Physical Challenges

Once again I must apologize the author's lack of time to post to this blog. It has been one week since I was able to, and things have been going at a furious pace.

I'm going to give you a few updates and explain about our "physical challenges":

1) Magpie did recover quickly from her intestinal blockage. It was spooky to have her in such pain, but He was faithful and we continued on within a day or so. THANKS for all your thoughts and emails!

2) Sadly tonight I have two patients. Magpie again suffering from abdominal pain that was rapid with its onset and then, this time, included head pain, particularly in the front of her head. We "lifted her up," put her in the tub, gave her some headache powder and now I've finally sent her off to bed. Daddy is a calming force during these times of stress and pain. He wants to make sure that we don't fan the fear by getting so worked up about it so quickly. Fear certainly makes pain much worse...I learned that from my first childbirth...so we're going to work on relaxing when the onset happens. I need to stay very placid and solid during that time to help her get over the fear of something really troubling us and our reality being so far from The Old Place. I feel immediate shots of anxiety when she's in pain, I have to run off to the bathroom immediately. I've always been the calm one who falls apart once the ambulance shows up. Now...when my kids are in pain...I'm a mess, inside. I think she's doing better, maybe just has a touch of the "body aches" flu, but please remember her!

My second patient is Daddy, himself. Before I tell you the nature of his illness, he made me promise to give you some background on his ailment.

3) Daddy is the PE dude here. He wears the whistle to prove it. Though, I've not yet seen him in a running suit, he is every bit the part.

According to Daddy, his favorite thing to do as a child besides riding bikes was to run. Imagine his surprise and delight when two weeks ago he determined to put the kids through their paces on a good run...that he led. Immediately he experiences gazelle-like speed...his hair floating in the wind tunnel he created as he astonished all his students..."Wow, Teacher D, you so fast runner!"

He felt like he was Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire...setting a land-speed record for sure, he thought "I haven't run like this in 25 years, I had no idea I had this kind of speed still in me!"

That evening he reported to me that he was amazed at his own physical prowess, the sheer speed he moved about the gym...and that his right leg hurt...a little.

Then last week I saw him walking in the hallways of school with a little limp. He reported that they had done some "calisthenics" and his thigh muscle was a little sore.

Today, the PE class played some indoor hockey. Coach H was, eager to support the students, right in the middle of the action.

By 4 pm he said to me..."I've got some real trouble with my leg. I feel like the muscle is disconnected. I feel like it's just knotting up and spasming."

We walked home...or we started to.

Before we made it across the street, Magpie and I were human crutches for a Daddy who was now not only grimacing with pain...but making a great deal of noise with every step.

The health-center here at the LQ received us with open arms. Of course the suggestion was made to go to the hospital and to drink some hot water. All 5 kids stood around in the exam room while the nurse told Daddy to take down his pants. Two layers down and he was alternately howling with pain and joking about "I could have made it in Guinness for the fastest, oldest dude." The nurse took out some traditional medicine and began to give him a leg massage. Potato was the first to begin to cry with concern for her Daddy. Then it was Brownie, Magpie and The Bug. Only Bub was distracted by the fantastic wheels on the wheelchair!

After his treatment, we wheeled him home. Actually, I drug Bub along behind the group of weeping daughters and the Daddy in the wheelchair. As the last light of day was with us the picture of Daddy, in the chair, holding the hands of two four year olds on each side of him, the 9 year old pushing the chair and the 6 year old running ahead to get the doors was quite a sight.

He's in the bed with a hot water bottle now...asleep...no doubt dreaming of his world-record sprinting pace in the 50 year-old division.

4) School is good. The routine is harder and harder in the chill. We so long to go back to our homeschool days where we would stay in if the weather was foul. If we had illnesses at night, we slept in...no more. Getting used to wearing at least 1 full layer to bed and 3 to school.

5) Need your lifting up during these days of acute separation awareness. Thanksgiving is your author's absolutely favorite holiday. We'll teach all day here next Thursday. It seems as though we've had lots of struggles lately, dissension in the ranks of the family, fatigue and irritability. We know that this goes with it...but it doesn't make it easier.

6) We continue to have great chances to share with people and hear their stories. We find the trick is to always remain open to whomever He brings our way. By maintaining that open channel on our radar...it's amazing how many valuable conversations we have in just one week.

Believe with us for full recoveries and health.

More, soon, I promise.