Reality and Perspective

It's has been awhile for a new post here, I know. I have been struggling with whether or not I should post this. Basically, I started this blog just to keep family and friends updated on our family and to give a "sneak peak" into our lives. Meaning, I really don't post everything...and mainly the fun stuff because, well, it is just easier.

For the last few weeks our family's main concern has changed focus...and so to truly give a sneak peak, well it is not the most upbeat post! For those of you who have known me awhile...well then, you know about my brother Jonathan...and you are probably in the large majority of people who admire, pray for and love him. I am not going to give the elaborate back story...other than to say that Jonathan has been sick since he was 13 years old, he is now 28 (sorry for leaking your age bro). Gratefully , 10 years ago he had a kidney transplant (from my mom...seriously you could not get a healthier kidney) and for the past 8 years he has been relatively healthy.

Unfortunately, for about the past month or more, things have changed. Again, I am not going to fill this with all of the hard details...but I will just say that as of right now, Jonathan is in TN (because that is where his specialist, who has treated him for 14 years, lives and works now) in the hospital and is not doing great! Please hear that this is his heartbroken sister talking...and if you talked with him you would get a different story (he is amazing). So, I am posting this to update the multitude of you who have been asking and to ask you to keep praying (for strength for Jonathan, healing for him, and wisdom for his doctors). He has systemic lupus that has flared up again and is attacking his transplanted kidney as well as other parts of his body, to give the most simple information.

With all of that said...selfishly I am glad that he is close enough (rather than in TX where he lives) so we can be with him.

We were all with him last weekend...poor Jonathan had yet another Doctor...Dr. Reese (she adores him, and multiple times over the past few weeks...she has asked to pray for him, talked about how sad she was for him...and has loved on me when I was sad).

The reality that he would be in the hospital for awhile set in...so we decided to go on a mission and sneak him out of the hospital to get outside and laugh at some little girls who love him (if you work at Erlanger hospital and are reading this..then, well this never happened)

Mom, Caitlin (Jonathan's girlfriend) and Jonathan (the one with the mask)

Sorry...in times like this you have to have some humor...like my mom always says...you either laugh or cry...we are doing both but trying to laugh more.

We all came here...to watch these two and for some fresh air.

I am really glad that we brought the girls up when we did...at this point they can't be around him for risk of him getting an infection..but while they were there...they loved on their uncle Jonathan.
Reese and Jonathan sharing some cartoon time together

Hadley making Jonathan smile (notice the boo boos on her face...she took a small concrete dive at the park)

Well, there it is...some pictures of my incredible brother...who like always is taking this incredibly painful and unknown time with great faith and trust. He continues to amaze me in how he handles the numerous tests, sticks, prods, medications, and doctor after doctor. I am so grateful that God has placed an incredible specialist to be Jonathan's #1 fan and for the small things God does to remind us that He is still here in the midst of sickness, sadness and doubt.
I am so grateful to my incredible husband and friends who took care of the girls for a few days so I could go back up and stay with Jonathan. It is always amazing to see how God works through people to shower us with love!