We didn't have the Christmas celebration we would have wanted. Around Dec. 20, my mother-in-law and both kids began with coughs and fevers. The kids slept a lot and lay around on the couch downstairs, too tired and listless to do much of anything. My mother-in-law grew steadily worse, adding vomiting to the original symptoms.
By Christmas Eve, we thought it best to try getting intravenous rehydration, but since she is diabetic, our doctor recommended we get her blood sugar tested first. Abraham drove her to get the test, and that turned in to a three-day hospital stay, because her levels were close to 700. With antibiotics and insulin, her condition improved.
However, because of the kids' illness and her hospital admission, we canceled the Christmas Day church service. Abraham stayed the night of the 24-25th at the hospital, an unpleasant experience, since extra blankets are not permitted into the hospital, nor are there beds for care-takers. He returned home to sleep several hours while another family member stayed at the hospital. In the following days, various siblings took turns at the hospital.
My mother-in-law is seemingly fine now, although she can no longer rely on diet alone to control the diabetes. She needs blood sugar tests every morning and an injection of insulin. Doctors have not been very clear about how to proceed with treatment, and she firmly dislikes medication of any kind.
them to their homes after service, snack time, and play time.
This past Sunday it was evident that there had been fights in all three houses, since the kids and teens arrived out-of-sorts. Once the service ended, three of the teens had separate, tearful conversations with Abraham and another church member. I am thankful that they feel the confidence and security here to have such discussions.
Please continue to pray for us. As the building in Huejo is just about finished, we hope to begin classes in English, tutoring, and online schooling there. Abraham might offer tae kwon do and Lani's ballet teacher also may give basic classes. Those two classes require that we install a proper floor and mirrors.
