A JOYFUL NOISE

 This past year, just as the past several years, has been rough. I was looking back at my planner a few days ago and noticed that almost every week (or every other week), I had a doctor's appointment or some sort of treatment or test to undergo.  It is interesting because many of my friends and especially some of my relatives ask me "what do you do with your time?"  I always respond by telling them that I try to help out around the house as much as I physically can.  As I looked back on my planner from late 2017 into the end of 2018, and saw all those appointments and treatments, it dawned on me how busy I really was and realized how tiring those things makes me.  I guess going to these appointments and treatments are basically "second nature" to me -- I never factor those things in to my "busyness schedule" which ultimately leads to extreme exhaustion (after each appointment). Last year, one of my words for the year is "GROW...

Thanksgiving It seems like such a simple word, yet it holds so much meaning.    It’s a time to gather with friends and family and perhaps reflect over the year and the goodness that God has bestowed upon us. Sidebar: I’ve never seen a movie or TV show that had a Thanksgiving theme episode where everyone went around the table and shared what they were thankful for…..did any of you do that??? We would share with family and friends what we are thankful for in casual conversation, but never around the table.     It seems that as I grow older (gasp!) I’ve been seeing things in a much different way.   For several years we acknowledge Thanksgiving but we also never really made a big deal out of it.   By that I mean, we didn’t go into the big fuss of making an elaborate meals or a special day out of it.   For example, yesterday we had a normal breakfast, simple soup for lunch, and stir fry for dinner.   Mom and I relaxed most of the day because...

You’re [look] fine, just move around a bit! How on earth are you so tired when you don’t even work? Ignore the pain, it will go away! You mean, you’re STILL in pain? ******* There are very few people who don’t understand how health issues can take a toll on the body. Or that fact that some disabilities are invisible.    My chronic pain and neuralgia are very real The vestibular, ocular, and tension migraines are very real .   My periods of confusion and disorientation are very real Oh, and did I mention abdominal migraines (I bet most of you never heard of that)!    Recovering from procedures and the pain of nerve re-growth is very real . So given the above, I can absolutely be doing nothing; yet the pain consumes all energy.    I’m tired.   So. Very. Very. Tired .   Doctors, Shots, procedures, etc…. not just physically tired, but mentally and emotionally.   I’m spent.  Since my last post ….....

Backstory: I can remember it like it was yesterday.   They were ALWAYS there for me Every.Single.Time. Every.Single.Surgery. It didn’t matter to them what was on their agenda, I was their “princess” and I was important enough that they would be there for my surgeries, not only to see me before surgery, but after surgery.   I’m also sure they were there for my parents.   This couple, Warren and Erma Johnson, basically adopted me into their family. They were considered my Virginia grandparents. Warren knew that every surgery brought so much fear into (back then) a little girl’s heart.   I mean who wants to be poked, especially when a little girl faced surgery 2-3 times a year back then?   Warren did what he did best: held me, hugged me, prayed with me, and never let me go until the “sleepy med” got a hold of me.   But he also did one thing that I will NEVER EVER forget…..He ALWAYS sang to me. Oh, how I loved his voice of comfort. I loved how he sa...

Several of you   have asked me how I have been doing and wondered about my health and especially wanted to know the details about my incident at the hospital a couple of weeks ago ( June 19 th ).   I’ve finally gotten a chance to sit down and gather my thoughts together to write up an update.    So here’s the scoop: For a while now, the pain on my right lower quadrant has been extremely high.   Due to scheduling issues between myself, my parents, my doctors, etc., I had to wait a while to receive another pain block injection.     I was finally able to receive the pain block, last Monday ( June 19 th ). I’ve received several pain injections before and have had zero complications.   Because I have been getting these injections about every 4-6 months, my pain management doctor decided to use all the same medication ( PLUS an added steroid ); however, he used   somewhat different method.   Instead of burning the nerve, he would a...