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Sunday, June 29, 2014

out of the fog of nausea

This past week was one where I didn't know which way was up and where I sucked on pineapple popsicles til my tongue hurt.  One particular IV med I was on causes severe nausea and even with multiple anti-nausea meds, the nausea was barely contained all week.  It was miserable, awful, sorrowful, pitiable...

But then this:

"the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.  He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.  He trains my hands for war, so that my harms can bend a bow of bronze.  You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me. And your gentleness made me great.  You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip." Psalm 18:32-36

and this:

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

And look as this gem my aunt found.  So fitting right now and I'll leave it at that since I'm pretty weak still:

"The highest result of prayer is not deliverance from evil, or the securing of some coveted thing, but knowledge of God… “And this is life eternal, that they should know Thee, the only true God"(John 17:3)…" --from The Kneeling Christian

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

done in

It has been so tough.  But my prayers have been that these tough days and yucky feelings will be accomplishing much to rid my body of Lyme and let me get back to a place where I can be a mommy again.  We've got the first 4 weeks under our belt.  Boy, what a learning curve that was!  Thankfully we had my sister-in-law and brother-in-law to help us along when we had no clue what to do in certain situations.  I'm sure they thought we were nuts sometimes but we are so grateful for their help and knowledge since they've walked this path before us and now are currently walking it again!

This is what my line and dressing looks like:
The dressing can't get wet because if it gets wet, the skin under the dressing (which is sterile), becomes compromised and is no longer sterile.  Therefore, showering becomes a problem.  At our first appointment they told us to use Glad Press N Seal.  I said, "You mean you just stick it on and you can hop in the shower?"  Yes, they said.  "And the water can just run right on you?" Yes, they said.  "And it's fine?" Yes, they said.  So that very first night my hair needed to be washed.  I put Glad Press N Seal on and it looked as though it would hold, hopped in the shower, and washed my hair.  Got out and inspected the dressing.  It held up well EXCEPT for the side.  OH MY...I panicked.  It was wet.  The Press N Seal had failed me.  It was time to put Matt to the test in his dressing change skills (after the dressing is compromised it must be changed immediately to keep the site from infection).  Matt did very well, by the way.

Anyhow, after that experience Matt emphatically told me I was no longer allowed to shower.  Telling that to a girl is like telling a pig they can't wallow in mud.   Spencer and Melody (bro and sis-in-law) told us about this handy device:

and let us borrow it - it attaches to your bathroom sink (or any sink) and works really well while sitting in a wheelchair, but any chair will do.  Matt washed my hair for me.  When it worked, he wrapped the towel around my head and said, "Go buy it on Amazon now."  So it's bird baths and Matt washing my hair for me until my PowerLine is out.  I've gotten used to it.  Some days my hair is funkier than I'd like because Matt doesn't have time to wash it so I go an extra day or two between washings but I've gotten used to large head-wrap headbands and just not caring because, really, all I can care about these days is surviving.

We have begun the next 4 week segment of my treatment and boy is it already rougher than the last.  I'm only a day and a half in and I can barely move.  Thankfully I have help at the house because I couldn't get out bed this morning without assistance, so getting the kids up and getting them breakfast wouldn't have worked if I was alone.  

Please continue to pray that God would use these IV meds to rid my body of Lyme and get me back to stellar health.  My family needs me back into normal health and I am just so ready to be well again!

I've had the sidebar updated with ways to help for those interested.  Most of all we covet your prayers.  We know those go a long way!