Out & About

I haven't been released by my doctor yet, but Wednesday, Richard and I went to "Back Yard" at church where we enjoyed great food and even better company. It was wonderful to be among our church family again. Richard can't attend on Sundays because he always works then, but Wednesday evenings are usually open for him. After the meal everyone went into the chapel for worship songs and a brief but effective lesson.

Yesterday, I went grocery shopping. I hadn't been since before I got sick and we needed everything. I feel good enough to cook again and so I saw to it that the larder was well stocked. How blessed I felt to wander through aisles of plenty knowing we could buy any food we needed, or even wanted. So many people have not enough to eat! May I never, ever forget that or become hardened to the needs of others.

Today, I set out to pick up some prescriptions I had called in to Wal-Mart's pharmacy a few days ago, and to find the doctor's office and make an appointment. This is the doctor who cared for me in the hospital and is supposed to release me before I go out, get active, etc. I've called his office a dozen times and can never talk to a real person so decided to just go there.

These two errands should not have taken more than half an hour since everything is close to us. Not so, I was gone almost three hours! The pharmacy was out of my meds, then relented and said they could dispense a few pills until the backorder came in but I'd have to wait. I waited. That was fine; there were people to smile at. Maybe I could cheer someone up. Forty minutes later, I had three pills.

I noticed the gas gauge was close to empty so got in line for Wal-Mart's gas, the cheapest in the area. There must have been thirty cars crowded around that station all nosing their way up to the pumps. Again I waited. There was no one to smile at, no one made eye contact, so I smiled at God and we made heart contact. Finally, it was my turn and I spent almost $50 for a tank of gas! This is a fuel crisis and not the first. When are we going to DO something about our oil and energy problems? I talked that over with the Lord and went in search of my doctor.

His office was not where the address said it should be, and my Garmin GPS didn't recognize the address either. I went from place to place until I realized I was acting a lot like Richard when he's lost but won't admit it. Why wander when you don't know where you're going. I opted to ASK someone. I left the motor running and ran inside a foot doctor's office just as they were closing. They gave me exact and perfect directions to my destination.

Fortunately, my doctor doesn't close early on Fridays. I did learn their phone system had gone berserk so it wasn't my fault I couldn't talk to a person when I called them. I was able to make my appointment - next Wednesday. Surely, I can't sit around until then, can I? I need to be out and about!

That's Grace

It took my friends Donnie and Donna several trips with arms loaded to bring all the booty into my house yesterday. On behalf of The Vine Church and themselves, they brought cases of water, cookies, lovely vases and silk florals, not to mention a colorful profusion of fresh fowers... all of it wrapped abundantly in love.

As Donna stylishly arranged the florals, we had a great visit, from my perspective, anyway. They are very special friends and I probably talked their ears off. As I often do, I wandered from one rabbit trail to another and never quite kept track of what we were talking about but had a great time, anyway.

I was feeling a lot better by the time they arrived and have improved steadily since. I am hoping to be well enough to attend a meeting Wednesday night at church. I miss my church family and I miss being in God's house.

Richard painted at the other house today. We discovered God saved us from a burnout. On my last visit, I had lit several big scented candles... and forgot about them when I left. The candles were just setting on a dresser without holders. A neighbor saw the flickering lights and called one of the park officers at four in the morning afraid the house was on fire. I am so very thankful there was no fire! So thankful for caring neighbors with insomnia!!

Yes, I have been undeservedly blessed... that's GRACE!

Not Well

I didn't follow doctor's orders and have been loaded down with consequences. I went out among the masses, - just a quick trip to the store, or so - and I didn't rest as I should. Now, I have a horrid cold. At least I hope it's a cold and nothing worse. So, I regret my stubborn ways and am paying for them.

I do not regret, however, the wonderful time we spent with Athena and Brian. They fixed a delicious Thanksgiving meal which we shared Wednesday because Richard had to work Thursday. We walked to the store and I wisely waited outside with the dog. We played games, and happily lost. I'm getting better at it and love the game but cannot recall its name. The time at their house is treasured.

We had great phone visits with most of our kids and some grandkids... We are blessed... I'll feel even more blessed when the fever is gone and I am not weak as a wounded kitten. Will write more later.

Forced Leisure

I did little today. Just sitting around waiting to get stronger and be back in the flow of things. I read, I spent a lot of time in the Word and also enjoyed a novel about a girl who can fly... don't ask. A good diversion and the plot actually worked.

My friend Carol from Alabama called and we had a good visit. She has one of those voices I can hear well on the phone. It is lower, or deeper than many women, so I don't have to struggle to figure out what she's saying. Seems like I've known her all my life, but it really has only been a bit over ten years. There are a few people in my life who are soul mates... Carol is one of them. I could tell her anything, and like Jesus, she would love me anyway.

So tonight, after doing almost nothing all day long, I am tired. Sitting around is hard work after all. I thought I was more healed than I am, and I find I am weak and still have not much pep. So, since God has me idling instead of revving my motor, I shall be still and try to hear what He may have in mind for these days of forced leisure.

Praise Mop

I have a mop. In fact I have two and they both have fancy self wringing features... Very cool mops. One sponge, one rope. But I don't usually use my mops. I prefer to clean my floors on my hands and knees. I learned that from my Daddy who took care of our family's mopping chores until I was about 12. I prefer to mop that way. I can see the dirt, get into the corners, know the job is getting done right. Plus I have some very smooth knee dance moves.

But today I tackled our floors with my rope mop and am quite satisfied with that. I've been wanting to mop since I got home from the hospital and, since I've been banned from being in public (ergo, no church) I figured I'd have my own version of praise and worship. I'm taking a wee break right now and will vacuum in a few minutes.

