Doctor update 2

First off, please pray for my dad, who is going through recovery from back surgery. Pray that whatever infections and issues are handled quickly. Thanks!

I went to my neurologist to get a follow-up on two MRIs and blood work.
The good news- no blood disorders and nothing that stands out. Everything looks great on paper when it comes to the blood work. My carotid artery looks good and no issues seem to be present.

It's been almost three years since my last MRI which showed my main stroke damaged area and one spot in another area. This is the part that has been hard to take. I've had nine more small strokes sometime in the last three years. I had no idea as there is no physical change that we can tell. I'm still having other issues so it might be that my brain tries to re-write the connections and I have an episode that I cannot see so the connection is not form. However, as much as I can speculate, I will not.

So still no explanation except that I must watch my blood pressure and loose weight. Perhaps another opinion is best so going to speak with my primary care about the findings.

I admit I'm saddened and it's scarey. I'm young, 38, but whatever is going on, God knows. Please pray for me and my family, my husband and daughter. Thanks!

Doctor updates

August was a busy month. Here are some updates:
Sleep Study - In 2005 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and was severe enough to be placed on a cpap machine which I admit was not fun nor did I use it as much as I should have at the time. I was lucky and highly suggest not doing what I did and follow all doctor instructions. The latest study shows some sleep issues but I'm no longer having the severe sleep apnea. I have moderate snoring and my issues come about when sleeping on my back. Treatment- sleep on side and continue to loose weight, use a nasal spray at night.

Thankful that I have improved with 30lb loss and no longer needing a machine to help me sleep/breathe.

MRI's - had 2 MRI's done the week of the 12th of august. They went fairly fast and the techs were really helpful and pleasant.

Blood work - went to see a Hematologist and wish he could be my regular doctor. He paid attention and asked several questions along with having a sense of humor that went along with me and my family. I had several tests done (14 vials of blood) on the 23rd of August. The office called and said that my tests were negative! and they are forwarding the results to my neurologist.

I go to the neurologist on the 17th of September to discuss the MRI's and the findings of all tests.

Thanking God for all things and know He is in control!

Thankful

Thank you for the comments, emails, prayers and requests. I'm thankful for a better day today. Updates in the coming weeks about all the tests and appointments. I have blood-work appointment this Friday for some special tests (Gene analysis, lupus, protein, etc) to see if any other issues I may have that might have an idea of why I had my stroke. Please pray for answers. Several doctors think it may be more then just the high blood pressure especially since this has been an issue since my teen years.
I leave this in God's hands.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

 The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything,

 but in everything by prayer

 and supplication with thanksgiving

 let your requests be made known to God.

  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

 whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

 whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence,

 if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." 

Philippians 4:4-8 

Not Good with Words

There are days that struggle seems to be all that happens or can be what is focused on more.

Grief - it comes and goes. While not the same situations or even loss, or how life is handled, this article I found really pinpointed some clarity of dealing with grief and words or what can be done. "what to say when there is nothing to say" Take a moment and read the article by Sarah or book mark for later. May it be helpful.


When the days are good, at least as they can be, and there is much positive words, so wonderful to have those days. However, even at almost 4 years since the stroke, there are many days, weeks or slight moments here or there, the loss of my right side tends to be overbearing. The tears flow, the memories invade my mind and I have to refocus.

Yes, I'm getting some function back but it doesn't stay around as much as I would like or the feeling in my right side changes, some good, some painful, but it's not back full time. I try to explain what my body is doing but the words don't come out right and then there are more tears.

The words are not there, to explain, to say what I need or feel I need or even the words come out wrong. To say what I want done around the house or what puts me at ease. Sometimes, I'm not good with words.

Spending Time Part 2

We have been spending time with our daughter the past few weeks before school starts back up next week. She wanted me to share what we have done as a family. We've watched movies and played different games. I haven't felt well (pain when walking/not much energy) and so we haven't gone many places but even still we make the most of our time together. Her and I have worked on chores during the day as best we can, teaching her about kitchen and laundry. A few days we had Grandma helping with us and that's always an adventure.

One of the fun times that we laugh together about and enjoy is Minecraft. We have a private server that we can play together and do lots of creating. It's about using whatever we can find from the block materials to make essential tools, building blocks to very complex objects.  Minecraft also gives me a chance to work on moving my right hand on the mouse and pressing the shift button. My right hand doesn't always want to do what I want it to do. I cannot feel definite objects so I have to watch what I'm doing with my right side. I'm getting better even if slow.

