“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel’, which translated means, ‘God with us.“ -Matthew 1:23
On December 25, I was given a gift. Not the kind of gift I wanted, though. A big box filled with yummy smelling lotions? No. A Dunkin Donuts coffee fountain? No.
The “gift” of a sick child.
As I had my nose buried in my email early that morning, I heard Shiloh’s voice; usually annoyingly perky first thing in the morning. Instead of her usual bouncy voice saying, “Hi mom!’; I heard a gravelly voice coming from her mouth, saying…”mom, I have bumps.”
This statement should have gotten my immediate attention. However, if you know “our Shiloh” J…sometimes there is a bit of drama associated with her statements.
I glanced up at her and said “good morning” in a rather monotone voice, really quite distracted by the correspondence I was answering.
I had to look at her again to verify what my quick glance told my brain.
Shiloh had huge lumps on both sides of her throat.
Her statement that she had bumps was certainly spot-on.
Oh my. This was a new one.
We were getting ready for church, and I tried to figure out how we would get her to the doc.
Talking to our Pastor’s wife after service, I did not know how we would get Shiloh the medical attention she needed. The regular hospital was closed. Yes, closed. Until Tuesday. (It was currently Sunday)
There were no doctors in town that we could get in touch with. Everyone was on holiday.
We were told the Emergency Room at the Hospital (more like what we would call an “Urgent Care” center in the States) would be open; but that they would not accept anyone who was not at death’s door.
But, later that afternoon; on faith…my husband gathered up Shiloh and one of her lovies; to go find some medical care.
Praise the Lord…the Emergency Dept agreed to see Shiloh.
A few hours later, Nate texted me to let me know Shiloh had a tonsil infection. She was prescribed antibiotics and a pain medication. The doctor let us know that we need to be watchful now of her. More recurrences may mean she needs her tonsils out. Which they cannot do here.
But, that is for another day.
God with us.
A month or so ago, I was studying the book of Isaiah. When I came to the familiar passage in Chapter 7,
“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, And she will call His name Immanuel.” [God with us] ~Isaiah 7:14
You know, I cannot count how many times I have heard that passage preached. Surely around the time Christmas is celebrated. But, it never really dawned on me; the depth (and still I am not seeing all of it…) of what that one verse says.
“The Lord Himself…will give you a sign…His name will be [God with us]…”
Even as I write this out, I am in wonder that the Creator of all things…would do such a marvelous thing.
That even in His Name, He is Helper, and Friend.
I have so needed to understand that truth.
He is with me.
No matter what.
Even in a Third World Country. When my young child burns with fever and her body is racked with infection.
In the midst of this ghastly circumstance with Shiloh, there was an undertone of yet another issue brewing. Eliana (our 4 year old) had developed a nasty chesty cough. The sound of her cough gave away the fact that her lungs were filled with “gunk”. (is that too technical of a word…?!) J
Oh, and by the way, did I mention that the very next day, Nate was scheduled to make the 4+ hour trip to pick up Mom and Jim from the airport in Belize City….?
So, off to the doc again. This time with Eliana.
I am so blessed and thankful for the medical care that we have received here.
They immediately gave her a nebulizer treatment.
Sent her home with 4 meds, including a steroid and some hefty cough medicine.
God was with me.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched. Nor will the flame burn you.” ~Isaiah 43:2
[Did anyone else notice that passage says “when”, NOT, not “if”???]
Nate went to the airport to pick up our family. (they made their flight…which was a blessing in itself. Since they fly standby, sometimes they get “bumped”)
Ready for this?
The next morning, Josiah was not acting right. You know, how moms just know…?
He was super cranky. And just not his happy-go-lucky self.
I noticed a red mark on his leg. Not entirely unusual, in itself…but somehow the Lord drew my attention to it. In the midst of all the other bug bites and itchy spots on his lower legs, this area looked somehow different.
I felt it. It was warm. So was the rest of his leg.
This scared me.
But…. God is with me.
Off we go, ONCE AGAIN, to the medic. (if anyone is counting…YES, this is three children in 4 days to the doctor)
My poor lower case “j” was diagnosed with cellulitis. (a very serious skin infection, which could easily develop into staph infection, if not properly treated)
I was given a grave warning by the medic. Josiah needs his antibiotic every 6 hours, precisely. The doctor prescribed a strong antibiotic, along with a steroid, pain med, and Benadryl.
Did I mention yet that Nate and I were scheduled to go on a 2 night getaway? A few days after Josiah was diagnosed.
I must say it was looming in the back of my mind ….maybe we would not be able to go.
I hated the thought of leaving 3 sick children with my ever willing family.
After the first day on antibiotics, Josiah’s leg did not look any better.
I was scared again.
Meanwhile, Eliana was coughing and gagging as much as before.
Shiloh still had a bit of fever, though her glands were less swollen. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Shiloh also had an infection under her fingernail. Which was not healing. At her ER visit, they managed to get some of the pus out, and clean it up a bit. I think we were all hopeful that the finger would heal on its own.
Her finger continued its ominous red swelling, punctuated by oozing bits of yucky stuff.
God is with me.
Nate and I left Sunday afternoon for our getaway.
My capable in-laws at the helm of what seemed to me like a sinking ship.
😉
(10 minutes into our trip, our van broke down. Turns out, it was just a simple thing, ended up not being an issue. But, since I love to worry about things, this was a perfect opportunity.)
God is with me.
We had a fantastic time away together.
Thank you Mom and Jim, for your tireless love!
Upon our return home, Eliana’s cough had worsened. We took her back to medic. They prescribed a stronger antibiotic, and said “no running, and no sleeping with the fan on.” until her chest clears.
Meanwhile, our Pastor’s wife had been given some essential oil, which she had used on their daughter when she had a bad cough and cold.
Shiloh had to go to the doc this week to have her finger looked at. Sadly, they had to remove her nail.
which they did with no anesthesia 😦
God is with me.
She is once again on antibiotics and pain relievers for a season.
Poor sweetie. She has been a trooper!
Josiah is completely better from his infection, Yay!
At one point, our refridge was overrun with medications for these little guys!
We had a wonderful visit with our family! Thank you Lord!
Oh… and I guess now is as good a time as any to thank the Lord for Cheyenne’s upcoming marriage to Alexander. In JUNE!
My heart bursts simultaneously with thankfulness, and wonder at how fast the time has gone!
I would be lying if I said I was not just a bit sad to see her leave. But, I know the Lord has brought them together. That is something Nate and I have prayed for over the years…Godly spouses for our children.
It makes it easier to let her go. All the way to CANADA.
God is with me.
Like the old hymn says…
“prone to wander, Lord I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.” [Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing]
I am prone to forget. To forget and disregard what the Lord has done for me. And continues to do. Daily. Moment by moment. Breath by breath.
But, in spite of that,
God is with me.
~Sheila
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah” ~Psalm 68:19