Diagnosis

Well, it's been an intense week, but at least we now know for sure what has been causing my pain.  According to the specialist I have many ulcers, thus the pain.  I am taking anti acid tablets, but thankfully there was no H. pylori so I don't need antibiotics.  I am eating a lot of papaya and aloe vera which I think are helping to heal the raw areas of the stomach.  Thanks so much for all your prayers!  Taking life a little slower......  Steve

What a year!

This past week has been rather eventful.  Actually, it seems this entire year, so far, has had it's share of drama.  In the past 8 months we have moved twice, been burglarized, had oral surgery, welcomed a new baby in the home, made an unexpected 6+ hour trip one way to take an HIV patient to a AIDS clinic, also made an unexpected trip to Johannesburg (5+hrs one way) to work on US paperwork for Shoshanah, started homeschooling Isaac, and many other smaller activities and details that have barely allowed us time to stop and catch our breath.  A few weeks ago I was talking to Gwen and I said, "I wonder what is next?"  And then this week...  Sunday night I, Steve, had terrible abdominal pain and didn't get much sleep. Monday was fairly normal except for being exhausted from the lack of sleep. Then Tuesday morning after breakfast I started feel uncomfortable again.  After lunch I again began experiencing severe pain in my stomach. Finally we decided to go see the doctor.  He first gave me a shot for abdominal cramping, which I reacted to.  So he then put me on an IV and gave me some strong pain meds and sent us to the ER an hour and a half away.  In the ER they did x-rays and took blood samples.  All the tests that were done came back clear.  The doctor told us he thought is was gallstones or a stomach ulcer. We stayed that night with some friends who live in Bloemfontein and the next day we went back to the hospital so I could be tested for gallstones.  That test was also negative.   A couple of hours after leaving Bleom I was again in a lot of pain.  I hoped it would go away, but I actually spent the entire night tossing and turning, getting in and out of bed, sitting in a chair and on the floor but with no relief.  Thursday morning the pain subsided a little but by the afternoon it was back again.  Some friends took me to the doctor again for more medication.  I was finally able to sleep the whole night.  My diet at this point is yogurt, papaya and bananas.  (Great weight loss program!)  I am scheduled for an endoscopy next Monday to verify whether my problem is a stomach ulcer or not.  We are so thankful to those who have helped us and have been praying. We trust the Lord to work out His will in these events. 

My Two Beautiful Girls

I'm blessed to have a wife like Gwen.  She enjoys little things and doesn't need expensive clothes and gadgets to make her happy.  She made the jumper that Shoshanah is wearing to match her skirt (sorry you can't see that in the picture). I think it turned out very nice.  I'm very thankful for my 1 Timothy 2:9 wife and her desire to raise our daughter the same way. 

I'm sorry

I have deleted the previous post due to some incorrect information.  I apologize. 

The Big Four!

A Poem

Here is a poem we read this week that really spoke to us. It is taken from 101 More Hynm Stories, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, p. 269.  Think especially about verses 3 and 4.  What do you think?

"My God I thank Thee who hast made the earth so bright,

So full of splendor and of joy, beauty and light;

So many glorious things are here, noble and right.

"I thank Thee too, that Thou has made joy to abound,

So many gentle thoughts and deeds circling us round,

That, in the darkest spot of earth, some love is found.

"I thank Thee more, that all our joy is touched with pain,

That shadows fall on brightest hours, that thorns remain;

So that earth's bliss may be our guide, and not our chain.

"I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou has kept the best in store;

We have enough, but not too much to long for more-

A yearning for a deeper peace, not known before."

Written by:  Adelaide A. Procter

This morning

I just thought I would share a picture of Shoshanah I took this morning.  She is doing well and is taking lessons on endurance from the hands of her older brothers.  They do love her! They just have to learn to be gentle!

Titus' Second Birthday

This week Titus turned two years old. We didn't really have a birthday party for him, but since we live so close to the Uncle Johan and Aunt Hessie we decided to have supper with them and Gwen made the cake you see below. She put the cow on since Titus likes the cows we see when we travel through the country.

 Here is Titus with his South African Grandparents.  In Afrikaans they are Oupa (Grandpa) and Ouma (Grandma). 

Enjoying the baby

Shoshanah is really popular right now!   

Shoshanah Marie Geise

Monday started off with Gwen and I going to Bloemfontein for me to have two wisdom teeth surgically removed.  I rested quite a bit on Tuesday, thankfully without much pain.  Then that evening we realized it might not be long before our baby came.  Sure enough about 2am Wednesday morning we left the house to drive back to Bloemfontein for the birth of our little girl.  The hospital kept Gwen and the baby one day, although they normally keep them in for two. After getting out of the hospital we had to go by the Department of Home Affairs to get a birth certificate - no such thing as getting one in the mail. After four hours of waiting we received the certificate.  The boys are really enjoying their little sister.

When Shoshanah was born she weighed 6lbs 9oz.  She was 16 inches long. (All the boys were over twenty inches.) Gwen and Shoshanah are both doing well.