We received a call from my Doctor from Boise at 2am our first night. Never a good sign. After the breast cancer scare the week we left this was a very unsettling call. My pap had shown atypical glandular cells. I have another potential problem that can't wait till I return to Idaho in December. I needed to have the test done in 4 to 6 weeks at the most. Now the question is where and by whom. I felt at peace as we prayed for guidance and to be lead to the right place and people that might help. I felt very impressed that I need to talk to someone at church. Not really a great way to introduce yourself. "Hi, my name is Jennie Batteen and I need a gynecologist, know any?" " One that preferably speaks English!" So when Sunday arrived you can imagine my nervousness. Not only would it be our first week at church, but I needed help and fast. There was no one there. I mean no one! No Relief Society President, YW President, YM President, Elders Quorum President, High Priest or Bishopric. Yep only about 15 total people. Who was I going to talk to?
I met a woman as we walked into the building about my Mother's age. She was moving back to the states that week and wanted to give me her plants. I love flowers and plants. This truly brightened my day. I thought well maybe Karen is who I need to talk to. The right moment just didn't present itself. She gave me her contact number and we parted ways. She was teaching in primary so I didn't see her the rest of the day. (Lacie was one of 5 children) Emmie went with Adam and I to our meetings (she was the only youth here). I left church a little discouraged, I just knew I would find my help there, yet when there was no one there- it was a little hard. Most of the members there were men who's families had gone back to whatever country they were from for the summer vacation.
All I could do was to keep praying for guidance. My heart was heavy with worry. I did call Karen about the plants on Tuesday when she said she would be at her apartment and set a time for Adam and I to drive up and pick out some plants. We went up the hill from our house about 8 blocks and had a lovely visit, Karen said as we were leaving to let her know if there was anything she could do for us till she left, to let her know. Here she was packing a shipment, cleaning a condo and finishing up everything it takes to leave in 4 days and offering her help. The voice in my head started screaming at me to ask her! I worried it would be too much trouble but I swallowed my pride and asked for help. She was so sweet and had been so kind to us. I quickly told her I was in need of a gynecologist. She personally didn't need one in her 5 years here so she would ask some of the her lady friends and get back to me. Well she did! Within a day she emailed the name of the best in Taiwan, who happened to practice at the cancer hospital and research center. How did she know that was the worry. Heavenly Father knew my needs and had placed this woman in my path. I hadn't mentioned my test or what the Doctor in Idaho was worried about. Then she made a point to tell me to make sure when I set the appointment, to get them to email the address in Chinese; so I could give it to the taxi driver. Something I wouldn't have thought of. After a 30min. call and 8 different people I finally had an appointment for my endometrial biopsy and colposcopy. I was a bit worried they knew what I needed as our communication was difficult. Their English was very limited and my 4 hours of Chinese was NO help! Two weeks from now I will hopefully be closer to knowing if I have to worry about cancer again. It is a real possibility and that is just not in the plan, at least my plan!
DIXIE IS LOST! Got another call today! We have only been here 2 days and Dixie runs away from the family who is taking care of her. At least it gives me something else to worry about. I am just sick with worry about this dumb dog. She has been my constant companion with Adam gone. She even stayed with me when I had heat stroke last summer and nudged me and licked me (which I hate) till I got up and went inside. The girls will be devastated if she is gone for good. We have decided not to tell them yet. I pray for that dumb dog every time she enters my mind. I pray she is safe and will be found by someone kind and returned to us. I know my Father listens to me even when it is for this sweet, dumb dog!
Emmie and Lacie have both had their sad moments. Emmie's friends are texting her on her ipod. I am so grateful. It does make her miss home but it is better then being forgotten. When she is lonely she reads all the notes from her friends they made for her and wears her bracelet one of them made for her. Lacie is missing Elsie terribly. We have let her call, FaceTime and send a letter already. We often find her curled up in the blanket Elsie gave her. With no one here it is hard. We spend our days exploring around us and swimming and watching way too much TV. The heat is so hard on Lacie. She gets sick and turns red. It has been an average of 97 with 99% humidity, which the weather report says makes it feel like 110!
Our Air shipment finally came today. It is so nice to have a few things. It will be so much easier when the sea shipment comes in a few weeks. It's been 2 months without the computer. How have we ever survived? I have very little to cook on and the girls have little of their stuff. We only had 500lbs air and what fit in our suitcases. LIVING SIMPLE!
We met a Taiwanese lady at church named Grace. Lacie hugged her and she started to cry. She said Lacie gives pure love! She gave us a bag of rice. It was a bit scary looking. As we got in the car and headed home we talked about whether to eat it or not and decided it would definitely not be a good idea. Those friends and family of my mine (you know who you are) can imagine the time I am having adjusting to the food here. Yep! The stomach is not being kind!
