Under His Wings

It's been an never ending cycle.  I get serious about my health, do good for a few months then give up.   As a result, my health is such a mess!!! My diabetes is way out of control.  As a result, there has been nerve damage to my stomach. I was officially diagnosed with a condition called Gastroparesis in December.  In simple terms, the stomach doesn't digest food quickly anymore.  Thankfully with medicine it's under control now.  A year ago, before my diagnosis I was in misery!! My energy level is almost nothing.  My house is such a total disaster!!  It's embarassing!!! I got a big, serious lecture from my doctor yesterday about the importance of diet and exercise.  With my health issues, they are really the only things that will help.  My doctor said he can encourage me, but it's ultimately up to me to change. I have renewed my membership to my fitness pal page to keep myself accountable.  I've also found some new exercis...

2013 has been a very challenging year.   It was a year of patience testing and a call to fully rely on God!!!! I wrote the following during one of those times, it was at the beginning of my search for some answers for some upper abdominal pain that started in August.  Since this entry, I’ve got my diagnosis, but it expresses my feelings about having a chronic illness. (8/22/13 at a local hospital having an upper GI series... having the first of the 5 tests) The past few weeks have been a test of patience!!!  I have been dealing with a stomach issue at the moment of this initial writing is in the process of being diagnosed. I’ve dealt with pain, nausea, bloating and other digestive yuckiness.  I’ve just felt just plain awful! This latest health crisis has brought to reality what my doctors have been telling me for years…take care of myself not only for me but for my family’s sake. I’ve been in denial for over 19 years thinking my diabetes isn’t taking a toll on...

Nate doing the "butter dance" The joys of being a stay at home mom....sitting on a charter bus with close to 50 4th graders including my son Nate.  Yesterday, I had the pleasure of chaparoning Nate's field trip to the Old Mac Donald education day at our local fairground.  It was even educational for me.  Did you know that deer has a ruminate type stomach like a cow?  I didn't know that. There is something about the smell of bus fabric and diesel fuel that takes me back 20+ years when I was a college student taking the Trailways and Greyhound buses back and forth to Syracuse NY for my internships at WTVH TV (now part of CNY Central).  Back then I was a young woman focusing on starting my TV career.  I focused on my career because my ultimate dream of being a wife and mom wasn't coming true.(there's much more I could say about that issue).  I would have to wait about 5 years for that to happen. I have thought about trying to revive my ...

It was one of those anything could go wrong kind of days.  It started out realizing I didn't do enough laundry for today and one of my kids needed underwear.   I was freaking out about it when Elijah made a mad dash for the bathroom. He didn't need the underwear afterall.  He had fallen victim to the tummy bug going through our house.  Nate had been sick on Saturday, but this morning he started to complain about an ear ache.  Last night Anna started feeling sick. So far she's escaped the tummy yuckies, but she's had a headache. I ended up taking Nate to the doctor and he was diagnosed with an ear infection.  When I went to leave the parking lot, my van would not start.  The van has not done that since June.  Thankfully, Tim could get away to come help me.  While we were waiting for him.  I told Nate that we should pray one of the 2 cars next to me would move before Tim arrived as it was, Tim would have had to block the...

Recently, my garden was overcome by weeds. I have to say that they were pretty weeds with beautiful white flowers. I hated to pull them out. However, they were covering up my rhubarb! There was also a wild blackberry vine growing right in the middle of my rhubarb with prickly thorns.  I carefully pulled them out too. What a difference a weeding made! Now my garden is just about bare as I was able to share the rhubarb once I could find it.   The area looks so much better! Lately, I’ve been trying to weed out some unwanted areas of my life that have crept in. I’ve been trying to take control of my health by watching my diet closer and exercise more. I’ve tried to find creative ways to exercise like taking walks with my husband during his break while the little ones have been at Vacation Bible School. One day I walked with Anna and her class down to their class picnic at the park. I’ve also tried to get rid of the not so obvious pesk...

