big Island of Hawaii with my folks over the week of Labor Day and LOVED every second of the Aloha environment, warm water and balmy air. It was an awesome time having my body be restored away from the fires in LA and rest, my lungs and soul were grateful (yes, I will post some pics :). Followed that with some sweet surfing time here in Cali before the warm water goes away and ending it with last weekend in Denver, Colorado for a quick 36 hour trip to celebrate with college friends for the wedding of a dear friend, Eddie Kim (congrats, Eddie!!).

Whew! What a month huh? Overall coming off summer its been hard to adjust back to life at work and in the normal routine. I had such an incredible summer with all that happened with Pipeline to a Cure, going to North Carolina and spending sweet time with friends. It feels weird to be back into a fall routine, but I am grateful to have a job and to be back in the swing of things now. Hope your fall has started out well, dear blog readers :)
~Em

Standing Firm

1 Corinthians 15:50-58
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory.""Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I don't 'preach' very often on this blog, but all that I do and share here is rooted in God whether I talk about it or not. This sermon about heaven and eternity really hit me so hard, I had to share. I have been thinking about these verses all week- about the promise of NEW life, a new body and an eternity in complete peace with God--just as we were intended to be. We will have perfect bodies, no pain, no struggle. Thank you, Lord, that you have overcome death so that we don't have to suffer any longer. I am encouraged to keep pressing on, standing firm, and trusting in the hope given through the Lord.
~Em