A Glimpse Behind the Photo

We managed to take this family portrait in the living room, with the camera timer, before church last Sunday. Looking at the picture makes us chuckle. Really, Bob and I were laughing out loud (an odd exhausted and beaten down kind of a laugh) the night we took it becuase the photo has such a happy look about it. It almsot makes it seem like we have things figured out and put together.

But we don’t.

Let’s not even go into the emotional adoption adjustment stuff that we continue to muddle through. I haven’t written about all that again because I really don’t know what to say. Instead let’s take a look at some of the health issued we’ve dealt with during this already challenging time.

In one month:

• Head Lice and LOTS of RID. Yep, we thought we were in the clear when we got home but we were wrong. It has been a horrible uphill battle because it had spread before we caught it. I have never, ever done so much laundry and spent SO many hours (I’m guessing that I’ve clocked about 40) combing through hair and spent so much time cleaning.
• Scabies. The jury is still out on this one (we don’t have a confirmed diagnosis). But we did have to drive the whole crew to the clinic to check on a suspicious itchy rash. And we did have to fill prescriptions and treat it and do more laundry. Lots more laundry. And more cleaning.
• Ringworm. We knew Ella had a fungal infection on her scalp right away in Ethiopia. The doctor looked it over and thought maybe it was just cradle cap. But guess what showed up on my face just a few days after our appointment, right where Ella’s little head is always buried into my neck and face? Yep, Ringworm.
• Stomach flu. We all know about this already, but it did happen in our first month home, I’ll reiterate that we endured a nasty bug during those first days home.
• Other fungal infections… or maybe it’s just eczema. Lila has white patches on her face. Doctor didn’t know if it was fugal or just dry skin, so he gave us the prescription. $130 dollars later and an almost empty bottle and the results? Still lots of white spots. Guess it was eczema and the meds were a waste.
• Colds. All seven of us had got head colds.
• Doctor appointments. And failed blood draws. And mounting medical bills. And a whole slew of intestinal parasite tests that have yet to come back. Can’t help but wonder what else might be lurking…
• Update: Tests came back and both girls are positive for Giardia.

Put it all together and what do you get? One frazzled momma! I am itchy all over as I write this because I feel like there are bugs everywhere. I think it’s all in my head… or maybe it’s not… one can’t know for sure when their home is infested with lice and scabies. Oh, I hate that feeling. I have never been so uncomfortable in my own home. And having fungus on my face really adds to the whole experience.

So, one might ask us, is it worth it?

Yes it is. And I’ll write more about why soon.