More Hottman Updates… March 8, 2008

*NEW UPDATE*

:: Monday, March 10th ::

Quick update because we just got home and it’s 2:30am…I think I might fall over…hopefully all of this is readable. *smile*

Hannah wasn’t able to get out of the hospital today at all. So, since the family really wanted to see their Dad together, the funeral home brought Bro. Dan’s body to the hospital chapel where the whole family, including Mrs. Cristy in her hospital bed, was able to have a family viewing.

I am so so proud of the Hottman family. When it was all over they were so peaceful and cheerful, still resting and trusting and standing strong. There were many tears of course, both sad and happy as they shared memories and good times and said goodbye. Tonight the public viewing went very well, so many came to show love and support and the family was greatly encouraged when they got back to the hospital late tonight.

My brother and I and a few other friends stayed at the hospital with Winston, Hannah and Erika while everyone else was at the viewing. We had such a good night filled with laughter, visiting and card games. What a blessing to spend so much time with these special people that we love so much!!!!

Mrs. Cristy is having surgery tomorrow Lord willing. Please pray that all of that goes smoothly. The kids are doing well, getting stronger and recovering quickly. Hopefully Hannah will get released tomorrow sometime.

Thank you again for your love, support, prayers, thoughts, notes, cards and emails. This has been an overwhelming time and we’ve received an overwhelming response from the body of Christ. The Lord bless each of you!!!

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:: Sunday, March 9th ::

Sigh, wow, it’s 2:11am on Sunday night/Monday morning. I’m so, so tired but not sleepy…you know that feeling…

I just got back from the hospital and I think my visit with Hannah, Aunt Peggy and Grandma Wheeler energized me so much that now I’m not sleepy. *smile* What an amazing family!!!! I am more amazed every time I go up to the hospital. God has certainly shown Himself strong to that family and they have obviously received the outpouring of grace on their lives right now. What a testimony of how Christ Jesus can truly change a life and make a difference that everyone around them sees.

Mrs. Cristy is still doing better than worse but she is in so much pain, just constant intense pain and it’s really taking it’s toll. She is really suffering, especially when they have to do stuff to her that makes her move or when she has to cough…and her sisters and Mom who stay by her side, are torn having to watch her go through that. Please pray that somehow the pain will lessen. They are still planning surgery for this Tuesday.

Well, Winston was released from the hospital today!!!!!!!!!! He has settled in at the Hotel and is enjoying his freedom!!! Praise the Lord!! *smile*

Hannah is still in the hospital but it seems the only thing keeping her there is the fact that she’s on blood thinners and the Doctors are trying to get the medicine leveled out right before she can go. Here is what we need you to pray for: that she will be released tomorrow, Monday, even if just for a few hours to be able to go with Winston and Erika and the rest of the family to their Dad’s viewing. This is very important as you can imagine and she is praying so hard that they’ll let her go.

Erika is continuing to strengthen and heal. She’s walking and moving better although she is still in pain with her neck and back. She wanted to come to church today, so I had the joy of taking her, Grandma Norma (Bro. Dan’s Mom) and Aunt Resa (Bro. Dan’s sister) to our church this morning. She just really wanted to be in church today and I was so happy she was up to it!!!! What a precious girl with a beautiful heart.

Tomorrow evening is the viewing. I know this is probably a given, but tomorrow promises to be a very difficult and painful day for the family. Please pray for comfort and strength and peace for each member. Bro. Dan’s family is here as well as Ms. Cristy’s and of course Winston, Hannah and Erika who haven’t even been out of the hospital very long yet. A lot of things are going to become reality tomorrow and I know extra prayers will be needed.

So, as far as prayer needs go, please pray for:

1) Mrs. Cristy’s pain.

2) Hannah to be released tomorrow.

3) All the family during the viewing tomorrow evening.

And for any interested in going for the viewing, it’s from 6pm-9pm tomorrow, Monday the 10th. Here’s the number of the funeral home that you can call to get directions and more specifics: 281.592.2641

Thank you for praying!!!!! God bless!!!!!!

