I felt the painful tingling in my lower back again. Then my heart pounded and my face got red as the anxiety of what it meant hit me. The return of shingles. NNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I managed to calmly ask Barrett if he could get our health care registered so I could make an appointment with the local Dr.’s office. The moment he said I was in, I called the office and they offered me an appointment for 10am the next morning. YES! “Ok. Since this is your first time with us, please be here an hour early.” “Um, really?” “Well, 40 minutes so you can complete the paperwork.” “Ok.”

The next morning I managed to get all three kids ready, packed up and out the door in time to get to the Dr.’s office 40 minutes early. We had to park in a paid lot across the street and I piled three kids in a double stroller and hoofed it over in the debilitating sun. The cartoons playing in the waiting room occupied AC, but I kept the twins in the strollers as I filled out the paperwork…that took maybe, 5 minutes. Now I had to entertain twin 1 year olds for 35 minutes. I let them loose and they climbed over everything, screamed at each other, and ignored me thus causing me to restrain both of them back in the stroller. My name was called 40 minutes later and I was ecstatic! Yet it turned out to just be a nurse taking my vitals. I was sadly ushered back into the filled waiting room again where people who were there after me were already seen and gone.   My anxiety grew with each wine, cry, and tantrum from the twins, as we not so patiently waited to be the next patient. My friend encouraged me to talk to the front desk after it was 1130 and I still was not seen. Magically, I was the next patient that the doctor was going to see.

I was ushered to a small room where it took me three tries to fit the stroller and Ac in. Once in the room, the twins began to cry because they hate Dr.’s offices, so I desperately tried to calm them while answering his questions. The doctor was great and set me up with the meds I needed and I was out in less than 10 minutes. So, the result was an almost 2 hour torturous wait for 10 minutes of face time. Yet, the day’s drama was just beginning. I still needed to get my prescription filled and meds in my body before the virus fully presented itself.

But first, the air conditioner in my new used minivan went out the day before, so the four of us sweated as we headed to the AC guy. He took a look at the van and determined that I needed to come back the next morning. I wiped the sweat from my brow and said OK and then asked if there was a pharmacy nearby. There was! At the Kmart across the street. I repacked the kids into the van, drove to the Kmart, unloaded said kids and headed to the pharmacy. I gave them all my information and then they said they didn’t have the first prescription, which was the most important. They wouldn’t have it till 5pm or the next day. My heart dropped. OK, I’ll go to another pharmacy. I loaded the kids back up into the hot van and GPS’d the closest CVS. It took me 20 minutes through back roads that had construction and finally popped me out to a CVS and Walgreens. Walgreens was closer so I unloaded the kids, stroller, and bags and headed in. I waited behind 2 other patrons and gave them my prescription when my time came. They had everything but as I gave them my insurance, they told me they didn’t take it. COME ON! Begrudgingly, I loaded the kids back into the stroller and walked to the CVS so I didn’t have to load and unload 3 kids again.

The CVS had my prescription and took my insurance! Score! I quieted my hungry and annoyed kids and then heard the tech say I wasn’t on the insurance policy. WHAT? She tried again. Nothing. I called Barrett. He said I was on it. I called Tricare. They confirmed me as well. I got her to talk with the tech and the tech kept trying with the same result. All kids were whining now and I was about to have my own fit on the floor. The tech asked for Barrett’s SS# again and I wrote it down for her this time. And there was the issue…a fat fingered SS#. Magically, I appeared and my script was filled. But I needed to wait a half hour.

We got home after 2pm and I was exhausted, but not too exhausted to pop that precious shingle saving pill into my mouth. Although it would hopefully save another painful episode, the side effect of consistent diarrhea would be debilitating. I told myself it was worth it as I washed it down. Thus ended my first experience of PR health care. I have heard my experience was pretty typical.

So life has been a series of rushes to the bathroom while caring for kids, going on a trip to visit the other chaplain and his family on the other side of the island, Barrett going to visit men on two different islands for three days, and waiting on our house. The Lord has graciously given me the strength to complete each day. I’d be lying to say that I have had amazing patience and kindness toward my family. I struggle with that generally (as I always want my way right away, sound familiar?), but having a weak body exasperated my sinful tendencies. What humbles me is that the Lord still forgives me each and every time. I seek forgiveness of my kids and husband often and beg the spirit for help. I am learning what it means that when we are weak, He is strong. I am learning to cast all my cares on Him because He cares for me. And finally, I am clinging to the fact that if I confess my sins to the Lord, He is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Oh what joy that is! And how sweet is a snuggly hug from little souls who forgive me too.

And lastly, the meds are done, no shingles appeared, and all systems are go! Praise the Lord!