Rough Day: Understatement

Today was one of those days where, at the end, all you can do is laugh at everything that went wrong, and be utterly thankful for the few things that did go well.

Not so good things that happened today:

• Well, after going to the A&E yesterday, I knew I needed to go to the specialist today. Petra, my manager, gave me the day off to rest and get better (the best idea ever, in hindsight), so I headed straight away to the Ear, Nose and Throat hospital. It was about an hour and half venture by bus and underground (subway), and by the end of it I was hot and nauseous.
• I waited in the clinic from 10:30 until 1 to see the doctor, and though it was quite a long time, I had mentally prepared for a wait, so it was not a big deal. I even hugged my purse close and slept a bit in the waiting room!
• When I was called back, the doctor had to get a suction tube and run it in and out of my ear. Painful? YES!! My ear was completely blocked from swelling and oozing, so the cleaning was a painful and nasty ordeal. Then she put a "wick" in my ear to keep the passage open for drops. The drops are actually for both ears, because now my right ear is beginning to get infected too.
• After all that was done, I got a sub sandwich "to go" and decided a train would be not as nauseating as the underground. The train ride was really nice. The bus ride afterword? Not so much. I drank my soda to stay cool, but as I got off the bus I knew I was about to throw up. A few men stood by and watched as I stumbled over to a tree and...it was gross. I felt a little better after all the soda was out of my body, but the sandwich I was carrying lost its appeal.
• When I got to the flat, it was very hot, even though the windows were open. My pain meds were starting to wear off, and things just were not going well. I even discovered that I have a 4-6 page paper to write for school due either today or tomorrow. Lots to do.
• After supper I even tried to wash dishes, but ended up dropping, and shattering, a glass...

Good things that happened:

• The hospital filled the prescription right there. I was so thankful to not have to walk or ride to a pharmacy and then wait an hour or two for my drugs.
• All my white clothes are clean, because I put them in the wash before I left for the doctor.
• When I needed drops put in my ears, Pauline (my neighbor), helped me out. She is a co-worker of mine and she is a sweetheart. She offered to cook me supper, which she brought over about 45 minutes later. It was DELICIOUS. One plate was full of meat and vegetables and onions, and the other was a pita-like bread. This was one of the best meals I have had here in London.
• Petra and Carol came and visited me as well. It was great to know that they were thinking of me and cared so greatly. Carol even said she had a fan I could use in my room. What a blessing! The fan works so well, and is keeping me from burning up.
• I got to talk with my Mom and my Dad today, which was great. Just hearing from them (and complaining to them) was helpful.
• And while all this craziness was going on, I made time to read a bit of the Bible. I needed God so badly. I read Psalm 45 and remembered my time in Ephesians. I was stunned, again, by the fact that the God of the universe loves me and desires me. He is with me and He comforts my lonely soul. I knew in my head that He satisfies completely, before all this happened, but now I know from experience that He completely satisfies.

I'm sitting here in the dark and coolness of my room now, amazed at all my blessings. I will make it through this, and my Heavenly Father will be right beside me the whole way.