Here are some of our creations along with our characters:

Daughter's character outside our home base

Living Room/Dining area

Our Characters with our horses, sheep and cows

We enjoy what we can during this busy season. While I wish we could be out enjoying being with others, we have a great time together at home.

I hope you had a great weekend and all is well. If you have any prayer requests, send me an e-mail or comment. May the Lord bless you this coming week.

Spending Time Part 1

Summer is getting closer to an end and a new season is among us. New school class for daughter and an ending class for husband with a new class in September. Weather will still have some hot times but it won't be long and cooler weather will come and go. As some know from reading my blog, we have gone through many seasons. For me, we are back to several doctor visits, neurology, blood work, 2 MRI's next week and more follow-up visits.

I had to change Neurologists because my previous doctor is no longer in the area or no longer practicing. I'm not sure so off to a new doctor. Having a new doctor can be a good thing at times.  For once I have a doctor who wants to find out why I had a stroke in the first place. Most have just blamed my high blood pressure but this doctor is not agreeing. So I will have another MRI and a more detailed look at my brain. (not going to go into specifics until later) Also in coming weeks, blood tests to check to see if I have any blood disorders.

So we are spending time with our daughter. More tomorrow. Next week will be busy.


A reminder to all Elders and young pastors but also good words for all Christians. Many times we are told to humble ourselves and share our anxieties and burdens with the Lord. 
From my reading today of 1 Peter:

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV

August

I hope you are doing well. My plan is to give an update soon. I have another new Neuro Doctor appointment today. A quick praise - sleep study went ok but I did it and will have update on 5th.

More later,

Tis so sweet

'Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus! performed by Casting Crowns

What now?

Here we are at almost the end of January but still at the beginning of the new year, 2013. A new season is upon us and change in schedules. My husband started school for an IT degree and so now he is gone for various times and days. All last year, he was with me almost always unless he went to do an errand and I didn't go with him. When he was in the Air Force he was gone all day long and yes, I admit, I missed my time alone. In a sense, this change is not new but we are in a different place since he worked and I'm at a different stage of recovery. So this is a change but I'm looking forward to having time alone in the house.

I don't get all day but at least I have a few hours that I can do the things I want in my time or I can attempt to challenge myself, safely, to do activities around the house. I am doing more but still not as much as I would like to do. I'm become braver at working in the kitchen. I've come to realize and admit that having a stroke is no playground of fun trying to revamp my body to do what is natural. I'm still having issues but I can do this!, whatever "this" may be at the time.

What now? has been a question on my mind the last few weeks. However, my thoughts of exercise all day and do all that I've been taught at therapy, my thoughts have changed. My alone time has been nothing really of the kind but has consisted of reading God's Word and studying. Then having breakfast, which is my morning challenge. I try to stick to simple but filling. Takes me a good bit of time getting the Greek yogurt and apple out of the refrigerator and then cutting the apple with the apple slicer, corer gadget. Oh and a drink and taking all the items to my desk in the living room. Then I can rest and have a nice morning reading blogs, sermons, Facebook and whatever I come across. By the time I'm finished it's almost Noon because I probably didn't really start my morning until 9:30 or 10am.

This past week I had the privilege to watch the Truth & Life Conference 2013: Word of God at The Master's College in Santa Clarita, California. The speakers were: Dr. John MacArthur, president of The Master's College and pastor-teacher at Grace Community Church and Grace To You Ministry; Dr. Mark Dever, senior pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington D. C. and president of 9Marks Ministries; and Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, senior minister at First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina and Professor of Systematic Theology at Redeemer Theological Seminary.
There is so much I could say but to make it short, and maybe another post later, we studied the Word of God. The whole bible points to Jesus as Savior and Lord, our center. The Old Testament shows us who God is, how He interacts with people and His promises, among other interesting topics. The New Testament shows us Jesus' life and about Christian living plus other also interesting topics. As Dr. Ferguson said in one of his sessions, "Soak in God's Word."

Thanking God for His grace and mercy, the Lord Jesus Christ for when we repent and turn from our sin, He is faithful to forgive and thankful for the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

Comfort

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.  

Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  

And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation."

2 Corinthians 1:3-7