God answers prayers!

I wanted to quick update you since my last post. I updated on a Thursday night over a week ago around midnight and asked only for prayer for Eric. Most of you probably opened the blog sometime on Friday and started praying. Around 9 at night on Friday, it was like Eric woke up from a two day nap. Since then, he has continued to get better than he was and is basically back to the same point he was in December again. His mom and I were very worried about his state. I believe God heard our prayers and restored Eric and is extending his life because he still has work to do here. I still watch Eric be used by God with our kids, people who come into our home, phone calls and connecting people together to do God's work and am still being reminded of what an impact he has had on so many lives from his walk with the Lord. We are still praying for a miracle of healing, and know that while we wait on the Lord, we still have work to do! His work!
Eric started to tolerate his bi-pap that Friday for 6-8 hours at night. Some would say it was his mindset to do it, but he hadn't worn it for more than 30 minutes at a time without needing to have it taken off prior to that so I again believe it was part of answered prayers. We have been sleeping so much more at night and our friend Stephanie is helping us out with the kids in the morning getting off to school which is so wonderful for all of us. The kids love her and she loves them! I am able to get much needed sleep too. Eric's mom has been around a lot helping out too which is so nice. His brother and family have come up two weekends in a row too to help out. We are really being taken care of and we thank all of you who have had a part in that even if it is just by praying. That is so powerful! Keep praying! God is good all the time!
Other quick updates:
Lori: I went to the doctor today after a couple weeks of pain in my right forearm and found out I have tendonitis so I have an arm splint and ibuprofin to help take care of that. Please pray that the pain will go away and it will get better soon.
Zach: Yesterday was Zach's 13th birthday!!! I can't believe we have a teenager in our house!!! He has been growing like crazy and is now taller than me! We had a special day together and Eric gave Zach a special letter he has been working on for him telling him what a fine young man he is turning out to be. He had some guys sleepover last night since Grandville had no school today. He is still playing basketball and started guitar lessons with our pastor.
Maddie: We found a dentist for her in Byron Center (thanks for all the referrals) and had her front tooth looked at. It has been loose for about two months and ended up sticking out crooked in the middle of her gums while the permanant teeth were making their way in. Maddie cried the whole way to the dentist, he took one look at her, numbed it a bit and attempted to pull it. Unfortunately, the stubborn thing didn't come out so he had to go back in with his "tooth puller tool". Oh... was this rough for mom to watch. After I helped hold her hands down, he got it out. After lots of tears, hugs and a trip to Craig's Cruisers for some fun (her reward for being so brave) she is now happy to have it out. He told us that she is a tough orthodontist case and we should get in soon for a referral for braces! She is only 7but going on 13.
We are blessed to have such a wonderful family and blessed to call you friends!
Have a great week!
Lori

We have not posted for a while. After our last post, during the week of Christmas, Eric's breathing was not good and he seemed very lathargic at times. I actually went to bed each night crying thinking he might not wake up. By the following Sunday, he seemed to be so much better. I don't know if something was wrong or he coughed up the problem as he still coughs a lot. I am relieved that he is doing better but still very aware that he could have those problems again as the disease is progressing. This disease is leaving him in a state of pure dependance, which is so hard for all of us.
We have been talking about hospice coming in to help since November at his las ALS clinic appt. We decided we would call them after his feeding tube was put in and we had been trained on using it. Then is was Christmas so we decided to wait til the week after Christmas. They came in last week Monday and we have been meeting the support staff from Faith Hospice in Holland. We have a nurse who comes once a week, a girl to help with personal care two hours a week and a social worker and a Chaplain who came to visit us. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but now it will be what we need, when we need it. Most people think of death when they hear the word Hospice. This is not neccesarily the case for us. They are here to provide care and comfort support for us since Eric has a terminal disease. We know someone with ALS that has had hospice support for some time now. We have no guarantee of tomorrow and are still thanking God for each day he gives us together as always.
Eric is not having a good day today. We have cancelled all of our plans today and he has spent the whole day in the bedroom in his chair. He has been uncomfortable and very tired and weak. It has been a rough week. My sister received news that her cancer has returned and they don't believe it will ever go away. She is starting chemo again next week. Some have said that they think our family is being tested like Job. I have just read the beginning of Job again in my Bible study this week and I don't believe anyone on this earth has been tested as Job has or responded as he did. After his animals, servants and then his children had been killed all within moments of eachother, he responded in Job 1:20-21:
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
I try to worship God in the tough times, but I don't find it the first thing I always turn to. God has been a constant comfort to our family and I have also read some verses yesterday in 2 Corinthians that talk about God's comfort. I love all of these verses and I will just reference them as my posts tend to get a little long and I want to finish this post. 2 Corinth 1:4-6, 2 Corinth 2:14, 2 Corinth 4:16-18, and 2 Corinth 12:9.
Eric is not up for visitors lately, but please send your comments, e-mails or phone calls and I will share them with him. Please continue to pray for our family as that is all we really need right now.
Love,
Lori