Oh, I know there are some who would say I am desicrating the Sabbath, but this is Sunday, not the Sabbath, and I am mopping to the glory of GOD, and quite frankly, He and I seem to be quite at peace - actually pleased - with that. Then there are some who would question whether bedrest and mopping are really compatible, but I say if God has given me the energy and desire to dance before the Lord with my mop, I am resting in His love. So, naysayers begone! I'm having a glorious Sunday moring mopping up with the Lord, thank you. It's SO good to be alive!!!

Menengitis!

When I last wrote, I was hoping to go to bed, sleep away the pain and awaken feeling better the next morning. That didn't happen. After only an hour or so, I woke Richard up and had him take me to the ER. I was in so much pain I could not hold still. I must have looked awful because I was taken to a room immediately and placed in isolation.

The spinal tap confirmed I had menengitis, but in addition to the expected head, neck and back pain, my legs were in agony. Not crampy, but as if the muscles were literally being torn apart. Mercifully, they put me under, just below the conscious level. I was in and out of it until Monday when I began to feel dramatically better. Folks were obviously praying!

I was then moved out of ICU into an isolation room on a medical floor. By then I only needed traditional pain managemet meds and by Tuesday afternoon, I was off drugs altogether except for the massive doses of IV antibiotics flowing into my one good vein.

That vein was a specific answer to prayer. I have awful veins, so I had prayed on the way to the hospital, "Lord, please let me have one good vein..." And it was a fantastic vein that held up to a large bore canula. Never before had that vein behaved thus. My arms are covered with bruises where the nurses had tried to tap my pitiful venous system for blood samples to test. But the "one good vein" held strong throughout my hospital stay, and the nurse and I rejoiced and enthusiastically praised the Lord as she removed the canula when I prepared to depart for home.

I met several great believers in the hospital and was able to pray and praise God with them. There was no Bible in my quaranteened quarters, so one aide went on a Bible quest returning with a brand new Gideon King James Version Bible, bright red and positively beautiful. I was having some trouble seing so Richard read to me. I love his voice and it's even better filled with the Word.

So, I am home and full of joy. God has brought healing and now I just need to regain my strength. To protect me from picking up any bugs in my weakened condition, I am supposed to "be a hermit" for the next two weeks, so will miss church this week and next... but when I do go, it will be in our new church building. I can't wait... but I will.

Richard knows me so well and realizing I feel really cooped up, invited me to go for a drive. We never left the car, but drove along back roads until neither of us knew where we were or had been. It was a great diversion. The air was fresh and clear with just a slight breeze. The car seemed to float along the byways we found and we just enjoyed chatting and being alive together. A great day!

Ouch!

Yesterday, was debating (with myself) whether or not I should participate in a work day at our new church building. This morning, there was no question. I could hardly walk and had extreme pain in my large muscle groups, especially the back of my thighs. I have been stooped over all day and even wondered if I should go to the ER.

Common sense won out on that one, and I stayed home and took pain pills. I will wait for the latest test results rather than have all those diagnostics rerun and still not have answers. So I spent the day dozing when I could and doing vitually nothing else. I tried to read but couldn't concentrate.

I am praying for a better tomorrow. I really want to be there for our first service in the new building. Also, I( dread another day of pain. Whatever God is working on with this, I pray it's over soon!

Where'd the Week Go?

Last night at Giveback ( http://www.givebackorlando.com/index.html ) one of the survivors' family members said she found my blog when she was looking for info on Dr. Schutz. I was amazed... The search engines used to bring up my sites, especially http://ionanet.com when I was getting tons of hits. But I have been pretty inactive since my injury. I tried to rebuild some of my stuff but I have not been able to stay with it long, so my sites don't hit the early pages of search results very often unless my actual name is used.

Giveback is always a blessing for me and I am glad I was well enough to go. I wasn't doing that great Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. I had a good day today and hope I am finally getting the best of whatever has made me so devoid of energy and feeling under the weather. There is a church workday tomorrow as the new building gets last minute preparations for the first meeting Sunday, but I am not sure I will try it. I am still dizzy a lot and might be more of a bane than a boon.

I did try to do some cleaning today and a load of laundry. Good thing it's just the two of us and the animals. If more folks lived hear it would have really been a mess. I haven't been well enough to generate any paperwork messes with my genealogy or art, so things have stayed fairly neat. Richard is actually better than I about putting his clothes away, etc. Since I've felt rotten, I just have left mine in a heap when I step out of them.

Well, I'm too tired to fold the laundry, so will get to it tomorrow. That should bother me, but it doesn't. At least we had a nice dinner. God is good and He is no doubt aware of my physical wimpiness. I'm sure He'll set me back on track when He's ready. Meanwhile, I am wondering where the week went?

Still Sick

I had a flu shot, yet had "flu-like symptoms." They and some other "feel bads" prompted my doctor to order a series of tests which so far show my kidneys aren't doing their chores as they should. I am waiting on results of other tests and may have to let them dig deeper. I am fatigued and weak. Joint pains and headaches rule my days and nag my nights and breathing seams like work. It is just not like me and it's not getting better over all. I felt better, then worse several times today, as it is with most days.

Enough of my complaining. I am blessed to be alive and have good health insurance! We are snug in our office listening to 50-year old records and enjoying time together.

I let my domain art4christ.net go off the web late last month. I never did sell much with it and the bandwidth was costly because so many folks linked directly to my graphics. I haven't done anything with my sites in so long... To everything there is a season, and God will lead me back to it when and if He has a plan for it.

Richard cleared the garage so that everything is along the walls, and we tried to park our new-to-us car in it. It doesn't fit! Neither does Richard's pickup! If we took the sink and shelves out of the front of the garage, maybe... but we aren't doing that. The car, by the way, is a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. We like being back in a big car even though I loved my little Galant, too.

That's all for tonight.