Happy Heart

I've wanted to wait to update until my next IVIG, but I have now decided I might never update if that's the case! I never dreamed it would take this long to get my next treatment approved and scheduled (not sure why since insurance is involved!). Its suppose to be given every 3-4 weeks and I'll be at seven weeks IF I get it this coming week. Well, I'm truly hoping and praying that I will hear something on Monday and getting "infused" by week's end at the very least. I so want to maximize the benefits of this! So...please pray for quick resolve and efficiency (as well as The Lord will use this treatment to continue to heal me and with no negative side effects). My activity level has increased a bit this past week unlike my difficult week of transition from the hospital to home two weeks ago. I'm very grateful that I was able to do three days of PT/OT last week (some of my PT sessions are aquatic therapy...so much easier than on the land!). I've had a couple of lunch outings with some friends (OH, how I needed to see outside my four walls and have a social life!), and I even went to church (class and service) today. No, I am not driving yet in case you're wondering! This is all with a 20 mg drop in steroid, too-yay! David and another friend of ours (Andy) started a new class at church this morning. It felt great to be back at church and seeing my man teach again. When we moved overseas we told our old class he wouldn't be teaching that (the former) class, and I wouldn't be directing it anymore when we returned home. Of course, things were a tad topsy turvy when we returned, and we weren't in a position to take on the full responsibility of a new class again at that time even though it was killing us to not! David and Andy started talking about starting something last May, but the right opportunity didn't really come about until now. So, we (David, Andy, his wife Christina, and I) are excited to see what God has in store now.

Yes, I have a happy heart. I have a happy heart for many reasons. It truly began to see a difference with my heart last Sunday. I actually went back to church last Sunday, but I just felt I had enough strength to go to the service only. It just proves to me that believers in Christ need each other (never have needed much convincing though). We need encouragement. We need fellowship. We need to worship together (Hebrews 10:24). Although I've had some of that, of course, via "tv and internet church" and through people ministering to me in so many ways, it's just not quite the same as fellowshipping WITH your own church body AT church. I'm happy I've seen some increased strength. I'm happy my girls are seeing answers to their prayers, I'm happy that I've had some transitions I'm working through and God is showing me some answers...gradually. I'm happy that David, the girls and I have had some great conversations this weekend and has reminded me of why I am called to be a mommy. To be honest..I've needed that.

Below is my sweet grandmother Nini who turned 94 this week. I know you're not suppose to broadcast a woman's age, but I think she has earned it! I wish I could have been with her to give her birthdays hugs myself. The next is mom and dad at the Baylor game...think they could dunk it like it Griner??? Then...I came across a few "oldies"-Abigail at age four (in one of my old dresses!) and the girls with their cousins, and Abigail with Owen (my bff's first child). Wow- how they're growing up!

Home SWEET Home!

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow...I was discharged from the hospital on Saturday with a CPK of 1018 taken the day before. This is a 7000 reduction of CPK in one month- pretty significant! I can't believe I was in in-patient for over one month. Wow...how I've missed MY family, four walls, my bed, and normal food. I so enjoyed just the drive home. It was great to be in a car and see the outside world. I was up and at 'em early on Saturday. I wad so giddy to get out of there! I was able to shower, dress and. pack my bags without help from a nurse. Yes, it took me a loooong time, and I won't be winning any "efficiency" awards any time soon- but it's encouraging to see a little independence. One of my goals before departure was to be able to sit up and get myself out of bed by myself which I am able to do now- with a lot of effort though. So...yay me! David even asked if I minded if we stop at the grocery store on the way, and I was so excited about the possibility of being in a STORE (something I've not been in for at least 6-7 weeks), I said, "Yes! lets go!!" I've never been so thrilled to motorize down the freezer aisle- David had to tell me to "come on"! Ahhhh, the little things in life :-)

Today, I had a very long awaited "first date" with my main squeeze. Of course, it involved chips and salsa, and it was great! (the company wasn't too bad either-wink wink!). Lets just say I learned a few things about myself and what it takes to be handicap accessible and how it wears me out to get ready. We then proceeded to the rheumatologist who treated me with the IVIG. Isn't that romantic? Thank goodness he's starting to reduce my oral steroid again, and pending insurance approval and setting up an in home infusion company, I will have my next 3 day IVIG treatment sometime later this week. The rheumy was very encouraged with my progress and CPK combined with some increased strength. He told us that he was looking over my records prior to the appointment and was thinking my CPK would be back in the 5000 range (because my CPK was rising even when he discharged me from hospital) and he would have to rethink treatment options. Well!! Did we surprise him!! I keep telling him I'm going to better than new when all this is said and done AND that is what happens when people pray!

