Doctors and Education and Asthma

Jesse, in this snap, is sitting hopefully at the front door awaiting the first day of school. She's even sporting the proper tie for a girl. But, as cute as I think Jesse is, that's not what I want to write about.

My Munchkin #2 is asthmatic. Now, to someone who's never dealt with this, you may not fully 'get it' when I say it's not fun to deal with. My kid can look totally normal one minute, then suddenly start coughing, and then if left un-checked, is suddenly down for the count. It's not fun.

We've dealt with breathing issues with her since she was 6 monthes old. Yup, forever. Repeatedly, doctors misdiagnosed her. "She's got RSV, she's got allergies, it's just a cold, it's pollution in the city". I have heard it all. I'll never forget waking up in the middle of night (she was like 2 1/2?), Munchkin #2 was sleeping next to me, I looked over at her. She was sound asleep but panting like a racehorse. Poor kid couldn't breathe. I took her into our pediatrician at the time. "Not to worry. Lungs sound great. Probably just a bad dream." ????? Great? My baby couldn't breathe!

When she was 3, she ended up in the emergency room - high fever, horrid cough, couldn't breathe. The doc did chest pictures - looked like pneumonia. Pumped her full of antibiotics and told me to keep using the basic meds in the nebulizer (the 'breathing machine'). With an emergency room visit under our belts I finally was able to get her on the waiting list to see a pediatric pulmonologist.

While on the wait list - it happened again. She couldn't breathe. This time, there was no coughing. She just laid down on the floor, wide awake, and couldn't get up. Not even for the brand new bike she'd gotten and ridden that morning. We rushed to the emergency department at the hospital. We phoned a local doc who was a long time friend of our family and folks we knew in the community (we were visiting my parents when this happened, in a different city). Munchkin #2, after hours of messing about in the ER, suddenly, with one phone call, had a private room. She did have pneumonia. But, it was a kind that in most people would be just a cold. This lovely doc said, "She has asthma." THANK YOU!!!! Finally, a doc willing to make that diagnosis! After 3 days in the hospital, with a proper diagnosis in hand, we were off of the pulmonogy group wait list.

Pediatric Pulmonology saved her life and changed her life. She is now a top sports competitor. She's a top student. But, most importantly, the pediatric pulmonolgy group we saw educated me. I learned about flow meters. I learned about retraction. I learned about maintenance meds. I learned about rescue meds. They put Munchkin #2 on meds that other docs were too chicken to prescribe. It totally changed her life. And mine.

Now, living in a foreign country, we've had to wade through all this s%&$ again. Dealing with docs and others who don't have a clue for four long years. If our original pulmonology group hadn't taken the many hours to educate me, we never would have made it living abroad.

Today, I finally found a pediatric pulmonologist in this country - with an excellent medical background/education. I'm thrilled. Munchkin #2 has an appointment for next week. I'm very hopeful. She's been breathing ok it seems, but gets headaches after practicing sport. And, because of the steriods she must inhale to function, there are worries about her growth - the fact that she's been tiny since birth doesn't help.

If the doctors had listened in the first place, if I hadn't pushed and pushed and pushed, if I hadn't had an excellent science education, then things would all have been much different.

Peace.

Wake-up and smell the coffee

No time today to write a 'proper' post. I just wanted to bring a brief opinion piece to US voters' attention:

http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/perry-more-bush-than-bush-himself-1.870405. Yes, the piece was written by a guy in Vermont, but the fact that it has been published in an Arab world daily newspaper....shows you very quickly what folks in the region think and feel about Perry.

If the US wants to even remotely be taken seriously in international circles, then Americans need to stay away from Perry.

Peace.

Local News and Technology in Education

I've been reading news for the last 45 minutes or so (I'm out and about/traveling a bit - time to read). I just read about escalating violence in Sana'a, Yemen (hope I spelled that right) and about an explosion in Ankara, Turkey. When I was still residing in 'the West', I'd read that kind of stuff and feel bad. I'd feel sad for those hurt and affected by the violence. And, I'd go on about life, feeling like I couldn't do much about it. Now, when I read this kind of stuff, it's feels 'local'. I've met people in Yemen. Yemen isn't all the 'nasty' you read in the news. There are beautiful places there (I'm told the snorkeling is fabulous). When I hear about violence there I think, "Wow. I hope so and so is ok." The same for news from Turkey. Once of my best friends here in the region has a home in Istanbul. For me, international news now feels like local news. Living outside of my home country, the world feels so much smaller. As I sit here writing this in a coffee cafe, there are ladies dressed like me (pants, t-shirt), there are ladies in abayas, there are people speaking Arabic, English, Tagalog, and another language I didn't recognize. But we're all about the same business - visiting with people, enjoying wi-fi access and drinking coffee. The world feels so much smaller to me these days.

