Better than expected...

So Friday, my dad came home from Mexico. We picked him up from airport and immediately took him to the Emergency Room. There they confirmed that he did have a completely detached retina. They gave him a next-day referral to a retinal specialist.

The next day, he went to his appointment and the specialist again confirmed that the retina was already completely detached and also noted that there were tears in the other retina also. So they scheduled him for surgery to operate on both eyes. They ended up having to perform a vitrectomy, which is the removal of the vitreous (the clear gel in the eye), on the worse eye. This procedure helped them to position the retina back where it belonged. The doctor then went in and repaired the tears in the other eye.

All in all, we are hopeful. Because my dad has diabetes, there really is no way of solidly determining the outcome--we'll know once he's started to heal, I guess--but for now, he is recovering and being showered with prayers and love (from everyone!).

I know it my heart of hearts that God's got this and I'm not worried at all. I was so not worried that I went to my old friend Suzy's baby shower as my dad was in surgery. lol.

Nevertheless, for those of you who might be reading this, please continue to keep my dad in your prayers.

Losing...

Losing: The Bad

My mom called me this morning with the news we didn't want to hear. My dad did not get back to the doctor in time and his retina has completely detached. He is now permanently blind in one eye.

It's very saddening news, but we are choosing to "rejoice in the Lord always," as we are commanded to do. I hate that my dad is alone right now, but at least he gets to come home today and we are going to shower him with love and support.

This is not the end of the world. Plenty of people live with sight in only one eye and do just fine. My dad is a survivor anyway. This is just another piece of his testimony and the Lord will use this for his good. Amen!

I found came across these passage and they spoke to my heart:

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. Psalm 37:23-26

the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. Psalm 146:7-9

Losing: The Good

In good news, I decided to way myself a little ahead of my Sunday weigh-in and I've already lost 3 lbs. So exciting! If I were to keep this up, I would be down the full target of 30 lbs in 10 weeks. Awesome! =)

And now some scary news...

I should have known the Devil wasn't going to appreciate all this good news in my family.

All afternoon I've been on the phone with my Dad (in Mexico) and my mom. My Dad is panicking. Apparently, he has a partially detached retina and it needs to be operated on immediately or he can be in danger of perm ant blindness in that eye if it detaches completely.

*sigh*

While I was in Mexico last week he was experiencing some blurriness and cloudiness in his eye. We attributed it to the altitude, since Mexico City is at 7,350 ft above sea level and we are used to being at sea level here in Los Angeles. He tried to take it easy, but apparently it kept persisting. He finally went to an ophthalmologist down there who told him that he needed to have surgery right away and that he would be stuck in Mexico for at least another week.

Ay ay ay.

So of course everyone is worried, but my Dad most of all. I don't think I've ever heard that much fear in his voice ever. Not even when Alexis got air-lifted to the hospital. It's upsetting, but I have to keep it together. I don't want to cause anymore anxiety than is needed. I just told him that this is the Enemy trying to mess with us because of the great things that the Lord is doing in our lives and the lives of my family in Mexico. I told him not to let the Enemy win.

He can't win anyway. Romans 8:31 says, "What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

That's exactly right. The Lord is with us and with my dad, and he is completely surrounded by women of God who are praying for him. He'll be fine.

Please keep him in your prayers, people. I can't imagine how hard it is to be away from home, your wife, and your kids and have to go through something scary like this.

It's going to be alright...

Oh and today's Bible verse from Bible Gateway is so perfect too:

Ephesians 6:12-13 - “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

It's a boy!!

WOOHOOOOOOOO!!

As previously mentioned, my sister is prego. Well, she just called to tell me that she is having a boy! Finally!!! A boy!!!

WOOHOOOOOOOO!!

I was praying for a boy. We have way too much estrogen going on in this family. I was starting to feel sorry for my dad, Mike and Juan. But now they are going to have one more to add to their team. This is so awesome!!!

God, you are so good. Thank you so much for one more amazing part of our lives! I can't wait til I can start adding to the pot.

Btw, I have a coffee date tonight. =)

This was the same guy my sister was trying to set me up with and who I was supposed to meet the day before we left. Yeah, that didn't happen. I ended up cancelling from not feeling well. So we re-scheduled for tonight. We'll see how it goes.... Hopefully this day just gets better and better.

=)

Still proud to be an American anyway...

I was just talking to a co-worker who immigrated here from an Asian country about how great this country is, how free it is, and how people are still literally dying to get here, despite all the supposed evil that people want to say we have perpetrated on the world.

He agreed wholeheartedly.

There is no greater country still than the United States of America and I thank God that I was born here!

