We're home!

After 5 very long days, Vanessa and I are home. Here's the story





Last Friday, I had an appointment with the Pediatrician to get some drops for Vanessa, like Mylecon, for the colicky gas. Not a big deal, but you can't buy the drops OTC. That morning, Vanessa felt feverish, so I was glad I had the appointment. When we saw the Dr. , she examined her and told us to have her hospitalizes immediately. We didn't understand the gravity, but she said that any 7 week old baby that has a fever like that is a big deal. Since we are on the national health plan, that meant that I must take her to the Regional Hospital. They have the most advanced equipment and treatment, but the hospital itself is old and decrepit. Gives me the creeps.





They examined Vanessa in the emergency room, took urine and blood samples and inserted the needle thingy in her arm. We waited for the preliminary tests, which came back negative for urinary tract infection. So they decided to admit her in order to find out what was causing the fever. The next step was testing for....Meningitis!!!!! Do you know what that means? Yep, a spinal tap. I was furious because she had already been through so much. But the Dr insisted. We left the room. 30 minutes later, they came out and told us that they had been unsuccessful, and had not gotten any spinal fluid. Goodness! All that suffering for nothing! I was in tears. They started an IV antibiotic, just in case. The family had to leave and I was alone with Vanessa in the room. There were 8 cribs, but there were only 5 babies and their mothers. There were 2 recliners. We were told that we must not roam the room, but stay near our crib. We could not touch anything belonging to the other children. We could not sit in the recliners with our babies. It felt like baby prison. There are three levels of personnel. The Drs., the nurses and the Auxiliares. They are the low men on the totem pole. That makes them mean. Our particular one, Romina was a pain. I called her the nazi nurse. She got on to us about everything. She was unbending in the rules, and she didn't seem to like kids. Or their parents. She played horrible music loudly on the radio. Felt like torture.



Nights were horrible because I couldn't get Vanessa to sleep in that loud, well-lit room. Squeeky beds and howling children. I couldn't rock her. I couldn't do anything I normally do to put her to sleep. And once I got her relaxed, someone would come by and wake her to take her temperature or give medicine. She didn't fall asleep until 4 am for 4 days straight. I was desperate for sleep. At six, they would start waking all the kids to check their Vitals and prepare for shift change.



She saw several drs. and all said the same thing. We don't know what is causing the fever. So they would order more tests. More blood. More pain.



Finally, Emily saw her son's Dr, and got her to give Vanessa a look. She is the head of pediatrics at that hospital. She looked over the tests and examined her. She felt that Vanessa's liver was somewhat enlarged and order another blood test and an ultrasound. Two long days later, as we we preparing for another long day, she came and told us that we could go home! You see, up to that time, they could not determine if Vanessa had a bacterial infection, which needed IV antibiotics or a virus. She determined that Vanessa had a virus that was causing problems with her liver, thus calling her condition "hepatitis". Not the regular A, B or C hepatitis, just a viral hepatitis. So, since there is actually no treatment, we coul go home!

So we piled up all our stuff and went home. Vanessa calmed down immediately. We bathed her. She loved that.

We still have to take her for another blood test to see if there is any change in the liver situation, but we'll get that done at the German hospital where she was born. That's much nicer, and they have better blood-takers.

So, here we are, home sweet home.

Thank you, Lord

Thank you all for your prayers. Later I'll blog about why God allowed all this to happen.

Pray for my Vanessa

Vanessa started a fever last Friday. We took her to the Dr. and she hospitalized her right away because she is so young to have such a fever. We are at the regional public hospital. It is kinda scary, but the care is adequate. The nurses are on a real power trip. They haven't been able to keep the fever down, and they can't figure out the cause.
I'll blog all about it when i can.

thanks

Merry Christmas!

What a great holy-day! I know that we are not commanded in Scripture to celebrate Christmas, but we aren't forbidden either. I also know that we really don't know exactly what day Christ was born, but does that really mattter? I love it. I love the "pretties" and "sparklies". I love the goodies. I love reading and remebering the Story. The earthly beginning of Him who is eternal. Understanding and concentrating on the fulfilled prophecies of the birth of the Messiah is a great faith-lifter.



Now that I am older, I really am not interested in the gifts, except in giving them away. And I enjoy the whole season, as opposed to the "day". I love the Christmas cantatas, and programs.



As a missionary in the southern hemisphere, I still hate having Christmas in the Summer. I envy all of you who are in the middle of Winter!



May God bless you. May you have a lovely day with your loved ones. May you revel in the Reason for the season. The Babe in the manger became the Saviour on the cross.


"Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing"

"Gloria al Verbo encarnado, en humanidad velado"

Expelled!

I finally figured out how to rent movies on Itunes. I have been wanting to see "Expelled" for some time.

I get so frustrated when Creationists are considered insane. The blasphemies spoken by the atheists were appalling to hear. I wanted to weep for those people! They fearlessly speak things about God that they do not understand. More and more I feel like a stranger in a strange land. We speak a different language and we have different world views. We are not welcome in this land.

Also, it was difficult to see the scenes in the nazi concentration camps and "hospitals". I cannot see those things without being horrified. The scenes haunt me. To see how torture and murder are rationalized and explained as "good" is terrifying. But just as Nazi Germany tortured and killed Jews and the weak, sick and handicapped, modern American kill babies. As a nation, we are no different. Someday, those responsible we bow before an Almighty God and beg for forgiveness, and it will be too late.



It was a good movie, for a documentary. It was not encouraging, but it did remind me about my part in all this. My work in my home, in my Church, in our town, all is useful in proclaming the Truth.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Yes, I know that Thanksgiving was last week. We had a marverlous day. We got together over at Mom's with my sis and her fam, and 2 other missionary families. We ate traditional Thanksgiving food. Chile is very good about having most of what we need to celebrate. Bro. Phil brought his laptop with the first season of Star Trek TOS! We watched "The Man Trap" WooHoo. You gotta love old ST!



Special thanks to Michele for the lovely ecard. What a blessing! And also to Courtney, for her sweet Thanksgiving greeting.

The reason that I am so late in all this is of course, the baby. Babies look so small! But I am telling you, they are a full time employer! I already have 3 other full time positions: Wife, Mother, Pastor's wife. But for now, Baby's mother trumps the rest. I have not been able to keep up with other duties and am beginning to feel overwhelmed. I cannot imagine how a single mom does it! I cannot understand the Supermoms that have 4 kids, and are pregnant, and still have a clean house AND live to blog about it!

As most of you are enjoying a lovely Fall, we are in a Chilean heat wave. Not too hot to you, but boiling to us. We had to go to the City on Monday for Dr.s appt. We had to leave our "new" minivan at the mechanic. We were on foot and in cabs all day. Hot hot hot. Me no like hot.
Anyway, Dr was pleased with Vanessa's growth and health. So we have a lot to be thankful for.