As a brief note: This clinic is still up and running. They still need financial support. They are the only one of its kind in Yemen.

http://christchurchaden.org I believe the church is currently closed (this is not an ad for the church!) but the Ras Morbat Clinic.

Now...on to 'technology in education.' I just read fun blog post (my stupid old laptop won't let me cut-n-paste the link...grrrrrr.....). The blog is http://danandjillian3.blogspot.com. It's the post from 18 September 2011. It's about how technology is changing education. Kids are growing up totally wired (not on coffee but computers, iPad's etc...). A comment on the post, however, brings up the fact that many many kids in the world can not afford access to that kind of education. So.....it makes me wonder....

For kids getting a 'book only' education - without access to computers and the internet etc...will they be able to someday compete for jobs? Will they be able to lead successful lives? Technologies change and they change the world. The snap I've posted is from a very familiar tree farm. 100 years ago, trees were cut by hand, then came the chain saw, now it's frequently done by big machine with a climate controlled cockpit. How with widening economic gaps, do folks keep up with technology in modern education? I know of a few programs that provide kids with low cost laptops - I think they are even solar powered to help. At least it's a start.

Peace.

SiteTracker stuff

Thanks to SiteTracker for being able to see where my readers are and how they access this blog!

I am totally surprised that folks actually read this blog. I started this to be a way to keep in touch with family and friends who are spread around the globe without having to send out annoying mass emails.

Again.....dear readers....it is never my intention to offend governments etc.... What I do hope is that some folks will read some of these posts and think, "Wow. I could do some small thing to help out somebody else. Maybe I can volunteer my time in a school. Maybe I can donate to a charity." Etc..... I'm hoping that's not too radical a thing.

As always, Peace.

PS - a special note to all four grandparents! The guest room is shaping up nicely. We just bought a lovely table that will work as a desk, with storage for suitcases underneath. It's going to be a 'guest suite' when I'm done! The munchkins are so very excited that grandparents are going to visit us!!!!!

Gossip, Rumour, and Mum Stuff on the Middle East

THIS MAY BE A REALLY OFFENSIVE POST TO SOME PEOPLE. I don't mean to offend; I just want to let folks like my family know what goes on in my daily life.

Ok. I got stuff I just gotta tell you. First, this is all 'gossip'. This is all the kind of stuff a bunch of mums sit around chatting about over a coffee. This is not news. But, it is very real in my little world. Are you politically squeamish? Then stop reading. Right now. THIS IS ALL MUM GOSSIP KIND OF STUFF. THIS IS NOT NEWS!!!!! For the rest of you people who can stomach 'gossip', than read on....

I live a very comfortable life. I have a nice comfortable villa, I drive a vehicle that we own - not the bank. I have more than enough food. And, my children are safe. Where I currently reside is a very comfortable place. It does not fit the stereotype of 'violent Middle East'. This is a good place. But, others are not so fortunate.

I hang out with a very varied group of people. My friends here resemble the UN in miniature. And, one of the things that we like to do here is have breakfast together and chat over LOTS of coffee. The conversations are always friendly, but folks are comfortable with and trust each other enough to speak their minds.

Being one who is not totally afraid (well, I am a little afraid) of controversy, I asked 'the mums' about the whole Palestine going to the UN thing hoping for a seat. I consider myself a fairly well-read individual, but I really don't comprehend a lot of what goes on the Middle East. I said I didn't really 'get' why the States was going to block it.

The response I got was loaded with ideas and opinions. First, every time Israel (or here it is called Occupied Palestine, but I'll say 'Israel' because that's what many of my readers are used to seeing) increases settlements, the Palestinians lose territory. Currently, according to the New York Times, Palestine hopes to set the borders at 1967's borders. This would mean that 500,000 Israeli settlers are then on Palestinian soil. A lot of the mums I chat with think the States is 'nuts' to block this. People I know here really believe that the States is 'giving in' to Jewish lobbyists with loads of dollars. Yes, I have met folks here who believe that Jewish people who are extremely pro-Israel control the United States. Yes, this is 'gossipy' kind of stuff, but it's what a number of folks talk about. So...the feeling is that the US is going to block the Palestinians at the UN because there are Zionist Jews controlling the US government. Is this true? Personally, I don't think so. However, this is what gets talked about.

