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Calico Boy

First Charlie had a cold. The cold is gone but a stiff and sore neck hangs on. Charlie hasn't had much experience with pain so he copes by crying. And whining. And blubbering. He crawls into our bed in the middle of the night so we can better enjoy the cacophony. We long for a good night's sleep.

We are sympathetic. The girls read him armloads of books and heat a rice-filled sock for his neck. John rubs Charlie's back and shares his Gameboy. Stuart and I medicate and massage. We rub Vicks into the sore spot and gently stretch neck and shoulder while he shouts, "Don't work on me!" We bribe him with candy cane bits and get him to tentatively shake his head no. Still he lists to starboard and cries. We pray over him and are thankful that he's not really sick.

Once we took our cat to the vet because she was limping and crying. Crying and crying. The vet prodded gently and the cat lept straight up off the examining table. "I'll have to put her to sleep to examine her. Calicoes are notorious babies." So we left her and after the tiny abcess on her paw had been discovered and attended to, we brought her home.

Last night, I tucked Charlie in, very gently so as not to jar his neck. I brushed fingertips through his hair and whispered a kiss on his forehead. "Stop! Stop! Don't touch me! You're hurting my head!" he screamed.

I think Charlie has a bit of Calico in him.

This is only the beginning of the story. It continues with Day One: Charlie's Comfort
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Comments

Heather C said…
Aaaaaaaw... praying that Charlie is feeling better in no time, and that the Lord continues to supply you with the patience and grace you have beautifully displayed thus far. :)
January 2, 2009 at 4:54 PM
tammi said…
Aww, I hope he feels better soon ~ and that you'll all have a happy, healthy New Year!!
January 2, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Xandra@Heart-of-Service said…
Poor baby! Maybe you should stop kissing him so hard...LOL!

I think it's sweet the way the other kids mother and take care of him. You are raising such compassionate, thoughful children...

Xandra
January 2, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Toia said…
I hope he feels better soon. I ahd a 24 hour bug and it was not pretty.

Happy New Year!!
January 3, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Unknown said…
Hi Kate,
I tried to send this via e-mail, but it was sent back to me. I'm not sure why. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I put a link to little Charlies' story on my blog at www.saracarmichael.blogspot.com.

Here's the link to the story:
http://saracarmichael.blogspot.com/2009/01/trying-to-see-past-my-belly

Your story was so gripping to me and God's love and faithfulness so compelling, that I wanted to share it with others. I hope that's okay. If you want me to remove it, I will. Thank you for sharing it. I'm so relieved for you and your family that Charlie is on the mend and that his life was miraculously spared.
Many blessings,
Sara
January 10, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Kate said…
Sara,

It is a story for sharing! I'm always encouraged by the things that I hear that God is doing in the lives of others. Thanks for passing this on.

Kate
January 11, 2009 at 1:10 AM
Janelle said…
Oh, Kate. I am just catching up on reading tonight. I am so sorry that I haven't been around to pray for your sweet boy. I will do so now for his continued healing.

Sending you love!
February 16, 2009 at 2:22 AM
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