Tweeney boppers!

We had Abigail's birthday party last Saturday night.  She was beyond excited to have a party back home with old friends plus a few of her new friends from school. I had a few more pics to add to my last post of our special out of town birthday weekend, too.

The birthday girl with one of her besties, Laurel.  She and her mom came over early to help me get things together- so nice and very much appreciated!

Tons-o-fun with twister, karoake, and of course, some volleyball!

Sweet group of gals!

Blowing out candles on the famous cookie cake that stressed her momma out making!  It was worth it because she was thrilled, and it turned out tasting and looking pretty good.  I love Audrey An's face in this pic, too!

Team Volleyball found their way to the driveway to "set things up".

Medical update:
I went to the new dentist on Monday for a consultation.  I had three cracked fillings and a broken tooth!  Knowing that Dr. M  thought possibly the root of my infection might possibly be coming from my mouth I asked them how soon can we have the fixed!  Well, I went back on Tuesday and after three hours of drilling, fixing, and a hefty dental bill...I'm all fixed (at least for now as far as my mouth goes).  He made sure I understood that he was not a miracle worker and he just fixes teeth, but if I had as much decay under all those filling s that he said I did I can't help but wonder if MAYBE it's a contributing factor to my illness...bacteria creeping throughout my body from my mouth...eeek!?!?  We shall see.

Praises!
*I totally forgot to post last week that Abigail made her serve over the net in her game last week plus had several good vollies...woohoo!
* God's protection over me while coming home from dentist- flat tire along with a contact in my eye that decided to not cooperate while I'm driving!
*Abigail made a 97 on a math test today (she's been struggling and stressing over this subject)!
*Parent/teacher conference with AA's teacher today!
* Neighbors who were willing to take the girls to church on Sunday because I was wiped out from being birthday party planner momma!
*Bathroom renovation is getting closer to completion thanks to our friend, Merle, who did the drywall!  Now, we need to pick a potty, paint color and vanity (David's installing the floors right now)!

A few surprises...

Last weekend David and I had a few surprises up our sleeve for the birthday girl.  I picked up both girls early from school.  I think I scored at least a couple of cool mom points for that!  David had a long overnight in the thriving metropolis of Valdosta, Georgia so we joined him there.  I wish it had been a bit more of an exciting destination, BUT at least we had the ability to hop on a plane "just because" and be together.  I'll never complain about that!  It was a special weekend...love me some Abigail!

The birthday girl got a special ride from her favorite captain!

 She must be her momma's girls...it's nice getting love notes from her main squeeze!

HUGE surpirse...hee hee!

Medical update:
Last week I posted that I did take a couple of steps backwards.  Well, I got my labs back earlier this week, and indeed I did.  My CPK jumped back to 1285 and my hormones were (are!) completely whacked...uggh! I was really bummed about having to take that "extra" steroid pack a few weeks ago (from the other doctor) and Dr. M said it's proof that the steroids are doing me more harm than good.  She didn't need to convince me of that as you know.  She wants me to decrease my steroid again in about 4 days (hopefully I'm very close to giving them good riddance...forever!).  She also said she's not worried about the CPK right now because it was from that evil steroid pack.  When the immune system is suppressed then my infection goes wild.

She thinks now that my infection could possibly be rooted in my mouth so she's sending me to her dentist!  I have no tooth, gum or nerve pain, but she said that many people don't when they have in infection in their mouth (hmmmmmm....).  So, guess who's going to the dentist asap?!?! I can't get in until October 3.  I'm first on their cancellation list, I'm praying that I'll get in SOON and see if this has anything to do with anything! UPDATE: Since I drafted this post I got a phone call this morning saying the dentist had a cancellation for THIS Monday!  Isn't God so good!!!

Bottom line...chiropractor tells me my head isn't screwed on straight, blood work (hormone levels) tells me why I want to claw everyone's eyes out in my home, Dr. M tells me I've got enough yeast in me I could feed the 5000 (ok, she really didn't say that, but you get my drift!), but the bible tells me "Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land."  Maybe this dentist 15 miles up the highway is the distant land...lol! In all seriousness, Truth tells me that, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."  I've definitely had some weary days, but I have to remember that He's brought me this far and He'll not leave me or forsake me as I trust in Him.

