Sick and tired

I am definitely sounding like a broken record. I sure wish I wasn't. But once again, this last week has been so hard. I am feeling so worn down and emotionally drained. Both of the kids have ear infections, and Audrey also has a sinus infection. Both are wheezing - Audrey because of her asthma, and Carter? Well, I'm guessing that he probably also has asthma. He wheezes whenever he gets a cold. We give him some medicine for the wheezing, and one evening a few nights ago he accidentally got too much. Have you ever seen a child with too much albuterol in his system? It makes them WIRED. And this began at bedtime, so he was exhausted, but could not settle down. It was one VERY long and worrisome night. Let me add another layer to the "intrigue" ... Carter's pacifier (aka "paci") broke that night, at bedtime. He refused to take a substitute. We decided we might as well just use this as an opportunity to ditch paci, since we need to do that anyhow. That first night - between the untreated (at that point) ear infection, too much albuterol, and no paci - was a terrible night. I ended up "sleeping" on the floor next to the sofa, while Carter slept on the sofa. Anyhow ... since then he has done okay without the paci, sleeping-wise, but he has a fit about actually going to bed. I am hopeful that this will change, since he has always been very good about going to bed, and he does still have his blankie. Praise God, this morning Carter actually woke up happy and got a great night's sleep. I am hoping he is on his way to being better. I feel for Audrey though. She has had a cold/infection for over a week now. She is in good spirits mostly but just looks tired and is coughing a lot. She has blown and wiped her nose so much that she looks like she has a mustache. She is also complaining a lot that her tummy hurts, which I think is from the antibiotic. And she is supposed to take that for 10 days ...

So .. now I have a cold too. I guess you can only have people coughing in your face so long before your body succumbs... I just hope it doesn't turn into an infection too.

Thank you for indulging me in my pity party...

Amidst all this, I have been trying so hard to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, and not on my current lousy circumstances. I do know that things will get better. Last week I read these verses, and thank goodness because it gave me some truth to dwell on when the days got tough:

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:4-7)

It has been so hard to keep my perspective lately. I am so tired out and "raw". I keep thinking that things have got to get better, but they aren't getting better on my time frame... which would be two weeks ago. But do I trust God only when things are "easy" or do I take these words to heart, and believe what He says in His Word? I am choosing the latter. And even though I am struggling, He is giving me His peace. And I am learning to lean on Him more.

Thanks to all of you who have given me words of encouragement and more importantly, PRAYED for us. It means more than you know. I am so grateful for loving friends and family!