Food

Catherine has been tired again today and eating constantly. We think she has probably put on 5lbs in weight so far since she began the steroids but unfortunately, steroids are a really important part of the treatment. She has started to realise now that she is eating heaps more than us and keeps asking us whether we are hungry too and whether we would like something to eat as well. She talks about food all the time. When her little friend came round yesterday to play, she kept asking her whether she would like something to eat. Her friend went away having eaten a cheese stick, a biscuit and half an apple more than she would probably have eaten that day! We are constantly preparing food and drinks for Catherine and she even wakes up in the night for a midnight snack. Our food bill is becoming quite large as you might expect!

Tomorrow we are going to take Catherine for a blood transfusion which means another canula. After Friday's difficulties, we would ask that you pray for this to go smoothly and for them to be able to find a good vein on the first attempt. Also for peace for Catherine. Tuesday, it is likely she will need another General Anaesthetic so that she can have her portacath fitted. She will need to have nil-by-mouth for six hours before this procedure. At the moment I am dreading trying to deny food to my constantly hungry child. Please pray about this as I have no idea how this will work out.

I've just been talking to a friend who has agreed with me that the 'journey' idea from yesterday isn't perhaps the best way to describe what is happening at the moment. She suggested that it is more like a 'diversion' because when you go on a journey you generally have a choice. Diversion, she said, was more like going off the usual road for a while. I think this is probably a better description for how we are feeling.

In between feeding Catherine, I've also been reading an excellent book by Pete Greig called God on Mute. It's actually a book about unanswered prayer, but actually gives lots of insights into the way Christians try to make sense of things when they encounter big problems in life. I'd had this book on my bookshelf for a while but never read it because it was about his wife being diagnosed with cancer (I have never been one for reading 'unhappy' books unless absolutely necessary). However, I have found this to be really interesting and would recommend it to anyone going through difficult situations.