Praise the Lord, we've got an answer!!

First though, a little re-cap of what happened since the last post... Monday, we went to the doctor. The labs that she was waiting on, came back clean. She then ordered about 8 different tests to be ran. Several of the tests were checking for different tropical viruses and those had to be sent off to France for analysis. Those results won't be back for 10 days. One of the tests she ran was for cytomegalovirus (CMV). This test came back positive. Basically, CMV is a form of mono. Most people have this and aren't even aware of it. There is no treatment, only to rest!! Some of his other levels were elevated, probably due to the virus and his recent case of malaria. The doctor wants us to stay in Dakar for at least 2 weeks. For several reasons: 1. To rest, a lot easier to rest when it's not 107 degrees outside!! 2. If he gets worse, he'll already be here 3. To check his levels week after next to see if they've improved.

So, we Praise God, that we have an answer and that it's not anything more serious!! We are also very thankful for your prayers!! Please keep lifting Arnett up.  They've told us, it could take him 2-3 months to regain all his energy back!! Please, pray this isn't the case!! Before we go, a few pics of Zeke...our little man is growing up so fast!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time...

What we know as of right now...

Well, Arnett has had a sonogram and a visit with the doctor today. Here's what we know...

The sonogram showed that his spleen was enlarged. His lab works showed no malaria...Praise God! It did show his lymphocytes were elevated. So, what does all this mean?? Well, the doc seems to think it's a virus! Praise God, it's not anything more serious!! Which would explain the enlarged spleen. She wants to do some research over the weekend before she orders any more tests. She's also waiting on one of his labs to come back. They had to grow stuff for this test and it takes 3 days, so it won't be back until Sunday. So, Monday, with her research done and all the labs back, she'll tell us what we need to do next. She did say she's going to do her best to get us a diagnosis, which was a relief for us!!  However, she didn't want to start ordering any tests until then. So, that's all we know as of right now. We'll update you next week!! Thank you again for your prayers!! Until next time...

A lot has happened...

Well, since I last wrote, a lot has happened.

First, I did make it out to the wedding. It was rather uneventful. About 12:30 or so, they  fixed rice and sauce for everyone there. There was a ton of rice!! It was really good!! I didn't put on my uniform until I got out to the village and was told it was time!! Which wasn't until 3:30 or so!! Then from about 4 PM-5pm all the women came together and danced around a tree. Then, they were finished. My friend did tell me that they would dance some more later that night. However, I was glad I went . Zeke and I had a good time.

My friend and I in our uniforms.

 

 

 

 

Now, on to Arnett. In the last update I asked you to pray for him as he had malaria. Well, he still isn't better. He's done 2 malaria treatments in the past 3 weeks. And a round of antibiotics. Despite all that, he still continues to run fevers and is exhausted! The nurse and doctor for our company decided it would be best to fly Arnett to Dakar (Zeke's birthplace) to get some better medical care. Praise God, He has provided a way for Zeke and I to go too!! So, this past Wednesday we loaded up and got on the plane. Then we sat on the runway for 2 hours only to find out the plane had mechanical issues. They put us up in a hotel in our city. We decided to stay there, for fear they would fix the plane and call everyone in the middle of the night and would forget to call us if we weren't at the hotel! Praise the Lord, we finally made it to Dakar Thursday morning. As soon as we got here, Arnett went to the lab to get his lab work started. Then we met with the doctor to do an overall physical and history of what's been going on. This morning (Friday) he's gone to have a sonogram of his stomach, kidneys, and liver. Here, there are a lot of bacteria's and amoebas and if you get a case of them and don't get rid of them completely they can cause an abscess. So, they'll be looking for anything along those lines. We have an appointment this afternoon with the doctor but if his lab work isn't back, we'll just wait and go on Monday! So, please continue praying for Arnett's healing. He's thoroughly exhausted and so ready to feel better!! We'll keep you posted!!

Before I go, just a few pics of Zeke...he's growing so fast. He's got 4 teeth, is crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He's looking at Mariam, our house helper.

 

 

Until next time...