Kevin's Watch

A teacher really treasures those weeks "off" in the summer. The more relaxed schedule, time to consider what to do differently next year, to begin to form plans, to dabble around the house, to get to that TBR list...

That was my plan. However, in a few days I am taking my sick husband back to the USA for recovery and possible further diagnosis and treatment that they can't do here in Jos (Nigeria). He has been sick on and off for weeks and finally they did at least figure out that he has pneumonia. He's been staying in a hospital since Tuesday. This is a first to us.

To make life more interesting, I am still recovering from surgery I had ten days ago which causes episodes of crippling pain and hygienic issues if I am away from our personal bathroom and can't clean the "site" when needed (hot water and privacy being luxuries here). I have also had malaria 3 times since January, a record for me.

Also, my residency in Nigeria runs out next month, which means that after getting to the US we have to FedEx our passports back to Nigeria so it can be renewed and we don't have to start the visa/regularization process from scratch, which can be long and dodgy, and I do wish to be back in Jos for the start of the school year in August...

For the last couple of days I feel like my life just exploded.

But, Stag of the Dawn and I have been through crap before and we got through it. Faith becomes real when you have little else to trust in. So right now, it's all good. We get to see our very old and frail Dads, and our kids (Buck of the Dawn, Fawn of the Dawn) who are much better young people than we deserve to call our own, and ... I dunno, we get to 'Merica for awhile. Whatever. Life happens, may as well roll with it.

So

deer of the dawn wrote:To make life more interesting, I am still recovering from surgery I had ten days ago which causes episodes of crippling pain and hygienic issues if I am away from our personal bathroom and can't clean the "site" when needed (hot water and privacy being luxuries here).

argh, had not thought of that one!
So like, there's a thing you can do to take care of yourself, and when you're away from home at the hospital, it's like, not really an option.

For the last couple of days I feel like my life just exploded.

I... wondered.. and didn't know how much of "my life just exploded" it's been.

But, Stag of the Dawn and I have been through crap before and we got through it. Faith becomes real when you have little else to trust in. So right now, it's all good. We get to see our very old and frail Dads, and our kids (Buck of the Dawn, Fawn of the Dawn) who are much better young people than we deserve to call our own, and ... I dunno, we get to 'Merica for awhile. Whatever. Life happens, may as well roll with it.

old and frail dads, and those two awesome kids... aww. <3

sometimes when things are rough I think of the, "keep moving forward; find out what happens next" thing Covenant was saying to himself. (not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, though!)

You are loved. <3

Love and Light, deer.
One step at a time.

Oh noooo Deer that is terrible news. Pneumonia is a bugger of a thing to kick too.

Its totally understandable that youre feeling your life has exploded lately ... cos wow .. thats a lot you got going on.

I am glad you are heading back to the States .. and Stag can get the treatment he needs. Hope its no more than pneumonia .. though that is quite bad in itself.

But you know doctors

Hope you continue to improve with rest and familiar things around .. like a personal bathroom for example.

I think youre quite amazing to be thinking about returning to Nigeria .. it must be very important to you .. and I respect that .. I just wish .. a teeny tiny little bit that maybe your work was done there and you wont be exposed to any more malaria. Or does it work that way? Is it once youve had it once .. thats pretty much it and you will just continue to get flair ups no matter where you are?

Im sorry that its been such a rough trot of late .. and hope things start improving for you both. You are clearly a very giving, caring human and what service you are providing in Nigeria means a great deal to you both.

It is ok to look after you though

We love you .. and if I were a god fearing human Id be praying for you both too .. but as I am merely a heathen .. .. you have my heart ... as I genuinely feel for you during this difficult time ..

This week has been quite bad.
I've been trying to build a little usb guitar amplifier ... since early March. It's proving near impossible. The input stage has broken yet again. This time around, cracked/open circuit wires.
When I went to do the necessary repairs I found my snips were also broken. They were fine the last time I used them and there just isn't any reason why one interlocking spring-arm should simply vanish into thin air.

