Digital things are nice.  They work well...most of the time.

However...

Yesterday Joshy caused a hospital wide search for a good old fashion thermometer because digital thermometers just do not register as low as Joshy's temp seems to go...

YES, Joshy is playing Popsicle man again.

At Monday's regular checkup, I mentioned that he has been waking up quite a lot at night really fussy & acting like he is in pain.  A couple of numbers in his lab report were elevated... you know the numbers that are usually normal - there are a few of those.  We talked about the possibility that his gallbladder is acting up (we found gallstones last winter during one of his club med vacations).  Doctor scheduled an echo for tomorrow morning to check things out.

Tuesday, Joshy actually slept... and slept... and slept until I unceremoniously drug him out of bed for a dentist appointment.  Then in the afternoon he was seizy, cold, & sleepy :/

Wednesday morning he seemed cool, but somewhat playful.  However, about school time he started going down hill.  So I took him back to the doctor... which lead to the search for an old fashion thermometer.  His temp was 31C / 87.8F.   One nurse used a laser (?) thermometer, but it didn't record accurately until she switched it to the environmental setting.  Sometimes I think this boy just wants to keep everyone on their toes!!

Today he has been cold - temps in the low 30's - and has slept most of the day away.  This evening he threw up.

Praying tomorrow's echo will give us a clue as to what is going on.  I am also glad they J's regular doctor is in out patients tomorrow, because I AM going to have a chat with him.  One thing I know that needs to be addressed is reflux meds.  The medication he has been on can cause kidney trouble.  In light of all the kidney issues we have been battling, the doctor decided to ween him off of it.   Monday was his last dose.   The extra seizures may not be related.  The pain at night may not be related.  However, throwing up is a sigh.  Throwing up blood is a stronger sign that he NEEDS something for reflux.

As I type this out... thinking through recent events... I am seriously wondering if the restless night could be from the lower dose.  Then when the med was stopped it has thrown him into crisis.  When he doesn't feel well he has more seizures.  Sometimes those seizures strike near his thermostat, which knocks it out of whack.  It takes a good 3-4 hours to reboot - provided he doesn't have another similar seizure during the reboot process...

HMMMMMMM.....

Praying that tomorrow we, A) come home, with, B) a new prescription...

Saturday was Stone Soup Night

Stone soup is a fun, easy event.  This year the turnout wasn't as good as it has been in years past, but we still had a good time.  We set up a gas burner on the low table in the living room, added a pot of water - complete with a stone.  Everyone brought an ngredient and we fellow-shipped as we made soup together.

One of the ladies brought sausages cut into octopus & crab shapes - too cute!!

Add rolls & chocolate snack cake for dessert, we had a complete, & delicious, meal

Next month we are going to try a new event, Valentine's Day Coffee House.  Should be fun!

On Tuesday, Joshy's hematologist gave us the green light for a trip back to the US   There is always the provision that he is not ill, but we are now really starting to plan.   There is so many little details that will need to be sorted through.  It has been 5 years since we traveled last.  Many of the travel dynamics have changed.  My brain is starting to swim!

DEEP BREATH...

We are looking at making the trip September 5th ~ the 21st or there about.  Exact dates depend on when we can actually get our tickets booked.   After some initial searching we are getting things narrowed down.  GULP - 5 international full fare flights is a BIG chunk of change!!    A chunk of change we do not have right now.   I know we have some funds in our stateside accounts, but don't have those numbers at my finger tips.  Trusting the LORD to provide.

DEEP BREATH...

Today, I dug out our passports & skymile cards.  After entering all the info into the computer, creating passwords instead of pin numbers, etc... I now know that we have enough miles for 1 ticket...welllll... we will have enough miles for 1 ticket after this month's credit card bill comes (we have a mileage card).  *I will put a plea here - if anyone has any miles (Delta) they would like to donate to a worthy cause of getting our family to the states for a visit, please let me know    I am thankful that we at least have 1 & am praying for more miles to help take the sting out of the trip.

DEEP BREATH...

Passports... all 3 kids need new passports!  The girls need American passports as well as Japanese passports because of their dual citizenship.  Children needing American passports means a trip to the embassy in Tokyo - GACK!   A trip to the embassy means a day off during the week on a day that is NOT a Japanese national holiday or an American national holiday.  (I really think a job at the embassy might be nice when you look at all the holidays they get )    Bekah is old enough that she could possibly apply by mail (I need to look into that) but Kei has to go in person with BOTH parents... so this also means short stay for Joshy, unless we decide to fork over the money to do his citizenship, too...hmmmmm????

DEEP BREATH...

I spoke to the pharmacist... giving him warning that we are planning a trip.  We will need to have all medications with English labels & information.  (Going through airport security with hundreds of packets of white powder is terrifying!)

The hematologist also knows that we will need a letter in English giving case details in case there is a medical emergency while we are traveling.

I will talk to Joshy's primary care doctor next week because we will need a letter from him as well...

DEEP BREATH...

Other details will have to wait, or my brain might explode!

So far it has been a fairly mild winter (LORD willing I haven't unleashed anything by saying that!).  We have had our snowy days, in fact, the wind is howling & the snow is blowing as I type, but over all it has been lovely.

I even caught the beginning of a sunset after Joshy's checkup earlier this month.

One day last week I was even able to walk at the park, as long as I stayed on the main path and didn't venture onto the trails that wind through the woods.

February may well be a different story, but I am trying to enjoy the mild weather while I can.

It is official - our youngest 2 now attend Japanese school.  Both attend special needs schools, but not the same school.  It hasn't been the easiest decision, but it seems to be working well.

It has been a long year full of emotional ups & downs as we have battled hormone imbalance with Kei.  The therapist she has been going to suggested that she attend school.  In September she started going 1 hour / 2 days a week with gradual increases until she is now going Mon-Fri mornings, but still as a non-official student.   A cocktail of supplements, medication, & school has balanced out the roller coaster of emotions.  In fact, recently we were able to decrease the medication.  School has been a good for her, so, in December, I went to the city office and filed the papers.  Then this last week, I met with the school and filled out more papers to make everything official.

Yesterday, Kei & I went shopping for sports wear.  Most schools have required, matching gym uniform.   Often, the students wear their regular school uniforms to school then change into their gym wear almost immediately after getting to school and wear them the rest of the day.  Kei's school does not have a specific gym uniform, but she needs gym wear nonetheless.   Because there is not a specific uniform we went to the local sports shop and Kei got to choose what she wanted.

Come spring we will need to pick up shorts & short sleeve t-shirts for her, but for now... she is all set to go!

We may laugh, but honestly, how often is the above true?   More often than not we enter into a resolution halfheartedly.  Deep down we know that we won't accomplish the goals we have set.  Sometimes doors slam in our faces and there is no way to follow through.  Other times we have to work hard to hold that door closed so that we have a good excuse to not follow through.

How many times, even when the vow or resolution is made before the LORD, do we not follow through?  Do we enter into something halfheartedly, knowing that there is a way out?

Just some food for thought...

"May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame."  Psalm 119:80

"Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them," Psalm 79:11a

These are some of the thoughts I am pondering right now.

LORD help me to not set goals or make resolutions halfheartedly.   Help me to evaluate & set goals that are pleasing to You.   Help me to follow You will ALL my heart.  If I do this them my goals that keep getting pushed forward to the next year will be accomplished.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."   Colossians 3:17

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,do it all for the glory of God."   1 Corinthians 10:31