I start out-patient rehab on Wednesday. This out-patient rehab is 10 minutes from home, and I will receive PT/OT three days a week. Honestly, this was not what I was hoping and even praying for. David and I were hoping I would receive in-home health, but the more we thought through it and listened to the staff and understand what I would really be getting, we felt it was in my best interest to get me stronger faster with the more intense therapy of out-patient. Convenience isn't always best- in most areas of life, too!

Praises!
*Thankful for prayer warriors- many I don't even know! Better appreciation of those who've been through dark times due to their empathy and letting my family know they are praying and providing help and encouragement
*FaceTime with family in Texas Saturday nite while they did Christmas mid-January due to having to postpone their Christmas celebration because of caring for me. Grateful for a generous and flexible family!
*Girls are seeing tangible answers to prayers- slow health improvement, God's provision through family/friends/church through meals, carpool, letters/calls/texts, 3 financial donors (and 2 were anonymous!), helpers lined up if needed when David is gone, David's work schedule, and insurance coverage.
*I even got a couple of bulls eye on our new wii archery game- pretty good little work out trying to raise up my arms...lol!

Requests:
*No infection to spread in a bummed out/in-grown toenail. Antibiotic...do your thing!
*Insurance coverage of all IVIG treatments and approval of infusion company.
*Transition for all as momma bear is back home...
*Regain strength through PT/OT
*Discernment with meds as steroid reduction occurs.

Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS POWER that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

T Minus 4!

Huuuuuge praise- I get to go HOME on Saturday!! Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow (and I don't have to reschedule my Monday rheumatologist appointment either!)! I'm making baby steps (pun intended) of progress and slowly gaining strength in my overall muscle weakness. At times, I think I don't see lots of progress because I'm far from 100% strength regain, but when I see what I can do based on just even one week ago I'm encouraged and can't deny that God is answering our prayers.

Here are few milestones from the past few days:
*Stood from elevated chair height of 20" without help, 19" with help...started at 26" last week
*Worked on climbing steps...ok, well- 2 steps! (right leg so much weaker than left)
*Side, front and back leg lifts on what I call my "ballet bar" (we're talking not high lifts at all BUT....it's a start!)
*Took BIG Shirt on/off by self while in OT
*Pedaled on a "SciFit" today- cross between an elyptical, stair step and stationary bike...Tour De France, here I come!
*Had an ice massage...doesn't that sound relaxing! Actually, since I'm a hotbox it felt pretty good! It numbed me up so the OT could work out the knots in my neck/back.

Here are some other "memorable" funnies that have made me smile/laugh this week...
At night I've been having to wear what I call "puff boots". They help prevent blood clots, but they inflate/deflate about every 10 seconds (makes for another aspect of such a goooood night's sleep). Have you ever had someone come in at 4:45am and ask if you're ready for a shower? OR environmental services come on each morning at 6:00 and announce, "Good morning. I'm here to take out your trash." Then usually about 30 minutes later another worker comes in and announces they are there to "desanitize my room". Between all that, the rehab doctor comes in and wakes me up (again), flips the light on and asks how I'm doing. Well, since I'm not really coherent at those hours of the day, I usually don't have too much to say to him rather than a smile and a "grunt"! Oh! One more funny thing. I also have an alarm on my bed. Have you ever heard if such a thing?? It's like I'm on house arrest. I'm a "fall risk" and they won't let me up and out of bed without someone (and it can't even be David) there to assist me. Well, I got busted this morning!!! My alarm went off...OOPS!!! I wonder what happened :-) I'm really not complaining- I HAVE to look back at these types of things and have to laugh. Remember, I'm putting my time in now so I won't have to have David come visit me in the nursing home when I'm 90!

Another huge praise is that both girls got to spend some great time Sunday-Monday with their best little buddies! They were so thrilled to be with Laurel and Grace! I'm so thankful for God's provision for our girls (well, our entire family!). It's good to see smiles on their faces and and a spark in their voices when I ask them about their days with their friends. I just talked to them again just now and it sounded like they hope they had a great first day back to school today, too! Kinda bummed I don't get to see them today as planned, but daddy-ojust got called out for a quick trip. Thank goodness for sweet friends who I lined up for the girls in case this happened -yay!

Also, they've got a small little chapel that David and I spent some time in together yesterday. The stain glass was beautiful. I read this yesterday in my devotional , Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and thought it was so good. "Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving. This joyous discipline will help you live in the intimacy of My Presence." Yes, it's a discipline at times...
"Praise The Lord, O my soul, I will praise The Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." Psalm 146:1-2

Celebration Pizza Party!

