I love this snap of Munchkin #2. She was totally thrilled when a 'baby' falcon landed on her head. Only in the Middle East!Living outside of the home country, one has to learn a totally different medical system. It's very hard when you are sick or have sick kids trying to figure out who to see, what hospitals to use, etc..... For some people, the medical care is far superior to what they've left at home. For others, like us, it's not anywhere near the quality we are used to. It's tough making an adjustment backwards.
When faced with something like rheumatoid arthritis, especially in a kid, as an expat you immediately start thinking about moving home. Is it worth it to totally uproot the family, pull the husband away from work he enjoys, change schools again in order to get closer to the doctors? Right now, I don't know. We're going to have to wait. Supposedly, there's a pediatric rheumatologist moving here in about a month. We're hopeful.
When living so very far away from family, you must put a support network in place right away. If something difficult happens, your friends become your biggest source of support. Many women here spend hours, and drink oceans of coffee, building their 'mum' network. If a mum gets sick and can't get kids to and from school, the 'mum' network kicks in. We all help each other.
Through all of this, it's hard to focus on everything that needs attention. Munchkin #1 is feeling like Munchkin #2 is getting more attention than he is. He feels that she is the 'favourite'. Ouch. I deeply love both my kids. He and I have talked, but it's so very hard when one child is suffering so much.
We're all ready for winter break. I'm really hoping that for a few days, we can all just hang out, hide out and do nothing but be together.
Peace.
