Please pray for us…

Angie is not doing any better. Her fever remains between 102-103. This is her fifth day with fever, so we decided to go to the doctor. The entire visit including lab work and medicine only cost us about 20 bucks. That is really the only good part. Angie has been nauseated and has had a headache. The doctor ordered some blood work to be done to try to figure out what is going on. They think (they dont know for sure yet) that she has dengue fever. She slept in our room for most of the day with the windows closed and the door shut. It seemed so hot in there to me, but that is the way she wanted it. The medicine she took seemed to take care of the nausea, but really didnt do much for the fever. Late in the afternoon, I went back for the results from the blood test and they determined that her platelets were low. Usually 150,000 – 400,000, hers were 6800. The doctor recommended that we admit her. This was kind of nerve racking for us. We decided that all they were going to do is monitor her and give her an IV. This would help get her fluids which will help the blood platelet count. They are going to do a test tomorrow to determine if it is dengue fever. Our kids were both sick with fever last week and they seemed to get over quickly. We thought Angie had the same stuff and maybe she does. We will know more tomorrow. Right now, all we can do is wait and pray. About the hospital and stuff. Things work very differently over here. I had to pay my $3 charge before we could see the doctor. Once our consultation was over, we had to pay about $13 for the lab work and then the blood was taken. I then went across the hall to the Pharmacy and purchased her meds for about $7. I kind of like how it works. No surprise charges or anything and its pay before service. When I took her back this afternoon – to admit her, they prescribed more medicine that they anticipated giving her through the night and I had to go buy it and then give it to the nurse. Also, they do not serve any kind of food for the patients. I went down the road and bought some cooked white rice (this is what she asked for) from a shop and took it to her for dinner. I also took her 3 liters of mineral water. They asked me if she needed a private room and I told them “no she will be fine with all the other ladies.” Just kidding. I did pay the extra to get her a private room. This cost is about $30 day. The not so private room is about $6 per day. I think she deserves the best. Her nurse is from India and is Christian. She is very nice. We dont understand why we have had to go through the last couple of days. However, we are holding strong and remembering why we are here. I feel very confident that we will all be fine in a few days. Who knows, this could be preparation for another day. We now know where the hospital is and the routine. Let’s hope that it is the only illness and we get it out of the way from the beginning.The kids and I ate at a little restaurant tonight. It was a new place for us. All the other places have not sat real well with us, but this place was great. The three of us had Sprite to drink and main dishes and the total was a little less than $8. Considering that I didnt have to do the dishes to fix a meal and then do the dishes again, I think is was definitely worth it. You cant buy to Jamba Juices for that. Oh, how I long for a Jamba. Why am I so fixated on costs in this post?I think we have washed the sheets from our bed just about everyday since we’ve been here. If it wasnt someone sick, then it was the rain coming in our windows. Can somebody please tell me how to dry your laundry in rainy season? I know how we did it during tornado season in Oklahoma. We just threw them in the dryer, the same way we did it in every season. But before you comment and tell me to put them in the dryer, let me just say that the dryer is raining on them. I guess I am just rambling on because I dont want to go to bed with my wife in the hospital and I dont have anyone else to talk to. We stopped by the hospital again to check on her one last time before bed (10:00pm) here. She looked really tired. She said she just had to take a cold shower because her fever was 103. I didnt want to leave her there by herself but I didnt have a choice. I had to get my kids in their bed. Yeah, I am crying. Dont worry, my kids are asleep. I dont want to freak them out. I carried Kydnal back from the hospital tonight and she said, “Wow, Daddy! You sure are strong.” I dont feel all that strong right now. I feel pretty weak and powerless. It seems my prayers hit the top of this ceiling and thats it. Gee wiz, I am acting like a big baby, but I feel so responsible. I have to take care of her. So many people are counting on me to take care of her and keep her safe. Now I probably have you crying and worrying. I am sorry. But it makes me feel a little better when I write these things. It makes me feel like I am talking to someone. Please know that I know that my feelings are not reality. I know my prayers dont just hit the ceiling. I know God listens, I know he cares, and I know he heals the sick. I trust him. Ok, the sheets are through washing, I went to hang them out for a half hour or so before I go to bed. I feel better now that I have vented. Sorry you had to read all that, I could have deleted it, but I guess I just want to be transparent and let you not only read what I am experiencing but feel it too. If you are still reading this, you either are are a really good friend or just need to get a life. I know this is a very long post and will try to spare you in the future. Thanks for being a really good friend.