She walks!! Well, I've been able to walk (a bit wobbly for quite sometime), but the last two days the PT has worked hard with me on going from a standing/sitting position without someone having to pull me out of the chair. Now, before anyone gets too excited... we started at 26" chair elevation, but got down to 21" by my last session today! I know, I know...contain yourself! So, now I'm able to say, "She (I) stands!" I'm so thankful my family saw this yesterday. So thankful I AM finally starting to see improvements. It's the little things in life, ya know! The OT began using ultrasound on my upper body yesterday. It helped tremendously. I was able to stretch my arms a bit more and did not have to prop my head up the rest of the day. Today, I was pretty tuckered out from my big day yesterday, but it was worth the success! One of the pictures below is my view while getting heat packs on my legs...(another is the REST of the family tuckered out!). Mom noticed I lifted my iPad with one hand (it took two hands with major effort three days ago). I'm starting to brush my teeth with one hand- not two. I can kinda flip my tennis shoes off after PT by myself. I am starting to put lotion and make up on my face without David's help and turning over a bit in the bed. Woo hoo!! Again- the little things. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me STRENGTH!"

So...since my stellar dinner in the "hall of pain (ahem)" with all my new buddies included meatloaf (yuck!) my man brought in pizza delivery to celebrate success! Man, that was like the best pizza ever- yummo. I've had a bit too much dry chicken over the last month :-)

Mom and dad left this morning. It was hard to see them go, but they've generously stayed here almost three weeks! David and I could have NOT have made it without their help! It was neat to see how God put things together before they left town. I know mom was really praying that certain things were in place prior to their departure. I think she (as well as I) got her answer to prayer on several fronts.

One other praise! The "team" (doctor, OT, PT, speech therapist, and case worker) met yesterday and gave me a projected discharge date of January 15. Now, I am shooting for next weekend- I'm absolutely going STIR CRAZY! I can only do so much therapy-ing, facebook-ing, read-ing, Pinterest-ing, and Netflix-ing in a day- hee hee! Besides...it works better for the rheumatologist appointment I had to reschedule for Monday the 14th...lol!

P.S. you like the pic of the girls deciding I needed more "shots" (pedicure)...with latex gloves and all).

Happy New Year to me!

1403...woohoo!!! Yep, I found out tonight that's a CPK that I am actually thrilled about considering since hospitalization/rehab! When I entered the ER three weeks ago it was 8200. It's come down steadily with a few spikes. Michelle was with me tonight when I got the news. She actually did the happy dance for me and with me...so fun! Initially, the nurse wasn't going to tell me my number and I'd have to wait for the doctor tomorrow-ummmm, no! We couldn't quite figure that one out other than it was NOT good and they wanted the doctor to tell me. No stress- ha. I asked to speak to the charge nurse and she said the same thing...double arghhh! Well, since David and I track this number like some track the stock market, I told them I didn't want to wait until tomorrow, I'm sure it was going to be high so it's not going to freak me out...and besides, its my number :-) I wanted to know, and I didn't want to stress through the nite wondering if it were out of control again because the tech came in wanting to redo the lab result. Michelle and I just stopped and prayed that the charge nurse would let me to know the CPK result. Well, 2 seconds later...charge nurse knocked on my door with...guess what? My CPK! Praise Jesus that I didn't have to wait until tomorrow. I will get more lab results back when I meet with doctor ( I can wait in these....sort of!) Wednesday. Maybe the IVIG treatment is starting to kick in???

Other praises today: I had PT/OT ALL morning- again exhausting but improvement. I know it sounds very minimal to you, but the PT sat me on an elevated exercise table, walker in front, and gate belt attached to my waste. He had me do two set of ten reps of standing/sitting! I did it! Legs were wobbly, but I did it!!! Tomorrow he will lower the bench- exciting stuff- I know.

After PT/OT I choose to eat in the dining room with the other patients. I needed some social in my life. Wow is all I can say! I brought the average age down at least 40-50 years. Again, quite humbling. Humbling for several facts: 1. to be wheeled to the head of the table with people who are here getting help like I need...but, seriously, they were more than double my age and the table barely had enough room for all our wheelchairs-lol! 2. I introduce myself to the precious lady next to me and quickly discovered she'd probably had a stroke since her speech was so slurred and couldn't respond to me. and 3. To see these lovely people in the"gym" when I am and I'm telling them, "Wow, that's great! You're superwoman!" (meaning they can lift weights and walk up stairs UNlike me...at this point). Wow. Wonder what was going through all their minds with me (the "youngin') sitting there trying to drum up conversation.

I returned to hall of pain (dining room) tonight for dinner and ate with a lovely new friend and her family. I'm so glad I did. I love hearing everyone's stories. Everyone's got one. Discovered mutual friends, mutual faith, mutual careers, etc. What a blessing. When we left my new friend said in a spunky voice, "See you later, hall mate!"

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to be silent and a time, a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil?I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can FATHOM what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will ENDURE FOREVER; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him." Ecclesiastes 3:3-14

Side note... My baby girl comes back today from her first youth retreat with our church. I can't wait to hear all about.