A JOYFUL NOISE

Today I saw my-- GI doctor (a fellow), DR Cerefice for the last night (he accepted an attending position in NJ; but my attending, Dr Peura will still be my attending). He caught up on my health issues and we discussed how I've been feeling. I did tell him that there was a while that I was eating nothing but fish and vegetables and started feeling a little bit better (that is, not in that constant pain and nausea). Until about 3-4 weeks ago, I again started up that cycle of feeling ill again; constant pain and constant nausea. I told him that there were certain days that I just don't sleep because of the pain and the nausea. He does want me to continue to small meals, fish/veggie/no gluten diet. He thinks that along with my motility issues there are other things that is happening that they still can't put a finger on so they are trying different alternatives in medications, diets, etc to see what works best. They do think it is a never problem t...

In my last note, I mentioned how this new food diet has been helping me with my stomach issues/abdominal issues. The pain and nausea were present but just not as pronounced as it was before. I was able to be a lot more active and have more energy throughout the day. I was praying that this "new found" help would last and that I would have the discipline to stick to the diet (basically no meat, lots of veggies and fruits, and tofu) I'm doing well sticking to my diet and continue to be on the diet on a regular basis. However, a couple of weeks ago, I started to again have the reoccurring excruciating right lower/ upper left pain. There were times I had to stay in bed laying down and taking Vicodin. There were days that eating would make me sick and even drinking just water would turn my stomach (this past Sunday was very bad for me) I've become very discouraged that what I thought was helping (the diet); doesn't seem to be working as ...

Wait? An answer to my GI problems? There might be an answer; we just have to wait and see as the weeks go by. Let me start from the beginning. You all know of my health issues regarding my stomach over the past year. I've undergone every imaginable GI test and exams and nothing except gastroperesis has been found as to why I suffer so much with pain and nausea. I've gone so many times to my GI doctor and tried various medications and yet I only felt temporary relief. There was no permanent "fix" to the situation since the doctors didn't know what to fix. All I was told was to take a certain medication and eat 6 small meals a day to help my digestion and gastroperesis. It is a continue struggle to go through pain and nausea. After I had my surgery, on March 17, my mouth was very sore and I couldn't really chew anything that wasn't soft. That meant, I couldn't eat chicken, beef, pork, etc. Really the only thing I can comfort...

This past weekend, my brother-law and I sang one of my favorite songs, Take My Life by Frances Harvergal. Here are the words: Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose. Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee. A-men There are a lot of tunes to this song, but my brother in law and I sang this song to the tune written by our friend, Miriam. We must...

"With God in your heart; everyplace can be called Home". This is a quote that is on one of my posters in my room. As I was cleaning my room today, my eye caught this saying and it struck me. It struck me so hard that it gave me a sense of calmness and peacefulness. I remember when I first got that poster. It was my first year at JMU as a transfer student. I was in a new school, a new environment, and it was my FIRST time away from my parents and living away from them. It was my first experience living in a dormitory (c0-ed!) and I was beyond scared. One Saturday, I had taken the bus to the mall and at that time the Family Christian book store was still in the mall. I had a friend who worked there and she knew that I was scared of life in JMU and was extremely homesick, despite my being an hour away from home (I didn't have a car either). She encouraged me to buy the poster and hang it on my wall. At that time while at JMU, it was a good r...

I am going to be honest. Honest to you all and honest with myself and my Lord. This is a very hard thing for me to write, but I wanted to share it with you all. For some reason, this evening I decided to take a good hard look in the mirror at myself since the surgery. I was noticing what was done and what more has to be done in the future. As I pulled my hair back, to my horror, I saw it. I saw something I never really did see (or maybe I saw before but didn't care) before. It made me upset. It made me angry. My ears are lopsided. Yes, my right ear hangs about 2 inches lower than my left. Now, I did know for the longest time that my ears weren't in symmetry, but for some reason....today, it hit me harder than it ever had. I'm not sure if it's the drugs I'm on or my being "bored" or what. Certainly Satan had a BIG GRIP on me. I've never let my looks affect my way of thinking or let other people's commen...

It's past 3a.m. and I can't seem to fall asleep. I started to sing (in my head) one of my favorite songs: Jesus I am Resting, Resting. I know the lyrics by heart; and I know several versions/tunes to this song. Each tune brings it's on special meaning; but one thing never changes......We need to constantly rest and trust in Jesus. He made us who we are; we are love Jesus and rest in the fact that Jesus' love is unfailing and unfaltering. Jesus, I am resting, resting, In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart. Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, And Thy beauty fills my soul, For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole. Refrain ' Jesus, I am resting, resting, In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart. O, how great Thy loving kindness, Vaster, broader than the sea! O, how marvelous Thy goodness, Lavished all on me! Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd, Know what we...