The Day That Went Off the Rails (and how I got it back on track)

Ah....

This day went off the rails! 

The only thing I had on the schedule was to deliver some eggs and take Michael to get a tooth extracted. 

Stacia is housesitting and showed up this morning because she didn't feel well. She has been fighting a cold, then felt better, then got a fever on Saturday and Sunday and a WORSE sore throat. This morning her fever is gone, but she had a rash. I called our doctor's office and was told rashes often follow fevers and she was most likely fine. They had one appointment, and I asked them to hold it for me while I talked with Michael about scheduling. They said they would. I called back 5 minutes later to take the appointment, and it was gone. The receptionist also told me our provider, who we LOVE, is "no longer with them." This is the second time this has happened to me at this practice. I chose to go with a small, local clinic so I WOULDN'T have to switch docs all the time (ala military) this is disappointing. The two docs now are both males and the girls and I prefer a female doc. 

I felt Stacia's rash needed to be looked at. It didn't look like roseola to me...and my kids usually got that as toddlers not as 19-year-olds. 

I got GG up and got him settled for the day. 

We ran to urgent care for a walk in appointment. It became apparent the time was going to be close to get home to pick up Michael to take him to his tooth extraction. While Stacia waited in Urgent Care, I visited the new to me doctor's office that shares space with the urgent care. It's not as local BUT they have 3 doctors, one is female, and I've heard good things about her - she's been recommended by two people to me - they take Tricare, and the receptionist say none of the docs plan on leaving.  Michael's neurologist/motion disorder specialist moved out of state. He was the only one we'd found that lived here and specialized in Parkinson's...I sent out an SOS as the time we HAD to leave approached. Arielle and the kids said they would come over and watch GG until Stacia could get home. Michael would meet us in town, and we would drive on to Wasilla, Stacia would take my van to the house....watch GG and then go home. 

UNTIL STACIA TESTED POSTIVE FOR STREP THROAT and has Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. I knew the blistering rash needed to be seen.  We had 20 minutes to head to Carr's to get the meds. Michael planned to meet us at the pharmacy. UNTIL they said it would be a 30 min wait and they had lunch break too so an hour.  I drove Stacia home, and she got her car. 

I pulled in just as a load of lumber showed up (another pop up in the day). I disinfected the car. Michael came out and we headed to his appointment. Arielle and the kids stayed with GG rather than Stacia to avoid exposing him to her mess. We are glad she is housesitting - quarantined away from us. She wore gloves and socks when here. The kids and Arielle stayed outside.  GG will go out with them - so that was a great option for all. 

We ran to the dentist for Michael's tooth extraction. He said it was the first time he was awake for an extraction. I told him the oral surgeon said we HAD to be awake for him to pull teeth. The whole thing is odd to me. I KNEW people had been asleep before when their wisdom teeth were pulled. They gave us a prescription. We KNEW Fred Myers won't take Tri-care and were told they don't take VA either. Carrs DOES take Tricare, but they don't accept VA. We went to Walgreens because they DO accept VA. They told me at least 1 1/2 hours. Walgreens is in Wasilla....it was 30 min home...Michael was bleeding and in pain. I drove him home. Chatted with Arielle and the boys, disinfected the house (just in case) and then drove back to Walgreens.  I don't think Walgreens is going to be a good pharmacy option for us when Carrs closes down and FM won't take Tricare or Medicare. 

At home, I made GG dinner. I picked things up, finished a few tasks... It was just a HECTIC, frazzling day.  In a sermon last month Britt had shared the practice of asking "Where did I feel closest to God today?" and "Where did I feel furthest from God today?" I have been doing that at the end of the day - it's a great practice.   I am also reading, "Practicing the Way," by John Mark Comer and I read today one should note where, or what, or when they feel close to God and THAT can be a spiritual discipline/practice/rhythm of grace etc.  I had read this at the dentist. I immediately knew I feel close to God with a cup of tea in my garden.....Sunday morning is too busy for such...and this morning was interrupted. GG was reading, Michael was icing and reading.  

I made a cuppa decaf Vanilla tea and headed out to the garden. And it was the right decision. My frazzled emotions settled back into place. As I began to look around, I noted the MINT in the corner of the bed you see in the above picture. I planted TWO plants in a corner of a bed....and when I was weeding on Saturday, I discovered what I thought was weeds is actually MINT...everywhere. I harvested mint. 

I didn't pull the plants, I simply cut them way back. Maybe I'll get more before winter.  As I sit here, the dehydrator is full and running...and the air is filled with the smell of mint. I used some of the leaves to make a cup of fresh mint tea....and I plan to save these for mint tea this winter. I am also growing Stevia and may mix the leaves for a blend. 

I sure wish I knew how to change the sizes of my photos back to something normal. ::snort::  Oh, and while the day was crazy and full of the unexpected...this also happened. Jamin went to vote...he was there before they opened so he could cast the first vote for his little brother, Jared to be their district's state senator.  Early voting has begun. 

GRACE NOTES: 

• Accurate diagnosis, meds and rest for Stacia.
• Arielle and the kids jumping in to help. 
• Quiet time in the garden. 
• MINT.