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:: Saturday, March 8th ::

We just got back from the hospital and everyone is doing so well!!!! When I walked into Hannah’s room she looked so amazing!!!! Bright and chipper and had really good color. She was smiling and laughing and enjoying her birthday!!!! Today is her birthday!!! Happy Birthday Hannah!!!!!! *smile* We told her she needed to walk some, so she got up and we led her down to the cafe where friends and family were waiting with presents, and cookie cake with ice cream which she can finally eat!!!!!!!!!! I was amazed how long we were able to sit down there with Winston, Hannah and Erika without them getting too tired. They are doing so well!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!

Both Winston and Hannah are walking well and able to finally eat solid foods for which they are very happy, hospital food or not!!!! Erika is doing pretty well with the exception of her neck and back bothering her quite a bit. Her neck is pretty stiff. I rubbed her back for a while today and it helped some but the walking really takes it out of her. She told me she thinks it’s pretty unfair that Winston walks faster and better than her and he’s still in the hospital!!

Mrs. Cristy looked really good today too!!! She is very alert and is able to visit with her Dad, Mom and sisters who make her laugh all the time. She is now on the same floor as Winston and Hannah, just a few doors down and I think that has really helped make her feel better. She’s still in a lot of pain with her broken hip and ribs and stuff but the Doctors are planning surgery on Tuesday. After the surgery her pain will be a lot better. It was hard watching her try to cough. I could tell it was extremely painful. Sigh.

Everyone was in such good spirits today and we laughed almost the entire time. At one point I thought Hannah and I weren’t going to be able to catch our breath. I hope this isn’t really bad for them or anything because when you get Winston, Hannah, Erika, Me, my brother Jon, cousins Aaron and Josh and an occasional Aunt or Grandma all together in the same room, we sure are goof balls!!!! *smile*

Erika was sitting on Hannah’s bed today visiting with her and she made a comment about it being good to be there and see everyone. Then she said “I want to go out into the parking lot and run around til a car hits me so I can get back in the hospital. Then I’d get to see y’all more often!!!!” Grandma Wheeler said she’d better hush or she was going to get slapped. I told Erika there were much less traumatic ways to get back into the hospital if she was determined to do so. *smile* Crazy girl!!!!

Well, continue praying for healing for Winston, Hannah and Erika as they recover and strength for Cristy so the Doctors can do surgery on Tuesday. Thank you, your prayers and thoughts, comments, emails and cards mean SO much!!! Their rooms are so full and very happy looking!!!!! Today I hung so many more cards on Hannah’s wall and she just loves them!!! What a blessing!!!

Have a great Sunday everyone!!!!

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:: Friday, March 7th ::

I wasn’t able to go up to the hospital today but I just got off the phone with Aaron and he told me that Cristy was moved to a room today on the same floor as Winston and Hannah. When he saw her tonight she was alert and talking, laughing and seemed to be in very good spirits. Praise the Lord, He is good!!!!!!! Each day holds something new and there are definitely ups and downs so please just continue to pray that her strength will increase so that the Doctors can do surgery this upcoming week.

There has been word floating around that Winston might be released soon. We’ll see how that progresses throughout the day tomorrow. I’m think Hannah will soon follow so this is very good news!!!! I know Erika will be so thankful to have her brother and sister join her!!! Pray for healing and strength for all the kids as they are still experiencing pain and fatigue during this road to recovery. I know things will really hit them when they get out of the hospital and resume more of some every day life again. New “normals” will have to be found and it won’t be easy. God is so faithful though.

I was reading my Bible today in Ephesians and when I read this I thought about the Hottmans and began praying this for them. Ephesians 3:14-21: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto HIM be glory by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

“To be strengthened with might by His spirit…” I thought about how strong this family has been and how firmly they have stood in the power of the Lord through this.

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…” I thought about the fact that they are simply trusting that God knows exactly what He’s doing and that He is in control. The faith they have shown me is amazing and inspiring.

The rest of it was just a prayer, that they would know the love of Christ and experience it in a real way, that the fullness of the Lord would be so great it would overwhelm them, that He would show them even a glimpse of the bigger picture and that all of us would realize that He is working and doing more than we could ever imagine through the circumstances and trials He allows in each of our lives.

Lastly, my prayer is that the Lord would get ALL the glory for every good thing that happens through this situation, big or small, and that others would see Christ in this family, in the testimonies, in the body of Christ as a whole, in the responses to difficulty and in the death of a mighty saint whose earthly journey has ended. Oh how glorious to know that his life has only just begun!!!!

Keep praying and I’ll keep updating!!!