Turning a corner?

$540.67 in medicines over the last two and a half months to get over this breast infection. It’s still here, but I think we’ve turned a corner this last weekend. A couple things have happened.

One, I went to the Greensboro La Leche meeting on Friday. There were a few women there who had experienced bacterial breast infections and yeast breast infections. They were surprised I was being treated for both. They mentioned that the two treatments are conflicting. It just hadn’t really occurred to me. No wonder it’s taking so long. Any of you who have had a bladder infection and the course of antibiotics to cure it resulted in a lovely yeast infection know this already. I just didn’t think about it I guess. I also couldn’t really separate which of my symptoms were from bacteria and which were from yeast. It was good to hear from the women there. They recommended taking probiotics and avoiding sugar.

My sister’s best friend, Val, had been treated in Anchorage by a naturopath who was able to cure her with probiotics. It took three tries to get the right probiotic. These same probiotics also helped with her son Aiden’s eczema. Well, I had purchased these probiotics when PJ was really little because I thought he was having some trouble with gas and gut development, perhaps from starting off in the NICU with antibiotics. Primadolpholis Reuteri. So I started taking a big dose of these on Saturday, as far from my dose of antibiotics as possible. I also stopped all gratuituos sugar intake on Sunday.

Two, this weekend, in the middle of the night Saturday night, it occurred to me that daily prayer and Bible study just aren’t optional for me. How can I have such strong opinions about it and not do it? This is always a struggle for me. I feel like I’ve been running from God on this one for awhile. Disappointments, hopelessness, unbelief… lots of different contributers here. Prayer is a mystery. Does it make a difference? How do we do it? Why? Does God answer? At this point, all I know is it just isn’t optional. I woke up feeling pretty harassed – PJ was sick with a stuffy nose, couldn’t nurse well, nothing was working, Josh and I were having bad dreams… I called home because it would only be 10pm there. Mom prayed for us. I was so tired! I was reminded of the story of Jonah and how he ran from God and what God was asking him to do.

I think I have been running from God on this breast infection. It seems like God has been asking me to deal with some things that I want to run from. I want to stick my head in the sand and just outlast it. But sheesh, 2 and a half months. Coming up on three. More than 25% of PJ’s life outside the womb. And affecting me in every way. Tired, ornery, impatient, frustrated, unable to keep up with the house and other chores. I read about Jonah again to refresh my memory. God told him to go to Ninevah and tell the people to repent. He got on a boat to run away. I don’t think he realized just how serious the situation was. I think he thought he actually could run away and God might not notice. He actually fell asleep in the hull of the boat while the rest of the passengers and crew were freaking out about a storm God sent. Like I’ve sorta given up and hunkered down, just waiting for this infection to go.

So, to hell with the house and whatever else, I’ve got to get in at least a little time in the morning, journaling about what is going on, listening to what God might be trying to tell me, reading my Bible. I mean, the house and my chores are suffering already anyway.

Another follow up appointment with Dr. Spencer on Friday. I was considering an acupuncturist in Greensboro. But that’s another $150 or so. And I think I might finally be on the right track…