Who are the shots hurting?

We took Keira to the clinic to get her six month shots the last time we were in Kampala. This is the second time the kids have gone with us, but this time seemed to be a little different, especially for her big brother.

The lift

The placement

Add a twist

Executed perfectly

Watch the love of a brother.

Comfort time

16 more shots we're done with

Since Doug and I've been to Africa semi-recently, we've had Typhoid and Yellow Fever shots. So today, all we had to get was a TB skin test and our 2nd Rabies.

The kids had to get all 4. Their arms are a little sore, but they played hard this evening with another girl a year older than Kylie who is spending the night with us, and I think all the activity will help them tomorrow.

Doug is running a half marathon tomorrow...his first. I am so proud of him. He and another guy (the father of the girl who is spending the night) run every morning except Friday. Doug gets up at 5:45, and they run several miles. On Saturday, they do longer runs.

A bunch of guys from here will be running. The race starts at 7:30 Eastern time, and I was going to track him on-line at http://www.richmondmarathon.com/, but the "tracking" part of the website is blocked for all of us who live out here. So I'm trying to find a vehicle. If I get to go, I'll take a picture or two.






Ironic (and funny), isn't it?

Last week's update (Days 21-26)

I have had several people tell me that my Hep B shot should not have hurt as bad as it did, and they wondered if I had gotten my shot in a nerve. How likely is that scenario? Is that possible? Nurses?

Anyway, this week should be okay for Doug and I, but not so good for the kids. Since Doug and I have already been to Africa, we only need a second rabies shot and a TB skin test. I didn't even bother finding out what all they kids had to have. I'd rather not have to think about it that long. I'll let you know after Friday...

I didn't update a lot last week (and I shouldn't be doing it now), but my homework will still be there when I'm done typing.

Right now, Doug and I are working on a "plan" for our Washington D.C. trip we have to take as an assignment. We have a checklist of things we have to do and observe while we are there, and before we go, we have to send in a report about where we are going, what and where we will eat (has to be something culturally ethnic we've never had before), and how we will accomplish our goals.

In case you didn't know, it takes a long time to research a city you hardly know anything about except the historical highlights. And I've never thought about searching for a people group in a city, have you? Quite interesting.















Another interesting praise that was new to me was how cross-cultural God made His Word. For example, King Saul was described as a “head and shoulder” above other men. For a Pygmy, this may be 5 feet; for a Massai, it may be 6’ 6”. It relates to both cultures perfectly, just like God. Another example was a woman in the Bible being described as “beautiful of face and form.” This could mean thin, heavy, tattooed, plain, etc. depending on which people group is reading His Word. Isn't He good?!

Another session we had last week was just with the Sub-Saharan Africa peoples, and we discussed culture shock. For two hours (and we needed more), we talked about all the things that can and will put us in culture shock, and how we WILL slide down into a depressed state. The not so funny part is that we filled the white board with all the things that will be “shocks” to us, and our leaders said we would have pits in EVERY category. Doesn’t that sound fun? They cautioned us to never make decisions while we are in the “pit” and ready to go home, and I think we all decided to have our company’s counseling number on speed dial.


Just for grins! Although you would have to click on it to really appreciate it.














As a side note, if you are ever traveling overseas, you can register with the State Dept on-line at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/, and they will be able to contact you while you are overseas if they feel there is something you need to know about for safety.

Hepatitis B - not my friend

If getting the disease Hepatitis B feels anything like the shot, I'm staying as far away from that stuff as possible!

I haven't been in this much pain since I pulled my back out.

I could not get out of bed this morning until Doug brought me some medicine and I let it get in my system.

I was able to get around all day as we did "stuff," but I was always aware of the pain. I should have had MUCH more sympathy for my children when they had to get this last year! Bad mom!

Doug got Hep A and B, rabies, and a polio booster. He said the rabies hurt him, but he got up and ran 9 miles this morning with his running buddy. (They are training for a half marathon, so they run every morning at 5:45 except Friday and Sunday!) Maybe running helped move all that medicine around, even though he is still sore.

I had asked people to pray for the trauma of the shots for my kids, but next time, I'll be wiser and ask for the soreness and achy ness to not be so severe. All of my children cried today when someone touched their arm or picked them up or just grazed them, and two of them were up last night at different times needing Motrin.

We go at it again next Friday, but Doug is going to try to get his shots moved to Tuesday since his half marathon is next Saturday. It would stink if he had to run while battling the effects of the typhoid or yellow fever shot.

I'll keep you posted.