Hottman Updates. . . March 5, 2008

*NEW UPDATE*

:: Thursday, March 6th ::

Hey y’all…Aunt Mori asked me to post information on the viewing for Bro. Dan. It will most likely be this coming Monday from 6pm - 9pm. The funeral home is up in Cleveland. I don’t have a name for the funeral home and Aunt Mori wasn’t completely positive on the time. You can imagine it’s hard to keep things all straight with so many details flying around…and things are a bit flexible still. She gave me the phone number for the funeral home and thinks it would be best for those of you who would like to go, to just call and ask for details about Daniel Hottman’s viewing. This way you’ll know for sure where it is and what the times are. Ok, so, the number for that is: 281.592.2641

No change with Cristy today. Keep praying!!!!! Winston was up walking again today and is able to have fluids and jello. When I came in his room tonight he told me there were more cards to hang on the wall. *smile* That room is bursting with well wishes, balloons and beautiful flowers. He’s thinking of starting a garden…ahh they are very nice flowers. *smile* He did look tired tonight but is still doing good and in good spirits. Aaron was still making him hurt from laughing as well. *smile*

Hannah was very out of it tonight. She was feeling dizzy and nauseous and looked pretty pale to me. I don’t think she was up much today. It’s just going to take a while to recover from this…I think it’s easy for them to get geared up to get well and get out of there but they need to remember they were in a major car accident and this will be a slow process. She slept most of the evening, whenever the nurses weren’t messing with her, and I just looked in on her off and on so she could get her rest. You can pray for strength and healing for her.

Jon, Me, Aaron and Josh, (both are cousins) went over to the Hotel and saw Erika tonight as well. She looked good and was of course smiling and laughing, sharing funny stories of Aunts and nurses as well as going through old pictures of her Dad for the viewing. She was laughing at some of them and telling us the fun stories behind them. It was so neat to see and hear her laughing through the memories. Sigh. *smile* We took her a wheelchair to get around in since her neck and back are still hurting pretty bad and she’s having a hard time walking with the pain.

Please pray for emotional needs as well. I know they have been grieving over the loss of their Dad even though reality hasn’t really hit yet. Hannah and Erika got to spend some time together today and I know it was rough for them as they talked and cried. Sigh. I cannot begin to imagine their pain. Just keep praying.

THANK YOU for the cards and notes. We received more today in the mail and I was able to deliver them this evening. It’s such an encouragement!!!

Well, I’ll certainly update more as things progress and change but for now, goodnight from very sleepy gal. *smile*

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:: Wednesday, March 5th ::

Jon and I just got home from the hospital. Another very late night but so nice to be with them!!! Hannah and Winston had a long line of visitors tonight. A few other of our young people from church came as well as several from their church and various friends from here and there. A busy night but a good one. *smile*

I went to the Hotel first to see little miss Erika and give a her a very professional *clearing throat* yes, I am a professional *wink* manicure and pedicure. She was a happy gal and looked so great this afternoon!!! I am constantly amazed and touched by that sweet girl!!!!

Winston and Hannah now have all their tubes out and are anxiously waiting for the go ahead on solid foods!!! They’ve been able to do liquids but we have two hungry people here!!!! Pray that they get to that point soon please!!! I know they’ll appreciate it greatly. Both of them told me tonight that they’ve been having dreams about food. I told Hannah if it would help, I would go without food or drink until they could eat again. She said I wouldn’t have to do that but thank you anyway. Hey, whatever makes them feel better right??? *smile*

Winston walked a lot again today and we had a good long visit in his room tonight since he was finally awake and very alert. He looks so good and seems to be in very good spirits as well. His cousin and friend of ours, Aaron, was there tonight and I think the common statement made was something like: “Whoa, whoa, oooowwww!!! Aaron you gotta quit making me laugh, it hurts!!!” Poor Winston. *smile*

Hannah looked so beautiful and refreshed. I’m so encouraged by her laughter and smiles. I was able to wash her hair and blow dry it tonight and I think it made the world a better place. *smile* One of the guys visiting made some comment about never understanding girls or something along those lines and I said “Listen, trust me on this one, it makes a HUGE difference when your hair is gross and you finally get it washed!!!” I’m not sure he got it but he took my word for it… *smile* She is loving clean hair!!!

