What's going on with the Lietzau's?

I wanted to check in with you all and give you an update on how we are all doing.

So many of you have asked when we will get our service dog.  I wish I had an exact date to share with you all.  We are eagerly waiting to be matched with just the right dog that will be able to assist me with my specific needs.  We raised all the necessary funds and are on the matching list waiting our turn. We have not been given any kind of time frame which makes it very hard to be patient.  We eagerly await the day I can start my handler training and introduce you all to our new friend.

Mel- I’m super thankful to be on the other side of those four surgeries.  The wires are securely in place, I’m slowly regaining my strength and energy, and getting back to some independence.  It feels good to not be the patient and to be Mom and wife again. It’s great just to be able to do normal things like school shopping or taking the kids for ice cream. My heart is doing good for the most part.  I have Cardiomyopathy(weakening of the heart muscle) however my heart is functioning well.  Overtime it will get weaker and weaker so we will start me on some preventative meds early to try and keep it stable.  My G-tube has been tricky getting use to the feedings and amounts. My weight has essentially stayed the same and sometimes gone down by a pound or so. My Gi is not so concerned with the number on the scale for my weight as what my albumin levels are.  If my albumin levels are good then the G-tube is serving its purpose and I’m fine and he is happy.  It’s been an adjustment but we are working out the kinks.

Noah had an amazing trip to Japan.  He fell in love with the country, enjoyed the people, the food, his team, the culture, and doing ministry.  He really wants to go back next year and even grew a heart to teach and live there in the future. Oh Boy! God has big plans for this boy.  Noah went to Hume Lake camp this year and it was very hard on him physically.  It’s a challenge at his age to have to face his limitations and make hard choices.  He tires easily, gets out of breathe, and feels the challenges of doing physical activity.  He continues to go to the Muscular Dystrophy clinic and cardiac transplant appointments.  We are noticing mild progression but more than that a matureness beyond his years as he accepts whats in front of him and relies on the Lord.  He said the other day how thankful he was for the strength God has given him up to this point.  He encourages me daily with his amazing attitude regarding his challenges.

Hannah is doing great. Since she is getting older her cardiologist wants to order a heart stress test and cardiac MRI to see how well she is tolerating activity and to see how the anatomy of her heart is doing.  It’s amazing that this sweet girl is functioning on a single ventricle and 17 other heart related issues.  You would never know it by looking at her.  She is full of energy most days and I have to remind myself to be grateful for that energy :)  She is looking forward to going to traditional school this year and still has big plans to be a cardiologist.

Jonah continues to bring the fun and funny to our family.  He is our constant entertainer.  He is a huge helper to mom and can make me smile on even the hardest of days.  He has a huge heart and constantly leads our family in bible time.He recently moved up to the middle school youth group at church. Gulp! He enjoyed a week up at Hume Lake camp with the youth group.  He had a blast.  He is enjoying the summer and looking forward to getting back into theatre when school starts. We are so thankful that God has protected his body and continues to keep him healthy.

Jason continues to be the rock of our family.  He carries so much on his shoulders that I don’t know how he does it most days.  He works hard both at his job and at home.  So thankful for the ways he pours into our children, myself, and others.  We are learning to not take little things for granted like slow dancing in the living room:) Am I the only cheesy one that does this?  Do you all hear a song and think of your spouse or a loved one? This is my recent song to Jason https://youtu.be/lp-EO5I60KA Ok the first line says "When your legs don't work like they use to before" yep I cried after I heard this one but then he turned around and says well this is my song to you https://youtu.be/w2CELiObPeQ and I was a balling mess.  We are sometimes sappy like that and I love it.  We are grieving a lot of things.  We both don't always do it well in fact it's easy to take the pain out on one another.  We need lots of grace with each other and the Lord.  It's a lot what we face on a daily basis and sometimes we do it well and sometimes we don't but at the end of the day we LOVE each other and we LOVE Jesus and we have a hope that is greater.

We are thankful for the ways God continues to meet us and provide for our needs.  We are grateful for your prayers and the ways you all walk beside us.  

Grief Is A Tricky Thing

I’m often surprised when out of no where the flood gates of emotions come pouring out of me.  Grief is a tricky thing. I’m experiencing a lot of it lately and in many different forms. My particular disease is a slow progressing disease that continues to get worse over time. Which means I continue to feel the losses.  The grief is continual and not just for me but for those closest to me.  It hits us all differently but none the less can be very painful.  

This wasn’t how it was suppose to be. Romans 8:19-23 says; For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope  that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  Oh how I can’t wait for this body to be redeemed.  

The last 15 weeks have taken a major toll on my body.  Four surgeries in ten weeks.  The first surgery (g-tube) we felt hopeful that with the proper nutrition it would bring my weight up and give my body good strength. No one expected that three back to back surgeries would follow. No one expected the hard recovery each one would take and I certainly did not expect the emotional toll it would have on those closest to me. I have taken many steps back and it is really discouraging.  I’m nearing the end of recovery on this last surgery weaker and down on my weight even more than before I headed into the first surgery.  This is all discouraging and many times I allow myself to feel all the feels but I’m also aware that Satan loves to pry on the weak.  I try not to allow myself to stay in my weariness.  I look at all the ways God provided during these hard 15 weeks, the ways that he met me during my darkest moments, the ways I felt his strength, the ways he protected me, and the ways he brought his people to care for us.  This doesn’t always mean that I magically feel better but allowing the Lord to fix my gaze on him and the ways he beautifully works in the hard reminds me that it’s not about me.  It puts me in a place where the Lord is available to do his best work.  I know with all my heart that there is purpose in my journey.  I know that there is purpose in your journey.  Whatever you are facing I hope that you believe that God has purpose for it.

Next month my three blessings go back to school.  Hannah will go to public school this year.  This will officially be the end of my homeschool journey. Another loss. This is a hard change for me but a good needed one as well.  The boys have thrived this year in school and we know she will as well.  I have wondered and asked the Lord what he wanted me to do while the kids are in school.  I have cried out to him that I want to feel purposeful and not just cared for by others, I have confessed my fear of wasting the day away on the computer.   I want to feel purposeful.  Recently a friend posted information about biblical counseling.  I was intrigued and looked into it.  After prayer and some conversations with the hubby and friends I have decided to pursue my certification in Biblical Counseling.  I’m excited and a bit intimidated by the work but excited to see what the Lord does with this new endeavor.  Please pray for us all as we seek to grow and trust in the one who goes before us.