Christmas came and went without any real problems health-wise for James with the exception of the usual hip pain (mostly). He did begin having a bit of pain stemming from a back molar around Christmas Eve or so though. Over the past few days it has become much worse. In fact, yesterday morning he woke up around 5am to such intense pain that was radiating into his jaw and nose area on the right side of his face, to the point where he could hardly think clearly. If he didn't already have such a compromised immune system to begin with I wouldn't be so concerned. Unfortunately, he can't just sit around and hope that things will just get better. Well, at least I won't let him! Of course, because of the whole 'picc line' issue as previously mentioned here, the last thing he wants to do is go to the VA Hospital as they will most likely admit him. They always do. So I was able to round up 4 1/2 days worth of an antibiotic that I'd saved from awhile back (Doxycycline - I couldn't take the full course as it made me violently ill and we're some of those really BAD people who hang onto antibiotics).

He just woke up from his nap a few moments ago and I asked him how his jaw was feeling and he said that already it wasn't as intense. He took his last dose of morphine around 6am this morning so I was expecting him to be in more pain as his medication level diminished but he's in LESS pain! Yay!! That particular antibiotic is very potent and it sounds like it's already working! Praise God!! I'm going to try to keep him in his chair today for the most part though so his body can rest and fight this infection. As bummed as I was to miss church this morning (which is also making me miss my dear friend Elaine *sniff*) I know that this is too important to mess around with. We'll just have a private, family service here today instead.