One last thing...took Abigail to see Dr. M today, and I'm so glad I did!  I took her all her records from Vietnam and her latest blood work from her pediatrician here.  It was a flashback to my initial appointment with her June in a few ways.  As she sifted through past records she said, "There are some significant markers that indicate INFECTION.  No wonder she is so tied and doesn't feel good."  My poor baby hasn't felt well for a long time either (no energy, etc) and she's not been treated for it....arrrgh! I'm praying for accurate new test results and wisdom for the doc (for both of us!).  We'll follow up  in about 3 weeks and see where we are on things with Abigail.

I'm thinking it's not a real great thing when your pharmacist sees you walk in and doesn't even have to ask your name...just sayin'!!!  Okay, off to get some sleep. Please pray for extra strength this weekend as we have Abigail's birthday party.  Thankfully, I've got a sweet friend to come give me two extra hands at the party.  Abigail is SO excited...new friends, old friends, karaoke, pizza- a lot of squeeling tweens!

On a side note...I was listening to a podcast of Beth Moore this morning.  I loved this quote: "God is just as deliberate about what He does not reveal as He is about what He does. "I'd be lying if I didn't wonder why God is choosing not to heal me (my daughter) at this time.  There is a reason.  I choose to trust Him.

Snap, crackle....

POP...and I'm not talking Rice Krispies.  Well, I went to the chiropractor for the first time last week.  I've always been a bit freaked out by them, but I do have several friends who go to one regularly and promise they couldn't live without their chiropractor!  I figured Dr. M would soon be recommending me go since she offices with one...it was just a matter of time.  So, I put my big girl pants on and went for a consult like she recommended. This doctor does NOT do any "snap, crackle, pop" (or I'd been running out out of there so fast!).  She uses the Atlas Orthogonal method which is a specialized method in chiropractic practices.  Well, what do ya know, after pre-adjustment x-rays...I have a severe neck injury.  Who would've thunk it!?!  Long story short...honestly, does this surprise me!?!?  What's one more issue, ya know ;-)  I was in a bad car accident back in high school and had lots of sports injuries so I guess all of that balled up made one nice neck misalignment for her to treat.  I'm grateful though.  Maybe this is just one more piece of my puzzle that God continues to reveal to me.  Dr. D (the chiropractor) is extremely nice, gentle and puts up with all my questions!!  She even called me at home to check on me the next day!  After one adjustment in my neck my left leg "dropped" an inch (back to where it should be).  After trying to educate myself and listening to her explanations, it really all does make perfect sense how being misaligned can cause a host of issues.  When one's spine and neck aren't aligned properly it inhibits the central nervous system to work properly.  Now I know my head has never really been screwed on straight...lol!!!

As many of you know the past few weeks have been less than stellar for me healthwise.  To quote Dr. M yesterday, "Well, we've had a little set back.  Sometimes healing in one's body takes one step forward and two steps back." Dr. M took blood work again so hopefully I'll find out those results at my appointment next week.  She changed up some meds again, gave me 6 infusions, and I went to the chiropractor again all in one day.  I'll be going twice a week for at least 5 more weeks to the chiropractor since I'm in what she calls "intensive care".  I AM GOING TO RISE ABOVE THIS!!!  "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!"  Phil. 4:13  Of course, the steps backwards begin to take a toll on anyone mentally...me included.  Thanks goodness I have hope in the Lord or I don't know how I'd handle any of this (or life!).  Praise God that He's so patient with me because I'm not always very patient in His timing and His choice of how and when to work in my life.  I must remember that "His Ways are not our [my] ways!"

On a lighter note...  Abigail came home from volleyball practice last night jumping up and down with excitement!  God's timing is so wonderful, ya know (ok, I need to read that again!  God's timing in wonderful.  There. I said it again.).  She made TEN serves in a row during practice...woo hoo!!!!!  The coach told the girls they had to complete ten in a row before she would let them start practicing overhand serves.  Abs was 1 of 3 on her team who could do it.  This was a HUGE confidence booster for her and SUCH a tangible way for her to see God working in her life.  We've been praying, and she's been practicing with her daddy. PRAYER. POWER. PERSEVERANCE!!!!  She even said during P.E. they played volleyball and she kept serving them over and over and everyone was clapping.  She said, "mom, it got kind of embarassing with everyone cheering!"  HAHA...now THAT'S what I call an "above and beyond more than we can ever imagine" answered prayer!  Now, let's transfer this success to her game on Monday and she'll been super duper stoked!

Praises!
* Abigail's volleyball success!
* Audrey An's teacher set her up with a reading tutor!
*We've just hired a friend to help David do the drywall in our guest bath!
*Dr. M readjusted some meds to get me back on track!
*I finished that "extra" steroid dose pack so sleep is slowly improving!