Joy Comes in the Morning!

March 5

Monday, March 5, was a new day. I got up & went to my orthopedist for him to not even touch my foot but say, “it looks like RSD, Miss Jordan, I am so sorry. You’ve heard of RSD? I’ll refer you to a pain specialist; it’s outside of what I can do for you. Again, I am so very sorry, please give your regards to your husband.” 

But I had made peace with an RSD diagnosis just the day before so although his words should’ve made me distraught I was surprisingly calm. God is good, I am so thankful for all the friends & family who have prayed for me during this time. While I was still in the office the pediatrician calls to tell me that Tyson’s throat culture came back positive! Wait a minute, I kept him home, Thursday & Friday, took him to the doctor on Friday, they said he didn’t have strep & to manage his fever at home. He was better on Saturday & Sunday; I just gave him a dose of Tylenol for a headache but no fevers Sat or Sunday. Here it is MONDAY, he’s AT SCHOOL, & he has strep?!? 

Great. So I get a prescription for him & go to the MVA to get a disability tag on my car. I can drive but not really long distances as my foot seems to go numb when it isn’t elevated.  (But there’s nothing wrong? How frustrating!) Anyway, I make it to the MVA & Taylor manages to fall backwards out of his seat. Of course I can’t catch him on crutches, which I use to minimize my pain while I’m out, & he crashes to the floor unharmed only startled (that boy has his guardian angels jumping through hoops to protect him!)  I got my tags, picked up Tyson’s medicine & waited for him to get home from school as he only had an hour left so no real need for me to go pick him up. He had a huge snack, gave him his medicine, about an hour later he breaks out in a rash on his face, neck & shoulders & was crying for unknown reasons. He put himself in bed @ 6:45pm not to get up until 7am the next morning.

 Meanwhile I realized I missed a call from Kids Peace, our foster to adopt agency that we’re a part of. I think it was about 2pm, while I was waiting for the kids to get home from school. She had a few things to say about a possible adoption case that we are hoping we will be chosen for coming up this month & another teenage girl that needed respite care for a few days. 

Respite care? We did NOT sign up for respite care! Respite care is a temporary placement for foster kids who need an immediate placement for some reason while a more permanent placement is being found. They called us because we live in Columbia & the girl needed a place to stay in Howard County so she could continue to go to school.  

At first I thought, “I can NOT do this! I’m injured, Tyson’s sick, DJ is going to be gone all week (he has school Monday nights until 10:30pm, Super Tuesday receptions, home Wednesday night, Thursday Men’s Bible Study & then conference Friday & Saturday.” The case worker on the phone said she would probably be with us through the end of the week.  But a verse in Esther came to my mind. Esther was unsure of what to do & her wise Uncle Mordecai said to her, “Perhaps you are here for such a time as this.” And I thought, “Ok, God, this wasn’t what I had in mind. A teenager for a week? But it is what You have in mind so give me strength to do all that I need to do as I am here, at home, NOT working, for such a time as this.” And He gave me the peace to tell the social worker to bring her here! (I did call my husband first & he gave his blessing as well)

So now I have a teenage foster daughter! She has been a joy thus far. To protect her identity I can’t post photos or give her name but we are all enjoying this new world of lots of clothes & hour long prep for middle school. J

Please continue to pray as Tyson developed a rash last night (think he’s allergic to his medication) & we are in a period of transition here. I have appointments for acupuncture & other alternative medicine therapies as Western medicine has few answers for me. I am doing physical therapy twice a week for my foot & once a week for my hand with improved strength in my hand for which I am thankful. I cannot begin to acknowledge all the people who have cooked, done laundry, picked up my kids, substituted for me in preschool & Sunday school, prayed with me & encouraged my spirits. Dear friends & family, I love you so! This Journey of faith is an adventure.

I will try to post again on Friday, March 9, 2012.