I need some advice from all you "been there, done that" people.
Jac went to the doctor today for his 5 year-old well child check. Last year when he went in, the doctor suggested to me that we get him tested for the HIV virus. I politely refused at that time. Jac was tested in Haiti as an infant and we felt comfortable with those results. I also at the time, couldn't help but notice that the doctor suggested we only test Jac, not Emilee.
Today when Jac went in, the same doctor suggested the same thing. Before I could even refuse, the doctor walked out. I assumed he was busy. After a short while, he came back in, proceeding to tell me that he had consulted with a specialist. This specialist also felt that Jac needs the test. Once again, Emilee was never brought into the conversation.
I'll be honest. I had to say a quick prayer before I answered him, and still things didn't come out correctly. I am furious about this suggestion.
First of all, if Jac were HIV positive, wouldn't he certainly be symptomatic by now? And second of all, why the different treatment for my two children? Is it because of the thought that HIV is more predominant in Haiti? Do they truly not trust the test done in Haiti, even though I have missionary friends there that use the exact same test? Why the push to test my child when I've told the doctor in the past that it is not something we wish to pursue? I know the reasoning is likely based on fears that this doctor has, but I can't help but wonder if there are subtle racist thoughts underlying his suggestion. Why my black son and not my Mayan daughter?
Am I out of line refusing this test (again)? Am I reading too much into the push (and I do mean he was truly pushing me) to get this done? What is the best way to address this in the future?
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Boy Brains....
Because our adoption process is too confusing and too depressing to update on here, I decided instead to let you in on some of the humor that goes on in this place. :) Namely some humor from one very tall, very mechanically minded boy.
In the last month, here are some of the things that Jac has done with that little engineering brain of his...
He is constantly going to Rod's machine shed and hauling out tools. It's something he's not supposed to do, but something we can't seem to stop him from being tempted by. Recently I found him outside with a block of wood.
And the hand saw.
The REAL handsaw.
The one with the REALLY. SHARP. TEETH.
He couldn't understand why he couldn't play with "that cutter, the REAL one".
"I'll be careful mom!"
Yeah.
I'm thinking no.
It wasn't long after that I saw him intently studying an old bike that he had brought up to the front of the house. He often does this, this studying of wheels and gears and all things nuts and bolts. I saw him again march off to dad's tool shed and come back with a wrench. And then another. And another. Apparently he was sizing them for proper fit.
Silly me.
It wasn't long before the one remaining training wheel was off the bike. No big deal, I thought, assuming his need to disassemble all things was over.
Error.
The next time I looked outside, the entire training wheel itself was in pieces.
Oh, and so was the chain.
And the gear thingie.
And the wheel.
"Put the tools away Jac."
His latest fascination has been with an old innertube from one of the sheds. He rolls it across the lawn, studying with some odd fascination. One day this past week, I looked out the window and laughing, called Ashtyn to come look too. He had put the wheel up against the wheel of her Blazer, sizing it up for fit.
His wheels are turning...
He loves Rod's old truck. While Rod is eating dinner, Jac is often right by the truck. Loving on it with little boy love, I imagine. I don't know why else anyone would stand by it for an hour.
Looking at it's tires.
Checking the broken mirrors.
Going up and down on the running boards.
Oh, and picking broken glass off those same mirrors.
And "painting" the wording.
With Pet-Odor Remover.
In a spray bottle.
That he got from who-knows-where.
His love for all things moving doesn't end there though. He has also keyed our mini-van, "I was just trying to make tracks mom" and once decided to "wash under that wiper".
The back wiper.
The one that now hangs limply from it's screw.
No longer wiping anything.
We are a bit worried here.
We wonder how long it will be before one of us rides down the road.
And suddenly loses a tire.
Or a door.
Or maybe a carburetor.
Anyone for an oil change? :)
In the last month, here are some of the things that Jac has done with that little engineering brain of his...
He is constantly going to Rod's machine shed and hauling out tools. It's something he's not supposed to do, but something we can't seem to stop him from being tempted by. Recently I found him outside with a block of wood.
And the hand saw.
The REAL handsaw.
The one with the REALLY. SHARP. TEETH.
He couldn't understand why he couldn't play with "that cutter, the REAL one".
"I'll be careful mom!"
Yeah.
I'm thinking no.
