We have had several December Medical Adventures. And a couple of adventures that weren’t medical. I think you can say it has been a chaotic month.
Zine’s Medical Adventures
Zine had some very personal medical adventures that caused a lot of extra work. It was not fun for a bit. Thankfully, those adventures have settled down for the current moment. We hold our breath knowing the day is coming when it will not go away, but for today we are grateful things are better.
However, now, he has developed a UTI. He is taking antibiotics, and that should clear up quickly. We are super grateful for a wonderful doctor who is extremely smart about MS and its side effects.
Karen’s Medical Adventures
I began having tremendous amounts of pain with my jaw. It started with my ear feeling full. Immediately, I knew it was not my ear, but rather my jaw. This is not my first rodeo with jaw issues. Soon it felt like my ear was going to explode. I had an appointment with the oral surgeon for the 17th. However, I called a week ago and told them I was miserable, and I didn’t think I could wait. If I do that, you must know I was utterly miserable.
They were so sweet to have me come in on Monday, their next working day. Thankfully, my joint is holding up well right now. However, the muscles around my jaw were tight as a rock. The doctor agreed that I described it correctly when I said it felt like my ear was going to explode. He said it was like having a muscle spasm that never released.
Thankfully, he didn’t say you need surgery immediately. (That has been my experience a few times in the past.) He began treating me with muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory. I can tell a big difference. Now, when it is time to retake muscle relaxers, I know it. I am praying that in a few more days, that will get better. If not, there is a surgical procedure that they can do to relax those muscles. However, I would prefer no more jaw surgeries, so I am praying much this works!
I shared this song on my FB page this week. As I started to Birmingham, I plugged my phone in and turned on Spotify. This song began playing. It was just what I needed to hear.
Surrounded by Michael W. Smith.
“It may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by you.” Powerful lyrics to remember when life feels overwhelming.
Chloe’s Medical Adventures
On Monday, I made a trip to Bham, only to return in time to go to the gastroenterologist with Chloe. While we were there and discussing some of her issues, he pulled up her scans from November. It was then that he realized Chloe had a kidney stone that appears to be blocking a tube that runs from her right kidney to her bladder. He sent her back to the urologist for a recheck. We went on Thursday to urology. She had a CT/IVP today. We will follow up with urologist on Monday where we will find out results. If the CT scan shows a blockage, then they will have to go in and remove the stone. Our prayer for her is that the scan would show clearly what is going on, and the doctors would have great wisdom in treating her. This girl is a trooper, but she’s getting really tired of medical adventures. I don’t blame her one bit. She has had more than her share of medical adventures.
Krisann’s Sick
Krisann has been complaining of a sore throat for a couple of days, but there were no other symptoms. Until last night. She woke up last night about 2:30 incredibly sick with fever and horrible congestion. Needless to say, she nor I slept very much last night. She has continued to be horribly congested today, so I fear tonight will not be a full night of sleep either. Praying that this little one bounces back quickly and that the congestion doesn’t spread to anyone else in the house! Crossing my fingers and saying lots of prayers.
My Dad’s Medical Adventures
At the end of last week, my dad started running dangerously high blood pressures. Our sitter did a great job, and our hospice nurse was super helpful as well. The medicine they gave him knocked him out. So we have continued to adjust his medication this week, and he seems to be doing much better.
I will be keeping my dad a few days this next weekend. I am looking forward to having him here, but I’m nervous about how he will do. With dementia patients, they like to stay at home. So I’m afeared that after he’s here for 30 minutes, he will be ready to go home. It could be a long few days. The nurse and I talked about possible scenarios for helping him settle down if that were to happen. I also will be as anxious as ever if his blood pressure goes high while he is here. Thankfully, our hospice agency is going to find a sister hospice agency here so that if something were to go wrong, I can call them. He will have to travel with his oxygen, and I’ve not had much experience with oxygen machines, but I’m sure I can figure that out. The hospice nurse tells me he is so excited about his trip, and she’s thankful that we are going to get together. I am excited, anxious, and sad, all bundled up together.
Car Adventures
We’ve had a couple of car adventures with Chloe’s van.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving, she was returning home from working with a lady at a nursing home when she lost all power steering. She managed to safely get off the road in a parking lot. Unfortunately, while waiting on a tow truck, someone plowed into the side of her van. As Zine said, “They hit it, and then they just kept going.” It did major damage. However, we will get it fixed soon. Accessible vehicles are not cheap.
Currently, it is at the mechanic shop again. On her way to finals this week, the same thing happened. Her serpentine belt keeps coming off. We had it fixed once and then it did it again. Thankfully, the second adventure was in the daytime!
Medical Adventures Five Years Ago
Despite all the stuff going on, I reflect back to five years ago when life began to fall apart, and this all seems like small problems.
Five years ago, this is what was going on. Goodness, gracious, God has brought us through a lot of deep waters over the past five years. I am so grateful that I have much to remember of God’s faithfulness. His faithfulness in the past is what keeps me going today.
