Listen To Your Body

On my way home from work Monday I was thinking that as soon as I made it home I was "hitting the hay."  Instead when I walked in my husband said "Do you want to take a walk?"  Of course I didn't really feel like it but it gives us a chance to exercise together and talk together.

It really is a good way for me to release any stress I have from work and ask for Alan's feedback.  He has ALWAYS given me good advice.  However; the problem on this particular day was I needed to listen to my body and rest.  As it turned out I didn't rest much at all.

Once I was back at the house I decided I needed to pay some bills and balance my checkbook.  By the time we ate supper and I took my bath, I was exhausted.

The next day after work I made sure that I listened to my body...I came home and took a nap.  It was one of those naps where you fall asleep and wake up over and over.  Not very good sleep but rest none the less. My bladder and sciatica were bothering me that day. When I woke up I was in still in pain.

Scooter McScoot

Scooter, one of my cats, came to my rescue.  She joined me in bed and crawled up on my chest. She is a tiny cat.  When she opens her mouth to meow all that comes out is a wee little squeak.  Some of the other cats pick on her because she is so small.  She has a very faint purr.  But when I pet her a lot her purr is very fast and soothing. She is always a  sweetheart and loves to be petted. I enjoyed her company for about thirty minutes and then I got up.  

I felt much better after listening to my body, taking a nap and enjoying the comfort of one of my fury friends.







What about spiritual rest for our souls??!  When we are weary and we need comfort Jesus commands us to come to Him and not rely on ourselves.  We are to come to Him as disciples who want to learn from Him not just to receive something from Him. He promises us a very powerful gift "rest for the soul."  It doesn't get any better than that!

My advice is to listen to your body when it is telling you it needs to rest.  When your spirits are down and you don't know what to do, ask Jesus to hep you.  He wants you to come to Him and depend on Him totally. And like Snoopy says "Learn from yesterday and rest this afternoon!"

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I Am A Flower

As I hurriedly tried to clean my house and make it as comfortable as possible for my family, I also had a sense of excitement. It has been months since I had seen some of them.  It was also Mother's Day and I looked forward to celebrating the life of my mother.  

Alan, my husband, had to work so I knew I wouldn't be able to commit to cooking too.  My sister happily volunteered her husband for the duty.  She also said she would do all of the grocery shopping.  I will gladly host the party if you do all the shopping and cooking!

My brother and his wife arrived about 2:00.  Then my sister and her husband and my Mom.  I quickly asked my sister-in-law to help me.  She started preparing the hamburger patties.  My sister joined in by preparing the vegetables, etc.  I had already prepared a few things to go along with the meal.

My brother-in-law took charge of grilling the burgers.  It took a long time, but I was so thankful that he was able to help so much. He has major pain issues of his own.  But he is fighting the fight that many of us know daily.  I appreciate his help with all of our family celebrations. 

Mama was able to sit back and relax and enjoy her visit with our family and my brother's fury friend.  I thought she looked great and I was so thankful to celebrate the life of a strong, intelligent, kind, faith-filled inspiration in my life.

The flower I gave her matched her shirt!

 
Later that same evening, about 7:30, my daughter came by to see me.  She had worked twelve hours and I know that she was tired.  I was so happy that she came by to visit.  She gave me the sweetest card ever.  It made me very emotional.  It was so thoughtful.  She also gave me one of those gecko looking things to hang on the wall. This one is blue, green and purple.  I can't wait to add him to my collection!
 
 

I have to admit that in the moment of all these things I took them for granted. For one thing I was sooo tired.  I had been up and down out of my chair so many times. I was kaput!  But now that I have had time to reflect on the moments, I realize just how special they were.

How many times do we take God for granted?  We just go along day after day not even thinking of Him at all until something goes wrong and then we expect Him to take care of everything.  We continue to sin and He continues to love us.  We continue to sin and He forgives us as if nothing happened.  He loves us not because of anything that we do, but because of who He is. He loves us despite how many times we fail Him. 

 I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow.  God and His love are forever!

He loves us despite how many times we fail Him.