It wasn't long after that I saw him intently studying an old bike that he had brought up to the front of the house. He often does this, this studying of wheels and gears and all things nuts and bolts. I saw him again march off to dad's tool shed and come back with a wrench. And then another. And another. Apparently he was sizing them for proper fit.
Silly me.
It wasn't long before the one remaining training wheel was off the bike. No big deal, I thought, assuming his need to disassemble all things was over.
Error.
The next time I looked outside, the entire training wheel itself was in pieces.
Oh, and so was the chain.
And the gear thingie.
And the wheel.
"Put the tools away Jac."
His latest fascination has been with an old innertube from one of the sheds. He rolls it across the lawn, studying with some odd fascination. One day this past week, I looked out the window and laughing, called Ashtyn to come look too. He had put the wheel up against the wheel of her Blazer, sizing it up for fit.
His wheels are turning...
He loves Rod's old truck. While Rod is eating dinner, Jac is often right by the truck. Loving on it with little boy love, I imagine. I don't know why else anyone would stand by it for an hour.
Looking at it's tires.
Checking the broken mirrors.
Going up and down on the running boards.
Oh, and picking broken glass off those same mirrors.
And "painting" the wording.
With Pet-Odor Remover.
In a spray bottle.
That he got from who-knows-where.
His love for all things moving doesn't end there though. He has also keyed our mini-van, "I was just trying to make tracks mom" and once decided to "wash under that wiper".
The back wiper.
The one that now hangs limply from it's screw.
No longer wiping anything.
We are a bit worried here.
We wonder how long it will be before one of us rides down the road.
And suddenly loses a tire.
Or a door.
Or maybe a carburetor.
Anyone for an oil change? :)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Wait...
Just saw this quote and had to post it...
He makes us wait. He keeps us in the dark on purpose. He makes us walk when we want to run, sit still when we want to walk, for he has things to do in our souls that we are not interested in.
Elisabeth Elliot
How very, very true.
He makes us wait. He keeps us in the dark on purpose. He makes us walk when we want to run, sit still when we want to walk, for he has things to do in our souls that we are not interested in.
Elisabeth Elliot
How very, very true.
Monday, August 17, 2009
With Thanksgiving...
I don't know what has changed, but something definitely has. I am more at peace with things then I've been in a long time.
God and I wrestled pretty heavily this last week. I had a lot of ugly thoughts and was headed towards a very dark place.
But God won out.
His love and His care are that big.
I looked really hard at my life.
I am really, truly blessed.
God has my two firmly in His grip. I have teenage girls that I have the blessing of watching grow up into amazing women. I have a little girl that loves to be a princess. I have a little boy that is bursting with little boy motion. All blessings. Each and every day.
I told my sister today that trusting God is not a one time thing. Each morning I wake up and need to make a choice. To trust or not to trust.
I've got a new quote at the top of my blog. It says, "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrows, but only empties today of it's strength." Charles Spurgeon
Wow.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phillipians 4:6
How true is that?
At the end of the day, God is good.
Really, really good. :)
God and I wrestled pretty heavily this last week. I had a lot of ugly thoughts and was headed towards a very dark place.
But God won out.
His love and His care are that big.
I looked really hard at my life.
I am really, truly blessed.
God has my two firmly in His grip. I have teenage girls that I have the blessing of watching grow up into amazing women. I have a little girl that loves to be a princess. I have a little boy that is bursting with little boy motion. All blessings. Each and every day.
I told my sister today that trusting God is not a one time thing. Each morning I wake up and need to make a choice. To trust or not to trust.
I've got a new quote at the top of my blog. It says, "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrows, but only empties today of it's strength." Charles Spurgeon
Wow.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phillipians 4:6
How true is that?
At the end of the day, God is good.
Really, really good. :)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Words....
The week in words...
Our Adoption:
Unwanted interference
Lots of questions
No answers
At Home:
Ashtyn-Being stretched in her faith
Savanah-Took a trip and made new friends
Tabitha-Branching out and growing up
Emilee-Hugging with all her heart
Jac-A blur of busy
Our Adoption:
Unwanted interference
Lots of questions
No answers
At Home:
Ashtyn-Being stretched in her faith
Savanah-Took a trip and made new friends
Tabitha-Branching out and growing up
Emilee-Hugging with all her heart
Jac-A blur of busy
Lord,
Thank-you for these I have at home. Watch over those not here. Bring them all together.
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