I live in a region where any maps that you find in stores have 'Israel' blacked out with a magic marker. In newspapers, 'Israel' is always referred to as 'Occupied Palestine'. The level of animosity and anger is deep. But, I have also heard an interesting twist on all this. IF Palestine gets a seat (or whatever the proper wording - I feel so confused today) at the UN, than there are worries that Palestinians who live in camps in other countries outside of Palestine will have to be given passports by the country that they are camped in. So, suddenly if Palestine becomes a recognized state, than loads of Palestinians living abroad would have to be given citizenship to other countries. There is fear here in this region that this would happen. Ok....more confusion for my head..... Gossip, gossip, gossip....

What do I think? What do I feel? I think that after World War II, there were folks who wanted to see Jewish people have their own country after the horror of the Holocaust. But, this came at the expense of the Palestinians. So what happens now? I have not a clue, but I find the whole thing deeply deeply sad. I have friends who have had to run from bombs. They've had to teach their kids how to listen to the bombs to know where the bombs have hit and how long do they have to run to safety before the next bomb hits. It doesn't matter where the bombs were and are. It doesn't matter who's dropping these bombs and why. The bombs make it almost impossible for normal people to live their lives. The world still has a long way to go, especially in the Middle East.

Here's to hoping and praying that the bombs stop. And, here's to hoping and praying that calm prevails.

Peace.

Mission to SeaFarers

Have a look....these folks do great work:

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=GR--bTeqMuk

The joys of technology and stuff

Currently, the husband is 'rebuilding' my laptop. It had been on life support for a few months and was driving me nuts. So, I find myself blogging via the lovely new gadget in the villa - the IPad. While this thing is very cool for digesting massive amounts of reading and videos, I am not yet thrilled with it for writing and other creative process bits. Plus, I have not yet found a way to move my photos easily between all these different devices. I do enjoy having a lightweight gadget that holds my newspapers, magazines, and books and fits easily into my handbag.

Now, onto the stuff.

If you hadn't figured it out by now, I do a lot of volunteer stuff. Unlike other places where I have donated my time and talents to help others, living here my hands don't get dirty so to speak. I have only once painted a room, I have never done construction work here, and I have never worked in a low income/homeless shelter type daycare here. Here, you go to parties to help others. Say what? Yes, that's right; this is the land of the fundraising party. We actually went and bought a tuxedo for the husband. But why? Why not just give that money to someone who needs it?

I have had more than a few occasions where I have wanted to help with different projects. But, I hear, "Oh, but I didn't see you at our last fundraiser (ie a thing the husband needs a tux for)." How totally mental. So I find myself in a social game of sorts. In order to be taken seriously, in order to help my current community, I must wear fancy party dresses. I just hope that the work that is achieved is worth it. I so miss spending a week of my summer holiday rebuilding a home for someone in need. Why is it so complicated here to help others?

At any rate, I do not wish to sound like a whiner. I just so do not 'get' this place so many days. I would love to rant about why I do not wish to hire a gardener and that I do not enjoy being a sideshow for the neighborhood when I mow the lawn. But, that would be another blog subject.

Peace.

Whew

So hard to believe that we're back for year 5 of living in this region. Where has the time gone?

The best part of living here is all the amazing friends we've made. The hardest part of living here is having to say so many good-byes. Each year is different because so many people move away - typical expat experience. But just because it is typical doesn't make it easy.

When I began blogging 4 years ago, I never dreamt what living here would hold in store for us. I hope that being here continues to be a positive experience for us and that I can continue to be a positive influence in the world around me.

As an extra bit of whatever..........

My laptop is not feeling well these days. If it wasn't for this IPad, I would be really cut off these days. The husband is taking this little gadget when he's traveling next week. Sigh.....school begins, schedule is going to be nuts, husband traveling AND may be cut off from the wider world. Could be a rough week.

Peace.

Just read the following.......
http://www.muscatmutterings.com/2011/09/news-update-riots-in-batinah-region.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MuscatMutterings+%28Muscat+Mutterings%29

Another blog I read out of Sohar confirmed the above. Regardless of whether or not there are riots, please read news and stay informed.