SPEEDY GIRL... Got another call! We have been here a week. Emmie's cow was found dead in our field. No reason. Emmie is convinced she died of a broken heart. She was very attached to Emmie. Bright side, her calf is old enough now that he will be alright without her. We are looking at it as maybe a blessing. It will be easier on Todd to not have to worry about her. No breading and one less to feed. Total bummer but as we always say "It is what it is"! Got another call today and Dixie has been found. So at least there is good news from home today. Grandpa had made flyers and Harvey (who is taking care of her) took one to the pound and she was there.
Taiwan moments In Singapore everyday something happened that I called Singapore moments. I am finding the same here. Just a few... While walking down by Taipei 101 girls Emmie's age call out to her and reach for her ..."Elsa, Elsa..." Emmie had her hair in a braid and was the only blonde, fair girl other then Lacie that we had seen all day. We like to watch people watch the girls. They will literally walk into poles or fall down. They see them and cannot take their eyes off them. The girls are constantly being total they are beautiful. Great self esteem builder.
We are loving the swimming pool here. It has been so blazing hot and humid, even the unheated water in the pool is warm like a bath. Since there is no one here in the condo, we pretty much have the pool to ourselves all the time. There have been a couple other people coming or going from the pool on occasion, but we've never really had to share it. It's pretty big but not deep and has no diving board, so the girls splash and play and like to race each other from side to side.
There is a mountain trail just up the hill from us. Adam and the girls have climbed it. On a second trip, this time at night, Lacie came back with a fire fly clutched in her 10year old hand. I have never seen one before. She said the jungle was magical with them. We put it in a jar and watched it for a bit. Then she let it go on one of our patios. She wanted it to find it's family. That little bug was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. How can any one say there isn't a God, when there are such amazing creatures.
Sea shipment finally arrived. 18 July feels like Christmas. The girls literally jumped for joy! Emmie unpacked her point shoes and put them on to finish the unpacking. Lacie started to play her dolls. How wonderful it will be to be able to have something to cook on! Adam fired up his BBQ! The condo is starting to look like home.
Typhoon is coming. Got our bug-out-bags just in time. Feeling very impressed to be prepared for whatever may come. We really don't think we will need them but with the earthquakes here and Typhoons we would be fools to not be prepared. Working on building a bit of a food storage. Everything is SOOOOO expensive here. Loaf of bread $37nt, apples $10-17nt, peanut butter smallest container you can imagine $130nt. There is a Costco here that prices are close to home. It is 30min away if traffic is good. We are headed there tonight to get a few things for the bags and some canned goods. Typhoon Matmo hit us evening of 22 and all day 23 July. Slept through most of it. They did cancel school and work. Lots of rain. Downed trees, smashed a car. A plane crashed killing 180 headed to one of the small islands from Taipei. Had to stay inside but we were safe. NO WORRIES! Adam had to go to one of the subcon sites during the day before it hit and was coming back as the rain started. He carries a small umbrella but with the type of rain that was falling and the wind that blew it everywhere, there wasn't much that poor little umbrella could do- Adam was soaked from head to toe (and that was just the very beginning!).
(check out Adam facebook pages for pictures)
Had my endometrial biopsy and colposcopy today. I liked the doctor. He seemed like he knew what he was talking about. I did a lot of research before going so I would know what the test were for and what to expect. The hospital was clean and very nice. It was very different but nice. They did do it without anesthesia or numbing of any kind. I can honestly say it was one of the most difficult and painful experience I have ever had. Delivering both of my girls was no picnic either! I was so embarrassed when I didn't fit on the table. I had to turn side ways to slip between the stationary stirrups. I am not a big person but most everyone here is tiny. Short and smaller in every way. This was a table built for a tiny lady. Adam went with me. He was very worried about the whole thing. I stayed down for the rest of the day and most of the next before I felt well enough to get around. I am so grateful the girls are bigger now and can fend for themselves and take care of me. We will be in Singapore next week so I will have to wait 2 weeks to know what they found. Haven't said anything to anyone at home. My mother is in the middle of health issues with her mother. I don't want to give her another thing to worry about. I will tell everyone when I have something to tell.
GRANDMA DIED... Grandma Gratton passed away at 10:30a.m. US time, 22 July 2014. A day before her 93 birthday. As mom said she was getting reunited with Aunt Debbie, Grandpa, her parents and brothers for the best birthday party yet. I was able to call home and talk to mom for couple of hours. It was a huge blessing to have Grandma finally go home. Grandma has not been well the last few weeks and it has taken a toll on Mom. I feel bad I cannot be there to help mom with the funeral and all she has to do. Times like this, being on the other side of the world is hard. I am so grateful to know where Grandma is and that there is life after death. Glad I am part of an Eternal Family and know my Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us. I know He has sent the comforter to be with Mom. This knowledge brings such peace.
Heading to Singapore and will make another post then. That's our first month, give or take a few days, in a nut shell.
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