I received a message from a friend the other day---one who reads my blog! (It's always nice to know that there are a few who actually read my contributions to cyber-space!). She was asking how things were going, how the appointment went with the specialist, and how Anna's eyes are doing. I realized that I hadn't updated the blog since November. And here's the reason why---appointments have been postponed (by the ophthalmologist and the specialist). The eye appointment in January has been changed to next week (early February), and the appointment with the TMJ specialist in Philadelphia has been postponed until February 18th).
In the meantime, we've been keeping busy. We had great visits with many family members and good friends over Christmas. We enjoyed having Anna's brother home from college for several weeks (he livens up the house with his personality and energy), and missed her older sister and brother-in-law who couldn't make it home from Nashville for the holidays. Anna has been keeping busy studying for mid-terms, practicing her bassoon to prepare for County Band (concert this weekend), getting her lab work done (standing order every 6-8 weeks), and reading some good fiction books. She's also on the Paint Crew for the high school musical, and that will keep her busy during the coming month.
So there's nothing new about her arthritis or uveitis during the months of December or January. February will be a different story, as we begin to have more appointments with more doctors (so probably more blog posts as I sort through information and my thoughts on how that information relates to Anna). I also need to arrange for an appointment for Anna with one of the pediatric rheumatology nurses. Anna wants them to teach her how to self-inject her Humira, which she is now receiving every two weeks instead of every ten days.
Even though these past few months have been busy yet quiet on the medical front, I find myself thinking often about Anna's upcoming appointment in Philadelphia. The first time seeing a new doctor or specialist always makes me just a little nervous, since I never know what to expect as far as personalities, whether I'll understand everything they're telling me, etc. (fear of the unknown, I guess) But I've also been hearing a lot about trusting God and praying a lot in preparation for big things coming up. So that's where I am right now--reading my "Jesus Calling" (by Sarah Young) devotional each day (the whole month of January has been about trust), and already praying for wisdom and understanding and clarity of mind for our February appointment in Philadelphia.
I have absolutely no idea what the 2013 year will hold for us (no major life events to anticipate---that I know of, anyway---and that's very different from the past several years), but I do know that God loves us beyond our comprehension, and "He's already there"---knowing what our future holds (new Casting Crowns song) there in the mystery and working out all of the details so that others will be able to see His love when we chose to trust and follow Him and experience His peace.