Anna jumping rope on Daytona Beach 4/7/12 I took Anna to her cardiologist today to check on the status of her Mitral Valve Stenosis.   She is doing absolutely wonderful.  The dr. told me that if he hadn't been watching her since she was an infant (she's been under this dr's care since she was a day old), he wouldn't pay as close attention to the murmur in her valve.  He reminded me how he thought she would need treatment a long time ago, but her valve continues to work well despite the mild stenosis.  Her EKG and blood pressure was fine.  She's been having annual echocardiogram (more when she was little).  The dr. said this year's was not necessary.  She'll have one in a year.  I am so excited!!!   Just another example of my miracle girl!!!   She's been playing 8 under softball this year vs. the t ball she originally planned to play. It didn't bother her a bit.  Her teacher said he didn't notice any pro...

This morning I had some allergy testing done.  For probably about an hour, I was stuck lying on a bed on my stomach as the test was done on my back.  The test itself was not bad except when I moved while the nurse was pricking my back with needles. I was trying to answer the doctor's questions. As I was waiting for the time to be up to check the results, I had the chance to look out the window facing the parking lot.  I saw all kinds of vehicles including multiple types of buses, cars, trucks even motorcycles. I saw a bunch of people talking in one lot.  I observed people walking.  I wondered what they were there for.  The hospital I was at is a very respected hospital in this region of NY/PA.  It's actually part of my family history.  My dad's great grandfather, Alonzo was the first patient there in 1885. As far as my testing goes, nothing showed up this time.  Which was a bit of a relief.  I was hoping I was not allergic to my...

I had a friend tell me years ago if you wake up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason it's God's way of telling you there's someone who needs prayer. I have a lot of sick and hurting friends right now.  I don't know who specifically needs prayer at this moment. Here it is 2:15 in the morning on a Friday and I'm wide awake.  Today it's for a reason.  I've been sick for the past 2 days with flu like symptoms.  Achy fever ick!  I just took some pain reliever.  I was hoping to be better so I wouldn't have to make 2nd trip to my dr. in little over a week and I have my regular appt. coming up with him on Thursday, but for the sake of my family I want to get better. I'm tempted to complain as I've been sick with sinus stuff since the beginning of January.  Light is at the end of the tunnel for that.  I have been feeling a lot less congested and my appointment to see the allergist is finally coming.   Honestly it's been frustr...

The past 24 hours have been pretty scary.   Two severe thunderstorms hit our area between 5-9 PM last night. We got a lot of hail and our roads flooded temporarily.  Many trees were knocked over and uprooted.  Two telephone polls a few blocks away were snapped.  During the second storm we lost power for 5 hours.  My parents and others have also lost power and aren't expected to get it back until tomorrow. There are tornado warnings for points south of us and severe thunderstorm warnings for our area again tonight. As I hear thunder in the distance at this moment I am thinking about (and was listening to) "Til the Storm Passes By by Hovie Lister.  It talks of being in the midst of the storms of life and the Lord keeping us safe through it all.  I've had my share of storms in life.  Things have been scary and seemed impossible to get through in one piece at times, but God always have got me through each...

My mom and I were talking this past week about how sometimes God seems to use radio and other ways to get a point across.  The past few days that has definitely been the case!  I have been convicted of how badly I have handled my thoughts and tongue lately.  In my distress of recovering from surgery the past 2 weeks, I have not been the kindest, most patient person in the world.  Tiredness, pain and frustration tends to bring the worst out of me. First off,  the devotional story Nate chose for last Monday night (I think it was out of order) was based on James 2.  Tuesday morning's "The Imperfect Wives" radio show I listened to was on James 2-3. It's the passage on taming the tongue. On Wednesday, a new program to me on CWA radio called "His Love Extended" featured the host Julie and her husband Greg talking about how important it is to support your husband in time of crisis in life.  That's something I really n...

