Post Opt Day 1 - TOUGH!!!

So we've reached the end of post opt day 1 and as i type this we are exactly 24 hours out of recovery. Lacey has had a very difficult day and i would say she hasn't rested more than 10-15 minutes at a time all day. However, the surgeon and nurses prepared her for this and warned that the first day is absolutely horrific. They have told her that she has done as well or better than any other patients so she is encouraged and continues to press on. They are forcing her to deep breath and cough and even the tiniest cough seems so difficult since her abdomen was held open with steel binders for nearly 12 hours just yesterday. She is very weak physically but she remains strong in the Lord and continues to give Him praise. She told me today that her pancreas "spot" felt "empty"!! What a joy to hear. She has no pancreas pain and has had very minimal nausea today for the first day in over a month. Nurses came in tonight and helped Lacey sit up on the side of the bed and she even stood for about 15 seconds. Her pain was manageable although this was quite scary for her and her heart rate reached 160. She has had lots of pain meds today and has been in moderate pain that she rates about 7 out of 10 (for those who know lacey, that is alot of pain!) So tonight she is now resting fairly well, better than she has all day, after the doctors increased her medications again tonight. They have been checking her blood sugars hourly since she continues to get insulin in an iv drip so that the transplanted islet cells can "rest" til they find their new home in the liver and begin working. Her blood sugars have been well controlled and the endocrinologist came by today stating that Lacey will be on minimal insulin if any! We're hoping for a better day tomorrow and Lacey has an awesome attitude for recovery at this point.
In case you all aren't aware, things could be so different for us right now. There have been so many hurdles to climb the past 2 months and we were unsure if this surgery would happen probably over 20 times in the past 2 months. there were several financial barriers, physical barriers, and then when we actually flew into minnesota, we had that major scare with the 105 fevers. If we can't see God's hands in this situation, we must not know God's attributes. He is mighty, sovereign, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and powerful. His plans cannot be thwarted and no one can take away that which belongs to our God.
In Romans 8:28-30, we read And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 ¶ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
This means that for the believer, the one whom God has soveriegnly saved by his grace, that all things are working together providentially by God's hand for the good of His people. So how do we apply that? We know that for the believer, we aren't equipped with the knowledge to classify our experiences as "good" or "bad", for God tells us through Paul that all experiences are simply for good...and not only for good, but for God's glory. On the other hand, for the unbeliever, all circumstances whether it appears good or bad on the surface(to those who once again are unequipped to decide), it is ultimately working for destruction and punishment of the unbelievers sin. Without Christ, all things cannot possibly work for good. Consider these things as you consider Lacey's sufferings as well as any sufferings that any of us may face in the future. God is in control and for His children, those who know Him, love Him, serve Him and have been regenerated by the power of his saving grace through Christ, nothing can work for our "bad," but all is for our ultimate sanctification and glorification. Therefore we can rejoice in our sufferings and trials for we know God, and by knowing God, we have assurance by Him that these things are for our good. Please pray that Lacey will have a restful night and that her pain will somehow begin to diminish because she hasn't had true sleep since Monday at 5am. But in this also know that whatever her night holds and whatever challenges may present tomorrow, God is soveriegn and He is working these things for our good and for his glory. We cling to this truth as we pray for God's healing on the body and strength of my dear bride.