Lessons from Dr. Seuss

We all have bacteria. Sometimes it just gets out of hand. That's what's been happening the last few days to Tali. It has made her very uncomfortable and brought on the diarrhea. Because all her defenses are down her little body couldn't keep ahead of the balance in her intestinal tract (not to mention they keep pumping her with things that kill good and bad bacteria). So now they are giving her an antibiotic and possibly a probiotic (lactobacillus) tomorrow. Her bottom is really sore. She didn't have the diarrhea until yesterday afternoon and they are still not sure if it's related to the fever. It really stinks (literally :o) because she is now confined to her little room--no more walks in the stroller with her little "mask" on or trips to the playroom. They can't risk her "sharing" with others. So we must sing, read, and play a little more.

You know it is really true that necessity is the mother of invention and we have made some very innovative "toys." Today we made a house for some Littlest Petshop animals out of an empty wipe container. The little containers that the brown sugar (for cream of wheat in the morning) comes in has been used to put fishy crackers in--a great aquarium. If you haven't played with the Fisher Price Little People for a while--it's time to sit down on a rug with a child and play! Talitha is really receiving a lot of one-on-one with her parents (and nighttime sitters).

Talitha also received benadryl today (which made her sleepy) before a blood transfusion (which gave her a little more color). Then she got one wicked bloody nose which made them run to get her platelets (again) which helped her clot and made her a little more perky. Then she got her new, and second, antibiotic (for the over zealous bacteria)which, once they were all done with all of these procedures, made her break out in something that looked like hives. Which made them give her benadryl again...which made her sleepy...

So I'm thinking about cause and effect tonight and how "life's a great balancing act." A long time ago a dear friend of mine gave me a copy of the book, Oh The Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss. If you haven't read it, or it's been a while, I invite you to find a copy and read it. Lines from it pop up in my head from time to time--I have it pretty much memorized from reading it over and over (and over) to our children. For sure we are going to get things in life that cause us to grow and stretch in ways we never thought we could or would (or wanted to). For sure there are moments when we would just rather not have to deal with all the pressure, stress and pain of it all anymore. But the book reminds us that we're the kind of guy that goes on, "though the weather be foul, ...or your enemies prowl, ...or the Hakken-Kraks howl." Yes, on we will go. Because we know there is something better at the end, something worth fighting for. Because, in the words of Dr. Seuss, after we do all we can do and face up to our problems, we will succeed "(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed) KID YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!"

Thank you for helping us with Talitha's mountain.