Trying to Stay Thankful

So, I (Joy) am trying to just be thankful that we have health care, and not really frustrated. My procedure which was scheduled for tomorrow, which would allow me to be comfortable for the first time in six weeks, will not be happening. It's really my own fault. The doctor told me I had to call the insurance company and make sure that they pre-authorized the procedure. This little step I forgot, I'm not accustomed to needing to do that. Geesh, in the States when I needed this done they just did it. So tonight I called our insurance rep, she had no clue what I was talking about. It seems the authorization form was emailed to the main company and not to her, and of course the company was closed for the night, and won't open until 8 tomorrow. So, there goes that procedure. And wouldn't you know it Friday is a holiday. Thankfully my doctor will still be in the city for the morning and is willing to do the procedure early that morning, if I get the authorization tomorrow. I, personally, would rather get the authorization at 8 am and have the procedure at 10 tomorrow, but that wasn't presented to me as an option. Lovely.

Please pray that I will get some sleep tonight, I can't seem to get comfortable enough to sleep for very long. Also, pray that we will find someone to stay at the house with the kids so they don't all have to go to the hospital. Above all, pray that I will remember to be thankful - and maybe find a way to even be thankful for the pain.

Joy Update #4

Joy had her follow-up appointment this afternoon. We settled on Thursday morning to do the next procedure (Lithotripsy). It should be a same-day appointment so she should be home that afternoon.

Since this will be done at a different hospital we did a drive-by so that we knew where we'll be going that morning.

Thanks to all who continue to pray.

-knme

Joy Update #3

Joy is home (6:30pm ish).

Tired, sore, and home.

-knme

Joy Update #2

Joy should be home today.

When she called I was able to clear up some points of confusion:
1.) the hospital she is currently at cannot do the lithotripsy
2.) no lithotripsy can be done until the infection is cleared up
3.) lithotripsy will need to be done at a different facility next sometime week

Beyond that I do not know much more.

-knme

Joy Update

Hello everyone,

For those who were not aware, Joy has been suffering from kidney stone related problems for the last six or seven weeks (maybe longer).

Yesterday in the late morning the pain became unbearable and Joy finally agreed to go to the hospital. She was admitted to the hospital overnight. Some of the other details are sketchy but this is what I have interpreted from various phone calls with her since yesterday afternoon:
1.) kidney stone is about 2cm in size
2.) the current hospital cannot do the standard sound wave treatment (forget the name) so she may have to go to a different hospital for that treatment
3.) she has a catheter to drain one of her kidneys
4.) she has a bad kidney infection in one of her kidneys and is on medicine to take care of it

We were to be taking care of Aiden and Alli (our close friends from Chichi) this weekend. We've worked out with Don and Heather to swap weekends so Abigail and Emma will be heading to Chichi today and later in the summer we'll take Aiden and Alli again.

Praise the Lord for this: Sara has been taking the baby formula (so far).

I will try to keep the blog updated (instead of Facebook) as I am not sure we're connected with everyone on Facebook.

Thanks very much to Rick, Millys, Julia, and Chris and Mike for coming to the rescue yesterday. We very much appreciate all that you all have done for us.

In Christ,

-knme

Year Two In the Books - and family matter (UPDATED)

First and foremost, I am asking that you lift up Kenneth's cousin, Krista, in prayer as she is struggling with some things.

Second... our second year is now officially done. We will be saying goodbye to some very close and dear friends over the next week. Some of these friends are only furloughing for the summer and some are moving on to new opportunities. God has called them to move on so we pray God open the doors and they will walk through (with God).

Summer plans? That is yet to come... and be determined. We will be remaining in Guatemala and will do some small family traveling (Chichi and Antigua).

-knme

May Update - Finish Line in sight

Our last post said that Emma was sick. Well, that was quite a week. Noon on Saturday Emma started a 24 hour period of not being able to keep any food down. By Noon on Sunday she was right as rain.

Wednesday we saw Joy and Sara off for a trip to see her niece's graduation from Cedarville University. That night, at some point, Emma threw up in her bed. But she did not discover it until about 5:30 Thursday morning when she woke up. Needless to say that was fun.

The weekend was very low-key here. I believe we had two consecutive PJ days!

Wednesday night we welcomed Joy and Sara back.

Yesterday, Joy and the CAG Choir sang at the Baccalaureate Ceremony. It marked, what I believe was, the final time when Joy and Jordan (Underwood) would collaborate on a piece. Joy and Jordan have worked together on "The Life We Knew" (2010), "Charlie Brown" (2010), and numerous Choral presentations. Jordan and Rachel will be returning to the States in just a few short weeks.

Some of you may still be curious what we're doing this summer. Well, here it is: we'll be staying in Guatemala. A couple of factors have led to this: unexpected automotive repairs, drop in support levels, and (drum roll please) dramatic increase in airfare. We are going to aim -- tentatively -- for a Christmas return.

For now, that is it.

-knme