Now, here’s an update on Mrs. Cristy from Mrs. Wheeler, her Mom: “Cristy is still showing little sign of improvement. The doctors told us that all her ribs, with the exception of two are broken on one side. She remains with the chest tube in place and is still using the C-pap machine. Any hope of surgery has been postponed until some time next week.” Please keep the prayers coming because today wasn’t as good a day for her as yesterday was. She is still needing lots of prayers and strength to heal.

For those of you who have made, written and already gotten cards to me for the family, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! You wouldn’t believe all the beautiful cards and notes, wow. Yesterday, I put Hannah’s all over the wall in her room and I was able to put all of Winston’s up tonight. It is so amazing to see so much bright cheeriness all over!!!! It has meant so much to them!!!! I also took comments we were getting from our website posts and email encouragers that people were sending from all over and I wrote them all out on colorful paper, punched holes in them, put them on a long line of ribbon and strung them up in the rooms. It looks so cool!!! Y’all are the best!!!!!! Keep them coming!!!

This journey is still far from over…I really believe that part of the GREAT reports we’re getting is due to the amazing response of God’s people crying out on their behalf so please just keep going!!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!!!!

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:: Tuesday, March 4th ::

I just got home from the hospital…it’s almost 1am on Tuesday night. (Wednesday morning rather, whatever!!!) When I got there tonight I was greeted in the waiting area by Erika’s beautiful smile and sweet spirit. What a joy that little girl is!!!!! She was all packed up and heading to the hotel where relatives are staying near the hospital. She was released this evening and very happy as you can imagine!!!! I gave her books to read and some gifts including a very adorable purse and pillow case my Mom made her. Her face said it all. What a beautiful smile!!! Good job Mama!!!! Erika’s hand is in a cast and still hurting her. She is walking some, but slowly, and her neck is in a soft brace due to soreness and such from whiplash. Other than she seems to be doing very well both physically and emotionally. When I asked Hannah how she was handling things she told me, “Erika is doing very well with everything. She just knows God is control.” *smile*

Mrs. Cristy seems to have made significant progress!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!! Answered prayers!!!! She is breathing so much better and talking and laughing with her family, chatting with her children on the cell phone and she even ate solid foods today!!!!!!! One of her sisters told me that she is ready to get out of that bed and walk!!!! The doctors plan on doing surgery next week when she’s had time to gain strength. But she is definitely heading that direction. Please don’t stop praying for her healing!!!!!! She is still faces some pretty major health things to overcome!!!

Winston was up and walking around quite a bit today and his tubes have been taken out which I believe means that he can eat now as well. He continues to get stronger and recover. God is good!!!

Hannah is in a room now and was able to walk a little today too. She looked so good when I saw her and she didn’t seem to be having as much pain either. She is anxious to wash her hair!!! *smile* She is working toward reaching that point where her tubes can come out and she can meet the other requirements to be able to eat solid food and drink. Pray for that please, she’s hungry and thirsty!!! I can’t imagine…sigh. I sat with her for several hours tonight while the family members went and did various things and I was so very blessed and encouraged by her gentle and sweet nature. We had a long talk about all kinds of stuff and she is so obviously confident that God knows exactly what He’s doing and she is resting beautifully in His perfect plan and purpose for this situation. One thing we talked about was how non-believers can make it through things of this magnitude…neither of us see how it’s possible without the Lord to turn to. Hannah commented that they have no hope….I though about that and it’s so true. The Hottman family has Jesus and therefore they have an overwhelming amount of hope….even in this dark and unsure time.

One of Mrs. Cristy’s sisters commented tonight that some of the nurses have noticed how well the kids are handling this and how much faith they have. Y’all, they are just shining lights in that hospital….during a time when most people would completely understand them being filled with utter despair and depression, and not even blame them one bit, they are clinging to their Lord and trusting Him no matter how hard or how confusing. I have been inspired by their faith and I hope you are too!!!

And then just one more side note, watching this family pull together and take care of them has been amazing!!!!!!!! What a tremendous blessing to have such a loving, fun, bright and chipper, united family!!!! Their strength is incredible!!! What a testimony!!!!

Please, please keep lifting this family before the throne of grace!!!!! Feel free to still send cards and stuff…I adorned Hannah’s room with so many already while I was there tonight and it was so special for her to see reminders of how many are praying!!!! She was amazed to see where some of them came from!!! All over the world. Incredible!! Also, we are taking care of any offerings or donations. Just email me with questions you might have regarding that and I’d be happy to give you details. Thank you so much!!!! I’ll post more as I hear how they’re doing…

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