Say a little prayer...

I approach this week...well...actually THURSDAY...with a lot of mixed emotions. But all in all, I am not allowing myself to think anything other than it will be the beginning of the end of a lot of suffering. What an amazingly comforting thought!

Bryan's health has been a constant roller coaster for the past 4 years, but especially intense over the last year. The two medications Bryan has been on for the past couple of months seem to dull his side pain which is a huge blessing, as that was completely debilitating to him before. His joint, bone, and muscle pain left around the time he started the medication, so we were hoping it was helping with that as well, but this weekend that pain came back with a vengeance. In years past, his joint pain has gone away in the winter, and resurfaced in the spring. It was just hard to tell with the timing of everything this year. He couldn't go to church today, but since Asher still wasn't totally feeling better, it worked out well. They spent the afternoon cuddling together listening to a combination of Mo-Tab and Man vs. Wild :)

In a way, I am very glad his joint pain came back this week because Thursday morning, we go to see the neurologist (this is the appointment we have had since NOVEMBER!). Even if his side pain is some kind of nerve pain (which is the type of pain his current medication targets...like some sort of fibromyalgia), it's obvious this other pain is unrelated...or at least different, which is something we suspected, but couldn't prove before. I think that is a huge step in finding out what is wrong.

I was referred to this doctor by my cousin, who suffered for two years until meeting him...he was able to diagnose her with MS and give her some relief. I don't necessarily think that's what Bryan has, but I have a lot of hope that Dr. Hammond will be the answer to our many prayers. I have never been so compelled to pray for a doctor, and I don't know if my prayers have ever felt so earnest.

Later that same afternoon, Bryan will take the district's "test" for applying principals. It is more of a personality profile, but they have super specific things they look for, so it's fairly intimidating. If he passes, he will then be considered for a principalship in the district. I am not sure how many applicants there are (last year there were around 80). Officially, there are 4 openings, maybe 5, so it's a bit of a long shot, but I feel so strongly this is what he is supposed to be doing.

This process has been incredibly humbling, but I would like to think that after a bachelor's degree, two masters degrees, and three years of two jobs, maybe he's earned it at this point. Nothing against anyone else, but I don't know anyone who tries harder than he does to provide for his family, and has sacrificed more both financially, physically, etc. to get and stay out of debt, and to make it so I can stay home. He never buys things for himself...ever. He despises me bragging him up...but he really is amazing. Besides, if he is going to post pictures of me coming out of a deep sleep looking "lovely," he kind of deserves my public accolades :) We both have mixed feelings about him getting his own school and leaving South Weber. He loves his "family" there. It will be a very sad day for both of us when it is time to move on. They have all been such a huge blessing in our lives, and I hope they all know that. I love him working there for some slightly more shallow, selfish reasons as well. It gives him a chance to get some of his teasing out of his system at work, so it isn't all directed at me when he gets home :)

I'm just hoping it's finally his time. So if you have an extra couple of minutes, please keep Dr. Hammond in your prayers. I know it will help.