Well, then I find this at iOwnTheWorld.com, which is hilarious and, in light of our conversation, ironic:




Ay ay ay..... LMBO. Well, at least I don't live in Washington...or N. Dakota, Nebraska, Mississipi, Maine....

Mexico lindo y querido and trying something new...

I'm back from Mexico. The trip was beautiful.

I have to admit that I really didn't want to go, but once I was there, I was happy to be there. I saw SO much family. I have a trillion and a half cousins, I swear. It's not even a joke. Here are just a few of them (me included) with my grandma:

Guess which one is me... I'm the only whitey there. lol

Anyway, I had a great time, had great conversation, felt the love, and ate some good food (without gaining any weight too!). I honestly wasn't ready to leave when I started packing up my stuff to head back last Friday. I got teary-eyed and everything. I truly love my family and I love the way that they don't just talk about loving each other, but they show it. It's awesome.

My grandmother seemed to be in good shape, but from what they say she can go downhill at any moment. Her heart is functioning at only 50% capacity and her kidneys are failing. She is urinating blood, but despite what the doctors say, she won't change her diet, cut out things that are bad for her, or try things that could help her. She's stubborn. (Looks like my Dad married his mother because my Mom is the same way! lol).

They and we are praying for her. Hopefully she wises up and starts changing her habits. There is no reason she can't live a little longer.

On a side note, we were all tripping out on my uncle Oscar, who is a year younger than me and the youngest of the aunts and uncles. He is the SPITTING IMAGE of my Dad. All the cousins kept saying to my dad, "Tu te pareces a mi tio Oscar," or "You look like my uncle Oscar." My dad was like, "He looks like ME. I was here first." LOL.

My dad and his clone with their mom. =)

In other news, I signed up for Weight Watchers. So far it seems to be going okay. I like it because you don't have to starve yourself or necessarily limit what kinds of foods you can eat, and it helps you to make better choices in order to maximize your daily points limit. EVERY SINGLE person I know who's been on Weight Watchers has been pretty successful.

I've been this size (more or less) for the last 10 years and I feel it's time to try to be even smaller and more fit. I've already been doing my best to workout at least 4 times a week, but it doesn't seem to be enough. I think that comes with age. 29/30 is not old, but it's not 20. I have to work harder--not just with exercise, but with making healthier food choices and developing healthier eating habits. I'm excited to see what happens.

Thank you, Lord for a great and safe trip. Protect my father who is still there and keep your hands upon my grandmother and the rest of my family. Thank you for the fire you have lighted in their hearts and please continue to keep that fire burning forever. Amen.

Catching up...

I have not posted much in this new year. Oops! Work has been pretty busy and when I get home I just want to exercise and vegg out.

Things are definitely more positive though. The first Sunday of the year, I went to church at Calvary Chapel Pasadena. I like it. I love Pastor Xavier Ries anyway from hearing him on the radio. He was cool in person too. No one will ever be Pastor David for me, but it's a good option for now. I will definitely try to go back after I return from Mexico.

By the way, I'm leavin' on a jet plane to Mexico tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it, but then I'm not because I'm getting sick and traveling sick is NO BUENO!!! Plus, I'm wondering if it's going to be a good idea being around my sick grandmother when I'm sick. Ay ay ay! At least you can get some good meds in Mexico without a prescription. lol

My sister is trying to set me up with a guy she works with. Apparently, he is looking for someone who is ready to get married and have kids.... and (ta-da!) so am I. We spoke on the phone and he was very funny and outgoing. Seems like a nice guy.

The only downside is that he is not a believer. So I'm being cautious with this one. Although it seems like he is very open to learning more about a relationship with Christ, I made it very clear to both my sister and him that I will NOT be getting serious with anyone who is not in love with the Lord. He is an avid reader, so I think on our first meeting, I will bring him "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. I've read many Christian men's columns and most of these guys mention how much that book changed their lives. Hopefully he'll read it and the Lord can use it to speak to his heart. We'll see.

Well, I hope this trip is blessing, despite the circumstances. I know it will be and I have my trusty camera (a.k.a. my child) with me, so I'll be taking plenty of pictures. Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers...

Mean is....

Your entire family going to Disneyland and not even inviting you.

Wow.

Kind of drives home all the feelings I had on Christmas day of feeling like an outsider in my own family. lol.

Kind of feels like this. Hahaha!!!

Happy New Year!

2011.

Here's to big changes and turning 30! Yay!

(That's me, trying to be positive when I really want to panic... lol)

God bless!

P.S. Wow. Last year was a record blogging year for me. Let's see if I can break that record... hopefully it will be more good stuff than bad/sad. =)