 

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My Little Angel

I am delighted to report that I think the Epidural Steroid Injection has helped relieve some of the sciatic nerve pain in my left leg.   I will thankfully take one step down on the pain scale any day of the week!

This past weekend there was a large amount of blood in my urine. It really concerned me.  I called the doctor on call at the hospital and he said he could see me the next day.  I went in and gave an urine sample and he said he didn't see any signs of infection.

Monday I called my Urogynecologist and he sent me to the Imagining Center for an IVP.  The young man that was performing the test was very kind and reassuring.  He explained everything that he was going to do step by step. When he told me he would do an IV and inject contrast in my bladder I said MY BLADDDER??!!  I had already told him that I have Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and he understood my concern with putting anything into my bladder.  He told me it would be fine.  I said " Okay, if you are sure, let's do this!"

He was so thoughtful that he called my doctor just to make sure and to put my mind at ease.  My doctor confirmed that she (my bladder) would be fine.  I knew I was in good hands with this guy because he told me that his wife has IC too.  What were the odds of that happening??

He made my visit on that cold, hard table as pleasant as it could be. He wrapped a compression device my belly to help keep the dye in my kidneys.  I told him he was all over my "no touch zone," but I made my mind up to endure not being comfortable to hopefully get some answers about what is going on with me.

Later that day I called the doctor's office for the results. The test confirmed that there were no kidney stones.  When I went to see my doctor he said my urine test strip showed blood, but under the microscope he did not see any signs of infection. He sent the sample to be cultured.  I should know the results on Monday.  My body has become a mystery and we are just trying to figure it out with one clue at a time.

My daughter, Miranda, came over to do some house cleaning for me the next day.  That afternoon at work extreme exhaustion took over my body.  I came home and rested in the bed for a few minutes.  Miranda was close by cleaning so we were able to talk for a few minutes.  

Then she closed my bedroom door a little and began doing different things around the house. I resolved to use this time to hear the sounds that she made and ponder them in my heart. She fed the cats.  I could her the pitter-patter of her cute little feet walking across the floor.  Soon she was off in another room singing.  My heart was exuberant with love, joy and thankfulness. The sound of her singing lifted my spirits.  To me that was my like an angel from heaven singing to me an early Mother's Day gift.

My Little Angel

I decided to take a pain pill and get out of bed and enjoy my alone time with my daughter as much as I could. It was a special time. Even though my body failed me. The Lord blessed my heart with her visit.

Happy Mother's Day to all women.  We are all unique and we all have special talents.  Let's use them to love and serve others just as my little angel did!!

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Pain Demons

Monday I went for my second visit to Pain Management.  I had the pleasure of a Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection.  Since the injection in my sacroiliac joint two weeks ago did not seem to help we tried something different.

It was not fun.  I felt a lot of pressure almost like a menstrual cramp (a dull achy pain) in my back during the injection.  My husband drove me home and I rested most of the evening.

My Tigger Took A Selfie

The next day after work I was in bed with a lot of pain.  I think the pain demons were cranking up the level. Almost as if to say to me...You are not getting rid of us!

One of my kitties were in bed with me.  I felt a great sense of comfort from Tigger.  I concentrated on the soothing sound of his intense purr.  He is one of my oldest and most friendly cats.  He starts purring when you move or look at him.  He is such a sweetie!

 

 

Is That My Tigger Wearing a Bikini??!!

 

 

 

When I am feeling bad I try to take a break and enjoy the little things in life.  The wonderful, warm sunshine coming through the windows in my living room.  The picture of my beautiful daughter on her wedding day hanging on my refrigerator.  The colorful flowers starting to bloom on my deck.  The cute, tiny baby birds that were just born in a nest on my front porch.

Take charge of the things you CAN control.  You might be sick or be feeling lousy but don't let Interstitial Cystitis or Fibromyalgia or loneliness or whatever you are feeling take control of your life. Take a break and enjoy life.  Ask God to help you and guide you.  You can always count on Him. Regardless of your crisis God is always trustworthy!

 

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