Life before 2008 21 Mar 2006 10:10 am
Re-entrance into the medical world
We almost made it. Our “risk” of going without health benefits for these past 9 months has been quite uneventful. The kids, even W, have been enormously healthy. We are ONE week out of the start of our policy and last week we got sick. The rest of us got over it but it seemed to find a flourishing home in W’s ears. We were unsure of the status of his second set of tubes (placed not for infections but for mucous that tends to solidfy and hurt his hearing) but two days ago the right one drained. Miraculous!! They should have fallen out last September. I thought he was on the upswing until bedtime last night when it moved left. After three hours of crying and ineffective pain meds, I knew to go get dressed and head out.
Our little town was dark and empty and wet. One car passed us on the way to the hospital and W said, “hmm…there is more traffic than I thought.” That’s my boy…always sweet and comical even while sick. Hospitals these days all look the same and there was no denying that lump in my throat, the onslaught of fear and memories as I drove in. Our hiatus from the system is officially over. We had no problem finding a parking spot or getting seen by Triage…the nurse said it was a busy night with four people in the waiting room. Not exactly like our previouis experience in a much larger city!
It was wierd. The nurse took his medical history and it fit on one line. I had to tell her how to spell the condition. But having had such a long period of time where it would seem he’s outgrown the worst of it, I realized I didnt have to explain and she didnt’ have to curve the description up the margin to fit it on the chart. She asked me how much he weighed and…I didn’t know! All that time of charting every ounce, always knowing, and I had no clue now how heavy the guy is. All I keep up with these days is his clothing size and what season he needs.
The doctor found the tube in his right ear to be intact and the one in the left to still be in place but crooked. We got some numbing drops and antibiotic and wrapped up the visit in less than two hours. When we got home the baby had been essentially up playing the whole time and David had not slept at all. He had to be up in two hours but it was still another 45 mintues before we could get everyone down. This morning the infection is draining and he’s still asleep.
And so it goes. In another week or so I’ll get a list of doctors and start interviewing and selecting. He’ll get his ears and hearing checked again. At some point those tubes will probably have to be replaced. I’ll have to explain the history, the reactions to anesthesia, the precautions on down to the kind of tape they use. He will probably grumpily tell the nurse not to babytalk to him, that he “is used to” having his blood pressure taken. I don’t expect the rollercoaster to be anything like it once was;Â he’s a strong boy and just needs maintance like the rest of us. It was a nice time away while it lasted though.
In other news, we are considering different mission possiblities, here and there and in all kinds of capacities. I’m confronted with me fear: I’m perfectly willing to work hard in all kinds of places for God….but am I willing to fly over water? 
