When It Rains, It Pours (or- Really, Again????)

I am not one to complain and complain when things seem to be going wrong or when the stars appear to be aligned against me, but it seems that I have been having more than my fair share of trials and adversity lately. This string of unfortunate events started in early October with having to seek treatment for my bad back, which is, thankfully, feeling better each week because of weekly treatments. Then, two weeks ago I started having problems with my digestive system - (See my post on Nov. 12th). Because of my diagnosis, I was issued two prescriptions for antibiotics to combat my diverticulitis.  It turns out these medications led to complications...keeping my string of bad luck continuing - a domino effect of sorts. First, I started having lots of upper stomach pain and, for me, that always means gastritis. Because of that, I have an endoscopy scheduled for this Monday morning (Nov. 25th). Oh joy! Then, the 2nd complication was that I woke up this morning (after seeing previous signs of a possible allergic reaction for 2 days) with welts all over my body, my eye lids swollen and droopy, and my face looked and felt like it was on fire. Very flattering picture, I know.

 (Definitely not my finest moment)

Welts on my leg

Sitting in Urgent Care (Couldn't wear makeup

because my eyes and face were so swollen)

This allergic reaction to my medications landed me in Urgent Care, where I spent 5 hours, most of it sitting around reading while waiting, but part was spent with two nurses struggling to find a vein for my IV injection of a steroid. I have a long history of trouble finding my veins so I was expecting that things would not go well, However, I wasn't expecting to feel like a pin cushion when it was all over. Finally, after the 1st nurse gave up after blowing out two veins, the 2nd nurse found a vein on her second try. Although it was extremely painful because of its location, I was super elated that she finally found my elusive vein. A prayer of gratitude from me quickly ascended to heaven.

Well, this saga continues...but not without having to back up a day. We live in the desert and seldom get rain, but sometimes when it rains, it really pours and flooding can occur. Yesterday was one of those days. At one point in the late afternoon/early evening, the skies opened up and dumped lots of rain in our area.  Right before Alan and I had to leave for our Pathway Gathering, I went to our room to change into my "missionary" clothes and discovered that the bottom of our bed was soaking wet and there was a stream of water flowing from the ceiling around the ceiling fan. Bad timing! Since we had to rush off, we stripped the bed of its freshly laundered sheets and blankets  (I had just made the bed 1 hour before we discovered this) and put down a plastic cloth and some buckets to catch any drips while we were away. Unfortunately, that bed was not in any condition to sleep in last night, but fortunately we have several empty beds to choose from when this one is out of commission.

Well, so far, that is it for my recent trials. It may sound like I am complaining, but I write these things as a history of mine for future reference. This is my journal for now and I publish all of my blog entries into a book at the end of each year for future reference and review by my posterity.

I like to think of trials like these (although minimal in comparison to what many others may have to endure daily) as opportunities for growth. Things happen to us for a reason and that reason is for us to experience both the negative and the positive aspects of life so we can grow and learn and endure to the end, especially when we draw upon the powers of heaven to help us to endure whatever comes our way.

"Like the intense fire that transforms iron into steel, as we remain faithful during the fiery trial of our faith, we are spiritually refined and strengthened." - Neil L. Andersen