As I live alone and have no visitors whatsoever this really upset me and I had a panic attack. Worried about the security of my mental health I went to see the vicar to get some advice.
She offered to bless my house. But I thought that was perhaps a bit extreme as I didn't believe a demon was involved. So she suggested I talk to someone she knew that was coping with mental health difficulties.
I was given a recommendation to a painting group that can provide a safe and therapeutic environment.

Funnily enough the painting group meet at an old school house two or three streets from where I live. And they just happen to be the most gentle folk you will ever meet.
Sometimes God intervenes. It just takes a little faith and the will to keep what really matters alive and kicking.

Im glad that worked out for you Luke .. and that your faith gives you strength.

Ah hell Deer, that's a rough one. Hope it all works out for you guys. Travel safe, and I'll be thinking of you both.

--A

Lazy Luke wrote:Funnily enough the painting group meet at an old school house two or three streets from where I live. And they just happen to be the most gentle folk you will ever meet.

That is awesome to hear!!!

Lazy Luke wrote:...she suggested I talk to someone she knew that was coping with mental health difficulties.

And this part... is also neat, because it gave someone who has been going through those difficulties an opportunity to be of help!

She's seeing people who've been dealing with struggles lately... as a potential resource she can refer someone to - neat!
Strength in weakness... and blessing out of trial.

deer of the dawn wrote:A teacher really treasures those weeks "off" in the summer. The more relaxed schedule, time to consider what to do differently next year, to begin to form plans, to dabble around the house, to get to that TBR list...

That was my plan. However, in a few days I am taking my sick husband back to the USA for recovery and possible further diagnosis and treatment that they can't do here in Jos (Nigeria). He has been sick on and off for weeks and finally they did at least figure out that he has pneumonia. He's been staying in a hospital since Tuesday. This is a first to us.

To make life more interesting, I am still recovering from surgery I had ten days ago which causes episodes of crippling pain and hygienic issues if I am away from our personal bathroom and can't clean the "site" when needed (hot water and privacy being luxuries here). I have also had malaria 3 times since January, a record for me.

Also, my residency in Nigeria runs out next month, which means that after getting to the US we have to FedEx our passports back to Nigeria so it can be renewed and we don't have to start the visa/regularization process from scratch, which can be long and dodgy, and I do wish to be back in Jos for the start of the school year in August...

For the last couple of days I feel like my life just exploded.

But, Stag of the Dawn and I have been through crap before and we got through it. Faith becomes real when you have little else to trust in. So right now, it's all good. We get to see our very old and frail Dads, and our kids (Buck of the Dawn, Fawn of the Dawn) who are much better young people than we deserve to call our own, and ... I dunno, we get to 'Merica for awhile. Whatever. Life happens, may as well roll with it.

So

[I'm reading old threads]

I know this is over a year old and you might have updated it someplace else but how is it going?

Yeah, sheesh! I hadn't see this, either. Hope things have improved in the last many months.

Wow, I can't believe I dropped the ball here. Actually I can. It's my superpower. :p

A year later, Stag has left the job that was stressing him to the breaking point and has a new role that he loves, and is also stressing him to the breaking point. But I actually think he loves being stressed to the breaking point as long as it's doing something he believes in, and the former thing wasn't that anymore. He's now a high school teacher and the kids love him. And who doesn't love to be loved?

He has not been sick again except for a short round of malaria, and currently recovering from a torn shoulder.

For myself, I had another surgery this year (after the needle biopsy from hell-- 15 minutes they said! No big deal, they said! Well after 30 minutes and the local wore off and they still couldn't jab the thing they needed to jab) which happily showed that I did NOT have cancer, as was feared. So yay. I actually had an enjoyable time in the US seeing friends (aside from the getting sliced and diced part) and since I returned to Nigeria I have felt less stress in the last few weeks than I have in YEARS.

Which is a good place to be.

So that's what's going on. THANK YOU for asking.

Haha, not sure why Luke bumped (nice disguise!). Still, it's good to look back and give thanks. Which this thread makes me do. Any year without surgery is a good year!! Of course that may be because I was supposed to get all the invasive scans this summer, and wasn't able to get out of Nigeria. Life still happens...

>sigh< life before surgery? Ar least I should feel better at the end of this. I am grateful I had time built up to take off.