Becoming "seasoned"

Shewwww weeeee...what a week!  Last Saturday our little Will started running fever.  We went to the doctor on Monday and his doctor thought it was most likely fever virus and that it would run it's course.  On Wednesday, Will was doing so much worse...not eating and somewhat lethargic.  We went back to the doctor and he tested positive for the FLU!:(  On Thursday we thought he was getting better because the fever was way down, but on Friday (yesterday) it spiked again...so back to the doctor we went.  Our little man was diagnosed with an ear infection!. So here it is 2:24 a.m. on Saturday and I am blogging because my little boy just woke up wanting to eat!  PRAISE THE LORD!  I am so happy to see that he's getting a little bit of an appetite back.  On top of all of this with Will, we both caught the flu from him...so caring for him has been truly a challenge.  I had the flu shot, but Cullen did not, so as terrible as I felt, I was probably the most healthy of us all.  If this is what having a "lessened" form of the flu feels like, I am sooo thankful to my nurse friend Joan Wells for pushing me to have the flu shot, because I can't imagine it being much worse!  Joan can attest that I HATE shots, but came a long way in my 9 years working at hospice.  This year, as a non-hospice employee, I CHOSE to get the shot and I can honestly give an honest shout out to the flu shot now!  Cullen and I were suppose to leave for a romantic getaway on Thursday, but things changed when we all became stricken with nastiness.  As I sit here in the early morning silence (and feeling some better), I can honestly say that despite how trying this week has been...I have learned so much.  I have learned a lot about active prayer this week.  I did not have a typical "quiet time" this week...sitting down and writing in my prayer journal and going to Him in prayer.  What I DID have was time with my Savior praying over Will as I rocked my toasty warm little boy to sleep.  I prayed while rocking, I prayed while showering, I prayed while I tried to muster up enough energy to walk up the stairs (as my legs were aching like I had actually done something athletic).  It was one of those times in your life when you pray actively and persistently for the Lord to give you strength...and He did.  I found myself constantly quoting scriptures in my head to remind myself that He will give me strength and He will see me through.  Every time I felt I had no more energy and that my tank was empty...He provided!  The Lord not only provided me with energy when I needed it, but He also provided me with friends who knew just what I needed, when I needed it.  I had friends drop off meals, food, groceries...and most of all, I had friends praying for us.  This week has been a challenge, but I feel like I grew a lot as a mother.  I think about my former job, as a hospice social worker.  I did not become a "seasoned" social worker through caring for my easy patients with no needs.  I did not become a seasoned social worker by helping caregivers who were grieving appropriately and had no emotional struggles.  I became a seasoned social worker through the challenging cases on my caseload.  It was in those times that I leaned on the Lord to guide me as I tried to reach the needs of those I was caring for.  He used those times to mold me and teach me about empathy and how to minister to those who are hurting.  I don't think that my new "job" is any different.  I think the Lord uses weeks like this one to mold us as mothers, and to teach us how to truly care for our little ones...and to remind us that we can't do it without Him!  I am a work in progress and I am so very thankful that I know WHO is at work within me.  All that to be said, I am praying for a healthier week for the Smith family next week!!!  We didn't have the easiest of weeks, but it was one week.  There are so many out there who deal with the sickness of their little ones on a daily basis with no end in sight and my heart aches for them on a whole new level.  Thanks to everyone who was there for us this week...you know who you are:)