Accomplishments big & small

I actually drove myself to Sioux City and back today--about 45 miles each way. This is the first time that I remember over the last year or two that I have done that. I am thankful it went well!

The other accomplishment is rather funny but I am excited that my toenails are growing again. They really stopped growing for at least the last year. I guess my body was putting all of its energy into just getting better and now it has a little more energy on the side to do the menial things like growing toenails. :) I noticed about a month ago that my hair is also beginning to grow a little faster--back to normal. So I guess these things are small signs that I am getting better. Praise the Lord!

Holly

A person named Holly commented on my blog. If you are reading this, I would enjoy having you email me! You are the first person that I have found that have both chiari and intracranial hypertension. My email address is in my profile.
Thanks!

Tuesday

My head is still doing pretty well. I am so enjoying the moments of feeling fairly clear during the day. I am still quite exhausted by night time, and of course my head doesn't feel as good as evening arrives.

The rash is a bit of a mystery. The dermatologist told me that it is an infection but the lab results came back negative, so now he isn't sure what it is, either. I think that I will wait and see if it starts getting better as I continue to apply a medication to it twice a day. It is really very minor in the scope of things, but a bit irritating. My lower back is the worst, but I have a few spots on my legs, stomach, arms, and have occasionally had one on my face and in my mouth. Gr. . .

Saturday

The busy days continue, but I am doing ok. I am very exhausted by the time I get to bed, but I am making it through the days with several rests in the chair interspersed through the day.

My sister Renae moved to town this weekend. Everything went quite well although I wish that I was able to help more than I can. Someday I hope that I am able to do more so I can be of more help. But a day at a time.

My head has been staying pretty steady lately at a very tolerable level. My ears ring all the time yet but I am tolerating noise a little better I think. I am so thankful to be at the point that I am. I long for more, yet when I think about where I came from I am amazed that I am doing this well. What a blessing it is.

Have a blessed sabbath.

busy days

The new muscle relaxer seems to be working pretty well, so I will probably try to get a prescription for that one.

The days seem to be so busy lately. Kyle has had lots of church meetings lately. We had four parent/teacher/student conferences last night. Tara had her ears checked again and they are looking pretty good! (What an answer to prayer!) She had a little "negative pressure" in one ear, but no holes, fluid or infection. At this point we will just wait and see what happens.

I finally saw the dermatologist today in SF. Evidently I have an infection that is causing the rash and sores. Probably should have checked it out a few months ago, but now is better than never. So hopefully I can get that cleared up. I didn't think to ask but I am now wondering if an infection may be somewhat delaying my regaining of strength? Probably not, but I can always hope that there is a reason that can easily be resolved and I suddenly become strong again!

Happy Birthday, Riley!

Today Riley turns 8. How can that time go by so quickly! It seems like just yesterday when we got the call that we could fly to Guatemala to take our son home. What a blessing he is in our lives! Sometimes we are told that he is lucky but we know that we are the lucky ones, privileged to be chosen to raise our son.

I recovered very quickly from my bout of sickness earlier this week. Of course, it seemed to sap more strength from me again and I am climbing back from that. I am very tired. Thankfully, I am the only person that was sick in our family. It does make me wonder a little more about whether it was the flu. I had a small amount of steak that evening, but more than I have had before. Perhaps that caused me to get very sick. It is hard to say. I am not at all tempted to try it again and see what happens!

My head is holding pretty steady. Today wasn't quite as good, but still I can't complain. If I can stay steady like this it would be ok. I discovered that the muscle relaxer that I've been taking (left over from earlier treatments for headaches) is over $200, so since I used the last this morning I am trying one of the others that I have in the cupboard in hopes that it will work as well. I have three to try in my arsenal at home so I am trying the least expensive one now to see how it goes.

Small bump in the road

Well, I spent a little time in the hospital again. Yep, you read it correctly. We are very thankful, though, that it turned out to be very minor. I started throwing up last night and heaved almost contantly for several hours till Kyle brought me in. Of course, with my issues, they were a little extra concerned that it might be more than the flu, but it appears that is all it is. I spent about 12 hours there in observation and then was released. I have dreaded the hospital so much, but this was pretty easy. What a way to spend Kyle's birthday!

We thankful for the Lord's provision in protecting me from something more serious than the flu! A shunt infection would not be so great--I already know that road from this summer!

It wasn't funny at the time, but Kyle kept asking me if he could bring me in. "Can I bring you to the hospital?" I said, "no!" We repeated this several times until I finally agreed. Kyle moved pretty fast when he heard a quiet yes so that I wouldn't have time to change my mind! Since he carried me out to the car, I ended up not having shoes on and had my nighty on over my sweats. I didn't care when he brought me in but felt a little more silly when I walked out!