Never Be Normal

     I should be asleep right now at 1:44 am or at least figuring out the tab settings so I'll quit screwing them up.  The big Coke I had in the ER with Miranda (for fear of falling asleep having 2 1/2 hrs last night and a restless 2 hr nap) has me awake.  I was so sleepy this morning that I honestly forgot to drink coffee, just remembering it midafternoon while I was in the tub (trying not to be homely as I am so often lately) and knowing I was missing something.   An hour later, Madalynn was seen by a new doctor and I was impressed with him.  He got serious as soon as he saw her sheepish countenance and by the end of the visit gave what I knew was warranted, a large dose of Rocephin in each thigh for the horrendous infections in her ears.  She threw up all the way home as I broke down wondering if the 48 hr limit he set for improvement before admission would be met.  She IS sleeping soundly in our bed and after keeping little to nothing down for 5 days, she kept 2 small pieces of chicken down with quite a bit of Gatorade.        
    Miranda, who has become a professional sick person since her 16th birthday in October: with headaches from a concussion for weeks while dealing with something of a broken heart; 2 really bad colds - one ending in an eardrum rupture; this stomach virus; and mulling around meanings so much that it keeps her up at night; has never needed the ER until last week and again today, only to find out - nothing.  I am glad that kidney infections are ruled out, but half pondering if there is a real "Dr. House" or if our sweetly zealous cousin saying, "You are healed," worked!   (Anyway, after hearing her vomiting sound like a swamp monster through an intercom, I think there's a chance she might've only thrown her back out!)                
     Melody is ever so sick right now; I have no idea where a 10 year old could store that kind of stock but she keeps in mind that it means she will make the birthday party she has been packed for all week.  I am thinking that the more I try to have a "normal" week, the more we don't.  I used to think it was simply Satan and I had to overcome, and I do; BUT I have an unexplainable peace that not being normal is okay, for us.  There are particular things that are obviously crucial to well-rounded living and learning; we do want to accomplish those.  And then, there are other things that a lot of people THINK are crucial.   We tend to be "doers" (sometimes only studying in odd times and increments) and I'm beginning to think God is impressing on me that he needs leaders who can "transform", "adapt", "thrive in difficulty", "coexist with battle".  I'm not promoting throwing off all routine (or being a cyborg), but UPGRADING to the GRACE that gives vision to priorities not lists;  individuality alongside cooperation (still very much in the works here); timing - essential to maturity; sacrifice and serving; being available and ready, fully expecting to change the world.                                                                                                                                                  
     It's 3:33 am and my baby Madalynn, 4 days shy of her 3rd birthday, is back asleep after being sick once again.