Remember Ruby?

After a rather long sabbatical, I am back!

Sometimes we go through phases of life where everything is predictable, scheduled, ho hum even.  Other seasons are more frantic - spontaneous.  Sometimes, we are caught unaware and life carries us along paths we never imagined.

Two weeks ago I blogged from the Brisbane airport waiting to return from my appointment to the Eye Clinic.  That day I noticed a soreness in my arm, like   a bruise, and I think I mentioned I had a niggling headache. By Friday night that arm was fierce and swollen and very painful.  Turns out I had a DVT there and a severe infection. So whilst in hospital dealing with the symptoms some other things began happening.  I had skyrocketing blood pressure, which had been going on for a couple of weeks and other sensations which indicated things where not going so well.  By the Monday, my bloods showed I'd had a triponin leak which is an indicator of a heart event.  I then spent a couple of days in Coronary Care before the problem was made more clear.  A little of the clot had gone to my lung which was causing grief to my heart and causing the leak - so no heart attack!
I am sure it all sounds very dramatic to anyone reading but alas, this is the way things go for me sometimes.
I was able to come home last week on the Hospital in the Home scheme and have my condition and new medications monitored here which has been great.  I am feeling really well now and praising God for His mercy!
So, needless to say, my best laid plans have not come to fruition for a really full on term of school work with my boys before the birth of my daughter's twins.  She is due in about six weeks. Any mother who is teaching her children at home and also coping with chronic illness knows that we have to be somewhat flexible in our schedules.  It is a challenge and I won't commit to writing a post on that topic as I frankly do not think I have been the best of examples in it.

On the positive side, two of the boys' supervising teachers have made visits in the last couple of weeks.  This has been good motivation for them and great encouragement for me, who naturally wonders whether I should keep on the road we are going.  My older son is joining the Homeschoolers trip to Canberra in August which the school is organizing.  He is very excited.  I think this will officially make him the most travelled member of our family!
Whilst in hospital I jotted down several anecdotes and other ideas for blog posts which perhaps will make it here in the near  future,  I am still limited in my usage of the computer and the three weeks enforced break, with no internet here, has perhaps helped to wean me from the need to check my favourite blogs too often.
I hope to catch up with you all over the next few days and comment.  I have been missing all the happenings at your places and trust you are all well and happy.

Though I have posted this verse several times before it is very precious to me and I leave you with it now.


 "My flesh and my heart faitheth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."