Another busy morning in the bush…Another medical issue!…Tomorrow Colleen and Paulette arrive…

I contemplated not preparing a post today, as I am getting such a late start. Most days, I am finished by noon or 1:00 pm, but here I am, sitting down to write at 1:30 pm. Tom has retreated to the bedroom for a nap, and I probably could have used one myself. Instead, I decided to write today’s post, even if it means finishing later than usual. So here goes!

Last night, I must have gotten up ten times to use the bathroom. After thinking about what I drank during the day, I couldn’t find any obvious reason for this frequent need to get up. After a fitful night’s sleep, I determined this morning that I must have a raging bladder infection. I don’t know how or why I developed it, but I knew I needed medication right away. The last thing I wanted was another miserable night of constantly getting up and down.

With family arriving and staying with us for the next 18 days, I certainly didn’t want to be too exhausted to enjoy all the festivities ahead. We’ll have plenty to do, including meals out, visits with friends, and sharing the wonders of the bush with our guests. This Saturday, we’ll also celebrate our 14th travel anniversary, an occasion we plan to enjoy with even more enthusiasm than our wedding anniversary on March 7. After almost 14 years of living this unusual lifestyle, we have plenty to celebrate!

Unfortunately, neither Tom’s phone nor mine would work when we tried calling Doc Theo’s office. After trying repeatedly without success, I decided to visit Dr. Shane right here in Marloth Park, hoping he might have medication available in his dispensary. Sadly, he didn’t have what I needed, which meant we had no choice but to drive to Komatipoort to fill the antibiotic prescription.

This involved more driving for Tom, who is still recovering from his recent eye surgeries and relying on his one good eye. I hated the thought of adding that burden to him, but he never complained. We were back home within 90 minutes, including my time at the pharmacy, and I was finally relieved to have the medication in hand.

Within minutes of returning, I took the prescribed dose, a powdered sachet which I mixed with water and took on an empty stomach, which I will repeat for two more days. I am hoping to feel some relief within the next 24 hours. With any luck, I’ll soon be sleeping through the night again and feeling more like myself. We certainly have enough going on without adding another health issue to the mix!

Earlier this morning, before we headed to Dr. Shane’s office, I made a triple batch of our keto coconut flour blueberry muffin batter. I put it in the refrigerator to thicken while we were out. With our guests arriving, I wanted them to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning with a tasty muffin on the side.

Once we returned home, I scooped the thickened batter into three muffin tins we already had on hand, using parchment paper to prevent sticking. We now have 36 muffins, minus the one Tom enjoyed with butter. I’ll freeze the rest and defrost a few each day as needed.

In this hot, humid weather, homemade baked goods don’t stay fresh for long, unlike many store-bought products that contain preservatives to extend their shelf life. Freezing them is an easy solution, and having these ready will make breakfast and morning coffee a little easier once everyone is here.

Yesterday, after returning from Nelspruit, we both pitched in to prepare a delicious ground beef, mushroom, and cheese casserole, and I froze an extra pan for another night’s meal. After everything we’ve had going on lately, it felt good to have a home-cooked meal ready to enjoy without much fuss. We’re looking forward to the leftovers tonight, which we’ll eat at our veranda table while enjoying the cooler evening air and visiting wildlife.

Life certainly doesn’t always go according to plan, does it? Between medical appointments, unexpected health issues, cooking for company, and preparing for our family’s arrival, our days have been full. Still, we are grateful to be back in our bush home and look forward to the next 18 days with family and friends.

If this medication does its job and I get a decent night’s sleep, I’ll be ready to enjoy every moment!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 29, 2016: