Degrees and Diagnosis

I just realized I had left that last post up far too long without an update and I needed to post something more positive. My life is filled with ups and downs, just like anyone's, but I never let the pity parties go on too long because my basic nature is to be optimistic, and have faith that God will get everything worked out fine, in the end.

Even though this is only Wednesday this week has already seemed like a long one, mainly due to school. For the first time in years, I didn't send a child off to school on Monday with a new backpack, pencils, lunch, etc. It felt really weird.

Even though he is a big 19 year old, this is how I think of Michael and "school."

Michael has been deeply anxious or ambivalent or sometimes even hostile for several months when I mentioned the word "college." I finally was able to convince him to go ahead and go take some classes this fall, butit was a struggle. He is always fearful of new experiences and college is a HUGE one, even if he is living at home.

It's been a race to the finish the last couple of weeks to get everything in place.

I sent him over to the campus yesterday and nothing was accomplished except he turned in his transcript to the admissions folks, but he is still listed as "on hold" until they process the transcript. So he can't register for classes yet, and classes start on Monday.

However, the great news is that the Pell Grant money came through. YAY! Huge relief there. So if GPC will just push on through and finalize his admission process we can actually register online over the weekend and it will be fine. I am praying praying praying that that will happen.

We have had a lot of discussions about his interest in Psychology and I hope he can take the basic introductory Psychology 101 course that will give him an idea of what that field is really like. We spent time the other night looking at websites that discuss the jobs one can get with a Psychology degree. Michael is fascinated by human behavior, and of course his bizarre early life left him with many questions about why people behave the way they do.

I remember taking Psychology 101 and Sociology 101 and really enjoying those courses. Never knew they would come in so handy in later life..

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We got a call from the doctor Monday saying Michael does have H Pylori, and so that has to be treated. A lot of kids from Russia and Eastern Europe get H Pylori from contaminated water. He has had a lot of stomach pain, nausea, etc. in the past year. We are glad the treatment can commence tomorrow.

H Pylori is the same thing that causes ulcers.

From Web MD:

What Is H. pylori?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria. These germs can enter your body and live in your digestive tract. After many years, they can cause sores, called ulcers, in the lining of your stomach or the upper part of your small intestine. For some people, an infection can lead to stomach cancer.

Infection with H. pylori is common. About two-thirds of the world’s population has it in their bodies.... After H. pylori enters your body, it attacks the lining of your stomach, which usually protects you from the acid your body uses to digest food. Once the bacteria have done enough damage, acid can get through the lining, which leads to ulcers. These may bleed, cause infections, or keep food from moving through your digestive tract.

You can get H. pylori from food, water, or utensils. It’s more common in countries or communities that lack clean water or good sewage systems. You can also pick up the bacteria through contact with the saliva or other body fluids of infected people.

Many people get H. pylori during childhood, but adults can get it, too. The germs live in the body for years before symptoms start, but most people who have it will never get ulcers. Doctors aren’t sure why only some people get ulcers after an infection.