Main Street Johnson City NY. On the right hand corner is my first home. We lived on the 3rd floor. As most of you know, my mom had surgery last week to remove a lymph node out of her neck. She is recovering well and we haven't heard any news from the pathologist. That's a good sign. Before the surgery, I took the time to walk around a bit around the village where I was born and raised for the first 2 years of my life. A lot of things have changed. Next to my favorite park of all times, there's a Newspaper printing building and a huge brand new Walmart, replacing the Endicott Johnson shoe factory my dear Grandma used to work in. The park itself has changed a bit. Much of its old playground equipment has been replaced with new stuff. I was disappointed the tiny elephant slide didn't survive the cut. However, the carousel just was refurbished and will be a part of my kids' lives for years to come when I go home to see my parents. I drove by some of the ...

It's been a year since I updated my blog. Wow! Time does fly when having fun! I was out for a walk today. It was a perfect day to take in the warm early fall air. This is my favorite time of the year. I love observing the hills around me transform into a wave of multi colored beauty. I also love the smell of freshly fallen leaves. Of course, I know that that means winter is close behind, but hey that means that the time of beautiful flowers will follow. I have a lot of neat plants in mind to try out next year. I'm planning on taking a lot of walks in the next few weeks. I signed up for a free county health program. I'll be able to measure how far I'm walking and get nutrition tips. I'm looking forward to the end of 6 weeks to see the results. I'll keep you all updated and share the treasures I find in my walking adventures. PS I've never really shared this blog before, so feel free to go back and check out my previous posts.

I came across one of my friend's blogs today. I totally forgot I had one. I haven't posted since September. I have some updates since then. My mom just went to her endocrinologist and thryoid surgeon this past week. She is still cancer free. She's even on lower doses of thyroid hormones. However, she was just diagnosed with a sinus condition. Part of it is a deviated septum plus she has a blockage in the front top part of her sinuses that will require surgery next month. Again, it was found in a test not specifically for her problem (swollen lymph nodes), but it showed up. Another happier update, I now have over 350 on Facebook. I have found some more relatives, some college friends, some former neighbors and my mom even joined! It's been so neat catching up with people I haven't seen in years. Some of them are shocked I even remember them. I'll be more faithful in updating this blog

I'm sitting here at 1:30 AM after a wonderful, but exhausting day with my in laws. Every August my husband and his 6 siblings and his mom have a family picnic. I am blessed to have wonderful in laws! My 3 sister in law's are like the sisters I never had. I really pigged out today! I was thinking if I snuck a few brownies and cookies, I'd avoid the blood sugar crash I've been experiencing the past few weeks. NO, about 12:30, I checked my blood sugar. It was 47! It was normal when I went to bed at 11:15. My new endocrinologist has been adjusting some medicine. He actually lowered my insulin dose and slowly raised it again, but it looks like it needs to go back down some more. I'll have to call his office back on Monday to report this deal I'm actually thankful that my sugar is under control. My averages are back down to normal now. Pre Dr. Lee (June 27) my averages were up near 200. I'm not going to be able to stay awake for church! I'll have to dr...

On Thursday, my wonderful mom is going to be having some major surgery. She is going to have her cancerous thyroid removed. She is now struggling to talk. The tumor is apparently pushing against her voice box. It's been scary to observe her go downhill the past few months. The prospect of having a parent with cancer was one of my worst fears. For a few weeks in May and June I thought maybe both of my parents had it. Thankfully my dad's biopsy came out ok. I was really sure under the circumstances, that my dad was the one with cancer. Yet, my mom's history was that she had a benign growth on the thyroid about 14 years ago. We all thought it would be the same thing. On June 19, my fear became reality when I got the call from my mom only a day after her biopsy. The past few months, especially in the past few weeks has been a test of faith and courage. My temptation is to get all worried and honestly angry about what is going on with my mom. She has gone through so ...